Chapter 209
Chapter 209:
Wesley, despite his fragile heart, possessed unexpected endurance and jogged for nearly thirty minutes.
Though they had moved at a leisurely pace, by the time Gabriela finally stopped, fire scorched her throat, her legs quaked with violent tremors that threatened to buckle beneath her, and perspiration drenched every inch of her body. She typically shunned physical exertion, and only in this moment did she understand why Brenden’s workout complaints always carried such genuine anguish.
Even Wesley showed signs of exertion, his dampened bangs lending him an unexpectedly rugged magnetism. Yet he maintained that natural grace and distant composure that seemed carved from marble.
He delivered his verdict with unmistakable disdain. “Your endurance is absolutely pathetic p>
Gabriela nodded with desperate enthusiasm. Precisely her point—surely this meant future runs were off the table.
But Wesley pressed forward. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll dedicate thirty minutes daily to exercise alongside me p>
Gabriela’s mind reeled in disbelief. She studied Wesley, whose commanding presence dominated the space around them. She traced the lines of his towering, perfectly balanced frame and the defined, sinewy forearms exposed by his rolled sleeves. Then her gaze lingered on his breathtakingly sculpted face.
For crying out loud—his body was already toned enough. Why bother exercising? Suspicion crept through her thoughts: Wesley was orchestrating this elaborate charade purely for his own entertainment.
“Mr. Moss, work begins tomorrow morning. Between commuting and office hours, when exactly would I manage these sessions?” Gabriela retorted.
𝗥e𝖼оm𝘮𝗲n𝘥 𝘵𝗼 уо𝗎r 𝗳𝗿𝗂𝘦𝘯𝘥𝗌
Rather than responding, Wesley turned the question back on her. “What exactly is my role in your life p>
Gabriela answered without pause, “You’re my employer, naturally p>
“Precisely. You joined my company to resolve challenges, not to seek answers from me,” he stated.
Gabriela found herself cornered without escape. What alternative existed—brazenly continue occupying Wesley’s residence? Absolutely impossible.
The arrangement might have passed scrutiny during the New Year holiday while she worked part-time, but extended cohabitation would inevitably increase the risk of someone finding out. Such revelations would devastate the company’s reputation.
Gabriela retreated to her quarters on unsteady legs and encountered Brenden ascending the staircase. Observing her hollow expression, Brenden experienced a wave of compassion. She would soon depart the estate. Once separated from his presence, how could her heart not shatter completely?
True, he maintained careful distance and feigned indifference, but here she could still glimpse him occasionally, particularly during meals when they faced each other across the dining table. However, departure meant eternal separation. Brenden could already envision her weeping through endless nights. The more vividly he imagined her suffering, the deeper his self-loathing grew.
After retreating to her room, Gabriela went to the bathroom and soon emerged feeling refreshed, the strain from jogging eased. After gathering her scattered thoughts, she felt that Wesley’s order was hardly worth her concern. She even harbored hope that he might abandon the scheme by morning.
She slept peacefully and awakened revitalized the following day, though her muscles protested with stiffness.
Noticing her labored movements, Brenden couldn’t resist offering, “Gabriela, after breakfast, perhaps I could drive you to the office p>
Gabriela’s body went rigid with alarm. Brenden had clearly lost his mind. She would never, under any circumstances, accept his transportation.
Wesley fixed Brenden with an icy stare and observed, “You don’t even report to headquarters p>
Brenden let out a helpless sigh. Poor Gabriela. She faced double punishment—banishment from the estate and separation from his workplace presence.
Following breakfast, Gabriela departed for the office with Wesley.
Despite their wariness, several colleagues witnessed their arrival together. Within hours, word had circulated throughout the entire company that Gabriela had emerged from Wesley’s vehicle on her first day back.
Even Tessa’s attitude toward Gabriela changed; her manner and speech carried newfound warmth and familiarity.
During lunch break, Aubrey flooded Gabriela’s phone with messages demanding to know what was going on between her and Wesley.