Page 112 of The Reluctant Hero

“No sympathy,” Vanessa snaps back. “I have to fill out paperwork on this disaster and field off HR calls.”

“I’m so sorry,” I cringe and plead with her. “Save me, please.”

“No. I’m hoping he fires you today, and I won’t have to deal with you anymore.”

“You liar,” I snap and drop my hands from the prayer position. “You love it.”

“Not today, I don’t.”

We both sober at that comment and I take a deep breath for courage as I meekly walk back to the door. I stand there, shifting on my feet with indecision. I could run.

“Get in there already.” Vanessa startles me into motion. I whip the door open and try to act nonchalant.

The enraged glares I’m getting make that harder than the shame that’s piling on top of me.

Gabriel is leaning back in his chair, fiddling with the headphones without looking up.

“Is that the only drama I’ll have to deal with today?”

His voice has the normal cold tones, but it’s weak. It makes me cringe, and I immediately go into passive mode. I don’t have it in me to be snarky with him right now.

“Yes. I’m so sorry.”

He nods slowly and says, “Pity.”

I blink in surprise, and the rest of the guys turn to him with a frown.

“Do you have any highlighters left?”

I glance at the desk and spot one that fell on the floor. “Yes? And I could go out to Vanessa’s desk and pick up the ones I threw- I meandropped. Dropped.”

“Ace?”

“Yeah?” He startles upright in confusion.

“Pull up the security tapes.”

Ace frowns for a second before he turns to give me an unholy grin. My cheeks flame with embarrassment. I start shaking my head. Gabriel’s head is down, so he doesn’t see it.

“Please don’t,” I mouth to him.

“Sure thing, Gabe.” His smile widens until he looks demented.

“Traitor,” I snap with no sound and glare as Ace shrugs.

“Be sure to blank out any other copies,” Gabriel adds, setting the headphones down to look at me.

His eyes are bloodshot, and his face is pale. He looks horrible.

“You want popcorn too?” I snark and then flinch. Me and my damn mouth.

“I do,” he agrees calmly and then stands to move over to the couch. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him sit there. It’s starting to feel like an alternate dimension.

I look around in confusion. Mikael meets my eyes and gives me a gentle, proud smile that makes my heart thump in my chest.

“I got it,” Cade says, standing and going to the kitchen area to pop some while I gape at him. He winks at me as he passes.

That settles it. This is a new dimension.

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