Chapter 12

12

GAbrIELLA

“ T hat’s not fair.” I sit up farther, watching Caleb right his clothing. He grips my chin between his forefinger and thumb.

“That can be for later.” He kisses my lips and then the tip of my nose.

“Fine.” I playfully roll my eyes, making him smile. “Is this you working?”

“If this counts as working, I’m bringing you with me every day." Caleb runs his fingers up and down my bare thighs. I've adjusted my skirt slightly to cover myself.

“That couch does look pretty comfy.” I slip off his desk to go for my panties and tights, but Caleb beats me to it.

“I’ll be keeping these.”

“You’re naughty.” I make a tsking sound at him, but if he really wants to keep them, he can. I’m pretty sure we won’t be going back outside today, so it doesn’t matter. My skirt covers everything. Including his release. It’s still warm between my thighs.

“And you’re nice.” I go to move past him, but he stops me.

“You’re nice too,” I tell him.

“And you let me do naughty things to you.” I did. I also enjoyed all of them.

Being with Caleb has been surreal. Never in my life have I been this close to someone before. I have never felt more seen. I often find myself wondering how the heck I got so lucky to find a man as kind as him. He dotes on me nonstop. Always making sure I’m taken care of. Luck for once is finally on my side.

A knock sounds at the door. “Sir?” I hear a woman call from the other side. I can see her shadow outlined through the frosted glass.

“My assistant,” Caleb tells me.

“Sir?” The woman knocks again.

“She’s rather persistent. Probably wondering where you've been.” He’s been so absent from the office.

“She can wait.” He shrugs like he has all the time in the world and I’m all that matters.

“Don’t be rude.” I laugh. “Is that the bathroom?" I motion toward a door.

"Yes."

“Then you get to work and do what you need to. I’m gonna freshen up a bit.”

“Leave my cum on you.” His deep voice is right next to my ear. I’m at a loss for words, so I simply nod my head. He releases his grip on me, allowing me to slip by. He wants his mark on me. It’s barbaric and over the top, but I love it. No one has ever wanted their mark on me. I haven't ever belonged to someone before.

"I’ll be busy at work," he teases me back before I enter the bathroom to make sure I look presentable if I'm about to meet people that work with him. I want to be professional. After all, I am still an employee of his.

From the looks of the ones I have seen so far, I'm way out of my league. I have never even worked somewhere before that didn't give you a uniform to wear! The last thing I want to do is embarrass myself, or worse, Caleb. He took a chance hiring me. That meant the world to me.

I run my fingers through my hair. My cheeks are slightly red and my lips are puffy, but I don't think anyone will notice. I can hear voices behind the door but can't distinguish them. I check under my skirt.

“Holy crap,” I whisper to myself. He really did come all over me. I had felt him release inside of me too. Him talking about giving me babies comes flooding back to my mind.

That’s insane. I know that. I haven’t known him very long. Nevertheless, being with him feels right. We have fallen so easily for each other. It’s difficult to think of my life without him now. But that doesn’t stop some doubt from flooding my mind.

When I was younger, there were a couple of families I’d gotten attached to. I was certain that those families would also be my forever home, but that didn't happen. No matter how badly I’d wanted it. I stopped getting attached after that. I’ve started to think I have done that throughout my life. I’m friendly with everyone, but I don’t truly let people in too deep.

Lev comes to mind. I worked at Cup of Sugar with her. The two of us were night and day, but she always made me laugh. A few times she’d ask if I wanted to hang, and I would always make up a reason I couldn't. I have thought about her over the past few days. I should reach out to her.

Then it dawns on me that the coffee shop has closed. Crap, I know how badly Lev needed that job. She, too, was constantly taking on as many shifts as possible. I bet Caleb could help me find her. That man can do anything he puts his mind to.

When I step back out of the bathroom, I see Caleb is alone again, sitting behind his desk. He smirks when he sees me.

