Inconsolable (Love Triumphs 2)

Gabriella stood. “Media is not her job.” She looked at Hugh.

“I think Roger just made it her job for today,” he said.

“No, no.” Gabriella went for the door. “I’ll go talk to him. He’ll want my view.”

“Gab, if he wanted your view he’d ask for it.”

“You don’t understand, Roger and I—” She dead-stopped, frowning.

“Go on,” said Hugh. “What about you and Roger?”

“He and I, well, he, um.” Foley had never seen Gabriella so lacking in composure. “It’s personal.”

“It’d better not be personal and if it is I’d better know about it,” Hugh growled. He tapped the tabletop for emphasis.

Foley sat very still. If they wanted to forget she was alive that was all right by her.

“It’s not what you think.”

“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”

“You think we’re having a thing, an office romance.”

“Nope. I think you think you can have a thing with Roger. I think you want people to think you are. I know he’s much married, moral and daddied up to his eyeballs. Go do your job, Gabriella.”

Gabriella made a noise of complaint and slammed the door behind her. Hugh made a face.

“I think that was a flounce,” said Foley. “Yep, I’m sure it was.”

Hugh put his head down on the table and thumped it once. “I went too far. I’ll have to apologise.”

“Damn.”

He lifted his head. “You go do your job too. You got exactly what you wanted. Go look after your caveman.”

Foley knew a serious instruction from Hugh when she heard it. She knew he was embarrassed he’d argued like that with Gabriella in public and betrayed his own feelings about her. She gulped the water and made for the door.

“Foley.”

She turned back. Hugh had stayed seated but swivelled his chair around to face her. “It’s not your fault.”

She ducked her head. “I know.” But it sure felt like it, and Hugh had no idea how compromised she was.

He shook his head. “Yeah, like I know for sure Roger wouldn’t with Gab.”

“He wouldn’t.” It was a horrible thought. She opened the door.

Hugh palmed his head. “We think we know people. We only know what they let us know.”

“He wouldn’t,” she repeated. She meant Roger, she meant Drum, because she still couldn’t believe Drum w

ould attack a woman, and it wasn’t because she’d kissed him like her continued living depended on it, it wasn’t because he didn’t resist her accusation, it was because she’d put her faith in him and she didn’t do that easily.

“I know it’s not my fault but it feels like it is. I don’t think he did it, Hugh. I’ll hang with Nat. I’ll keep you up to date.”

She scooted past her desk and noted Adro’s PC wasn’t on, which meant he was missing too. Hopefully sick though that was a nasty thought, but better than thinking he was out interviewing again. He’d missed out on the Opera House job, but he was determined to leave.

She avoided eye contact with Gabriella and went out to her car. It wouldn’t start. It had character building hail dents in the bonnet and an anxiety inducing flat battery. She got the guys from maintenance to give her a push and clutch started it, then drove the long way to the station to give the engine a chance to build a charge.