by Sandy Holden
Regardless, when I entered Gabriel’s office and he looked up at me; I simply looked at him aloofly. He seemed a little taken aback, but didn’t say anything, instead asking Melissa to get us both something to eat.
He gestured to the couch. “Have a good morning?” he asked solicitously.
“Yes, thank you,” I said distantly.
He came out from behind his desk and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. “Is there a problem?”
“No. No problem,” I denied.
He looked skeptically at me but apparently decided not to pursue it. “I wanted to talk to you about something important. I’m hoping you hear me out before making a decision. Do you think you could do that?”
I was intrigued. Still, my voice came out formal and stiff. “Of course.”
He was getting annoyed, I thought. I needed to cool it or he’d demand to know why I was mad, which I wasn’t of course, because I had no reason to be mad or jealous or anything. I had no hold on him, nor did I want one. Certainly not. It was completely none of my business. None at all. “All right.” He was still watching me carefully. “You have seen how there is a downside to this … gift I have. Besides having people occasionally overreact to what they consider attacks against me, there is also a problem with people losing their ability to make decisions where I’m involved.” He gave a little shrug. “It’s as if they worry so much about what I would want them to do they are unable to do anything at all. There are a few, a very few, who are able to make decisions and follow them through, even when occasionally I don’t like what they did. Are you with me so far?”
“Yes.” I was interested now. I’d seen this very thing and thought it must be a problem for an organization like his. “I imagine that it would be very hard for anyone to hear that you aren’t pleased with a decision he or she made.” My voice was still rather formal.
“Exactly. I can’t simply say to someone that he screwed up. It makes them … fragile and very, very upset.”
I wondered what had happened for him to phrase it that way. Had someone killed himself because Gabriel was disappointed in him?
“So,” he continued, “I find myself thinking that you, with your rather interesting resistance to my innate charm, would be a valuable addition around here.”
I just looked at him.
He looked increasingly annoyed and was opening his mouth to speak when Melissa knocked, opening the door to admit two people with trays bearing lunch. They put it on the table and made themselves scarce. It was like getting room service, but they didn’t want tips. Just a smile from the Great One was thanks enough. Sheesh.
He gave an annoyed look at the food. “See? I keep telling them I don’t need all this ceremony, but I have to be so careful I don’t upset anyone that I can’t get them to stop spending ridiculous amounts of time on my lunch!”
I couldn’t help but smile.
Gabriel snarled, “What is so damned funny?”
My grin got wider. “Quite a lot, actually. Now I understand why you get so annoyed with me. I also understand why you taunt me into snarling back. You miss having a semi-equal around.”
“A semi-equal?”
“Well, I can’t imagine that with your power over people, there are many who would be your equal,” I said.
He shook his head. “Eat.”
“Yes, sir!” I said, chuckling.
He took his plate and sat on the couch, balancing the no doubt priceless china on his lap. “You can go over there and play princess if you want to. If you want, I can have some people come back in and do just about anything you ask them to do. No one refuses me.” He sounded irritated at that, but I suddenly thought of the pretty women in his waiting room and lost my sense of humor.
I took a plate and fork and sat back down, copying him. I didn’t say a word, afraid of how it might come out. He seemed to realize I’d shut down again, and looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Okay, out with it. What is bothering you?”
I tried to lie and sound like I meant it. “I’m fine. Just worried about Jacob.”
“I think you’re lying again, but I’ll be damned if I know what you’re hiding.” He rubbed his neck again, and I found myself wondering sympathetically how much sleep he’d gotten last night. I almost asked him, but then I wondered if when he’d been contacted about me, he’d been with Melissa or one of the others. Nobody refused him, as he’d said himself. I gritted my teeth. I shouldn’t care, I shouldn’t care, I shouldn’t care!
He took a bite of some pasta dish that had chicken in it. I wondered where they were getting chicken. We were eating out of cans, mostly. “Madde, just tell me why you’re acting like I boiled your rabbit.”
