The Photograph
: Chapter Twenty-Six

Gabe

I toss my boxing gloves in the basket with more force than necessary.

“Bro, you’re brooding. Aelin?”

One day, I will rip the smirk off his face. I snap my eyes to Cal expecting the permanent mocking expression, but only meet concern. He’s right, I am brooding.

He steps closer. “Is she okay?”

Dropping on the bench, I exhale slowly. “I don’t know, Cal. After I came back from Dubai, she said she needed a little time apart to assess her life.”

Cal settles beside me. “G, she’s been through more shit than most people—”

Heat crowds the back of my neck. “Because of me. I don’t need the fucking reminder.”

My friend scoffs. “Fuck, you’re dumb when it comes to her. What I mean is her rapist father, Cara’s dad, a sister she fucking adores, recently died. And that’s after she’s been through major surgery.”

When I grit my teeth, Cal sighs. “Which would have happened with anyone.” He slaps my shoulder. “I love you, bro, but you don’t have magical cum. Aelin’s been through the worst thing that could happen to a kid, and she deals with all that shit looking gorgeous and without losing her grace. You lied and manipulated her, and she not only forgave you, but gave herself back to you.”

She did and I… Cal continues. “Seeing you all knotted up every time she’s not around, I’m guessing she gives you what you need.”

For fucks’ sake. Snapping my back straight, I whip my eyes to Cal who rolls his eyes.

“G, I’m not interested in your sex life. Calm down and just fucking hear me out.”

I dip my chin, and Cal says, “Brother, what do you want from her? Because even though you don’t like it, chances are she’ll want to explore other relationships. In the short time you’ve known each other, you have history. Heavy, painful shit. So maybe when she wants a break to get her head right, fucking let her have one.”

The last time she needed a break…

“G, what have you done for her besides repairing the damage you did?”

I shut my eyes. He’s right. I want to punch him for it, but he’s right.

Without a word, I get to my feet and stride to the door. As I veer toward the shower, I grunt at Cal’s mocking voice. “You’re welcome, butthead.”

Thank you, my friend.

****

“Kerry, come in.”

I move aside the front door as my blonde sexual partner walks into the middle of the living room rolling her hips encased in the short red dress. She rotates slowly on her red high heeled sandals, flicks her long blonde hair over her shoulder, and places her hand on her hip while she eye-fucks me.

“Hey, big guy.” Kerry’s shiny red lips purse. She straightens up, tenting the deep V-neck of her dress against her more-than-a handful breasts and tilts her head to the side. “You’re ending the arrangement.”

Stepping nearer, I kiss her cheek. “I am.” I extend my arm toward the couch. “Let’s sit down. I’ve got the papers here.”

After a deep breath, she nods and sits down. I settle beside her as she leans over the coffee table to pick up the second NDA barring her from revealing any personal or financial details about our relationship to the press that Smithson prepared earlier.

Without hesitation, she signs the document and shifts to face me. “I thought we were getting on pretty well.”

We were. Then Aelin made me want more. I tap my fingers on the second document. “As per our arrangement, you’ll keep the Couture account for another year—”

Her high-pitched giggle abrades my ear and I tense at the touch of her hand on mine.

“Gabe, I get it. We both knew what this was from the start. It was nice while it lasted, and you’ve been extremely generous. I just want to make sureyouare okay.”

There’s concern, genuine concern in her heavily made-up eyes, and I clear my throat.

“I’m good, Kerry. Thanks.” When she uncrosses her legs to stand up, I inch closer. “Have you ever felt lesser than or degraded by the terms of our agreement?”

She gawks at me for long seconds and chuckles. “What happened to you? You sound like you actually care.”

I push on my knees, but she digs her nails in my forearm.

“No, I never felt that way.” Her eyes lock onto mine. “Shit. You really have changed. Let’s get some food and we can talk … if you want.”

Before I can reply, my cell buzzes with a message from the manager of our European business. I swipe my thumb on the screen. “My chef’s not in. Ask Marty to order something in.”

“Your doorman?”

“My concierge.” I lift my cell. “I need to take care of this.” I make my way to the business side of the floor.

****

Aelin

As my Uber drives away, I lift my eyes to the penthouse of the G&M Investments building while my heart races.

The evening sky ensnares the glass and silver like a jewel.

Please, don’t break my heart.

I touch my pendant, climb the wide stairs leading to the glass doors, and push on the intercom button. The tiny red spot turns green, and the glass doors slide open.

