Chapter 152
Chapter 152:
Gabriela nodded. “Yes, we’ve met p>
Their exchange drew Brenden’s attention, and he strode over with a surprised grin. “Gabriela? What brings you here p>
Before she could answer, Wesley’s cold gaze sliced into the moment. “Is there a problem p>
“Not at all. In fact, I’m glad to see her.” Brenden’s smile faltered as he leaned toward Wesley, lowering his voice until Gabriela couldn’t catch the words. “Wesley, truth is… I like Gabriela too. If I’d known how she felt, I’d never have treated her that way at the hotel p>
Wesley’s mouth curved into a frosty smirk, his eyes narrowing on Brenden with a hard, unblinking stare.
Since when had Gabriela ever shown any interest in Brenden?
His mind flicked back to the time she’d casually mentioned her dislike for overly tall men. Brenden might not match Wesley’s height, but he still towered well above her petite frame.
ѕ𝘩𝖺𝗿𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝘳 f𝘢𝗏𝗼𝗿𝗶t𝘦𝘴 f𝘳о𝘮
This was the kind of man she’d choose? Seriously?
The more Wesley mulled it over, the tighter his jaw became. A cold weight settled in his chest, and he sent Gabriela a look sharp enough to cut.
Across the garden, Gabriela crouched beside Miriam, adjusting the angle for a photo. The moment Wesley’s icy glare landed on her, her fingers twitched and she almost dropped her phone.
A nervous chill rippled through her. Why on earth was Wesley suddenly looking at her like that?
Was Brenden talking about their one-night stand?
Damn, if that was the case, would her brand-new part-time job—three thousand a day—go up in smoke?
The question flickered across Gabriela’s mind, tightening her expression.
Wesley, catching the shift, lost all interest in admiring the orchids and strode back toward the house.
Wanting to earn some points, Gabriela passed Miriam’s phone back with a polite smile. “It’s getting late—I should start on dinner p>
Miriam didn’t object, happily keeping Brenden by her side for the photo session. Gabriela hurried after Wesley, softening her tone in an attempt to please him. “Mr. Moss, the orchids have bloomed. They’re stunning—don’t you want to take a look p>
The flowers, after all, were worth a fortune and proudly kept on the manor grounds. Was he impressed by them? Perhaps he should invite some friends over to appreciate those flowers.
“What’s there to see?” Wesley’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. “A man shorter than me p>
Gabriela blinked, caught off guard. Sure, Brenden was shorter than him, but did he have to bring it up like that? For someone usually so composed, Wesley seemed ridiculously touchy; even height could get under his skin.
Trying to steer the conversation away from his prickly mood, she offered, with a tentative smile, “I’m making barbecue ribs and chicken tonight, with a side of corn chowder. Would you be up for that, Mr. Moss p>
Wesley’s gaze swept over her, cool and appraising. She was perceptive, well educated, sharp minded, and could hold her own in the kitchen—yet, in his view, her taste in men was terrible.
The longer he looked, the more his irritation simmered. He turned away without a word and lengthened his stride. Gabriela had to half-jog to match his pace, but he headed straight into the study and shut the door with a firm click, leaving her in the hallway.
With no choice, she made her way to the kitchen, determined to win him over with a dinner that might soften his mood.
Out in the back garden, Brenden couldn’t hide his curiosity about why Gabriela was spending her vacation at Wesley’s house instead of relaxing somewhere else. Miriam gave a breezy explanation. “She’s picking up a holiday side job—making sure Mr. Moss gets proper meals while he’s on break p>
The revelation caught Brenden off guard. Gabriela cooked for Wesley during her time off? An unexpected thought crept in: Could it be… because of him?
His mind ran in circles around the idea. Maybe she liked him so much she had taken the job just to be near him. A flush crept up Brenden’s neck and his pulse quickened. Could she really be that into him?