I nearly smiled at the movie reference. I should smile. But I couldn’t because I was firstly jealous, and secondly furious at myself for being jealous. “I don’t want to tell you, so let’s just let it go.”
“Is it about the job offer?”
I was surprised at that. I was so focused on being jealous that I’d forgotten about it already. “Um, no. I can’t do it, though. I live in Catfish, and I have responsibilities and relationships there.” As I heard myself say ‘relationships’ I wondered if I’d chosen that word to make him jealous. Oh, please, let me not be that petty.
“I see,” he said. “Hmm, maybe I didn’t explain myself very well. I really want you to do this, Madde.”
Yeah, right. I thought to myself. Add me to the stable, or harem, or whatever people called it these days. That would be the day. He’d have to topple me for sure before I allowed him to even touch me again. Unbidden, my mind conjured up the possibilities for him. What man could resist using a power like his? To have unlimited females willing to do anything to make him happy. I was fast losing my appetite. I put down my fork with more force than necessary. “I don’t want the job,” I said baldly, if a bit challengingly.
“Why?”
“I already told you. And unlike everyone else, I don’t come running when you snap your fingers, so I guess you’ll have to take ‘no’ for an answer.” I stood and put my plate of half-finished food on the tray. I took a glass of what looked like iced tea. I wasn’t really much of an iced tea drinker, but didn’t really care right now.
He stood and intercepted me before I could sit back down. “Madeline, tell me what has you so pissed off!”
I almost did. I barely snapped my mouth shut in time. “Don’t you roll me,” I warned.
“Why not?” he challenged. “I can’t get you to talk any other way. And as I’ve told you before, having everyone do what I want has made me a bit overbearing.”
“A bit?” I said sarcastically.
He smiled. “You’re going to tell me, and what’s more, I think you want me to force it out of you. If you didn’t you wouldn’t be challenging me like this.”
“You are an egomaniac,” I snarled. I studiously avoided his eyes. Maybe if I didn’t look at him, he wouldn’t be able to make me say, because as he said that about challenging him, I wondered if that was exactly what I was doing. I decided to backtrack. “Uh, could I borrow a car or get a ride to the hospital after lunch?”
He chuckled. “Now see, that would have worked if you’d have tried it earlier. But now I’m determined to find out what you are hiding. Are you going to avoid looking at me for a long time, or should I just wait patiently?”
His confidence in his ability to roll me was daunting. “Just let it go, Gabriel, please?”
He rubbed his hands up and down my upper arms. “I don’t think so. I really want to know.”
“You know, one of these times you roll me, I’ll go over completely, and you’ll have nothing but another mindless drone on your hands.”
He stopped rubbing my arms. “I don’t want to do that to you.”
My voice was bitter—I couldn’t help it. “But we both know you could.”
He let my arms go; instead he took my hand and led me back to the couch. He took the tea out of my hand and put it on
a nearby table. He pulled me down and sat beside me. “Madde, you’re right I could, I think, if I tried. But I don’t want to, so don’t worry—”
“Right, but what if you do it without meaning to? That’s another excellent reason not to be around you any more than necessary.”
He shook his head. “I won’t.”
I snorted to show him what I thought of his reassurance. I forgot to avoid his eyes and so looked squarely at him. Big mistake.
“Tell me why you’re upset with me,” he said in that tone that made me mindless.
Without thought, I said, “I’m jealous.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I stood, horrified. “You are a pig, and our lunch is over. I’ll get to the hospital, and …”
He stood as well. “Stop it.”
I stopped. Somewhere inside me, I was mortified. There was also a part of me that would kill for him. Dear Lord.
“Do you think that I’m going to just let you stomp out of here? Sometimes I think I ought to just roll you and get it over with! So you’re embarrassed. Big deal. Get over it and act like an adult.”
I blinked at him, so furious I couldn’t even move. That part of me that would kill for him shivered and shrank smaller. I looked over at the door, forcing myself to at least act calm. When my voice came out, it was icy. “I apologize. What else did you need to discuss?” I sat down and crossed my legs, looking at him expectantly.
