THE BOSS TAKES A WIFE

n he suggested they stop for lunch she had no idea he intended for them to dine together. He took her arm and led her outside and hailed a cab.

”Shall I meet you back here after lunch? ” she asked, looking confused when he opened the cab door and motioned for her to get in.

”Well eat together, that way we can go over a few details, ” he answered, getting in next to her. He felt the friction between them when his thigh was up against hers, that was until she moved further over.

Stopping at the Hilton she looked over at him. ”We
e eating here? ”

”Yes, do you have a problem with it? ” he asked, curious.

”Its just that we
e not properly dressed. ”

”They know me very well here, it won be a problem. ”

God, he was so smug. It was like he thought that everyone should drop what they are doing just to cater to him and she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

They were given a seat by the window, he ordered a bottle of wine and ordered for the two of them. He didn even ask what she wanted which angered her and spoke a little too harshly.

”Im allergic to shellfish. ”

Clearly, he was not pleased with her tone of voice, his dark eyes narrowed when he looked back at her. Handing the waiter the menu changed the order to the special of the day.

”I suggest you watch your tone around me, Paige. ”

Lifting the glass of wine to her lips she took a sip before speaking.

”Some of the work that you want doing means the hotel may have to be closed for at least a week or two. Will you still pay the wages to the staff while they are off? ”

”I suppose I could do that. ”

She smiled, not expecting him to give in so easily. ”Thats wonderful, thank you. ”

”Regardless of what you think of me, Im not completely heartless. ” He knew that she didn expect this from him and was pleased by her reaction, one of surprise followed by a smile. ”Do you have a boyfriend? ”

”My personal life is none of your business and has nothing to do with why we are here. Can we please just stick to the renovations? ”

”I like to get to know the people Im working with. You can either tell me or I can have a private investigator get me all the facts on you. Save me the time and trouble, answer my question. ”

”No, I don have a boyfriend. My last relationship was three years ago when I was eighteen. It only lasted six months. ”

”Why so short? ”

”He left me for an older woman, one who had lots of money. ” She stopped talking as the memory was too painful.

She had given her virginity to him, thinking he was her one and only true love. He broke her heart but she forgave him like she always did to anyone who hurt her.

”You are very young and beautiful, you will find someone else. ”

”Im not looking, ” she said, setting her glass down when the food arrived.

They went over what had to be done back at the hotel while they ate.

An elderly woman walked past their table and as she was reaching into her pocket to take out a handkerchief some money fell on the floor, she hadn noticed. But Paige did.

Getting up she bends down, picking the fifty dollar bill calls out to the woman.

”Madam, you dropped this, ” she said and handed it to her.

”Oh thank you, dear, that is so kind of you to give it back to me. ”

”You
e very welcome, ” Paige said, giving the old woman a big smile.

Gabriel turned his head to watch her and waited for her to come back.

”Why would you bother? you could have just kept the money. ”

”Its called doing the right thing and the money doesn belong to me. Would you not have done the same thing? ”

”I would not waste my time over a mere fifty dollars. If people are stupid enough to leave money laying loosely in their pocket then they deserve what they get. ”

”You
e so cold, what has turned you into such a cynical man? ”

”Life, ” he replied. ”If you
e finished well go back to the hotel. I have some numbers to give you to call. ”

”Calls, what calls? ”

”Ill be leaving tomorrow for about two to three weeks. You will have to call the contractors, painters and pick out the new furniture. ”

Seeing the haunted look on her face he continued speaking. ”I will make arrangements for someone to take over your duties, it will give you time to do the job Ive handed you. ”

She couldn believe the audacity of the man to just assume she would do it. But on the other hand, he had made it clear he didn care what someone thought, he just expected them to do what he told them to do. Something told her that nobody ever said no to him.

Back at the hotel, they go up to his suite.

”If that will be all Ill be leaving now, ” she said after he gave her a list of numbers to call.

”One more thing Paige, ” he said as he moved closer to her.

Before she could stop him he backed her up till she was leaning up against the wall. The palms of his hands rested on the wall on either side of her, she was trapped.

”What the hell are you doing? ” she snapped, fear raced through her veins.

”Do you still want to save the hotel? ” he asked, his eyes moved down her face to her lips.

”You know I want nothing more than to have the hotel stay open. ”

”Well, there just might be a way. ”

She felt the heat from his body, his warm breath on her face as he leaned in even closer, their bodies almost touching. Curiosity overtook her fear and she had to ask him.

”How? ” A tremor ran through her when she saw the lust in his eyes.

”Im willing to make a deal with you, one that will benefit both of us. ”

”What kind of deal? ” she asked, her voice shook when she spoke, not sure if she wanted to hear what he was about to say.