Chapter 181
Chapter 181:
Although the servants hovered nearby, eager to assist, Loretta briskly shooed them away to tend to other duties. That left Wesley alone at the front door, wrestling with the decorations. He soon found his hands stained with grimy dust, and his left cheek bore the marks as well.
The sight of the usually composed, untouchable man in such an unexpectedly comical state made Gabriela burst out laughing. “Mr. Moss, your face is covered. You look so silly p>
Her laughter rang light and melodic, though it seemed to grate on him. Without a word, he leaned forward and brushed his hand across her cheek. “There! Now yours is dirty too p>
Gabriela froze, momentarily stunned. Was he truly being this childish? She rolled up her sleeves and boldly reached for his other cheek with her dirty hand. Her fingertips skimmed his skin, light as silk.
The touch shouldn’t have meant anything, and yet Wesley’s chest tightened as if she’d struck a chord he didn’t know existed. In one swift motion his hand closed around her wrist. His gaze locked on hers—dark and unwavering—the kind of stare that made the air feel heavier.
Gabriela’s pulse skipped. Perhaps she had taken things too far. After all, he was her boss, and she shouldn’t have teased him like this. It was very inappropriate.
One corner of his mouth twitched as he let her go, though the weight of his hand lingered like a brand. “Stop messing around p>
“Understood,” she said quickly, absently tracing the very spot his hand had touched. His presence made her breath hitch, and a flush warmed her cheeks. Tugging at her collar, she shrugged off her jacket to cool herself.
𝗪𝖾 𝗎𝗉d𝗮t𝖾 e𝘷𝖾r𝗒 𝗐𝖾𝘦𝗸 𝗼𝗇
Beneath it, a soft lavender T-shirt hugged her frame, the round neckline drawing attention to her collarbones. Wesley’s gaze flickered there for a split second before he turned away. “Stop dawdling. Some of us have real work to do p>
Gabriela bent to retrieve the decorations, and the hem of her T-shirt rose, offering a fleeting glimpse of bare skin. Wesley’s eyes flickered and immediately averted. Who could have guessed that hanging streamers and ornaments would test him more than sealing billion-dollar contracts overseas?
Fortunately, his earlier warning had her working with the focus of an employee on a strict deadline. With her newfound seriousness, the second floor was finished in no time. Loretta’s orders didn’t end at the villa—now the garden’s trees and flowers were waiting for their festive touch.
Gabriela trailed after Wesley, but before they could begin, a sharp, pained cry split the air. “Ah! Stop! That hurts. Don’t push it any further p>
The source of the commotion became clear a moment later. It was Brenden, locked in an unfortunate stretching session with Cassius. Or rather, Cassius was doing the stretching, and Brenden was doing the suffering.
Brenden, clearly unaccustomed to anything more strenuous than lifting a wine glass, was flailing under Cassius’s iron grip. “Cassius, I swear my leg’s about to snap. I don’t want muscles like yours. Just take it easy, alright? No need for the full drill-sergeant routine p>
Cassius’s expression didn’t budge. “What do you think I’m being paid for? Standing around?” With merciless precision, he pressed Brenden’s bent knee down even further. Another tortured yell ripped from Brenden’s throat.
Gabriela’s eye twitched with part sympathy, part schadenfreude. What a way to spend the holiday season. Then again… maybe he deserved it.
Beside her, Wesley shot a glacial look, holding it for several long seconds before his voice came, cool and cutting. “Grandma told you to decorate the garden. Not stand around gawking p>
Gabriela quickly tore her eyes away, fumbling for an excuse. “I wasn’t gawking. I was admiring that man’s muscles p>