Page 50 of One Night with Cinderella

He gave her that look. The charming one. The one that easily beguiled. The setup before the letdown. And there had been plenty lately.

She tensed. Missed dates and rescheduling plans were becoming commonplace as he became more focused on opening his own restaurant. Securing investors. Scouting locations.

At least I hope that’s all it is.

Over the last few weeks, they’d seen each other just a few times. Phone calls and FaceTime had replaced real contact. She felt the void.

“I have to cancel dinner,” he admitted.

“Again,” she said, forcing a smile as she glanced over at him while she took her seat behind her desk.

The energy in the room shifted. It was hard to miss. Lately it had become familiar.

“Monica.”

She looked up at him.

“There was a time you encouraged me to chase my dream,” he said, his tone a little hard.

“You think I discourage you now?” she asked. “Really, Gabe?”

He looked up at the ceiling briefly before walking over to stand beside her. He turned her chair to face him as he squatted before her and cupped her knees with his hands. “I came to tell you I am proud of you. The foundation. Your confidence. Your need to help,” he said, his eyes searching hers.

Monica bit her bottom lip to keep her emotions from overtaking her. She believed every word he spoke and the look of pride in his eyes.

“The restaurant is going to take up more of my time,” he admitted, reaching up to stroke her jawline with his thumb, which drew a shiver. “But I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. With you. In this. So into this. Us.”

Her breaths filled the silence.

“For the first time, I want it all. The success, proving my family wrong and standing up for myself,” he implored.

She turned her head to press a kiss to his hand.

“Okay?” he asked.

The breath she released was shaky. Of late she had begun to worry that Gabe had wanted their relationship once she had risen above the station of maid and they’d end once he realized that not even her sudden wealth would make her good enough for him.

What if I’d never received the inheritance? Would he have given me a second look at all?

She nodded. “Okay,” she said, feeling foolish for doubting him.

Gabe felt six pairs of eyes bore into him. The den where they were seated was quiet. He didn’t try to fill it. He’d said what he needed to say. Now he waited. He looked over at his father as he swirled the ice in his snifter of scotch.

Phillip Sr. stared out of the window as he stroked the hairs of his chin and silently clenched and unclenched his jaw.

“One less dog in the race for CEO then,” Cole said, raising his bottle of beer in a toast and inclining his head.

Gabe looked down into the amber liquid in his crystal glass. The sound of glass crashing against the wall echoed violently. He looked up just as his father lowered his swinging arm and stared at him. The move was pure intimidation.

Gabe felt offended by it. Ridiculed. He notched his chin higher and met his father’s glare with one of his own.

I’m not backing down. Not caving. Not putting your needs before mine. Not to make you proud and then fail, because there is no way to please you.

After long tense moments where it felt everyone in the room held their breath, Phillip Sr. stormed out. Gabe took a deep sip of his drink as he turned from the stunned look in his mother’s blue eyes.

“No man—or woman—should divide a family,” she said.

Monica.

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