Chapter 4 - The Kiss That Was Supposed to Be for Protection Made Clara Realize Gabriel Was No Longer Pretending
The words changed the air.
Clara stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“It means I noticed you before you noticed me.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No.”
“Then answer.”
He looked away.
“I saw you six months before your first Costa event.”
“Where?”
“A charity hospital.”
Clara frowned.
“You don't remember me.”
“I remember everything.”
She remembered.
The hospital where her mother had been treated.
Clara had volunteered at a fundraiser.
She had been wearing sneakers and a borrowed blazer.
Gabriel had been there.
She had seen him standing in a hallway.
She hadn't known who he was.
“You were watching me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You were arguing with a doctor.”
She laughed.
“I was furious.”
“You told him the insurance company had no right to deny your mother's treatment.”
Gabriel smiled.
“You were the only person in that hospital not afraid of anyone.”
Clara's cheeks warmed.
“You could have said hello.”
“I was afraid you would hate me.”
She blinked.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you care?”
“Because I wanted you to like me.”
She stared.
Then whispered:
“You barely knew me.”
“I knew enough.”
Silence.
Gabriel's hand moved slowly toward her face.
He stopped before touching her.
“Can I?”
Clara nodded.
His fingers brushed her cheek.
Warm.
Careful.
He kissed her.
Not urgently.
Not possessively.
Gently.
The kind of kiss that felt like a question.
Clara answered.
When they separated, she looked at him.
“This is a bad idea.”
“Probably.”
“You're my employer.”
“No.”
“You own my employer.”
“Technically.”
“That doesn't help.”
He smiled.
“No.”
She rested her forehead against his.
“I don't know what we're doing.”
“Neither do I.”
For the first time in years, Gabriel looked peaceful.
Then the elevator doors opened.
Daniel Costa stepped out.
Gabriel's face hardened.
“Uncle.”
Daniel smiled.
“You finally found something worth losing.”
Clara stepped behind Gabriel.
Daniel looked at her.
“So this is her.”
“Leave.”
Daniel laughed.
“You always were protective of your toys.”
“She is not a toy.”
“Oh?”
Daniel nodded.
“She is the key.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“To what?”
Daniel looked at Clara.
“Your father's vault.”
Clara froze.
Daniel continued.
“Your father left something your family never understood.”
“What?”
“A recording.”
“Where?”
Daniel smiled.
“Inside the vault.”
Gabriel raised his gun.
Daniel's men appeared.
The room became chaos.
Daniel escaped.
Gabriel turned toward Clara.
“Go.”
“No.”
“Clara.”
“No.”
He stared.
“You don't know what you're doing.”
“I know exactly what I'm doing.”
She grabbed his hand.
“I'm staying.”
His expression softened.
May you like
“Then we stay together.”
---
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