‘I am sure that the two of you have a lot to catch up on,’ Claude said, clearly oblivious to the alarm bells sounding in my head. ‘I will leave you to it.’
I wanted to scream,No! Whatever you do, do not leave me alone with him, but Claude had already disappeared.
‘May I?’ Gabriel gestured to his chair, but I couldn’t even answer.
My head was still spinning as I tried to process the enormity of what was happening and most importantly how I could get myself out of it.
Fuck.
I thought coming to this hotel was a dream, but now that I’d been introduced to my match, it’d just become my worst nightmare.
7
GABRIEL
Mon Dieu.
It actually happened.
I was at the hotel at the same time as Laila.
That alone felt like a chance in a million.
But to be matched with her too? I did not have the words to describe how much of a miracle that was.
This was incredible news.
After I had arrived at the hotel, I had relaxed, ordered room service and started reading a new biography of an entrepreneur I had not heard of before, but that Nico recommended after enjoying the audiobook. The story was addictive, so I had lost track of time and before I knew it, I had to get ready for dinner.
When I arrived at the restaurant and saw Laila sitting there, I could not believe my luck.
And she looked even more beautiful than in the photo Mother had sent.
Her flawless skin glowed, her beautiful brown eyes sparkled, her braids were longer than the style she used to wear, but equally stunning and that red dress wasincroyable.
Nico was right. The hotel had done an excellent job.
I did not know how this had happened, given how small the chances were. Whatever the reason, I was just happy that Laila was my match. But judging by the look of horror on her face, she did not agree.
‘Is everything okay?’ I asked.
‘Okay?’ Laila’s eyebrows shot up to the ceiling. ‘Are you beingserious?This…’ she gestured between us, ‘isnevergoing to happen! You’re Juliette’s son, for Christ’s sake!’
‘And?’ I shrugged.
‘Andit’swrong! We can’t date!’
‘Why not?’ I said quickly.
Although I had previously said I had no interest in dating, perhaps with Laila I could make an exception. I had a crush on her for years. Long after I had stopped talking to my mother. I would be a fool to miss an opportunity to spend more time with her. If this was not the definition of fate, I did not know what was.
‘Because of a million reasons. Firstly… like I’ve already said a hundred times but no one seems to be listening. You. Are. Juliette’s.Son!’
‘And I am a grown man who is capable of making his own decisions.’
‘Secondly,’ she continued, ignoring my previous response, ‘you’rewaytoo young for me!’
‘My age is irrelevant.’
