Acquiring Hearts

by S. Donahue

  At least she agreed to see me. That’s a good sign.

  Chapter Eleven

  Everything was moving smoothly until Thursday, when construction was scheduled to begin. Brad received a call from the owner of the construction company who stated that the appropriate licenses had never been filed.

  “That’s impossible I signed all the paperwork. The project manager was handling everything,” Brad said with an incredulous voice. He couldn’t believe Holly would do something like this. It didn’t make sense.

  “Brad, you should really look into this. I wasn’t comfortable working with Ms. Thornton on this project but I didn’t want to say anything. I figured if you trusted her then it was ok. There may be more issues than this. We only know about this issue because it is required at this point of the project.”

  “I guess there is nothing we can do today.”

  “Definitely not today, but I can make a phone call and see what I can do. I can maybe begin next week if we can get this license issue resolved.” He really hoped that this could be resolved quickly.

  “Thanks, Joe. Whatever needs to be done, I’m here.

  “I’ll email you and let you know if I need anything else.”

  “You can contact my assistant manager at the Philadelphia office since building can’t begin. I will be staying there all next week.

  “OK, either you or your assistant will hear from me shortly”

  “Thanks Joe, I appreciate it.”

  When Brad hung up the phone, he was in shock.

  Holly probably thought that if something was messed up and it was not traced back to her, I would have to stay in Miami. Well her plan backfired.

  Brad contacted John, Holly’s dad right away and told him he either needed to take Holly off of his project or he was going to find another company to represent him. He wasn’t blaming John, who kept apologizing for his daughter’s actions. Brad just wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again. He was satisfied that John was willing to assign a new project manager.

  “I don’t want to lose your business. Rocco is first rate and I think you will work well together,” John said.

  Because there wasn’t a whole lot that could be done in Miami, Brad decided to go home earlier. He was going to leave in the morning. Today, he was going to relax and reflect on his life which included his businesses, his home and his relationship. He needed to make some changes. He just wasn’t sure yet what they were… yet.

  * * * * *

  Brad’s plane landed at 9 A.M. He had Gary meet him at the airport and then drop him off at the office. On the way there he stopped at a flower shop and had roses sent to Gia at work. He filled out the card and tipped the delivery guy extra to ensure they were delivered before the afternoon. The card read:

  Gia,

  I’m home and can’t wait to see you. Miss you so much. Love, Brad

  At the office, the first order of business was to meet with Rachel. He received a lot of welcome backs on the way up to his office. It made him proud to know that his employees liked working for him. When he arrived at Rachel’s office, she was on a call so he retreated to his office to check emails.

  An hour later there was a knock at his door and Rachel peeked her head in. “So, how are you?”

  “Good. How’s everything going?”

  “Ok, I faxed over the papers to Joe. He’s working on the licensing issue. Hopefully, it will get resolved quickly.”

  He really appreciated all of Rachel’s hard work during the past month. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m going to stay the entire week so you can take next week off if you want.

  Rachel was shocked. “Wow, thank you. That’s so generous of you.”

  “You can even stay at my condo in Miami if you want to. It’s right on the beach. I just wanted to thank you for all you do for me.”

  She could see what Gia saw in him. He would do anything for anyone and still run an efficient company at the same time. “You really are a great guy. I’ll put in a good word with my sister.” With that said, she left and went back to her office.

  He kept checking his phone to see if Gia contacted him. She must not have received the flowers yet or maybe she was still in court. She would eventually contact him. He didn’t want to keep sitting there, so he decided to go to a meeting and then to the gym. He needed to work off some frustrations and thought the state of the art gym in the building would help.

  After the gym, he finally decided to text Gia because he needed some sort of explanation. If she wanted this to be over, then she needed to say it, but in person.

  “Are you home yet?”

  “I just walked in. I was just about to call you.”

  “Are you staying home?”

  “Yes”

  “Don’t leave. I’ll be over within the hour. I’m bringing dinner.”

  “Ok, see you then.”

  He was going to get to the bottom of this, the right way. The texting and brief phone calls were starting to get to him. On the way to her house, he stopped to get Chinese takeout and cheesecake for dessert, her favorite.

  When he arrived at Gia’s house and she answered the door, he could tell that she wasn’t her normal self. He put the food down on the entryway table and hugged her so tight. He could feel her tense up. “Gia, baby what’s wrong? Are you ok?” He knew something wasn’t right. He could feel it.

  “No, but I’m really happy to see you. I missed you so much. I feel so protected in your arms.”

  This didn’t make much sense to him. He was hoping she was going to open up to him. “Talk to me. Let’s go over to the sofa. Forget the food for now.”

