Page 25 of Forbidden Desires

I glare at him. Is he fucking with me? “Your sister’s a menace. She realizes you’re considered management around here. And besides, Gisele is way too young.” I tell him the same thing I keep telling myself. Maybe I didn’t realize that night in New York, but I certainly donow. She’s only twenty-three; that’s younger than my sister. That just adds to the reasons why I should stay away from her.

Parker chuckles, pushing himself off the doorframe. “Didn’t stop you.” He grins like he knows my dirty little secret. “I have known you a long time, Brody. Did you think I wouldn’t work out who she was?”

I realize why he’s being a pain in my ass this morning; he’s pieced it all together. Like an idiot, I told him about the girl I met in New York. “Shit,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “No one can know about this, you understand that, right?” He knows what I’m up against. While technically I didn’t do anything wrong, since she didn’t work here when we slept together, it won’t stop the rumors. Lana is desperate to find any reason to prevent me from taking over the business, and since I can't trust Victor, I need to be careful not to give them any ammunition.

“You haven’t done anything wrong. She wasn’t an employee back then,” he says, like I’m overreacting.

“But she is now.”

“Stay away from her now. It’s simple. Unless you are the one who tracked her down to offer her a job?”

“What kind of a psycho do you think I am? It’s just a coincidence.” I pace back and forth in the room, trying to process the situation. I thought I had it under control when it was just the two of us that knew, but now, this is how rumors start. Whispers spread through this town faster than wildfire. “She wanted to change her life, try something new, and she ended up here.”

“That’s a pretty big coincidence,” he says, echoing exactly what I was thinking yesterday. But after she explained why she was here, it sounded plausible.

“I agree,” I say, remorseful.

His brow rises, and I hate that he knows me so well. “What did you do?”

“I accused her of stalking me. Following me back here and getting the job because of me,” I admit, knowing how terrible it sounds. Truth be told, I’m lucky she turned up at work this morning.

He throws his head back, laughing. “You’re an idiot. Why would a girl like that stalk you? She’s famous, isn’t she? And stunning. She could get any man she wanted, and you accused her of moving across the country to take an entry-level job just to be close to you. No wonder she can’t stand you.”

I whip my head back to glare at him. “She can’t stand me?” She told him that?

“You’re a grump who hides away in his office instead of socializing with the rest of us. Are you really surprised?”

For fuck’s sake. I know we got off to a bad start yesterday, but that was because I wasn’t prepared to see her. I feel like we ended on a better note. “You need to forget everything I told you about her. She’s here to reinvent herself and doesn’t want anyone to know who she is.”

He looks guilty, and I already know I’m going to hate what he is about to say. “Too late. When I worked out who she was, I might have just blurted it out to Paisley.”

I close my eyes, trying to block him out. Of anyone, Paisley is the worst one to know your secrets. She spreads gossip in that flower shop worse than old Mrs. Rashford. “Of course you did. Is there anything you don’t tell your sister?” I sigh, realizing the mess I’ve created is about to get chaotic. If Gisele already thoughtI was a jerk, I don’t want to know what she’s going to think of me now that her secrets are about to be spread around town.

“I didn’t tell her you banged her, just that you met her in New York last month and she was a Broadway star. Elliot seems to think she’s got a thing for you. It was obvious you two knew each other already. If you wanted to keep it on the down low, you probably shouldn’t have stalked over to our table and demanded she come out front with you like some controlling asshole.”

I know he’s right, but there is something about her that makes me feel out of control. I saw her there with them and felt compelled to show her who’s in charge. I catch a glimpse of Gisele walking past the door, and I realize it must be time for my meeting.

I run a hand through my hair, not sure how to get control of this situation again. “Not another word to anyone else and get your sister to keep her mouth shut as well,” I say quietly as we make our way toward the conference room.

The hum of conversation subsides as we enter the room, and all eyes turn toward us. I notice Gisele has taken a seat beside Victor, and my spine straightens. He leers at her in a way that makes me uncomfortable. I shoot him a stern look, silently warning him to keep his distance.

Gisele’s eyes meet mine, and she smiles sweetly. My heart does a strange flip at her sweetness, but I keep my expression neutral. Why does she have to be so breathtakingly beautiful? It’s distracting. And when she smiles, it does things to me it shouldn’t. I take a seatat the head of the conference table and wait for the rest of our management team to get settled.

I take charge of the meeting, commanding the room’s attention as we dive into discussions about this month’s budget and staffing adjustments, along with the section of the hotel that will be closed due to renovations carried out by Parker and his team. Elliot explains the menu improvements and how much it’s going to change our bottom line, impressing even Victor. Lana sits toward the back of the room, quietly watching. If it were up to me, she wouldn’t be here. She’s not staff, but Victor is adamant that she be included. Because it’s what my father would have wanted.

Emerson introduces Gisele as her new events coordinator, and she’s welcomed warmly. We’re making progress slowly, and team morale amongst the management staff looks to be improving, even though I know there is still a long way to go. As it stands, our numbers are up, but I’m not seeing an increase in profits yet. That part I don’t let on. When the meeting concludes, the room empties out quickly, with everyone needing to make a start on their workday.

Victor lingers, talking with Gisele. By her body language, I can see how uncomfortable she is. She glances toward me, and I take it as my cue to interrupt. I clear my throat, catching Victor’s attention.

“Victor, I need a moment with Gisele regarding some upcoming events. Mind if I borrow her?” I ask, telling him with my eyes that it’s not up for discussion.

“I’ll come find you later to discuss my corporate ideas,” Victor grumbles but reluctantly agrees, giving Gisele a lingering look before finally walking away. Istand, motioning for Gisele to follow me as we exit the conference room.

I find a secluded spot in the hallway and direct my attention toward her.

“What was that about?” she asks, looking confused.

I watch him walk back down the hall with Lana. “He’s a creep. I don’t trust him around you.”

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