She nodded sadly and turned to Angel. "C'mon, Angel."
"Bye, Gianna." Angel pulled me into a quick hug before they walked away.
I watched them pull off, my chest tight as the valet brought my car around. How had a perfect lunch with my man’s family spiraled into me fleeing from an obsessed client? The lines I had worked so hard to keep separate in my life were starting to blur together, bleeding into spaces they never should’ve touched. And if I didn’t create some distance soon, this shit was only going to get worse.
And then Remy called—
Chapter 33
My mama didn’t tell me the whole story but she was upset when she called.
All she told me was that one of Gianna's clients came causing a scene and yelling her name. As soon as I got off the phone with her, I called Gianna. My first instinct was to make sure she was okay. That was my priority.
When she answered, she sounded kinda upset but like she was trying to hide it. I asked her to stop by the restaurant so we could talk. I just wanted to see her, look her in her eyes, and get to the bottom of what was happening.
This was why I was so worried about her all the time. I knew her work was dangerous. Rich men or not, it didn’t stop the predatory nature of some men. Men who probably spent a fortune for her time and now felt entitled toherandher life.
Not on my watch. Not with me.
I was outside trying to gather my thoughts when Gianna finally pulled up. I directed her towards my private parking space and met her in the lot. I opened her door and as soon as she stepped out, I was hugging her close to my chest. I could feel her body trembling slightly in my arms.
Kissing the side of her face twice, I rubbed her back. "Are you okay?" I kissed her face once more before pulling back to look at her.
She nodded. "I'm okay. I just—" she squeezed my arms trying to find the words.
"Let's go to my office. We can talk."
She nodded again and I laced my fingers through hers leading her inside.
I led her through the back hall and into my office, shutting the door quietly behind us. The second it closed, Gianna let out a shaky breath.
“Come here,” I murmured.
She didn’t hesitate. I sat down in my chair and pulled her gently into my lap, wrapping my arms around her while she tucked her face into my neck. I just held her there for a minute, rubbing slow circles into her back while trying to keep my own emotions under control.
Seeing her shaken like this did something to me. “You wanna tell me what happened?” I asked softly.
She was quiet for a second before nodding against my shoulder. “It was Bishop,” she admitted quietly. “The client I told you about.”
My jaw tightened, but I kept my hands calm against her back. “He followed you there?”
“I don’t know,” she sighed pulling back slightly. “Maybe. But he came up to the table while I was having lunch with your mama and Angel.”
I closed my eyes briefly. What the hell? “My mama said he caused a scene.”
“He did.” She swallowed hard. “At first, it was calm. He asked to speak to me privately and I went because I didn’t want to make things awkward at the table.” She shook her head, already upset with herself. “But then he started talking crazy. I told him I didn’t want him booking with me anymore. That he needed to leave me alone.”
My brows furrowed. “And how did he react to that?”
Her eyes lifted to mine finally. “Bad. He grabbed my arm when I tried to walk away,” she continued quietly. “I snatched away and then he started yelling my name in the restaurant.”
I felt anger crawl up my spine instantly. “He put his hands on you?” I asked carefully.
Gianna shook her head quickly. “Not like that. He wasn’t trying to hurt me.”
“But he still grabbed you.”
She didn't respond. She looked away.
