Page 99 of Kissing the Boss (Fairy Tale Quartet 2)

It hurt too much to keep thinking about that, though. Besides, justice was being served. She was in jail, the truth was exposed, my company had been returned to me. What else was there to do about it? I couldn’t change the past or get my dad back.

So my mind wandered to Ezra, except thinking about him hurt too. I wasn’t sure what to do about him. It felt as if we’d just been shoved onto opposite sides of a boxing ring and were expected to punch our way out of our situation. But could I ever truly oppose him?

I did know I’d never sell Nash Corporation my half of my company. My dream had finally come true. JFI was mine, which started a whole new panic.

Holy shit, JFI was mine. I had no idea how to run a company. Okay, so I had ideas, but I’d never actually employed my theories before. Nearly eighty people’s work lives were now in my hands. How the hell was I supposed to handle such a huge responsibility?

I’d always thought I’d have more time, learn the ropes as I climbed my way into the spot of authority. Wade in gently. Being thrust in the deep end like this was overwhelming.

And so I continued to sit, trembling and alone in my bathroom, trying to ignore the fact that my entire life had just changed.

When I heard muffled knocking on my front door, my eyes flew open.

Ezra.

He’d finally come to help me deal. Relieved out of my mind that I wouldn’t have to process everything alone, I jumped off the toilet and raced from the bathroom.

Except, when I reached the front door, I paused, wondering if he was only here to try to buy me out again. What if he tried to use my feelings for him against me in order to coax my company from me?

My stomach swirled with worry. Please, I silently begged, please be here to support me, not to betray me.

Holding my breath, I cracked the door open and peered uneasily into the hall.

I found Gabby from the first floor, of all people, not Ezra, sending me a sympathetic wince.

She clasped her hands together and said, “Hey, sweetie. How’re you doing?”

I opened the door a little more and blinked at her. “Uh… I’m pretty miserable, actually. How did you know?”

She opened her mouth, but when no words came, she flushed, cleared her throat, and answered, “Long story. Suffice it to say, when I heard about what you’d been through this morning, I thought I’d come see if… I don’t know. Honestly, I suck at comfort. But if you need any company or just someone to talk to and vent with, I could probably swing that. And hey.” She grabbed the arm of someone I hadn’t even realized had been standing next to her, only to tug Mabel’s granddaughter, Camille, into my line of sight. “I ran into this one coming up to visit her grandma and thought she might be a good hugger if you need—I don’t know—a hug or some shit. So I told her about your day and dragged her along with me.”

I blurted out a watery laugh. Though her thoughtfulness charmed me, it was the way she said it that sealed the deal. I liked Gabriella Salazar.

Camille rolled her eyes at Gabby’s attempt at sympathy. “Why can I totally picture you standing five feet away from someone and patting them on the back with a broom while muttering there, there?”

Gabby blinked at her. “What? Is that not how you’re supposed to do it?”

I laughed again and pulled the door open wider. “Come in,” I offered. “Both of you. Please.”

Both women stepped inside, only to ooh and aww as they glanced around my apartment.

“Whoa.” Gabby peered around her. “This place is like double the size of my place.”

“Yeah,” Camil

le agreed, gawking in amazement. “It’s way bigger than Gran’s apartment too.”

I shifted uncomfortably, not realizing until they looked so shocked that, huh, it was a lot bigger than Mabel’s and Gabby’s apartments. Strange. Why had I never processed that before?

“What kind of rent do you pay?” Gabby started to ask, only for Camille to poke her threateningly in the arm and turn to me.

“Don’t answer that, sweetie. It’s not important right now.” And then she opened her arms. “You poor thing,” she cooed, sounding so much like her grandmother. “Come here.”

Gabby had been right; Camille was a total hugger. But a good one.

Grateful for the contact, I rested my cheek on her shoulder as she hugged me close, and I let her comb my hair with her fingers, while Gabby found her way into the kitchen area and started opening cabinets and snooping.

I watched her mutely for a while, wondering what she was doing, until Camille finally stopped hugging me so she could set her hands on her hips and demand, “What the heck are you doing?”

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