The others laughed.

“Smart man, Gabe. Always a hardass in business. But hey, to the victor goes the spoils, eh?” Trenton said.

“Exactly,” Gabe replied. “She’s a valuable asset and one I have no intention of allowing to slip through my fingers.”

Mia’s face bloomed with color but the pleasure in her eyes was well worth Gabe’s making the effort to ensure he made it clear he valued Mia as an employee.

“If you’ll excuse me and Mia, I see a few other people I need to say hello to,” Gabe said smoothly.

He cupped her elbow and steered her away from the group, and started across the room to get them both a drink when he came to a complete stop, his gaze riveted on the doorway. He uttered a curse beneath his breath, but Mia heard it, and she glanced up, her brows furrowed. Then she followed his gaze to the door and grimaced.

His father had just entered the room, a gorgeous, much younger blonde wrapped securely around his arm. Damn it. What was his father doing here? Why hadn’t he let Gabe know so that at least he’d be prepared? After seeing his mother over the weekend and doing all he could to lift her spirits, it angered him to see his father here with his latest arm candy.

Mia touched his arm, her face a wreath of sympathy. There was no way to avoid the confrontation. His father had already seen him and was making his way through the crowd in Gabe’s direction.

“Gabe!” his father said, his eyes brightening as he approached. “Glad I caught you here. It’s been too long since we saw each other last.”

“Dad,” Gabe said shortly.

“Stella, I’d like you to meet my son, Gabe. Gabe, this is Stella.”

Gabe nodded curtly but didn’t extend a warm greeting. His skin itched and he only wanted to be away from this situation. All he could picture was his mother’s face, the sadness in her eyes. The confusion and betrayal she still felt after her husband of thirty-nine years had abruptly left her.

“It’s a pleasure,” Stella said huskily, her gaze drifting with lingering precision over Gabe.

“How have you been, Son?” his father asked. If he noticed the awkwardness, he didn’t react. Or maybe he was completely oblivious to all the hurt he’d caused his family by his actions.

“Busy,” Gabe said shortly.

His father waved his arm. “Like that’s anything new. You should take some time off. Take a break. I’d love to have you out to the house. It would be nice to catch up on all that’s going on with you.”

“What house?”

Gabe’s voice would have frozen fire.

“Oh, I purchased a house in Connecticut,” his father said airily. “I’d love for you to see it. We could have dinner. Are you free any night this week?”

Gabe’s jaw clenched until it ached. Mia softly cleared her throat and then stepped forward, a gentle smile on her face.

“Would you like something to drink, Mr. Hamilton? I’m going to run to the ladies’ room a moment, but on my way back I’d be happy to get you and Gabe something.”

Gabe’s father looked at her in puzzlement a moment before recognition flared in his eyes. “Mia? Mia Crestwell? Is that really you?”

Gabe’s father had only met her on two occasions, when Mia was much younger, and only briefly. He was surprised his father even remembered.

Mia nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m working for Gabe now as his personal assistant.”

His father smiled and leaned over to kiss Mia’s cheek. “My how you’ve grown up. The last time I saw you was years ago. You’ve grown into quite a lovely young lady.”

“Thank you,” Mia said. “Now about that drink?”

“Scotch on the rocks,” his father said.

“Nothing for me,” Gabe said flatly.

Mia sent Gabe a look filled with sympathy and then hurried away in the direction of the ladies’ room. He couldn’t blame her. There was so much tension in the air that it was extremely awkward.

He watched her retreat and realized how much he wanted to be away from this place. In his apartment, behind closed doors, Mia in his arms, him losing himself in her over and over.

“So how about that dinner?” his father persisted.

• • •

Mia escaped into the ladies’ room in relief. Since she had no need of the facilities and it was just an excuse to escape the uncomfortable situation between Gabe and his father, she touched up her lipstick and surveyed her reflection in the mirror.

To her surprise, the door opened and Stella walked in, positioning herself at the mirror next to Mia. Stella glanced over conspicuously before reapplying her lipstick as well.

“So, tell me,” Stella began, still intent on her lipstick application. “Is the gossip true about Gabe Hamilton and the expectations he has for his women?”

Startled, Mia nearly dropped her lipstick and fumbled to tuck it back into her small clutch. She turned to Stella, taken aback by her brazenness.

“Even if I knew the details of Mr. Hamilton’s personal life, I would most certainly not betray such a confidence.”

Stella rolled her eyes. “Come on, give a girl the inside track. I’d love to get up next to him and if he’s the beast I suspect in bed, bring it on.”

Mia shook her head. “You’re here with his father.”

Stella waved her hand dismissively. “Money. But Gabe has a lot more and he’s younger and more virile. If you can have the younger Hamilton, why wouldn’t you go for it? Got any tips for me? You work for him. Surely you’ve had to deal with his past women at some point.”

Mia shouldn’t have been shocked, but frankly she was befuddled by the straightforward, unapologetic grasping of the other woman. Not knowing how to begin to respond, she simply turned and exited the bathroom. She shook her head as she headed toward the bar. She couldn’t believe the woman’s daring!

She ordered the Scotch and then waited as the bartender poured the drink. After, she turned, seeking Gabe and his father in the crowd. They were still standing where she’d left them, and Gabe looked anything but happy.

His face was cold, his eyes hard. It was as if he were facing an opponent he fully intended to wipe the face of the earth with.

She blew out her breath. She knew it had to suck to have your parents split up after so many years. Gabe had grown up in a healthy, stable home environment while she and Jace had struggled to pull the pieces back together when their parents were killed. In a way, Gabe’s parents’ divorce was much like losing them, even if they were still alive, because nothing would ever be the same again and he’d be forced to view his parents as separate entities now.