“Should I go over there?” I point to the couch. “So that you can get work done.”

“No, I mainly came here to get your phone.” He motions for me to come over to him. He pulls me into his lap.

“My phone?"

“Yes, yours is shit.” It is, but I haven’t needed it. I kind of forgot about it altogether.

“You can’t buy me a phone.” He already does way too much.

“I can, and I will. What if I need to reach you?”

“Well, first you’d have to not have me with you.” I laugh.

“This is true.” He kisses my neck. “But you never know. Things come up, and I don’t like the idea of not being able to reach you.”

“I don’t think I care for the idea that I can’t reach you either.” He told me not to worry about money, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying over him thinking I’m using him.

“Then put us both at ease and take the phone.”

“All right.” It doesn’t ever take him much to talk me into things.

“Sir.” Another knock echoes from the door.

“Come in,” he calls out. I try to quickly stand, but Caleb keeps his arm wrapped around me. The door pushes open. The second I see the woman, my stomach drops.

It’s her.

Her eyes widen when they land on me. I’m sure mine are just as big. My heart starts to race in panic.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Caleb says next to my ear. I nod my head, unable to find words. A panic starts to rise inside of me. This woman got me fired from one job. I’m sure she can get me fired from this one too.

“I have the phone, sir. I got it all set up like you asked.”

"Good."

The woman comes closer, holding the phone out. Before today I never thought about how pretty she was, but now knowing she works alongside Caleb, I'm thinking about it. She is everything I’m not. We couldn't be more different in appearance.

“Lauren, this is Gabriella. Gabriella, this is my assistant Lauren. She has worked for me for a few years now,” Caleb introduces us. The woman gives a smile along with a nod of her head. “The phone is for Gabriella.” He takes it from her outstretched hand and gives it to me.

"We missed our dinner reservations with the Greens the other night, so they wanted to reschedule. They requested tomorrow, which coincides with the company's holiday celebration. We could skip it, though.”

They had a dinner date? I must have misunderstood because I’m sitting in his lap. That kind of makes it clear we’re together, but then again, he hadn’t said I was his girlfriend.

“Don’t you oversee the holiday party?” Caleb asks.

“I do, but I know this is more important, and you never go to the holiday party anyway.” The way she says it makes it sound as if she knows everything about him.

"I plan to bring Gabriella along for the dinner reservation. She is now also my personal assistant, but more personal. Gabriella will tend to my home and other areas outside of work, but she is capable of going to events with me.”

Heat rushes to my face. He did not just say that. He made me sound like a whore that he hired. Suddenly this is all feeling very Pretty Woman to me.

“She doesn’t know anything about the Greens or the?—”

“Lauren.” He cuts her off. She presses her lips together.

“It’s okay. If she has more knowledge, perhaps you should consider taking her along.” This woman already doesn’t like me. I’m sure this isn’t going to help. I can tell she’s territorial. What I’m not sure is if it’s over her job or Caleb.

“I can invite the Greens to the holiday party. They might actually like that more. You know how they are.”

“That’s not a terrible idea. See to it,” Caleb agrees.

“Yes, sir.” She gives him a bright smile, but Caleb is staring at his computer screen, pulling up his emails. Her gaze shifts back to me, the smile subsides, and I receive a chilly glare. Yeah, it’s safe to say she’s still pissed.

“That is all.” Caleb dismisses her. I can sense some weird tension between them. Lauren turns to leave. “Lauren.” He calls her back when she reaches the door. “If there is anything blueberry on the catering menu, have it removed.”

I’m allergic. He really does think of everything. I guess that's how you get to run a big company.

“But—”

“Lauren,” he snaps at her. I even sit up straighter. Okay, there is serious tension here.

“Of course, sir.” She turns, leaving his office. His focus is still on his computer.

I watch him, wanting to ask what that was all about, but I don’t think it’s my place if they’d been together before. It’s clear he mixes business with pleasure.

I’m just not sure what my place is anymore.