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“We can proceed as soon as you type in the delivering account details.”
She swallows as she stares at the screen. Then she leans close to the laptop, types a few keys, and hits enter.
“Done.”
Shiro glances at his friend, who is monitoring his phone. A second later, the taller man nods, pushing his hair back from his face. Shiro’s lips curl as he closes the laptop and looks down at Fumi.
“Well, Ms. Yamaguchi,” he says mildly, “I believe that concludes our business.”
“I believe so.”
Again, the way this Watanabe is looking at her makes my blood boil, for reasons I don’t quite understand.
He bows low. “Our regards to your father.” He turns and walks toward me, extending his hand. I shake it and he bows again. “Congratulations on your engagement, Mr. Black.” He throws a grin to Fumi before turning back to me. “You’re a very lucky man.”
Lucky? Maybe. Right now, what I really am is curious.
11
FUMI
I expected the day my “relationship” with Gabriel went public to be a shit show.
But come on.
The “grand announcement” on the staircase in view of the entire firm was insane enough. Takato’s men bursting into Gabriel’s office seriously threw me off.
Because that’s exactly who they were.
The shorter guy, Shiro…if that even is his real name…was one of the men in my apartment the other day, when I came home to find my father on the floor.
Them being here today is seriously freaking me out. For a start, it was creepy how they knew exactly when and where I’d be receiving the money. And what the hell did Takato think I was going to do? Get the payment from Gabriel and run?
But after they had me transfer the money from my Caymans account to Takato’s uncle’s, and after they left, my day only got weirder.
Cassidy is completely ignoring me. Not looking at me. Not acknowledging me when I walk into a room. Certainly not talking to me.
That fucking hurts.
She’s one of my best friends at work, and I just know from the look on her face that she’s seeing the news of Gabriel and I exactly as I was worried people would: that I’m screwing my boss for advancement. That I made equity partner by sucking Gabriel’s dick or something.
I mean…I did. But that came after the equity partnership. And again, he didn’t, and presumably still doesn’t, know that was me.
Fortunately, my other close friends at the firm immediately seek me out to make sure I’m okay. One million signed NDAs aside, I end up pulling Elsa and Eloise into a conference room and making them swear on the lives of their not-yet-even-conceived children not to say a word before I tell them what’s up. I even pay them both a dollar, making them legally my attorneys, and the information I unload onto them totally confidential.
“I mean…” Eloise shrugs. “Gabriel can be a little gruff sometimes. And he’s a bit of a control freak?—”
“Seriously! God help you if his pen is moved half an inch on his desk,” Elsa snickers. “But he’s a good man, Fumi.” She frowns. “You and he aren’t…you know…actually?—”
“No!” I blurt, my face turning scarlet. “No! That is not included.”
Elsa giggles. “I didn’t imagine it would be. I mean, Gabriel doesn’t even date.”
“Facts,” Eloise adds. “Alistair offers to set him up with women all the time. He never bites.” She grins. “Honestly, and I’m not saying this to be a bitch or anything, but Alistair and I have both wondered if he’s asexual or something.”
NOPE.
Or if he is, someone give that man a Tony award for his performance the other night.
