Page 72 of Pure Abandon

The house is quiet when I get home. Gwen is still here so she can spend time with Jackson. It’s sweet of her, though part of me can’t wait until she goes home. She meddles. I want to talk to Gabriel about Becca again but can’t with Gwen around. She will either take his side, or worse, take mine. I don’t know if I’m ready for that… yet.

“You look beat. You really should wear more rouge.” She’s thumbing through New York Magazine again. It’s been circulating my house all week, yet I’ve neglected to pick up the damn thing and read it.

“Thank you for the words of encouragement, but I had a very trying day at work.” My body falls to the couch in defeat.

“I’ll tell you what I’d like to try… This boss of yours. Did you know he’s been linked with two Hollywood actresses and three socialites in the past year alone?” Her eyes widen as she scans the photos.

“Yes, he is quite the playboy, mother. I’ll put in a good word for you if you’d like a piece.” I cover my face with my arm. I wish I could just block out everything Asher, and Asher-Marks Communications, for a few moments.

“Did you know he is the sole heir of the Asher fortune? When his grandfather dies, he’ll be left with everything. Just imagine how much money that man will have!”

“Yes, Mother. I am aware.” My voice is muffled under my arm, but I’m sure she can hear the annoyance in my voice.

“And this sad, sad story about his mother. She died in a tragic car accident with him in the car.”

My head peaks to attention. “What else does it say?”

“How his heroic grandfather took him in. The man is a saint. He is the only living family the boy had. I don’t know how you are able to look at that man without your heart breaking every day.”

I sit up and reach over toward my mother. “Can I see that article?”

Gwen hands over the magazine, and I read it through. In there, it talks of the empire. Wow. The Asher family does control as much as Gabriel said they did. I can see why gluttony and greed are synonymous with the Asher name.

My eyes glide through the article, trying to find the part about the mother, when the garage door opening disrupts me. Gabriel is home. I have to talk to him.

His dark, wavy hair has fallen haphazardly on his face. He must have been running his hands through it a lot today. He looks more beaten and battered than I do.

“Hi, baby. How was your day?” I stand to join him by the table. I gently put my hands on his shoulders, but he brushes them away.

He catches my stunned expression.

“I’m sorry. It’s just been a long day. I want to go upstairs.”

Gabriel kisses me on the forehead and makes his way up to the bedroom. I stand here listening as his footsteps climb the staircase and the door to the bedroom closes behind him.

This isn’t the way tonight was supposed to go. My heart actually aches inside my chest. I grab Gabriel’s car keys off the kitchen counter and head to the garage.

“I’m going out,” I shout over my shoulder to Gwen, who watches me, stunned.

Crack!

I love the sound of a metal bat as it hits a ball. I especially love it on days like these.

Crack!

This one is for Gabriel and his bipolar moods!

Crack!

This one is for Becca, with her perky boobs and platinum-blonde hair!

Crack!

This one is for Erik and his goddamn deadlines!

Crack!

This one is for Heather and her bitch attitude!