GABRIEL

Slamming the crash bar of the door on the nearest exit I find in the hallway, I let out a loud groan once I'm outside. Running my hands through my hair I breathe in and out trying to calm down.

What the hell am I doing here? What was I thinking, getting involved with her?

Fucking idiot.

You avoid relationships because of the fucking drama it brings. And now look at you, completely in over your head in love with a woman who literally thinks you're a tool.

Oh, God.

Love.

Leaning over the railing, I sigh, looking over the New York City, night skyline. The cool breeze skims over my hot skin, calming me. I've always loved the city and while it's been rare, I look forward to my assignments bringing me here; back home.

For the longest time, I've thrived living with nothing permanent in mind. Traveling from city to city. Carefree and loving the spontaneity of life in general. Not being tied down to anything or anyone.

And then I met Vanessa.

Thoughts and ideas of staying have been running rampant in my mind after spending time with her. How would it work? Could it work? The possibility of building a future with someone has never crossed my mind until her.

Love. It scares the shit out of me, but I know it's true. I've fallen for her. But knowing her commitment issues, I realize I have to time it right when I tell her. For now, I can reiterate and make it as clear as possible that I like her and want to spend time with only her. I head back into the banquet hall, determined to find her.

Not giving a damn at the curious looks and glances sent my way, I weave around the tables, specifically avoiding the women who are blocking the paths, standing under the ridiculous amounts of mistletoe hanging throughout the room.

I come to Vanessa's team table, not surprised when Jenny stands, nostrils flaring, an accusing finger pointing at me.

"You've got a set of damn balls, Gabriel Tate!"

"Where's Vanessa?" I scan the room, wondering if I passed her on my way here.

"Like you really give a damn." Jenny's lips scrunch in an angry pout.

Lily clears her throat. "She stepped out into the hall to get some air, Mr. Tate. She said she'd come say bye before leaving."

"Lily!" Jenny hisses, with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. I thank Lily and march to the hallway, knowing Jenny is following.

"We all saw you, you know? Sucking face with that leggy, pretty redhead. I knew Vanessa was going to get hurt getting mixed up with you—"

I stop, turning to grab her face, planting a kiss on her.

"There, I just kissed you the way I kissed an old friend, did you feel anything sexual behind the kiss?" Her wide eyes blink back at me, her mouth is still shaped in a pucker. Meanwhile, the man she was sitting next to is being restrained by Lily and Evan; must be her husband.

"I didn't think so. I explained my history with the woman you saw me kiss to Vanessa. Vanessa's been the one keeping me at arm's length, wanting to keep things casual, but it's too late for that."

Jenny blinks a couple more times and then straightens her posture. Her eyes narrow with suspicion. "Does she know that?"

"I think my actions have been pretty damn clear. I'm fucking giving myself self-allergy shots to be around her because of her menace of a cat, for Christ's sake! And before you decided to go on your witch hunt, I was determined to find her and tell her what she means to me, but as her best friend you know, she's scared to commit. So for now, I just want to make sure she understands I only want her. If she still wants nothing to do with me then so be it, but at least I tried."

The hard edge to her eyes softens and a small smile replaces the scowl on her face. "I'll go check the bathroom." She scurries off and I decide to call Vanessa in case she's not there.

Jenny runs on her toes in her high heels. "She's not in there. She may have gone out to..." She trails off with her eyes focused behind me. "Vanessa?" I spin around and see her. It feels like a flaming hot rod is stuck in my throat when I see the conditions she's in.

Her hair is messy. A small section of her dress near the top hangs torn and loose and the tear in the slit running in the front is higher than its intended. She's inspecting her hand and flexes it, wincing as she walks unsteadily, but the anger in her eyes is unmistakable.

She looks up, narrowing her eyes at me as I rush to her. "I thought you left?"

My eyes zero in on the lipstick smeared on her lips and cheek. I cup her face. "What happened?"

Vanessa shakes her head, shrugging her shoulders. "Nothing I couldn't handle." But the adrenaline is wearing off, and moisture gathers in the corners of her hazel eyes and she struggles to keep her chin from quivering. A door opens and Keith Thompson walks out, checking his bleeding lip on the back of his hand as he straightens his tie with his other hand. Shifting my gaze from him back to Vanessa, it clicks.

"Motherfucker," I state, under my breath. Taking a step around her, Vanessa clutches onto my arm. The asshole has the audacity to wink at me as he approaches.

She tugs at my arm, but my eyes are glued on Keith. "Don't Gabe, please. Let it go. He's not worth it."

"No, he's not, but you are." Releasing the death grip her fingers have on my arms, I side step her only to stop in my tracks, watching as Jenny lunges at Keith, landing a flying punch square at his nose.

He groans, staggering back holding his face. "Fucking bitch!"

Keith looks at the blood gushing onto his hand and then moves toward Jenny, but I move her aside and punch him again, this time knocking him on his ass. Gasps echo in the corridor when I hover over him, landing a few more blows.

I struggle against a couple of people pulling me away. Looking to either side of me I realize their security guards and now a few cops are filing into the lobby.

One of the officers asks what is going on.

Keith immediately jumps at the chance to lie out of his fucking mouth. "This asshole attacked me after his girlfriend came onto me." Vanessa and Jenny simultaneously gasp and scoff.

"You lying piece of shit! He attacked her! Just look at her." I tip my chin toward Vanessa with my arms still restrained.