“You are the most infuriating person I’ve ever met,” he said sharply.
“Is that it, then? Anything else?”
We looked at each other for a long minute.
He sighed, “Look, I’m sorry I forced you. It gets to be that I take it all for granted—the ability I have. And then you come along and I can’t get a thing out of you unless I force it. And while it drives me absolutely crazy, I know that if you agreed with me all the time it would be even worse.”
I was still angry but no longer furious. “What if I did that to you?”
“You think you don’t? Last night, when I kissed you, you don’t think I lost myself?” Now he sounded mad.
“You kissed me. No one forced you,” I said.
“Right, and I just asked you to tell me. No one forced the words out,” he retorted.
I looked at him, annoyed and puzzled. “Are you saying that I made you kiss me? And you call me ridiculous.”
He shook his head. “You know I’m right. You saw it last night, I know you did.”
I had, of course. And I suppose I did know that somehow, passion between us acted on him like his eyes and voice worked on me. I was tired of arguing with him. “I guess you’re right.”
My admission seemed to let the anger out of the conflict. He softened his voice. “Come and work for me.”
“Gabriel, I can’t. And before you accuse me of making excuses, I’ll tell you that I’m sort of a leader there, and more than that, I have people who are like family there. I can’t just leave them.”
“Then don’t say no, say you’ll think about it.”
I sighed. “Fine, I’ll think about it.”
He nodded slowly. “Well, here I am begging someone to work with me. I guess I’ve had my ego adjusted for the day.”
“Yeah, well, my ego isn’t doing so well either.”
He grinned, and I felt such a shock of love for him I nearly cried. “I suppose we’re good for each other in that way, at least.”
I smiled back. “Yeah, keep each other humble.” I was so pleased that he hadn’t commented on the fact that I admitted I was jealous. I knew it would come up sometime, but was willing to wait just about forever before that happened. I reached out and touched his upper arm, letting my hand slide along the muscles there. I felt a bolt of lust and savored it. Frigid—ha!
Apparently I wasn’t the only one affected. Or maybe I was drawing him, as he had accused. He reached for me, and I met him halfway. He kissed me with sudden passion, and I melted against him. He gathered me so I was nearly in his lap, and I realized I had complete control now. And I had to be as careful not to roll him entirely as he’d had to be with me. Did that mean I had to be in control now and stop this? Damn!
I gathered my will and pulled back. His arms didn’t loosen, and I nearly gave in and chanced it. Maybe it would be okay. No, I couldn’t do this to him. I pushed against him, and he pulled away, looked every bit as dazed and lost as I’d ever seen him. I moved away from him and flopped back on the couch, looking at the ceiling and trying to catch my breath and calm my racing heart.
Neither of us said anything. I finally chanced a look at him, hoping that the vague look would be gone. It was. He cleared his throat. “I suppose I should thank you for stopping,” he said a little formally.
I waved a hand at him. “It was a freaking miracle I was able to.”
He smiled a little. “We have to stop doing that.”
I was so sorry to hear him say that. I hoped my face didn’t show how very much that bothered me.
He continued, “Maybe it is for the best that you don’t work with me right now.”
That hurt too, no matter how much I wanted to stay in Catfish. I just nodded. I don’t know what he saw in my face, but he looked composed and closed somehow. Maybe he blamed me for making him kiss me.
He said, “If you’re not going to work with me here, would you consider taking on some responsibility while staying in Catfish? At times I just need someone who isn’t afraid to make a decision. As we grow, I can’t make every tough decision 24/7.”
I nodded slowly. I could do that. “Okay.”
“And although I know you’re going to scowl at me and possibly stomp your foot in anger, I’m keeping two bodyguards at your house at all times. I heard that Nick was left behind when you left with Jacob, so he can be one of them. Is he acceptable?”
“I don’t need guards, but sure, he’s fine.”
