Page 80 of Nanny for the Bossy Billionaire

I would go to her and apologize in a heartbeat if I thought she would forgive me, but that would prove tricky. Not only because of the tension between us, but because Naomi moved out.

Now that she and her parents have made up, she’s been talking about reconnecting with them. I guess she saw this as a perfect opportunity to do that, because she immediately left and moved back in with them.

Although her parents weren’t overtly against my relationship with their daughter, I can’t say they were thrilled about the prospect. I don’t think they would let me near her if I turned up unannounced. So I have kept my distance.

This is all Gabriel’s fault.

I grab my keys and head to his place.

Yeah, this is a good idea. Not only will it get me out of this house, it will help with all the anger I have bottled up.

Perhaps things will get physical. I’ve wanted to punch that asshole in the face ever since we were seven and he stole my juice box in elementary school.

I pull up to Gabriel’s estate and his security lets me in because they know who I am. I drive right up to his front door and jump out of the car.

I rush up the stairs and rap on his front door while I press the doorbell incessantly at the same time.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Gabriel booms when he pulls his front door open.

“This is all your fault,” I pant.

He rolls his eyes. “Please, come in. I’m having dinner. You can tell me what I did while I eat.” Gabriel turns around and walks back into his house.

I follow and close the door behind me.

“I’ve been meaning to ask for years… Why do you have such a huge house when it’s only ever you here? You don’t have a family or staff. Whenever I come here it’s like I’m walking through a ghost town.”

“You should know better than anyone…it’s for appearances. It’s one thing for people to know you’re rich, but they also have to see it. Otherwise, you fade to the back of people’s minds. That’s a bad thing for the business I’m in. People need to aspire to my lifestyle. That’s why they come to my restaurant, and who would aspire to my life if I lived in a two-bedroom bungalow in Little Italy?”

“That’s ridiculous,” I say, as we walk into his kitchen. We head for the island where an open box of pizza sits. “Remind me again, how many Michelin stars have you won?”

“Let me ask you…” Gabriel climbs up on the stool in front of the pizza box. “When you spend all day building computers at work, do you want to come home and build some more computers for dinner?”

I stand across from him at the island. “First of all, I don’t build computers, but I get your point.”

“Now, what exactly did I do to earn this frantic impromptu visit?” Gabriel asks as he picks up a slice of pizza.

“You gave Naomi the mentorship.”

He takes a bite of pizza, and around a mouthful, says, “I’m sorry, isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Yes, but you’re dragging her all the way to Paris. That’s not what I want.”

He swallows. “Fuck what you want.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I said fuck what you want.” He waits for me to respond. When I don’t, he continues, “Naomi is going to be a great chef one day. If that means she has to travel to the ends of the earth to make that happen, that’s what she needs to do, regardless of whether she’s in a relationship with you, or not. Also, Paris is an amazing opportunity for her. Do you know how many chefs would kill to spend a year or two in Paris learning to cook?”

I throw my hands up. “Of course, I agree.”

“Then why exactly are you here screaming at me?”

“You could’ve at least given me a heads up that you plan to take her out of the country.”

“Why? Do you own her?”

“No, but still.”

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