Page 71 of Embracing Love

Maybe his intentions weren’t as noble as she wanted to believe. Maybe what they’d had was nothing more than a good time in bed.

If she could only get used to enjoying the moment for what it was—great sex, and a connection—and not think about anything long-term, she would survive.

He seemed busy enough. But her doubts plagued her further. Was he busy or was he distant? Was he already bored with her? Perhaps he regretted their brief fling? Whatever it was, she sensed his indifference.

So she’d played it cool, too. Their time difference didn’t help, she knew that. But she and Nadine still managed to have a conversation.

Why did Gabriel have such a problem?

Or maybe she had now reached that age where it was time to let go of the future she’d envisioned for herself a few years ago. It was time to have more realistic expectations where romance was not a given and finding love with the perfect man was an impossibility.

She’d been forced to abandon her hopes of having children. And she could also give up all hope of finding love, too. Maybe the way forward, in order to survive life, was to be thankful for these moments, some stolen, some secret, wherever and whenever she found them.

“Suing Flight Europe?” asked Thierry.

“Yes,” Tanya replied wearily when she relayed the news to him.

“What does that have to do with us?” asked Thierry.

“It means that Flight Europe are stuck and can’t move forward with the campaign we worked on together until they legally figure this mess out. It might mean that Flight will have to work with Spiral.”

“That doesn’t sound right,” said Thierry. “Don’t you worry. It’s not your fault,” he said, trying to put her mind at rest.

“That’s not how Michael will see it.”

“I don’t see why. If Flight signed a contract with Spiral you weren’t part of that.”

“Thanks, Thierry. I appreciate you trying to make me feel better.” But she didn’t feel better at all. Right now, she didn’t know if it was as much because of the legal wrangles with her client, or because her client wasn’t pining for her as much as she was for him.

“How about we all go out this evening for a meal? Consider it a reward for surviving the first week back at work. Are you in?”

She shook her head. She didn’t feel in the mood for company tonight, and rather preferred the idea of a quiet night in. Above all, she needed to think, to prepare herself for the eventuality of Gabriel’s return—and what then?

“If you change your mind, call me.”

“Thanks.” She told him and watched as he left the office. But her mind was already made up.

“It’s not looking good,” agreed Nadine.

Tanya poured herself another glass of wine. She’d been home a while now, and had been trying to unwind.

But she kept thinking how a week ago today she had spent Friday night at the Roman Gardens with Gabriel.

And if she wasn’t thinking of that then her mind became preoccupied with other moments with Gabriel, and then the legal wrangles which would impact the Zimmerman Group. This was the very thing she and Nadine now discussed.

“How’s Michael taking it?” Tanya was more concerned about him.

“He’s being cautious. He thinks Flight needs to wait. I think mention was made of a romantic liaison between Gabriel and the co-founder of Spiral. Did you know?” Nadine asked.

“I guessed as much. But they’re not together anymore.”

“Maybe this has got more to do with emotional issues rather than a valid business reason.”

“I think so.” Agreed Tanya, and wondered whether to spill all to Nadine now.

“Anyway, Gabriel is pretty annoyed by the whole thing. He told Michael—now that I come to think of it—”

“Told Michael what?”

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