Page 62 of Untamed Protector

“Anita’s certainly… unique,” he says tightly, slamming his laptop shut and standing up, his jaw clenched.

“That’s it? You’re not curious to know more? Why does it feel like you’re dodging the question about her coming over? She seems to know every detail about your house. Including your famous no snooping around rule. Do you use it on every woman you invite to your place?”

“I don’t bring women home,” he says, stressing the plural. “Anita was there just once. I found her wasted in a club, and she begged me not to leave her alone.”

“You’re really generous when it comes to women, Gabriel.”

“Not really. It only happened that one time. She ended up at my place and crashed on the couch. The next morning, I had to sneak her out disguised under a coat and sunglasses so nobody would recognize her. And we never talked about it again,” he replies from behind the desk.

“Is that what you do for Peter? Keeping his bratty kids out of trouble?”

“There are many bratty kids I look out for.”

“You’re a fixer, then.”

“Call me whatever you want. They’re my clients, so I watch over them.”

“The woman earlier, your private matter… was she at your place, too?”

“No. Let’s stop with the questions for today. You’re upset about Anita. Maybe we should talk when you’ve calmed down.” Maybe he’s the one who needs to calm down. Usually, he puts up a fight. But now there’s clearly something that’s troubling him, something that happened before I got here.

Gabriel pulls his phone from his pocket, a soft buzz cutting through the air as it vibrates. He picks it up with a curt, “Sure, come on up.”

“Is anyone else coming here? Another woman?”

“Yes, someone is coming. No, it’s not a woman. Why don’t you have a seat and relax, Lexi?”

His relax only tightens the knot in my stomach, and I’m already all over the place emotionally and mentally. Anita’s evil and she’s obviously lying, and Gabriel’s silence feels like a betrayal. I hate how I’m acting—a jealous mess, all anger and accusations.

No, Lexi, you’re not jealous. You’re just tired of everyone lying to you. Admit it. You don’t want to be another name in Gabriel’s client portfolio.

I’ve gotten used to being the center of his attention when he’s with me, and we’ve been nonstop together for the last few days. The way he’s shutting me out now, the look he gives me as he walks away… I don’t get it. What the hell happened in the last few hours? It has to mean more to Gabriel than just work.

“I think I need a restroom break and some water,” I say, my gaze drawn back to the mysterious door where I saw Gabriel and that woman. This might be a good time to steal a peek and see what’s going on in there.

“Everything you need is back there,” Gabriel says, pointing to the door. “Snacks, drinks, it’s all in the fridge. You can come back in here whenever you want. You’re not bothering me, and there’s someone I want to introduce you to. They’re going to be here soon.” He lets out a slow breath, his shoulders slumping as he relaxes back in his chair. His gaze softens, a hint of relief flickering across his face.

“Sorry for overreacting earlier,” he continues, his voice soft and measured as he chooses his words carefully and takes a deep breath to calm down. “Just ignore it.”

Seeing he needs a moment to cool off, I smile, nod, and head toward the door Gabriel pointed to. A short hallway leads to a surprisingly well-equipped kitchen with everything you’d need to whip up a meal: a stove, microwave, fridge, coffeemaker, and even a table with two chairs. On the table, I spot a half-eaten sandwich and two glasses of water. Two other doors lead out of the kitchen. One opens into a small closet packed with suits and shirts, and the other looks like a bathroom entry. This whole setup feels more like a full-on apartment than just an office. Gabriel could practically live here if he wanted to. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was also a hidden TV somewhere in his giant office.

I grab a small bottle of water from the fridge and head toward the door to his office. The door swings open before I reach it, and a tall stranger with a deep, raspy voice walks in. “I ran into Eda downstairs. Is everything okay with Iris?” he asks.

Then I see Gabriel behind him. “She’s fine,” he says curtly, his voice tight.

“Did she come to ask for money?” the man asks.

“She came by to nag me about paying that so-called debt she always brings up whenever she wants me to do something I don’t want to. And I’m afraid she’s not only after money; there’s something more serious going on this time. Let’s talk later. I might need your help.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Shit. I take a quick look—it’s Lena. With a sigh, I hit decline and head for the office to meet them. I can’t keep eavesdropping anymore.

“This is Lexi. You haven’t met her yet,” Gabriel says, looking my way. “This is Damien,” he points to the man standing a few feet away.

Damien walks over to me, hand outstretched for a shake. He eyes Gabriel with a raised eyebrow. “Green Eyes?” he asks. Gabriel throws him a nod. Grinning wide, Damien pulls me in for a friendly hug. Are all his friends huggers?

“So you’re our mysterious client and the woman who pulled Gabriel out of his cave.”

“Cut it out, Damien. There’s no cave. You and Dominic have a weird fixation.”

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