Page 11 of Claimed By the Boss

He knew Nora was curiouswhat that meant. The truth was, he and Nancy did share a skill. They were ableto spot someone special. It was why he was so successful. When it came toacquiring people with certain skills, he had a knack for it.

When he looked at Nora,there was something special about her. He couldn’t quite put his finger on whatit was, but he knew there was something there, and not just because he wantedto fuck her. She was going to be an asset to his company. In what way, hedidn’t know.

Understanding her love forbusiness and learning, he had a feeling she could go far. Also, even Trudy hadnoted she was a fast learner.

Nora and Nancy weretalking animatedly, until it was announced that dinner was ready. Gabriel wasnot used to feeling jealous. He never had a reason to be jealous of anyone oranything. Yet, he didn’t like anyone else taking his time away from his woman,and was happy to see that Nancy was sitting at a different table.

Dinner would go smoothly,and then, once dessert was served, the donations would begin. Nancy liked toannounce what each person had donated. He didn’t know why, as no one comparedwith one another. But this happened every single year.

“This is such a goodcause,” Nora said.

Nancy had handed her aleaflet, which she had started to read as the meal was served.

Gabriel picked up hisfork, and Nora followed his lead.

“Yes.”

“They help foster childrenin the local area. They help them survive and thrive.” He saw how happy Norawas. “I’ve taken several kids to these shelters. I donate there as well.”

He had also known thisabout Nora. There was nothing he didn’t know about her. Just like he knew shewas ahead with her rent, and her landlady wasn’t comfortable taking money inadvance, but she did for Nora.

After getting kicked outof her family home and sent to the streets, Nora had to survive, and her habitsshowed she didn’t want to return to the streets. It was that time he didn’tknow about. Also, how she got off the streets.

“What children?” he asked.This could be the opening for filling in the blanks.

“Oh,” Nora said, and tooka bite of her food. The steak was delicious. Medium-rare, but he was more of a burnt-to-a-crispman, not that he would admit it. “For a short time, about three years, I wasliving on the streets.”

“You were?”

“Yes. It’s kind of a longstory. I lost my parents in a car accident. I ended up in a coma for a fewweeks, and during that time I somehow lost everything. I had no home and was onthe streets, learning to survive.”

Even though her aunt anduncle took everything from her, she didn’t say a word against them. Gabrielfound this intriguing.

“What happened?” he asked.

“You learn to … hide,”Nora said and pursed her lips. Her gaze went past his shoulder and she frowned.“It’s hard to explain, but it’s not always good on the streets.”

“How did you get out ofit?” Gabriel asked. This was the blank he wanted to fill in.

At that precise moment,Nancy chose to go on stage, and it was time to show off the donations. The roomwent quiet, and Gabriel was annoyed.

The rest of the night, hewatched as Nora clapped at each donation. He saw this charity held a specialplace in her heart. Before he even knew who Nora was, he donated to this cause,and his company, as always, donated the most. Nancy was a friend. He didn’twant to see kids out in the cold.

Once they were back in thecar, and he was driving toward her apartment, he asked her again.

“How did you get off thestreets? You didn’t finish.”

Nora sighed. “It was fouryears ago. I’d been down this alleyway, and that was when I saw this younggirl. I think she was thirteen or something. She had been taken from the mall.Milly was her name. I’d seen her on the news and her parents were terrified. Ididn’t call the cops, I told Milly to come with me, and I had earned a littlecash doing a few odd jobs. Not a lot. She was terrified, so I got on the buswith her, and she told me where she needed to go. She told me how she had goneto the bathroom and didn’t know that a man had followed her. He attacked herfrom behind, knocked her out, and she woke up in a trunk. Her dad loved cars,and she worked on them as well. She knew how to get the trunk open, and sheliterally jumped out of a moving car. She ran as hard and as fast as she could,and she made it to that alleyway. I saw her, took her home.”

Gabriel frowned. Milly,abduction. He had seen something on the news about that. “You helped stop ahuman trafficking ring?”

“No, no, I didn’t. Thatwas all Milly. She heard the men talking. All I did was get her back to herhome.”

“How did that getyouoffthe streets?” he asked.

“Milly found me with herdad. He … helped me.Firsthe wanted to know if I wasdrinking or on drugs, or if I was a prostitute. I told him I helped people, andthen he helped me. Got me a place to stay, a job, and he gave me a little moneyto get started. I was a waitress at a diner. The diner closed, and I was ableto get a job at your mailing room. He helped me when I needed it. No one hadhelped me before that.”

Gabriel was thankful forMilly’s dad.

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