"Edward," the words left her lips in shock.
Her eyes widened." What.. what are you doing out?" stuttering, as fear crept in. Her hands involuntarily reached for a lock of her hair, nervous.
Robert's touch still lingered on her skin as she faced Edward, and heat crept to her face as if she had done something wrong.
" Is this what you do now? You disappear for years and come back to throw yourself at men?" his voice, dangerously calm, the only sign of his anger in his tightened jaw.
Gabrielle taken back, hands dropping to her sides. "I didn't know I threw myself at you. You seemed quite into it at the time, if i remembered," she retorted, anger rising within her.
Who did he think he was?
A smile curled across Edward's face, yet no humor could be found.
His green eyes locked on hers; they didn't waver." You were willing."He paused, his gaze steady but carrying a shadow of a deeper wound, unspoken. " Of course, it seemed that way to you," the words rolling off his tongue like poison.
She jerked back, as if the words were a physical slap.
Eyes blazing, her breathing hitched." Fuck you, Edward," her voice still surprisingly firm.
He wasn't going to break her.
She stiffened instantly as she felt Robert's hands had found hers, warm and steady. She turned, eyes meeting his. His brows furrowed into a hard line, his chest heaving with a suppressed rage.
He didn't look away from her, his body braced as if he were only waiting for her to nod before he lunged.
An alarm shot through her. Was he going to be fired?
Her head throbbed; she glanced back at Edward. His gaze on Robert's hands. The muscle beneath his eyelid twitched.
"This is just embarrassing, don't tell me you have fallen for my driver," his voice echoed, bitter against the night air.
Hands pulled hers. "Don't speak to her like that," Robert said calmly, as fear ripped through every fiber of his being.
The night air stilled.
Sweat pulled down Gabrielle's back, her eyes darting from one man to the other. She clutched Robert's arm, trying to stop him. He was making a big mistake speaking up to Edward Harrington.
Edward's brows furrowed, annoyed and irritated." Is this some rom com? Where are the cameras?" his voice mocked.
His finger leveled at Robert." You seem to have forgotten who pays your salary, Robert" his breathing slow.
"I do not tolerate insubordination from my staff" he warned, his voice low, firm.
" Leave. I will figure out what do with you later," he commanded. His hands now crossed behind him as he watched the wheels roll in Robert's head.
Robert, hesitant, looked one last time at Gabrielle.
"Please go. Thank you for all you've done, Robert" she said. A smile touched her face, and her fingers slowly slid off his arm.
Edward scoffed, obviously irritated."You heard me."
Robert gave Gabrielle a 'hang in there' look, smiled back, his head down. His hands ran through his hair, a nervous mess as he left.
She ignored the heavy weight of Edward's gaze, her eyes following Robert as he walked away.
The moment he was gone, she whipped her head back to Edward, fists clenched as she simply glared at him.
He eyed her, his head slightly tilted. "For a tramp, you are quite cute."
She jerked, blinking rapidly, still trying to process what he just said.
She lurched forward, her hands finding his face as she struck him.
Shocked, his hands touched the insulted cheek.
Seeing that she caught him off guard, she swung for another slap, but he caught it this time. His fingers tightened around her wrist, firm.
"Did that make you feel better?" He said as he pulled her close. His scent invaded her lungs, blurring her mind.
Lightly shaking her head as if to clear her mind from his seductive spell. Her anger blazed as she met his gaze head-on.
"Yes, actually" she snapped.
"Let go" her voice creaked. Surprising her, He did.
She nearly fell over, but she caught herself. Her heart was beating hard, her body still warm from the encounter.
He unnerved her. And that pissed her off. And his eyes told her, he knew, and he enjoyed it.
"Let's get back in," He said curtly, like the last couple of minutes never happened.
"I want to introduce the mother of my child to my family. They are all here."
"Or else?" she returned. Her hands crossed against her chest.
The action raises her breasts, making them fuller. She caught his eye as they darted to her chest.
Instinctively, she dropped her hands, flushed.
His eyes blazed." Do you want to find out?" His voice, a low threat.
"Let's go in" she said sharply, turning to walk away. She felt his hands on the small of her back, attempting to guide her.
She flinched at the contact, and she whipped around. "Get your hands off me!" she glared at him before storming back towards the hall.
She didn't check to see if he followed her. Her heart hammered against her rib, not from fear this time - but at her newfound courage.
Fuck these rich folks.