feel a pinch of relief in my chest. Even though I know I can’t be his redemption because my veins run hot with revenge, I’m so glad to hear him say this, to hear him admit it to himself. That he can’t be his father’s son anymore. That the cycle has to stop, and it will stop with him.
“Gabrielle,” he whispers, leaning across to grasp my chin between his fingers. He looks deep inside my eyes, to my heart and bones. “I’m not letting you go, no matter what. We’re going to get through this, through all of this, together.”
His eyes flutter closed, and he places a soft kiss on my lips, a kiss filled with longing and lust and something deeper than that.
I think I’ve fallen for him.
It might be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
PASCAL
“It’s my day off, for fuck’s sake, find someone else to figure it out.” I hang up the phone and cover my face with my hands, letting out a low growl.
We’ve been back from Mallorca for more than two weeks now, and I know that I’ve had a shit ton of catching up to do, but it seems that instead of the work being delegated to the heads of the departments like it should be, everyone keeps coming to me.
The fact that I’m at home and it’s a Sunday doesn’t seem to matter. I’ve had to field call after call of people inquiring about the upcoming spring fashion show (yes, the spring lines debut in the autumn). Our head designer is the one who is in charge of that; we’ve had the location in the Grand Palais booked since last year. I have little to no say except clearing the budget, and yet everyone keeps calling me.
Because everyone is new; because your two best people, Seraphine and Blaise, left; because you’re a dick, and your father is a murderer.
I know that’s true, but it doesn’t stop it from stressing me out.
I sigh and get up, looking out the window at the lawn beneath. Gabrielle and her mother are having lunch on their patio. They seem to be arguing about something, something I’m not privy to. Suddenly Jolie throws her hands up in the air and storms into the guesthouse, and Gabrielle follows, shutting the door behind her.
I know that when Gabrielle first wanted the job, she said it was because of her mother. That she was worried about her. When I’ve broached the topic before, Gabrielle got that look on her face, the one she gets when you want her to open up and she’s nowhere near ready. It reminds me of a cornered animal, and because I know she can lash out from fear, I don’t want to provoke her.
But if she’s still worried about her mother, I’m worried about her.
I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy transition coming back here, and I knew that Gabrielle didn’t want to come. I don’t blame her. It didn’t take long for us to fall back into our familiar patterns, me stressed about work, her walking around like she’s being followed all the time. When we pulled up in front of the house, it was like I saw the joy sink from her eyes. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to turn the car around and drive far, far away.
But we can’t run from our problems forever.
I know I can’t.
And since Gabrielle said she was going to have a meaningful talk with her mother, maybe she’s facing them head-on too.
I sigh again and turn from the window, heading out of the office and down the hall. I can hear my mom on the phone with someone in her room, giggling in a high voice. If she’s smart, she’s got a lover on the line, hopefully someone a bit nicer than my father.
I hear my father stirring in his room, his door slightly ajar, so I hurry down the staircase to the first floor. The last thing I want today is to talk to him. I haven’t been able to avoid him at all this week—he’s been at the office more than normal, telling me that he’s trying to pick up after my slacking—and most of the time, he’s downright sinister. I don’t know what has come over him, but I know it has to have something to do with Gabrielle.
Which is why I don’t want him to know anything at the moment. We’re sneaking around, trying to be extra careful. I’m