That’s how I’d feel.
Which doesn’t make sense.Gemma Ford is a business partner, and I’m not looking for a wife.
If things work out, I’ll fuck her and throw her to the sharks.
The end.
“Yes, I’m a widow.Thank you for pointing that out,” Gemma replies.
I turn, and because I own every room and space I’m in, she responds and turns to face me.
“Can we start again?”I ask.
“It is offensive referring to me as a single woman.I lost my husband.He was killed.Surely you can understand how tragic that is?”
I nod gently in acknowledgement.“Yes, I do.I lost my mother when I was younger.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”Her face softens, and God, I want to touch her.
Instead, her hand lands on my thigh, and without thinking, I place my own over it.
“Thank you.”
Our eyes connect again, and I slowly remove my hand.
“Truce?”
She nods.
“You were left in a terrible situation, having to take the reins of the business when your husband passed,” I say, and we both know I’m referring to her lack of experience.
What I’m trying to understand is how much she uncovered when she did step into his deceased shoes.Because things don’t look quite right.
“It was very difficult.Grieving Anthony, trying to care for my daughter who lost her father, and learning to be a CEO.”
I shake my head.
She took on a lot.
I admire her for having the courage, but at the same time I feel a simmering rage for something we are yet to uncover.Her husband was hiding something, I’m sure of it.
We pull up outside the Open Leaf flagship store in Manhattan, and I climb out.Reaching in, I take her hand and then watch as she brushes down her dress, then walks proudly into the large, mildly busy store.
God, she’s stunning.
Stifling my smile, I give my security guy, Patrick, a nod to stick around outside with Jeeves and the car until we are done.
Following Gemma inside, I watch how she warmly interacts with the team and listen as they ask about Zoe.She introduces me, and they fall over themselves showing us the popular new books that have arrived and new displays.
It’s not enough to fix this mess, but I don’t say a word.
This is not my first rodeo.
I know they’re concerned.
They should be.
Things are going to get rougher before it gets better.I’m not sure it will get better.My team is still digging through the dirt to find the gems, so to speak.