“Humor me. The other one you know, and is waiting in the other room.” Gabriel stood and went to the door. When he returned, Luis was with him.
“Luis! How are you?” I went towards him, but then remembered how he’d hit me. I stayed partially behind Gabriel, who slanted me a mocking look.
Luis smiled tentatively at me. “Madde, I’m so sorry I hit you. I don’t know what came over me.” He looked perplexed.
I glanced at Gabriel, then back at Luis. “So, what have you been doing the last week or so?”
“I have had a chance to see how things are done here, and I had a brain scan and some other tests.” I looked over at Gabriel as I said that, remembering I had wanted to grill him about that. Too many questions for the time we had. I let that one go and focused on Gabriel, asking a different question instead.
“Can I trust him?” I didn’t want to ask it, but I also didn’t want to watch every little thing I said or get clocked again.
Gabriel said, “Ask him whatever you want. I want you to feel comfortable.”
“Um, well, Luis. What if I said I didn’t like Gabriel?”
Luis shrugged. “You’re entitled to your opinion.”
“And what if I said I wanted to smack him a good one?” I couldn’t help but move a little closer to Gabriel and his protection as I asked this question.
Luis said, “Again, your opinion.”
“What if I actually did smack him?” I was almost behind Gabriel now, and I heard him chuckle.
Luis took a deep breath. “If you were intent on hurting Gabriel, I would have to stop you. But I would do so in such a way as to cause you no harm.”
I came out from behind Gabriel and said dryly, “Nice. Are those your words or his?”
Gabriel said softly, “Luis and I did talk, but I haven’t told him what responses he should make. So, will you feel safe if he returns with you?”
I addressed Luis again. “What if someone else in the house truly seems to hate Gabriel? Maybe even says something in anger about hurting him?”
Gabriel looked at me. “This is what things sound like at your house? Maybe
I should pay a visit after all.”
Luis said, “I wouldn’t do anything unless Gabriel was in immediate danger. Even then, I would simply report it.”
I turned to Gabriel. “Okay. I think we’re good.”
Gabriel said to Luis, “Please wait out in the other room. We’ll be out shortly.”
Luis shut the door behind him, and Gabriel turned to look at me. “You’re not going to like this, but I still don’t want anyone to touch you.”
“That’s insane! I’m a huggy kind of girl.” I considered asking him if he was jealous, then decided I wouldn’t bring up jealousy after what I’d admitted.
“How about if I make it no males or strangers touch you? I’m willing to go that far.”
I didn’t know what to say. “Gabriel—” I began, but he cut me off.
He dipped his head and spoke in my ear; his warm breath causing delicious shivers to run down my spine. “You aren’t the only one who gets jealous.”
I wanted to say that I was the only one who had reason to be jealous, but instead I gave a little nod, trying to get my libido under control.
He glanced at his watch and then took my hand and led me to the door. Before he opened it, he suddenly turned to face me. He took my chin in his hand, and slowly kissed me softly. He smiled. “I think I’m getting resistant. This time it didn’t bother me.”
I didn’t know what to say.
He opened the door and took me out. I was surprised to see TV cameras set up in the office. I blinked in the bright lights and turned to Gabriel to see if he was as surprised as I was. He didn’t look at all surprised. He looked gorgeous and calm and sure. “Hello. I wanted to introduce you to a person who is going to be acting as my right hand. This is Madde Moreton, and I have confidence everyone will welcome her and treat her with the same respect I have been receiving. I have authorized her to speak for me in certain matters, so in a way, talking to Madde is like talking to me. I am so pleased that Madde has agreed to do this, and hope no one gives her any cause to regret that decision.”
I stood, probably staring at nothing like an idiot, listening to him completely change my life. That sneaky bastard had told everyone that I was like his mouthpiece, and that if I said it, it had to be done. Good Lord, why was he doing this to me? Other than letting me stay in Catfish, he had gotten everything he wanted. I was now working for him.