Page 39 of Claimed By the Boss

“I’m broke and there is noway I’m begging for scraps. No one is going to help me. The debt is too much.You’re going to give me your company, and in return, you’ll get Nora back.”

Gabriel stared at hisfather. He should have known he would get desperate. That morning, he’d seenthe headlines about his grandfather’s old company. Even Lawson had phoned himand told him about it. This was insane.

Everything his grandfatherbuilt, and his father before him, and his father before him, was in the toilet.The debt had mounted. There was no chance of bringing it back from the brink.His grandfather had warned him, even told him to let it burn to the ground.That it was time for his father to see the consequences of his actions.

“Give me the paperwork,”Gabriel said.

“No, Gabriel, you cannotdo that,” Nora cried out.

“Shut your fucking mouth.You see, I told you. He loves you so much he is willing to give up his companyfor you.”

Nora stared at him. “No,you cannot do this. This is your company, Gabriel.”

His father held out thepaperwork. Gabriel took it and walked over to his desk. His father had takenthe time to have it written up. The simple handing over of his company. Gabrielput his pen to the paper with every intention of signing, when he heard thethud.

He looked up and wasshocked to see Trudy holding a wooden vase, and his father conked out on thefloor.

“Don’t,” Nora said,rushing over to him.

Trudy grabbed the gun.“The cops are already on the way.”

“How did you know?”Gabriel asked, pulling Nora into his arms.

“I saw him.” Trudy shookher head. “He didn’t see me but I followed him. You were going to sign yourcompany over to him?”

“I was not going to allowhim to kill Nora,” he said.

He pulled Nora close andtook possession of her lips.

“Why?” Nora asked.

“Don’t you get it, NoraPierce, I love you,” he said. “I have loved you from the first moment I sawyou, and that love got deeper when you fell on me.”

Her face went bright red.

Gabriel had intended tofind the right moment over dinner, but now was as good a time as any. He sunkto his knee in front of her.

“Nora, marry me, and makeme the happiest man on earth.” He did have a big speech prepared, but nothingcould have prepared him for the chance of losing her.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes. I love you and Iwant to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re the right woman for me.”

He saw the tears in hereyes, and he didn’t want to make her cry. He loved her so damn much.

For the first time in hislife, he saw a future. He saw a family, one he knew his grandfather wanted forhim.

“Yes,” Nora said. “Yes, Ilove you, Gabriel Williams, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Epilogue

Ten Years Later

Nora carried out the trayof buns, as her two youngest followed behind. At three years old, they wereinto everything, but at least they were good when it came to food.

Esther and Lawson werealready at the table, along with Trudy and her husband. Nancy and her husband werealso there.

She looked toward thebarbeque pit and saw Gabriel frowning. The man, even at his own barbeque, hatedto cook.

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