Page 102 of The Reluctant Hero

“Ace. Go ahead and leave. Mikael, you too.”

I frown at the distant tone. Gabriel is absentmindedly muttering as he goes through the never-ending stack of papers on his desk. What is it all? Maybe I don’t want to know. Buying random businesses and flipping them seems way too time-consuming.

Mikael and Ace exchange amused looks, and Mikael pipes up.

“Maybe I wanted sushi.”

Gabriel nods like he’s not even listening.

“Are you sure?” Ace asks in a wheedling tone that makes me bite my lip. I don’t know why they’re teaming up on him, but his utter lack of response cracks me up.

He waves his hand dismissively and keeps focused on his paperwork.

“Save me some?” Mikael asks with a smile as he passes my desk.

“I’ll do my best. You might want to get some on your own, though. You know how hungry Jake always is.”

“Good point,” he grumbles and goes back into his glare mode.

“Later, darlin’,” Ace blows me a kiss as he leaves.

And then we’re alone. Again.

Every time they leave for lunch, Ace and Mikael suddenly have something they need to do. After Monday, we haven’t spoken during those times so I thought it was a normal routine. Based on their needling today, that isn’t the case. My eyes narrow on Gabriel in suspicion.

“Stop staring. And consider the lunch you’ve gotten from me all week your raise.”

I drop my highlighter and cross my arms.

“That’s bullshit. Jake eats the majority of whatever you guys get. I barely eat anything.”

His head is slow to rise, but the disbelieving look on his face brings a blush to my cheeks. We both know it’s a lie. Jake does eat a lot, but I’m right next to him, stuffing my face until I feel like I need to be rolled out of here.

“Are you judging me over there, pookie?” I raise a brow, struggling to contain my embarrassment.

“Oh no, never,” he says flatly. “There can’t betwooverly opinionated people in the room.”

“You’re just pissed because your opinion of everything sucks. Start looking on the bright side.”

“You are the worst person to be handing out advice,” he assures me.

At this point, neither of us is even pretending to work. The fake glares we’re sending each other make my heart race.

This is bad.

It suddenly hits me that we’re all alone in here. And his desk is right there. Or the couch.

No!

I’m startled out of my train of thought so hard that I jump a little and scramble to go back to highlighting.

“Was there a bee in your chair?”

I can’t respond to the mocking question for a second. He used his seductive voice when he asked.

“Nope. Just super busy,” my voice comes out high-pitched and strained.

I’m tempted to make a mad dash down the stairs. It won’t take long for me to get exhausted, maybe three flights? Then I can come back up here cool and collected. With more people to buffer the tension between us. Should I invite Vanessa in here? Surely, she has some really important stuff for him to sign.

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