GABE (Silicon Valley Billionaires 2)

“I’ve been thinking about something.” Gabe reached for my hand. “Your people can come work at Dynamica. I’m launching some new initiatives, and I need a great team.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You suddenly need enough staff for another entire company?”

He leaned back and put his feet up on the ottoman, looking pleased with himself. “That’s what I said. Put a good word in for me. Tell them I’m a great boss and that we have a very friendly office environment—a huge game room and the best cafeteria in Silicon Valley. I have an on-site sushi chef. Employees from Facebook come to eat at my place, for Christ’s sake.”

I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed by his generosity. “Gabe. You don’t have to do this for me.”

His dimple flashed. “It’s not just for you—it’s for me. I’m going to put your people to work, and I’m going to make you the president of a new biotech R&D division at Dynamica. And then you’re going to be happy and productive, and in the office right next to mine, and I’m going to get laid on a very regular basis.” He put his arms behind his head, making his biceps pop. “Win-win, babe.”

My throat constricted as I imagined a future like that. A future that was happy, safe, and secure. A future with Gabe.

A future that might never happen.

He must’ve seen the look of despair cross my face, because he stopped smiling and sat up. “What.” He didn’t bother to make it sound like a question.

“N-nothing. I’m just processing.”

His eyes flashed. “Did you hear anything from Li Na since last night?”

I nodded, trying to compose my features. “She said the P&S was in good shape, and that she’d instructed her men not to touch Hannah. Nothing else.” The lie hung in the air between us; desperation and regret bubbled up inside me. “I think she just wants to get everything finalized.”

My phone beeped again, and I opened my messages. The revised documents were in my inbox. “Bethany just sent me the revisions. I need to work on this. She’ll probably come over.”

I didn’t wait for a response as I rushed to the safety of my comp

uter. I needed to get away from him before he started asking me more questions and I cracked. I hid in his home office and scrolled through the documents on my laptop, knowing I couldn’t hide from him much longer. Gabe was the love of my life. I owed him the truth.

I just had to find the strength to tell him, and to ask him for what only he could give me: forgiveness.

And, hopefully, his blessing.

Chapter 8

Gabe

Lauren was busy preparing for the sale, but she was also busy hiding something from me.

And I had a very good idea what it was.

So later that night, while she was wrapped up reviewing documents with Bethany, I stole her phone. This constituted a breach of trust, and I knew it. It was also a douche move.

But whatever she was hiding could potentially harm her. I had to know what it was in order to protect her. That was my job, douche move or not.

I scrolled through her messages, finding the one from Li Na almost immediately. Lauren hadn’t bothered to delete it. She was a genius, but I swear that sometimes because of that, she didn’t pay attention to the normal details of everyday life. I’d lost count of how many times she’d forgotten to eat because she was so wrapped up in her work. She was the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, yet she couldn’t remember to delete an incriminating text message.

I imagined her train of thought: I should really delete this, but—wait! Shiny new algorithm! This one might cure cancer! Let me see if I can work the convoluted algebraic equation through my perfect, genius brain!

I would’ve laughed at the image, but I was too pissed.

I read the text again. Once you’ve finished the materials list and have an update on the IP transfer docs, I am open to arranging her release in exchange for you.

She was preparing to sacrifice herself without even discussing it with me. My blood boiling, I stalked down the hall and found her in my office, hunched over documents with Bethany.

“Lauren.”

She looked up, her eyes bleary from staring at her screen. “Huh? What’s up?”

I held up her phone. “I need to talk to you. Now.”