Chapter 3
Chapter 3:
Gabriela’s table sat far from Wesley’s, leaving her clueless about the hushed conversation happening across the room. She remained blissfully unaware that the man she’d encountered in Room 1205 last night hadn’t been Brenden, but Wesley.
Watching Brenden wave his arms around, animatedly chatting with Wesley, Gabriela’s nerves were shot.
Her pulse thudded in her ears, half terrified she’d be recognized, but even more rattled by the fear that Brenden—the company’s infamous flirt—might let something slip right in front of Wesley. She couldn’t focus on a single thing all day, her thoughts spiraling with unease.
By some miracle, the day passed without incident, and the retreat wrapped up without drama.
When the company shuttle arrived to pick everyone up, Gabriela found herself lagging behind, every muscle in her body still aching from the intense lovemaking of the previous night. Moving stiffly, she ended up boarding last. Aubrey spotted her and waved. “Gabriela, over here p>
𝖣𝘰𝗇’𝘵 𝘮іs𝘀 ո𝗲w 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝖾𝖺𝘀𝖾ѕ 𝗼n ѕ.с𝘰𝗺
The bus fell into a sudden hush. Wesley’s voice broke the silence, laced with impatience. “Is there really nowhere else for her to sit p>
Gabriela froze mid-step, her nerves jolting. Why was Wesley on the shuttle bus? Was that sharp tone directed at her? Was he annoyed she was holding up the line?
She was only an intern—surely the CEO didn’t care where she sat.
She darted a glance toward the front. A gorgeous woman was already halfway into the seat beside Wesley, her cheeks flushed with hope. Wesley met her eyes with an icy stare and jerked his chin toward the aisle, clearly dismissing her.
A soft sigh escaped Gabriela when she figured out Wesley’s words weren’t meant for her.
The woman shrank back, mumbling an apology before awkwardly squeezing into the row next to Aubrey—nabbing Gabriela’s intended seat in the process. With a scowl, Aubrey remarked, “That spot’s for my friend p>
The woman shot her a sharp, irritated look. “What? Does your friend’s name come engraved on the seat? This shuttle belongs to the company—when did your friend get an exclusive spot in here p>
Aubrey’s jaw snapped shut, her glare smoldering with outrage.
Only one seat remained—right beside Wesley. For a split second, Gabriela thought about fleeing the bus and blowing her savings on a cab ride home. But Wesley’s gaze pinned her in place, his expression thunderous. “Well? Are you sitting down or not p>
Gabriela froze, completely thrown off. Was he really getting irritated just because she hesitated?
With everyone else watching—some barely hiding their jealousy, others shooting her looks of sympathy—Gabriela finally took the seat next to Wesley, her heart pounding in her chest.
A tense silence followed, until Wesley leaned over and asked, “Do I really look that intimidating p>
Gabriela silently agreed with every word, though she’d never dare admit it. She might have been hopelessly smitten, but at this moment, Wesley’s expression was all sharp angles and stern authority.
If she spoke her mind, she’d probably be out of work before the week was over. Instead, she mustered her brightest, most ingratiating smile and met Wesley’s inscrutable stare. “Not at all, Mr. Moss. It’s honestly an honor to sit with you p>
Wesley’s posture loosened a fraction. He leaned back, closed his eyes, and projected a chill so strong it could frost the windows.
Gabriela sat frozen with anxiety, trying not to fidget.
Luck really wasn’t on her side. She’d recently discovered her boyfriend was cheating and had lost her virginity in a drunken blur. Now she was riding home beside the CEO himself, tense as a violin string, counting every minute until this ride finally ended.
The second Gabriela set foot outside the shuttle, she filled her lungs with crisp morning air. For a brief, blissful moment, life seemed a thousand times brighter now that Wesley was nowhere in sight.
Aubrey fell into step beside her, practically bouncing with curiosity. “Tell me—what was it really like sitting next to Mr. Moss p>