Page 60 of Billionaire and the Barista

GABRIELLA

Right now, I needed the hot cup of coffee in my hands more than I cared about anything else. Between crying my eyes’ out, forgetting Robbie was with Lacey, and righteous indignation I had barely slept.

That man infuriated me. I should have paid better attention the first time. Should have followed logic and reason. Maybe he hadn’t known I owned the property and the building when his cousin put a bounty out with local real estate agents. But he hadn’t done anything to stop it from happening once he knew it was me.

There was a soft knocking on my door. My heart leaped to my throat. Nathan was back. I yanked the door open, ready to verbally let him have it, ready to… It was Lacey with Robbie. My eyes went from squinting with anger to wide in surprise.

I pulled Robbie into a hug so he couldn’t see my face. I peppered him with kisses until he wanted to escape, and then I let him run away into the TV room.

Lacey, however, saw me. She saw the red-rimmed eyes, the blotchy skin, the frown pulling my face downward. Without a word, she pulled me into a hug.

I wrapped my arms around her and accepted the comfort.

“It didn’t go well?” she asked.

All I could do was shake my head. I didn’t want to cry, not with Robbie so close and curious. After a few moments, I lifted my head and wiped my eyes. Lacey let go of the hug.

“I missed all the red flags again,” I said. “I let myself forget and ignore how incredibly selfish he is.”

“I’m so sorry Gabby. You liked this guy, didn’t you?”

“Oh God, you have no idea.”

I ran my hands over my face while Lacey poured herself a cup of coffee. She stood in front of the refrigerator looking at my schedule.

“Can you take the day off? Maybe you and”— she pointed into the TV room so as not to alert my son we were talking about him— “need to have day and go to T H E Z O O.” she had to spell the entire title or little ears would perk up. He was learning how to read and could already spell some of his favorite things like zoo, pizza, and candy.

I sighed. She was right. I needed to take some time and spend it with the important future man in my life, my son. But I couldn’t. It would feel like defeat, like running away.

“I’m scheduled to bake most of the day. I’ve got the new guy working, and I don’t want to be too far away,” I whined and found an excuse. “Maybe you could go?”

Lacey shook her head. “I have to study. Robbie is good to hang out with me while I do that. Oh, and, well done getting Dave. How old is he? Is he… Is he single?”

“What? Do you think Dave is hot?”

“Seriously Gabby, how have you not noticed? Oh, right, you like them older and rich.”

She was right in a way. I only liked one, and he happened to be older and rich. But I don’t like him anymore. Never again.

“David is twenty-one or twenty-two. Are you saying you like your men younger?” I teased.

“Twenty-two is only two years younger, so shush. But is he single?”

I had no idea and told her so.

Knowing I had a friend in my corner made getting ready for my day a little easier. I wasn’t suddenly all sunshine and flowers, and I wasn’t readily smiling, but I was able to put on a brave face and not let Robbie think I was dying inside. I was able to be pleasant to my employees when I went downstairs and began my workday.

I was grateful that I had hired David and had scheduled a day of baking. I hadn’t known that I would need a day of kitchen therapy and frosting zen. And did I really need it. I was a miserable person once left on my own. Between my anger at Nathan, my anger at myself, and the messed-up hormones making me depressed and emotional over everything, I didn’t even want to be around me.

Sitting at my desk, I had to go through the incoming mail and take care of some general administration tasks before I could get to the baking, I so desperately needed to heal my soul. The phone rang.

“Love Buns, how may I help you today?”

“Yes, could you direct me to the owner?”

I groaned, the chipper voice on the other end sounded like one of those real estate piranhas.

“If you are calling to ask me if I’m aware that property values are increasing in this area and now is a good time to sell, go screw yourself. Wait, no, tell the person who put a sales bounty on my head to go screw themselves. This property is not for sale.” I slammed the phone down.

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