Page 9 of Yours, For Now

I didn't answer but gave him a winning smile. I drank some wine and we discussed plans to present the deal to my family, brainstorming with Gabe in the hope that we'd build a bridge to the future I wanted.

Chapter 5

Duringthefollowingweek,Gabe visited me in the office twice for a quick meeting. Each time, we rushed through it, trying to make the most of the time we had together. I had offered to go to him to save some time, but he said he wanted to be seen in the Martínez offices, to get people wondering about his presence. He said that despite his packed schedule, getting people interested could help us when we presented to my family. We mostly exchanged emails to get everything else ready and studied on our own, until the day came to come clean to my dad and uncle.

After our receptionist announced his arrival, I waited for Gabe by the elevator to guide him to the small top-floor boardroom. Nerves shook up my legs with every step I took, but I hid it. If I straightened my back and squared my shoulders hard enough, no one would notice the tremors at the end of my fingers.

I had everything set up in the meeting room; folders with relevant documents in front of each place, water for each of us, as well as a computer and slides cast to the TV.

Gabe unbuttoned his blazer and we sat side-by-side, settling in to wait for my dad and uncle to arrive. The work day was about to end, and the four of us would be free to discuss the potential journey ahead.

"So, how are you feeling?" Gabe asked. He'd worn a tie today, and even though he looked spectacular as always, I missed the hint of brown, smooth skin I'd seen the last few times, when the top button had been loose. "Ready?"

I stared at him with as much aplomb as I could muster. "I can be put on trial to answer anything and everything about this project and presentation. But I have that anticipatory excitement thing happening, know what I mean?"

If he happened to notice any of my nervous tells, I wanted him to have a reason for them. I would rather he thought it was excitement than worry.

A smirk danced on his lips. "Yeah. I would never know from looking at you, though."

"That's good, right?"

"Very good. Would you guess my stomach is doing somersaults?"

That stole a smile from me. "No. Never."

"It is." He chuckled. "I really want this to work out. It could really help me on a couple of plans of mine."

His ready confession softened the iron in my shoulders.

I flicked the clip on my pen's cap. "You're not alone in wanting this to work out. This could change my future in this company."

"No pressure then. Only our future in the balance."

I laughed. "Exactly. At least, in your case, you get to make decisions as to how to move forward regardless of what happens. I completely depend on my dad and uncle's support."

The light in the room turned a beautiful mix of gold and rose, sparkling off every shiny surface. I took a long, deep breath, and gazed at the many shades coloring the clouds in the sky. A hint of calm eased the pressure in my chest.

Gabe tapped two fingers on the wooden boardroom table. "If, for some reason, this doesn't work out, we'll figure it out. I could ask my dad to call, or do something else to try and change their minds. We won't go out without a fight."

It was easy to believe him, when his eyes gazed at me with intense certainty.

The iron in my shoulders melted into my blood, and I relaxed against my chair. "Thank you. It's good to know we can be a team in this. That this helps you as much as it helps me. Because I really, really need to fight for this."

He grinned at me, and our thighs touched. "I will fight for it, too."

"Wonderful." I checked the time on my phone and casually moved a bit away from him. "They'll be here any second now. We're about to do it, Gabe."

"It'll be great, I'm sure. We can do it." He lifted his hand for a high five and, when I clapped it with mine, he interlocked our fingers in a victory shake in the air.

"Stop." I laughed and took away my hand. "You're going to jinx us."

"Impossible." He grinned at me and gazed with humor in his eyes. "Any plans for later? We could go celebrate a job well done."

"Stop flirting with my daughter."

I turned to my dad as he entered the boardroom, his voice surprising me and kicking my nerves into gear again.

Tío Miguel followed behind. "Did I hear that right? Gabriel was flirting with our Lina?"