Page 27 of Claimed By the Boss

“You’re not happy?” heasked.

“Oh, I am. I am happy,it’s just so overwhelming. I mean, for a long time I didn’t know what wentwrong, and I’d spend so many nights looking up at the skies, asking for answersand getting nothing. I guess I figured I was never going to get what I waslooking for.”

Gabriel cupped her cheek. “And now?”

“It’s a little surreal.”She blew out a breath, put the file on the coffee table, and leaned back. “Tellme about your parents.”

He chuckled. “There’s notmuch to tell.”

“There is enough for themto send an ex to try and get you to pay for a baby that is not yours,” Norasaid. She reached out and cupped his cheek. He was there for her, and now shewanted him to realize she was going to be there for him. No holding back. “Talkto me.”

He leaned back, and onceagain he cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip.

“I don’t know, to behonest. My parents have always been a crazy train. It’s what my grandfatherused to call them.”

“Who is your grandfatherrelated to? Your mom or dad?”

“My dad. I don’t think heapproved of my mother. She was a failing model, and well, she got her clawsinto my father, and he doesn’t like to work. He didn’t think he should have towork, seeing as they were already rich. Of course, my grandfather took hisfather’s work, and built it up to make it an amazing empire. What he built, myfather nearly destroyed within ten years of taking over.”

She watched as Gabrielrubbed his eyes.

“But you run the company?”Nora asked.

“No, this is all mine. Mygrandfather saw what was happening and had already passed over the reigns to myfather. Seeing the decline of the company and knowing what I wanted to do, hetook a chance investing in my company, and it paid off. At first, my parentsdidn’t give a shit. I was a small name, among them. Once I became wealthierthan them and their company lost viability, the tricks started.”

She listened as he toldher about the rape allegations. How they also tried to have his company shut downthrough slave labor complaints, and jumping through hoops.

“Your parents did that?”

“My father was a jealousman. Being the only child to my grandparents, they spoiled him. They struggledto have children, and then out of the blue, they have this healthy baby boy,and he could do no wrong in their eyes. They gave him everything. I don’t thinkhe ever heard the word no, until he was an adult. Anyway, my grandfather, realizinghis mistake and seeing that my parents wanted nothing to do with me, tookcontrol. He raised me up, and my grandmother had already died by the time I wasten. Cancer took her, and I know it hit my grandfather hard, but he had me. He saidwithme,he was righting all the wrongs he did with myfather. I did get taught to accept no for an answer.”

Nora smiled as she saw hisfrown. “Something tells me you hated him telling you no.”

“Hell, yeah, it pissed meoff.” He chuckled. “But,he would also always make meearn everything.”

“Did you hate that?”

“At the time I did. NowI’m glad. He made me a stronger person for it. He always told me I made himproud, and that meant the world to me.”

She stared into his eyes,and she saw the tears forming.

Leaning over him, shekissed his lips, and then she felt that need to comfort him and climbed acrosshis lap, straddling him. She cupped his face and tilted his head back so shecould look at him.

“I think you’re anincredible man, Gabriel Williams,” she said, offering him a smile.

He chuckled. “You do?”

“Yeah, I do.” She kissedhim.

“My grandfather would haveloved you.”

This made her pull back.“You think so?”

“I know so. He was asucker for a smile exactly like yours.” He pushed some of her hair back fromher face. “And you’re beautiful. Stunning.”

She couldn’t help butsmile. “You’re calling me beautiful and stunning even though you, Mr. Williams,have dated many, many models and actresses, all of whom are stunning.”

“That is true, but yousee, none of them are as gorgeous as you.”

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