“Good evening, Martin.”

The doorman rounds his desk to meet me. “Ms. Thorne, is Mr. Matthews … aware of your visit?”

No, it’s a surprise.I checked with Mitch where Gabe was tonight. Hoping the Englishman won’t notice the heat flushing my face, I smile wide. “Yes.”

When I follow him to the elevator, I swear I hear him say ‘Lucky sod.’ but my heartbeats deafen me. He swipes his card, pushes the PH2 square button, and dips his chin. “Have a good evening, Ms. Thorne.”

The doors slide on the lowly illuminated hallway. As I cross the floor, I shake off the shiver down my back. The atmosphere is eerily similar to the night Gabe made me sign the evil contract. After another deep breath, I step to his door.

Please, don’t break my heart.

At the first knock, a beautiful blonde woman opens the door and I shift back while we stare at each other.

“H-hi … is Gabe here?”

The stunning tall blonde woman scans over me quickly before a big grin splits her face.

“Hon, you’re definitely not from Pearls Cuisine.” After a brief pause, she nods. “Ah. I get it.”

What…?

She peruses over me, slower this time while I strangle my purse.

Before I have a chance to get out of my frozen state, she grabs my wrist and pulls me inside. “Isn’t Delia the best?”

Who? What?

She waves her manicured fingers up and down in front of me. “I could never pull off that ‘fire under ice’ you’ve got going, but you can, hon. You’re gorgeous. Come in, Gabe’s working.” Her rolling chuckle lights up her perfect face. “When is he not, right?” She leans in. “You’re in for a fucking good time. Pun intended.” More of her girly chortle. “The rope thing is different, but…”

My heart stops and crashes in the bottom of my stomach. I clear my throat while pain, sharp and sudden brings tears to my eyes and I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I…”

On automatic, I turn on my heel toward the door.

****

Gabe

I disconnect the call that took longer than I expected, send an email to Erica, and walk back to the apartment. A few steps from the door, I stop and inhale the subtle fragrance in the air before shaking my head.I’m so fucking obsessed with Aelin, I’m having olfactory hallucinations.

Thinking of her makes me hard as I close the door behind me and make my way to the living room where the smell of Chinese food assails my nose.Fuck, Kerry’s still here.

She stands up as I walk further into the room and stops before me. “Ker—”

Her hand lifts to my face and her fingers are cool on my jaw. “It’s okay, big guy. I was worried about you, but your new girl stopped by and —”

“What new girl?”

Her expression sobers and she frowns. “The doe-eyed brunette pin-up girl with boobs up to here and the long legs, she—”

Towering over her while tension fills me, I can’t keep the snarl out of my tone. “Aelin was here?”

She nods. “She didn’t say her name—”

“What did you tell her?”

A frown crosses her brow, and she narrows her eyes. “Not a fan of that tone. I didn’t tell her anything. She was here for a minute, then she left.”

I rake my hands through my hair.Aelin was here. What did she want?I whip my eyes to Kerry who studies me with a scowl. “Sorry, Ker. What did she say?”

“Nothing. She said nothing.”

When she twists her mouth, I clench my jaw. “What?”

“She looked kind of upset. Gabe—”

Already by the door, I reach for my car keys on the console. My breath punches out of my chest. The pendant lays on the cream table.Aelin.I pocket it and race out of the penthouse.

Once in the car, I bark at my phone. “Call Aelin.” The call goes straight to voicemail.Baby, please, pick up.Thank fuck, the streets are near empty at this time.

At her house, I leap over the steps and bang on the door. No one’s there. Maybe in her studio… Not there either.

My cell in hand, I run back to my car and call Mike.

“Hey—”

“Is Cara with you?”

“And hello to you, too,” my brother mumbles before his voice is muffled. “Sweetheart…” I don’t hear the rest. Cara’s slightly winded voice fills the car. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m looking for Aelin—”

Her tone hardens. “I thought she was with you. Let me call her.”

She’ll pick up for her sister. My hands clenched around the steering wheel, I wait for Cara to tear me a new asshole.She’s going to ask what happened and Aelin will probably tell—

“Gabe?”

“Yeah.”

Cara’s voice softens.I think.“She has a key to Holloway.”

I exhale sharply. “Thank you, Cara.”

Aelin’s sister makes a sound in her throat. “Don’t make me kill you,” she says, and Mike’s laughter erupts in the background before the line goes dead.