Page 2 of Claimed By the Boss

They were already headingtoward the elevator. Nora didn’t hear any of them comment or fight. Gabriel’sword was law. There was nothing any of them could do.

On the elevator, she triednot to stare at him. This was the most she had ever spoken to him. Actually, itwas the closest she had ever gotten to any man. Being alone on the streets, shelearned to hide, to watch, to keep silent, and listen. The men there weredangerous. She’d avoided pimps, drug dealers, and pretty much every nightmareimaginable.

She had helped severalyoung girls as well. She got them moved to better places. From time to time,she would check up on them to make sure they were happy and safe.

Did the elevator usually takeso long?

Whenever she went up tothe top floor, she often spoke with Mrs. Burns. Trudy was Gabriel’s personalassistant and one of the sweetest women Nora knew. She had four kids, ademanding husband, and loved her job. She was also not terrified of Gabriel,which made her kind of like a superhero to Nora. The woman was so damn sweet,and she loved her.

Now, as she entered thatfloor, Trudy was there. “What on earth has happened?”

“We’d like a change ofclothes, some coffee, and would you order lunch, and please hold all meetings,”Gabriel said, his voice firm.

Trudy didn’t argue and gotto work.

They walked into hisoffice, and Nora was a little taken aback. She already knew from previousvisits that his office space was huge, she just didn’t realize how big it was untilshe stood inside it. He commanded a great deal of business in this one room.She was aware of the other offices he held as well. This was incredible.

“You need to take off yourclothes so we can see the damage,” he said.

“It’s fine. Honestly.”

“You spilled hot coffee onyourself.”

“And it’s getting coldnow.” She wanted to ask about her job. She glanced down at herbody,at the mess the coffee had made. “Would it be okay ifI went home, changed, and came back? I could do overtime.” This was her verysubtle attempt of asking him if she still had her job.

She nibbled her lip andwaited for him to tell her the bad news.

“You don’t have to worryabout any of that. Trudy will bring you a change of clothes, but I want to makesure you’re … taken care of.”

This was a new feeling.The only other people in her life that hadtaken careof her were herparents. Both of whom she missed very much.

She didn’t have anything underher clothes but a bra—one of her most recent purchases, which she adored. Howdid she check to see if she was … clean … while he was here?

Gabriel chuckled, but itwasn’t an evil sound.

“Here,” he said, removinghis pristine Italian jacket. “Remove your clothes, and we can check to see ifyou need medical attention.”

“I can do that.”

He nodded, removed hisjacket, and then turned away.

Nora didn’t have muchtime. All the blinds in his office were open, and anyone could walk in at anysecond. Should she argue with the boss? She didn’t see a problem with justchecking herself over. The coffee had been hot.

Scrambling with the tinybuttons of her shirt, she started to open them. The coffee had made her skinslightly red, but other than that, there were no actual burn marks. Shewriggled out of her shirt and reached for his jacket. She expected it not tofit, but it did in fact swamp her. The man was made of muscle. Even through hiscrisp white shirt, she saw that. Buttoning the three buttons in the middle, sheheld the top together.

“No burns and no need formedical attention,” she said.

Gabriel turned to look ather, and for a second, it was like neither of them moved or breathed.

Nora was trapped withinhis gaze.

“I’d like your skirt aswell, to dry-clean it.”

****

Gabriel had noticed thelittle brunette several weeks ago. The first time he saw her was after hearingher laughter from a joke Trudy had told her. It was through that oneinteraction, where he’d watched her talk with his PA, that had piqued hisinterest. From that point on, he’d learned everything there was to know abouther, with Trudy’s help, of course.

His PA was a very dearfriend of his, who had stayed by his side when those closet to him hadthreatened to take it all away. In his world, his parents had been vultures,wanting to circle and strike, to take what he had. He didn’t know how manyparents were so jealous of their children, they would attempt to destroy theircompany, or take it over.

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