Page 93 of Bargaining

Her mouth dropped open. “I don’t want that. I didn’t ask you to meddle.”

I tied another lousy knot in my tie. My father could already be down there with Gabe and I couldn’t even get my fucking tie straight. “If it’s a problem, I’ll call Theo and tell him to drop it. I just won’t allow someone to get away with treating you—”

“It was years ago. You’re butting your nose into something that doesn’t concern you.”

Fine. As soon as I’d spoken to Gabe, I’d call Theo. I’d only been trying to help. A growl of exasperation left my lips. “I don’t have time for this. Can you help me with this tie?”

“No.” Her voice was brittle. “I hope your meeting is worth it.”

She snatched her purse and slammed the door on her way out.

The lobby was chaotic and crowded. A lively group of women in matching pale-blue sweatshirts dominated the small space. In the middle, with a huge blue duffle bag slung over his shoulder, was the man himself, Gabe Rivers. I bided my time, watching him smile and make jokes with the staff. I intercepted him before he made it to the elevator.

“Gabe? Hello.”

He stilled, and astonishment flashed in his green eyes. “Cole? What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?”

I held my gaze level.Yes. That’s exactly what I’m doing.I forced a smooth smile. “Stalking? No. Of course not. I’m here onhoneymoon with my wife. Charlotte’s always wanted to visit Rome. It’s her first time.”

A blonde woman with a ponytail joined us at the elevator.

“Honeymoon?” The blonde smiled. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. We’ve had a wonderful time. Shame it has to end.” I kept my expression relaxed and my tone casual.Nothing unusual here. Just a happy coincidence. Completely innocent.“Actually, I was hoping to bump into you again. Do you have time for a quick coffee?”

Gabe’s football team filtered into the small space. Their excited chatter bounced off the walls. He hoisted his duffle bag higher onto his shoulder.

“We’re about to start a training camp out here. I don’t have time to put my business hat on. And I wouldn’t want to deprive you of time with your wife on honeymoon.”

A bead of sweat ran down my neck despite the air conditioning. “Just a quick chat over coffee. My wife’s popped out this morning. She won’t mind.”

Gabe’s gaze drifted to the blonde at his side. Was that a hint of skepticism?Shit.

She gave him a friendly nod. “Fine with me. You can’t disappoint a man on his honeymoon.”

Gabe blew out a breath and glanced at his Rolex. “Fine. Let me unpack, and then I need to be on it with the team.”

My father could be lurking anywhere. I had to get in first. “No. Now. It has to be now.”

His eyebrows shot up.

Too pushy. Dial it down.I forced a chuckle that I could only hope was disarming and didn’t make me look too much like a sociopath. “It’s just that I have to be somewhere. I’m supposed to be meeting my wife later for lunch.”

“Then let’s do it another time. When we’re back in England. We both have places to be.”

The elevator doors opened. He got in.Fuck it.I squeezed in after him, and so did half his football team. My heart pounded in the cramped space.

“My team has been trying to schedule a meeting for a while now. We can’t seem to get hold of you,” I said.

He flashed a faint smile. “I’m a busy man.”

An elbow nudged my hip. Bodies pressed too close in the elevator. My chest felt tight. I couldn’t let him leave here without pinning him down. “What he’s offering you? I can beat it.”

“Not everything is about money.”

Gabe’s wife lifted her eyebrows and gave him an amused look, as though sharing some private joke.

The mirrored walls were closing in around me. My arsehole-ish face everywhere. I had a sick, exposed feeling, like the horrible words on my Wikipedia page were painted above on the ceiling for everyone to read. “It’s business. I want this hotel. You can’t let him have it. Whatever my father has told you about me is a lie.”