Once the room had cleared out, Gabriella looked at me, her rage now bubbling over.
“What the hell is your problem?” she spat.
“I thought it went well.” I shrugged smugly.
“They were looking for guidance and you were a total prick.”
“I’m not here to guide anyone. They should know their fucking jobs, and their silly little goals, without someone spoon-feeding it to them.”
“Do you even know what a CEO is?” she asked, shaking her head.
“I know it’s what you’re not. Because if youwereCEO, you would be leading little kumbaya circles and passing around a feelings stick. You’d run this place into the fucking ground.”
“You don’t know how I would run things,” she said through clenched teeth.
“And thankfully, I never will.”
She sat back in her chair and muttered under her breath. “I thought things would be different after the gala…”
I knew we had crossed a line we shouldn’t have, but that night there was no stopping us from crashing into each other. I just had to prevent it from happening again, as much as I wanted it to.
“About that…it’s probably best we only communicate through phone or email. This clearly isn’t working.” I pointed between the two of us.
Her eyes snapped up to mine. Confusion, anger, and hurt lay there. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was practically demoting her or because she wanted more from me. More than I couldn’t give.
“I know what you’re trying to do,” she said pointedly. “You’re trying to make my life here hell so you can push me out. But it’s not going to happen.”
She stood from her chair and stormed out of the room. I watched her go, letting out a frustrated sigh. I just wanted to run the company without her interfering, and without wanting to fuck that pretty mouth of hers.
Chapter 13
Gabriella
I left the conference room on the verge of tears. Stupid tears. I was at least glad I hadn’t let Chandler see he broke me. I quickly walked through the office, mustering up a smile at anyone I passed, until I was in the privacy of the empty women’s bathroom. I walked to the counter and wrapped my hands around the marble edge, gripping it tightly as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror.
“Stupid girl,” I whispered to myself.
I shook my head, my long hair swishing behind me, tickling the back of my arms in this sleeveless dress. This dress that I had spent all morning picking out because I wanted to look good for that asshole. It seemed so stupid now. I wanted to rip the damn thing off, but I doubted walking around the office in my bra and underwear would be a good look.
I was foolish to think that the night we shared meant anything. That it changed anything. It had felt so mind-numbingly good, that I thought the earth, the moon, and the stars had rearranged. I had never felt anything like it, and it was what I spent most of my weekend thinking about. Pleasuring myself to. The sex with Chandler had taken over my mind, so much so that I was excited to see him today.
Excited.
A word I never thought I would say when it came to Chandler White.
But I had known that something had been brewing between us the second I saw him in that coffee shop, not knowing that I would ever see him again. That electricity vibrated between us in every look, spiteful word, and frustrated sigh. It was this uncontrollable thing, and I wasn’t sure how we were supposed to go on. Hating each other, but secretly lusting over each other all the same. I was so confused by my emotions that couldn’t make up their damn mind.
This wasn’t the time to lose control, either. Not when the company needed me. Not when I was trying to prove myself. Not when I needed my father to see how blind he was in choosing a different successor. No, this was the time to hold it together, but here I was about to cry in the bathroom over a man. It felt like I didn’t know myself anymore. This wasn’t me.
I gripped the counter even harder, my knuckles turning white as I blinked back the warm tears. I glanced at the small watch onmy wrist. I still had seven more hours to go. Seven more hours to avoid Chandler. Wasn’t that what he wanted anyway? It had been a slap in the face when he said we should stick to email or phone calls, like distant strangers. As if he wasn’t just exploring every intimate part of me.
I gave myself a firm nod in the mirror and pressed my lips into a firm smile. If that was what he wanted, then that was what he would get. It wasn’t like we were getting anywhere the way we were doing things before. He was too stubborn and set in his ways to even listen to me. I didn’t know why I even tried. A small part of me despised my father for even assigning me to the job. It was insulting, even though I was sure he saw it as a compliment when he arranged it.
I walked out of the bathroom and headed in the direction of the junior associates who had attended that botched meeting this morning, determined to make things right and to address their concerns. I was sure there would be many after the way Chandler had handled things. I realized that my job here was to clean up his messes so I could salvage my father’s legacy. Eventually, he would see that I was the one who deserved it. He had to.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally packed up my things and left work, careful to avoid going anywhere near Chandler’s office. I barely saw him the rest of the day, and carefully avoided any looks in his direction when my asshole radar went off. It had been an exhausting feat and I was ready for a bottle of wine.
As I walked through the door of my apartment, I kicked off my shoes and my feet seemed to give an appreciative sigh of reliefas they padded across the cool, wood floor. I went straight for the kitchen counter and pulled a nice bottle of cabernet from the wine rack, popping the cork and pouring a generous glass. I took a sip and closed my eyes at the hints of cherry and cedar.
