Page 11 of The Heiress Bride
Pleased with my plan, I pull out my phone, navigate to my texts and start typing. A few moments later, Katherine’s tablet buzzes, and her gaze shifts from Beverley to the screen, then to me.
4
KATHERINE
Nowhe texts me?
Now.
In the middle of our board meeting?
My temperature spikes beneath the Sabrina neckline of my dress. I suck in a sharp breath and let it out slowly. We’re not doing this now. Here.
Especially after his B-rated movie comment. My heart sinks all over again as I hear his words in my head.
Unbelievable.
Closing my eyes, I drop my chin and gather myself.
One problem at a time, Katherine.
Glancing back at my tablet, the notification about his text has disappeared, and I don’t go hunting for it. Instead, I pull up my notes and calendar. Anythingto distract myself from the clawing desire to check his message.
But I’m not doing that. I’m not playing that game with myself or with him. He’s had days to reach out, and I need to make sure everyone on this board knows I’m still committed to our cause. That they have my attention and focus and resources.
As the meeting continues, I use all my focus to pay attention, constantly dragging my thoughts back from Gabriel. The back of my neck tingles. Of course, there are curious glances. Once upon a time, I would have coolly ignored them and focused on the task at hand. But I get it. They want to see if I’ll crack. Cry.
So I meet their stares with a small smile. I might have admitted my vulnerability in my little speech at the top of the meeting, but I’m not going to let anyone see the cracks in my armor. Six months ago, I would have said certainly not Gabriel Rothburn, but now I’m pretty sure he’ll see them whether I want him to or not.
His attention is hot, pointed. I can tell he’s trying not to stare, but I’m aware of him in a full-body way, from the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes and every nerve ending in between.
Sure, his gaze will flick here and there when someone is speaking, and he gives his attention to thenumbers during the financials. But overwhelmingly, unerringly, those brilliant blue eyes land on me over and over.
I don’t understand why he’s so attentive if he feels like his life has been chaotic and over the top lately.
The flippant comment burns through me like salt in a wound.
I tap the stylus against my other hand, my pent-up energy escaping in the tiny movement. Trying to poke fun at it and laugh it off didn’t help as much as I would have liked it to.
“Any new business?” Beverley asks, and a woman at the far end of the massive table pipes up.
I close my tablet and tuck away the stylus, not willing to dwell on that pain. I’ll deal with it later.
I have to.
Because if I don’t, I’m going to end up bawling in the middle of the conference room, and that’s genuinely not the look I’m going for here. I need to project calm and collected; bruised but not broken.
Whatever happened where Gabe’s concerned… no. Not thinking about that now.
Alex said they’ve finally got permission to get back into our apartments, and I’m heading over after this. I fully expect to call on Simon for help with my little jungle. I bet my alocasias are freaking out rightabout now. And after that, I hope to sneak into the hospital to see Roman. Charlotte says he’s on the mend, but I need to see it with my own eyes.
My new security team is large, obviously, and a little standoffish. I hope they don’t think I put Roman in unnecessary risk. They’ll soon learn that’s not something I would do.
Beverley wraps up the meeting, and I mentally pat myself on the back for being here. Sometimes it’s those mental gold stars that keep me going.
“Great meeting, everyone,” she says, and then she’s off. People push back their chairs. Some make a hasty exit. A few gather around the buffet for a snack and chat. Gossip is more like it.
Eager to get on with my day and back to King and Alex, I gather my things and head for the door. It’s pure willpower and a hint of spite that keeps me from looking at Gabriel.