"Oh, please. She likes it rough." Keith smirks and I see red. Escaping the hold from the guards, I tackle him and rain down punches on him, until I'm pulled away again.

Kyle's voice rings in my ears. "Enough, Gabriel. What the hell is going on here?"

"Your fucking asshole brother assaulted Vanessa and then tried putting his hands on Jenny."

"Bullshit." Keith spits as he stands, smearing blood on his face when he wipes his nose. "You know how these whores are, Kyle."

Growling, I lunge for him, again, but Kyle holds me back. He looks at Vanessa, his eyes taking in the state of her face and dress. "Did Keith do that to you?"

During the short time I've known her, I know she's warring with herself to brush it all aside to not cause any problems or to call out Keith for the fucking asshole that he is. Vanessa's eyes shift to mine before she answers Kyle.

"Yes. And it's not the first time." More gasps and murmurs sound off in the hallway.

Understanding sinks in, thinking back to how her demeanor always changed whenever the mention of Keith or the Thompson brothers came up. And what she said about Lily not getting a fair shot, starting out at Thompson & Thompson. It all makes sense now.

The bullshit lies that Cynthia told me about Vanessa not being a good fit or a team player when they worked together never sat right with me.

Keith laughs. "She's fucking lying."

"Why do you think I left without notice, Kyle?" Vanessa doesn't stop the tears rolling down her face. "I was only eighteen. Your brother made it seem like the only way I could get promoted was to sleep with him. Keith cornered me in his office and I hit him over the head with a bookend on his bookshelf to get him off of me. He told me if I told anyone he'd ruin my career before it even started. I was naive and believed him."

Kyle looks back at his brother. "You told me you got that cut on your head during your sparring session with your trainer."

"Alright, everyone." An officer interrupts. "We need to collect statements. We'll start with you two." He guides Vanessa and Jenny away from us. The guards holding onto my arms let go of me and I straighten my suit.

Glaring at the asshole who's nose is still bleeding I walk toward him. He takes a step back as I approach.

"You're lucky your ass isn't in jail. Knowing your reputation, who knows how many others you've propositioned." I grit out.

"Consider yourself fired, Tate! Good luck finding work after today, asshole!" Keith snarls back.

"You're in no position to threaten me, dickhead. Look around, you're fucking finished."

Kyle holds his hands up. "Enough. Keith, go clean up. I'll deal with you later." Keith's heated glare shifts from his brother to me and he cracks his neck to the side. His eyes skirt around the growing audience and he leaves without another word, two cops trailing behind him.

A few members of the apartment association also begin dispersing the growing audience and I'm escorted to another area for cops to go over what happened.

Afterwards, I watch Vanessa and Jenny hug each other and say their goodbyes. Vanessa looks back at me and I walk to her but I slow down when Kyle moves in.

"Vanessa." Kyle approaches her tentatively. "I'm so sorry for what Keith did. I wish you had come to me when you worked for us, but I understand why you didn't. You were...are a great employee and I've heard nothing but great things about you since you left. I also wouldn't hold it against you if you decided to press charges against Keith or even the company."

She gives a subtle shake of her head. "I just want to put it behind me for good—"

"Vanessa." I start to interject.

"But." Her eyes meet mine. "I also want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. And Keith needs to be held accountable."

"I agree and I will support whatever decision you make," Kyle says, shaking her hand, and pats it with his other hand.

Commotion at the end of the lobby grabs our attention as Keith resists being put in handcuffs and dragged out of the hotel.

Kyle sighs and then addresses me. "Keith has no leverage when it comes to your career, Gabriel. Thank you for all the hard work you put into the lease up at Arbor Pointe. You did an excellent job. Perhaps, there will be another opportunity to work together in the future."

"Perhaps." But as long as Keith's involved, there's no chance in hell. I shake his hand before he leaves, taking long strides out of the hotel.

Noticing the curious glances and whispering still surrounding Vanessa, I shrug off my suit jacket and wrap it around her shoulders. She takes a step forward into me, her fingers grasp onto my shirt and pull me forward. "Please take me home, Gabe."

________________

The drive to her apartment is quiet with exception of the occasional sniffling coming from Vanessa.

When Preston pulls up to her building, I tell him that I'll be taking her to her apartment and help Vanessa out of the car. Her hand trembles in mine and I grit my teeth wishing I broke Keith's face while I had the chance.

She fumbles with her clutch, digging through it to find her keys, but her hand is shaking so much she struggles to insert the key. My hand comes over hers, taking the key and opening her door.

"Thank you." She mutters and then lifts her eyes to mine. "I'd invite you in, but you know, the whole dying thing because of Sergio..."

I cup her face, my thumbs brushing some of the lingering moisture on her cheeks. "Do you want me to stay?"

She nods, "Please. But your allergy—"

"Then I'm staying."

Vanessa's eyes flitter between mine, her eyebrows furrow.

I pull out the allergy medicine that's been my constant companion for the last three weeks out of my pocket. "I'll be fine, see? And I've been giving myself daily shots, too. It's supposed to help me become immune eventually. I'm not due for another one until the morning." She opens her mouth to respond, but I hook my arm under her legs, making her gasp before I carry her inside.

"Plus, worst case scenario we might get a chance to catch up with Eli."

Vanessa laughs, wrapping her arms around me, burying her face in my neck, inhaling and sighing as I walk us into her apartment and kick the door closed.