Page 44 of Master Heimdall

“Absolutely.” I straightened my shoulders and marched up the walkway to the entrance. As I was about to step through the door, Gabe grabbed my hand and held it firmly in his.

“We’ll meet this head on, Amora.” He winked.

I was confused and about to ask him what he meant when we’re met by Yula. “Congratulations, you two. I’m so happy for you both,” she gushed.

What the heck! I felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole. Gabe answered for both of us and then hustled me down the hall to a supply room, where he opened the door and yanked me inside.

“You’re killing me, Rose.” He squeezed my ass and I wrapped my hands around his neck, standing on my tippy toes. His mouth closed the distance between us and he claimed my lips with a nip before his tongue delved deep inside my mouth. I ground against his front when we heard voices getting louder. We held still and waited for them to pass us. Once the coast was clear, we stepped out of the closet.

“Gabriel what is going on?” I asked as we walked down to his office.

“About damn time, Gabe, Congratulations, you two,” Lincoln said, slapping Gabe on the shoulder, and sending me a wink.

“What did you do?”

“I sent out a company-wide email.”

“What?” I scurried to my office and logged on to my computer and read the email.

Attn: Employees and Contractors of G&H

I looked up and saw Gabe standing on the other side of my desk. “You sent it to the contractors too?”

Gabe nodded.

This email is to disclose that Rosette Dodds and Gabriel Dakos have entered into an exclusive and consensual relationship. In entering into this relationship, we both understand and agree to the following:

Our personal relationship is voluntary and consensual.

We are both free to end the relationship at any time.

If the social relationship should end, we both agree that we shall not allow the end of this relationship to negatively impact our job performance.

We will act professionally in the workplace without public display of affection.

We have received and reviewed G&H's sexual-harassment policy, a copy of which is attached.

We acknowledge that the social relationship between us does not violate G&H’s policies and that entering into the social relationship has not been made a condition or term of employment.

“Did you seriously cross out ‘without public displays of affection’?”

“I did.”

I shook my head. “You are crazy, you know that? You’ve done a complete one-eighty from before, why the change of heart? On second thought, don’t answer that, I don’t want to know.”

“I have to get to work. I’ll see you later.” He leaned down and gave me a kiss to end all kisses and left me stunned and swaying on my feet, in a half-sitting position. I fell back into my chair and took a breath before tackling my emails for the day. I was almost done when a programmer from IT appeared at my door.

“What can I help you with, Dave?”

“Mr. Dakos sent me.”

My curiosity piqued. “Oh? To do what exactly?”

“The boss wanted a full scan of your face, including retinal recognition.”

This felt like my first test to what I’d claimed in my hours of desperation yesterday. Instead of feeling incensed at the extra security measures Dave would be setting up at Gabe’s request, I felt loved and that was a very first for me.

“What does this do?” I asked when he was done.

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