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“Wow, sweetheart,” he smiles at me, “you look stunning.” He takes my arm and gives me a twirl, eyeing me up and down with hungry admiration. “That color is perfect on you.”
From across the room, Tom, always a little more reserved than Gabriel, smiles brightly, his own appreciation apparent in his deep blue eyes.
“You seemed a little down this afternoon. Was your day okay, honey?” Gabriel asks as he leads me into the parlor.
So they did notice, I think, once again impressed by how closely the men pay attention to me. Out loud I answer, “Well, it was mostly good. I’m really enjoying that new novel. Plus, I can’t get over how amazing the chef’s food is.”
“You’re avoiding the question, Michelle,” Tom looks at me gently, concern etched on his handsome face.
I sigh, knowing I can’t hide what happened. Tentatively, I share my story.
“So I received a call this afternoon.” Two sets of piercing blue eyes stay locked on me. “From Jensen Draper.”
“What did he say?” Gabriel demands in a smooth tone, his expression giving nothing away. I take a deep breath.
“He said… well, it’s kind of gross, really.” I take a sip of my wine, trying to formulate the best way to tell the brothers what Jensen said without it coming across as too vile.
“Then we definitely need to know.” Tom sets down his drink and folds his arms across his broad chest, a look of concern mixed with rage flitting through his eyes.
I swallow, suddenly knowing that these men will do anything to protect me from the likes of Jensen Draper. Comforted by this realization, I relay the conversation to them. “And finally, he said that I owe him, and that I better keep you both happy.” I shrug, trying to appear like the conversation didn’t bother me, but struggling to fake such nonchalance.
What bugs me most, I realize, is that he would demean my relationship with the brothers like that. I’m not their pet! Or am I?
I look up from my wine glass to see what Gabriel and Tom think of the disgusting conversation. Their handsome faces are shuttered, although those blue eyes gleam.
“We’ll handle Jensen.” Tom says in a tight voice, his entire body poised as if for a fight.
“You will not be hearing from him again, we promise you that,” Gabriel echoes his older brother’s sentiment, his own body tense with ire.
“I didn’t mean to make you guys angry,” I look from one Costas to the other, suddenly worried about the meaning behind their words.
Sensing my alarm, Gabriel laughs lightly, but it’s not with his usual ease. “We just mean that Jensen has no reason to be contacting you at all, ever again.”
“That sounds ominous,” I say, unsure what the brothers are getting at.
Finally, Tom speaks. “There is no need for Jensen to ‘check in’ with you. We paid for you, and he no longer has any say or input into you, your relationship with us, nor any role in your life. He’s a nobody.”
I stare at Tom, unsure what to make of this speech, but also grateful for his insistence that Jensen will be out of my life for good.
I finally find my voice, which to my disappointment wavers ever so slightly. “You do realize what you’re doing is illegal, right?” Two pairs of steely blue eyes glower at me, but I proceed regardless.
“It’s illegal what Jensen did. And frankly, you don’t ‘own’ me.” Their expressions are neutral, and my heart curls up into itself. I’m angry with myself for bringing up this point again, but also frustrated with Tom and Gabriel for insisting that they can buy me like a car or suit.
To my surprise, however, it’s Tom who smiles first. There’s no menace in his eyes, only gentle indulgence. “Well, we did buy you, technically at least. But more importantly than that – don’t you like being here?” I can hear the sincerity in his question, so I consider my response carefully.
The two men almost appear to be leaning toward me, waiting for me to share my feelings about my living situation.
Now’s my chance to be candid, I realize.
“I do like living here,” I begin, feeling shy but knowing that I need to express myself fully so we can all move past this strange start to our arrangement. “I love it in fact. And to say I’m grateful for your generosity is an understatement. It’s just…” I take a deep breath then proceed. “It’s just that I’ve been grappling with a lot of competing thoughts over the past week, including trying to figure out if I’m okay with just letting my dreams fall to the wayside.”
“What do you mean?” Gabriel asks, sitting down and resting his elbows on his knees, listening to my words.
“Well, I’m here every day, living a life of leisure. But what about my dreams? My goals?”