She grimaced when she saw Stella return to where Gabe and his father stood. The woman had no hesitancy whatsoever as she looped her arm through Gabe’s, turning up her one-hundred-watt smile as she blatantly flirted.

Her tinkly laughter drifted to Mia as she neared with the drink. To Mia’s surprise, Gabe returned Stella’s smile, one of those seductive, killer smiles that immediately put Mia’s back up. It was a smile Gabe used when he was on the prowl. A smile that told the woman there was no question he was interested.

What the ever-loving hell?

Mia stood a few steps in front of the men, unnoticed, as she attempted to control the vicious jealousy—and anger—that surged through her veins. She wasn’t a jealous person, she reminded herself.

To hell with that. She was insanely jealous and she wanted nothing more than to tear the blonde’s hair out by the roots. Was Gabe out of his mind? Was this the sort of woman who appealed to him? One clearly out for only what she could gain?

But then he preferred no emotional entanglements in his relationships. He demanded it. But over her dead body was he going to flirt with some floozy when he had a contract with Mia. She’d kick both their asses if that’s what it took.

She shoved forward, extending the drink to Gabe’s father.

“Thank you, my dear,” Mr. Hamilton said with a warm smile.

Stella turned a pout up at Gabe. “Dance with me, Gabe. The music’s just going to waste and I’m ready to move.”

Gabe chuckled and it grated on every one of Mia’s nerves.

“If you’ll excuse us,” Gabe said to his father. He didn’t even look at Mia as he guided Stella toward the section marked for dancing.

Mia stared in absolute astonishment as Gabe pulled the blonde into his arms—way too damn close for some casual dance—and he smiled down at her. Smiled! He rarely smiled at anyone.

And he’d left her with his father, which was awkward enough given the fact that Gabe had just walked away with his father’s date. She couldn’t very well escape to the bathroom again. She’d already used up that excuse.

She noticed Mr. Hamilton’s frown as his gaze drifted to where Gabe and Stella were dancing. She was helpless to avert her own gaze, her anger growing by the minute when she saw Gabe’s hand suggestively slide down the woman’s body.

To hell with this. She wasn’t going to stand around while Gabe felt up some other woman—his father’s date no less! She’d done her duty. She’d been nice and personable. She’d schmoozed his investors and rattled off all that useless trivia she’d spent the afternoon memorizing.

She had better things to do. Mainly go home and vent to Caroline.

Chapter sixteen

“What a jerk,” Caroline said. “I can’t believe he let that skank attach herself to him like that. Especially when he has you!”

Mia smiled at the fierce loyalty in her friend’s voice. The two were slouched on the couch after Mia had rid herself of the dress that just stood as a mockery of her entire evening. Fat lot of good it had done to look fabulous when Gabe’s attention was directed elsewhere.

No one knew of her relationship with Gabe, which meant no one knew of her embarrassment, but it hadn’t prevented the heavy cloak of humiliation she suffered.

“Who knows what he’s thinking,” Mia said wearily. “But I wasn’t going to hang around there and watch those two make goo-goo eyes at each other. It was nauseating.”

“And you shouldn’t!” Caroline exclaimed.

Her eyes gleamed with sudden light, and that was a signal to Mia that she should probably run.

“So is he as good as I imagine him to be in the sack?”

Mia sighed in exasperation. “For God’s sake, Caro.”

“Hey, give me something to work with here. All I have are fantasies. You have the real thing.”

“He’s a god, okay? He blew me away. Nothing to compare it to, and I’ve had good in the past. I’ve just never had holy-shit good before.”

“Day-um,” Caroline said in a mournful voice. “I knew it was some heavy shit when you called to have me get a bag ready for you. Didn’t even work for him a day before you had a sleepover. The dude moves fast. You have to hand it to him.”

Mia scowled. “Yeah, he moves fast all right.”

“So you want to order takeout and gorge ourselves on the ice cream in the freezer? Or did you already eat?”

Mia shook her head. “We were supposed to have dinner after the cocktail party. That was until Blondie hit the scene.”

Caroline reached for her phone. “Pizza sound good?”

“That sounds heavenly,” Mia breathed.

As Caroline was looking through her contacts, the buzzer sounded. Mia got up, motioning for Caroline to stay put. “You call the food in. I’ll see who it is.”

She went to the intercom and pressed the button. “Yes?”

“Mia, get your ass down here right now.”

Gabe’s furious voice filled the apartment. Caroline dropped her phone, her eyes wide.

“What’s the point, Gabe?” Mia said, allowing her irritation to bleed through.

“Swear to God if you don’t get your ass down here right now, I’ll come up there and haul you out myself, and I don’t give a damn if you’re dressed or not. You have three minutes to make an appearance.”

Mia shut off the intercom, anger bristling over her. She walked back to where Caroline sat and flopped down.

“Well,” Caroline said, drawing out the word. “If he’s here, demanding your presence, he’s not with Blondie obviously.”

“Are you suggesting I answer that arrogant summons?” Mia asked incredulously.

Caroline shrugged. “Well, let’s put it this way. I absolutely think he’d find a way to come up here and drag you out of this apartment. Might be better to go peacefully and figure out the Blondie situation firsthand. After all, he’s here and she’s not.” She checked her watch. “But now you only have like two minutes before he tears the building apart.”

Mia sighed and then bolted for her bedroom, unsure of why she was even giving Gabe the time of day after the scene at the cocktail party. It was enough to turn her stomach. Still, she hurriedly dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and as an afterthought, shoved clothes to wear to work the next day in her bag. Better to be prepared than sorry.