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“It’s alright, Amber,” I remark as I get to my feet. Linda is only slightly taller than me, and I hold my own. “I assure you I don’t loiter around all day doing nothing but hanging out with Amber. I have other assignments, which I put on hold to assist her.” I pause for a second, then add, “You’re welcome.”
“How dare you speak to me in that insolent manner?” she retorts with fury. “Don’t you know I can have you fired this minute?”
“Mom, please. You’re embarrassing me,” Amber interjects before I can say a word.
Looking at her reddened face, I decide it’s best if I keep silent.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I will not have your dad’s employees speak to me this way. First, it was Jackie the other day, and now this Holly person.”
“Hailey, Mom.”
“Whatever. Are you ready? Your piano lesson is in an hour.”
Amber turns to me. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I pat her on the shoulder.
“I guess this is the end of our sessions,” she replies in a rueful tone.
“I’m always here if you need more help.”
“Thank you,” she whispers and shocks me by throwing her arms around me. I hug her back and raise my head to look at her mother, who had moved to the door. She rolls her eyes.
“Come along, Amber,” she says tightly before walking away, her heels clicking on the floor.
“I’ll miss you,” Amber says when she pulls away from my arms.
“I’ll miss you, too.” I tap her on the nose, and she smiles before waving at me and leaving the office.
Feeling as if I had a whirl on a rollercoaster, I sit down. Something nags at me. I feel as if I’ve seen Linda somewhere before, but I can’t place my finger on it. I guess maybe it’s from the same magazine I first saw Gareth in.
I push away the irrelevant thought and return to my work. A few hours later, there’s a knock on my door and Gareth strolls into the office, looking drop-dead gorgeous as usual in a white shirt, navy-blue tie, and navy trousers. So attuned to him now, I know something is disturbing him.
“What’s wrong?” I inquire with a frown.
“Are you alright? My meeting just ended, and I read a text message from Amber asking me to check on you because Linda embarrassed you. Susan confirmed that Linda came in here screaming like a banshee.”
I chortle at the description, and he looks at me as if I’m losing it. He rakes his fingers through his hair.
“My apologies. I never meant for you to be at the receiving end of her wrath. I assure you it will never happen again.”
I shrug. “It’s fine.”
He reaches out to cup my cheek, and I lean into it for a moment before he pulls away. I ache to draw him back and kiss him. I control my emotions because we both agreed never to allow our relationship to interfere with our work.
“Tell Amber that I’m fine. She doesn’t need to worry about me. I have a tough hide.”
“I’ll see you later, then. What should we order today?”
It has become our routine to stay late in the office. I don’t mind since it leads to other pleasurable things.
“Italian?” I suggest, with a twinkle in my eye. We’ve been going around the world with our orders.
“Great.”
I watch him as he walks away. If I’m not careful, I’ll fall in love with him, and my heart will be roadkill. When he told me he wanted me to meet his daughter, I was surprised and at the same time glad. I felt it was taking our relationship a step further. I know how much Amber means to him. Silly me had felt the project was just an excuse for me to meet her. But I quickly came down to earth. Gareth might enjoy us being fuck buddies, but that’s it.
For a man who has already walked down the aisle and had it end in bitterness, he gives vibes of not desiring to do so again. We never go out in public. We are either at the office, or he comes over to my place late at night.