  She looked like she hadn’t slept in weeks. She put her head on his chest and started hysterical crying.

  “I can’t believe you’re this upset. Obviously it’s serious.”

  “I didn’t want to upset you and I’ve been very depressed lately. I guess seeing you is bringing all the emotions back.”

  “For God sakes Gia, tell me.”

  “You sure you can handle it?”

  “I don’t know but I’ll definitely try and we’ll get through this together.”

  “I’ll tell you but don’t interrupt me.”

  “Ok, go ahead.”

  “I was attacked two weeks ago at work.”

  His eyes literally bulged out of his head but he promised her he would not speak. He waited for an explanation because he was about to scream.

  “Do you remember the guy Tom that I went out with the night I saw you in the club?”

  “Yes, how can I forget?” He remembered the guy looked creepy.

  “Well, he started spreading rumors about me. He was saying I wanted to sleep with him and he was going to make me his, but I ignored them. He tried to talk to me but I blew him off because Maria had already told me about the rumors. I didn’t want any contact with him.” She continued to explain the story and he wanted so bad to go off but he was afraid of upsetting her even more.

  “Coworkers kept coming back and telling me the different stories but I blew them off too. I wasn’t taking them seriously. I didn’t think he would do anything to me but I was completely wrong.”

  I’ll kill him. I swear to God, I’ll break his puny neck.

  He didn’t know if he was ready for the rest of the story because he was getting sick to his stomach just thinking about what was about to happen next. He wished Gia would have confided in him. He wanted to protect her.

  “I have a habit of working late on the days that I have court because I finish up my paperwork before I go home. He knows this about me. He waited for me to leave and must have followed me out to the hallway. I felt someone behind me. I turned around and it was Tom. I was a little creeped out.”

  I could make him disappear and look like an accident.

  “I said, “Hey Tom, how are you?”

  He said he was ok and that he was looking for me.

  I said “Oh well I’m getting ready to leave. We can review the work tomorrow.�
��

  He said it was personal and he started moving in closer to me. I backed up but he cornered me.

  I said, “Tom, you don’t want to do this!”

  He said, he knew I wanted him and this was my opportunity to have him. I proceeded to tell him that I have a boyfriend and that he must have been mistaken. He stated that he was going to make me forget you. I tried to be rational but he slapped me in the face. I fell on the ground.”

  Brad couldn’t take anymore. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

  “This is why I didn’t want to tell you. I haven’t even told you the whole story yet. Are you going to be ok with the rest?”

  “Yes, I’ll try,” Brad said through gritted teeth.

  She gave him a look that said let me finish.

  “Yes, yes I will” he responded angrily. She continued on.

  “I was in complete shock, I couldn’t move. He grabbed me by my hair and tried to slam my head down on the ground but I fought back. He was getting more pissed off. He was trying to rip my clothes off of me as we were struggling. He managed to get some off of me. He was so strong I couldn’t fight him any longer. He started touching me in all different places. He was trying to rape me but never got the chance because the elevator dinged and Carson got off. Thank God for him. Maria had left her phone on her desk and sent him back to get it. Carson walked up and pulled Tom off of me and threw him up against the wall and started punching him. He threw me his phone and I called the police. The police came and arrested Tom. I had to go to the hospital just to make sure I was ok because of the injuries on my head and face. Maria and Rachel went to the hospital to meet me and Carson. I begged Rachel not to tell you. She was going to call you. I knew you would have come back and I didn’t want to interfere with your work. Plus, I also had reservations about your working relationship with that Holly chick. I wasn’t really sure what was going on there.

  He couldn’t believe what Gia was telling him. It was so unreal. This was the last thing he expected her to tell him.

  “Gia, first of all, I would have protected you. No one would have been able to hurt you with me around. Secondly, I am with you, not Holly. I’m not going to deny that she thought she had a chance with me. I told her that I had a girlfriend and that I would never cheat on you. I actually had her fired and replaced with a guy named Rocco. I’ll tell you all about that later. Don’t ever think that you’re interfering with my work. You’re right. I would have come home, but because I wanted too. I’m so sorry for the trauma that you had to endure. I actually thought you were going to break up with me when I came here tonight. I didn’t know what to expect but I never in my life expected you to tell me this,” said Brad still in shock.

  “I called Rachel to tell her that you were coming over and she said it was time for me to tell you what happened. I agreed. I have actually been staying with her since the incident. She told me that you gave her a paid vacation. She really does need it. She has been through so much, you have no idea. My mom and dad have the boys at the shore for the summer, so she is free to go.”

  He wouldn’t have even known Rachel was going through anything because she didn’t show it in her work.

  “I was getting some more clothes from my house when you called. When she told me about the vacation, I decided it was time for me to stay home by myself again. I can’t keep staying with her and Vinnie. I need to move on.”

  “Move in with me. Even if you don’t want to move in with me permanently, just stay with me until you are better to stay by yourself.” He didn’t know where that came from but it felt completely right.

  “Aren’t you going back to Miami?”

  “That hasn’t been decided yet. For now, come and stay with me at my home. We’ll take it from there.”

  “Don’t you think it’s too soon for me to move in with you?”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “When?”

  “Now, demanded Brad, pack your stuff. All you need are your clothes and personal belongings. I have everything else.”

  “I don’t want to impose on you or anything like that.”

  “Gia, you have come to mean a lot to me in such a short amount of time. When I see you, I feel complete.”

  She smiled at him and he felt his heart melt. He didn’t want to be negative about the attack and upset her even more. So he left it alone for now. They would gradually work through this together as a couple, under one roof.

  Chapter Twelve

  The original plan was for Gia to take one of the guest bedrooms at her request but after making love a couple of times at her house, they decided they didn’t want to be apart. She spent most of Saturday getting settled into Brad’s house. He made her feel right at home from the minute she arrived.

  “You’re now the queen of my palace”, he said to her as she unpacked her clothes. The master bedroom was enormous. Gia had her own walk in closet for all of her clothes and shoes.

  “Well, thanks your highness.”

  She was so relieved that she finally opened up to Brad about what happened to her. She hadn’t been ready to talk about it or deal with it. Staying with Rachel helped her come to terms with the situation. Since Tom was let out of jail until the court date, she didn’t feel safe. The court date wasn’t scheduled for a while. With the new living arrangements, she felt even safer in Brad’s arms. She walked over to him on the bed and planted a kiss on his mouth.

  “What was that for?”

  “Because I know I made you feel unwanted and confused while you were away. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I never want you to feel like I neglected you.”

  He didn’t want her to think it was her fault that she was feeling how she did. She had many reasons, even though some were misunderstandings, Holly being one of them.

  “Baby, don’t say that. Yeah, I was confused and wondering but I had no idea what was happening. I even asked Rachel and she wouldn’t tell me.”

  She laughed out loud. “So, the bitch is loyal.”

  “Hey, hey that’s my assistant manager you are talking about.”

  “Well, she’s my sister. I deal with her a lot more.”

  “I don’t think I can be apart from you again.”

  “Me either.”

  “I may have to go back to Miami for a week or so to tie up a few loose ends. Can you take a vacation and go with me? I would rather be taking you somewhere more romantic but I’ll make it up to you.”

  “I’ll put in for the vacation on Monday. They know I need one and Maria can cover for me for a week.”

  “You mean to tell me that you didn’t take off after the incident with Tom?” He assumed she took time off to recover while she stayed with Rachel.

  “No, I went back to work two days later.”

  “You’re amazing. Anyone else would have milked it and stayed out for months.”

  “I have a job to do. I can’t let him win.”

  Brad was falling more in love with this woman every day. Of course it wasn’t the right time to tell her that. He didn’t want to scare her off. He pulled her down on him and kissed her once again. He began to pull her shirt off.

  “Brad, I’m never going to get these clothes away.”

  He winked at her. “You have plenty of time for that.”

  He ripped her shorts down off of her. She pulled his shorts off as well. She grabbed his groin and began to jerk her hand up and down over it. He was so hard for her. He put his hand in her panties and touched her down below. She missed his touch so much. She wanted to please him as much as he gave her pleasure. She licked both of his nipples and she could see the desire on his face. She did something that she normally would not do. She plunged her head between his legs and licked his inner thighs. She sucked all the way up to his throbbing cock. He was panting even harder.

  “Gia, don’t. I can’t handle it. I want to be able to pleasure you.”

  “Shh... Let me. Lay back and relax.” She continued to work him up into a frenzy. He w
as so turned on by Gia’s motions with her mouth on him, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

  “Baby, it feels so good. I’m going to cum but I don’t want to do it in your mouth. Come here.”

  She laid down on the bed under him as he pushed his hard cock inside of her.

  She began to think about her feelings for Brad. They were so strong but she didn’t want to show them. As he pushed in and out of her, she could feel the love in her heart. Until he declared his feelings, she would hold hers in. A wave of ecstasy came over her and her body erupted in unison with Brad’s. He screamed out her name as he planted his impression inside her.