Falling For Her Italian Billionaire

He lay on the sofa, studying the ceiling as his father swung into employer mode and issued instructions. This was a serious matter, and he knew that Gabriel shared his concern that the company should not be compromised. He was to follow the advice of his security team at all times. Gabriel mouthed the words of his parting shot, knowing them off by heart. He wasn’t to worry his mother. She’d already lost one son...

He knew. He’d been there. The last twenty years had been dedicated to not worrying his mother, and to trying to make up for the son that his parents had lost. To stepping into the shoes of the older brother he’d hero-worshipped. Gabriel did what he always did, assuring his father that he’d heard, and asking to speak to his mother.

That was a less demanding conversation. His mother’s fears could be assuaged by the sound of his voice, and the promise that he was fine, if a little groggy still. They chatted for a while, and when he was sure that his mother was content, Gabriel ended the call.

He closed his eyes, stretching his limbs, wondering whether it was time to take more painkillers. Perhaps he should ask Clara, she seemed to have pretty much every area of his life under control.

But tomorrow he’d take it all back. Tomorrow was a new day. One more day that his brother didn’t have, and Gabriel had promised himself a long time ago that he’d waste none of them.

CHAPTER FOUR

CLARA OPENED HER EYES. This was a nice place to wake up, quiet, early morning sunlight filtering into the large guest bedroom. Maybe it was the lingering strands of a dream that made her feel that Gabriel had somehow only just left the room.

Gabriel had insisted she get a night’s sleep, and Clara had been too tired to argue. This morning she had to concede that he’d been right. She felt rested and equal to the task of finding a way to reconcile Gabriel’s urge to do whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased, with a workable security protocol.

She showered and dressed quickly, shaking the creases out of the smart trousers and blouse that she kept in the overnight bag in the boot of her car. There were guards stationed inside and outside the house, but it wouldn’t do any harm to take an early morning tour to make sure that everything was as it should be.

‘He’s up.’ Molly, one of the night guards, was at her post in the front hallway, and frowning furiously. ‘He’s been out...’

‘You went with him?’ Clara raised her eyebrows.

‘No, he must have slipped out through the back somehow. Walked back in through the front door. Sorry, Clara.’

Clara shook her head. ‘It’s not your fault. Where is he now?’

‘Kitchen.’

‘Okay. Thanks, Molly.’ Clara turned, taking a breath as she walked towards the closed kitchen door. If Gabriel was starting as he meant to go on, then so was she.

He was sitting at the kitchen table, a takeaway coffee and pastry in front of him. Reading the paper. He wore a crisp white shirt with a tie, and dark trousers, and his demeanour suggested that butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. Clara brushed away the thought that his mouth was probably capable of turning solid rock into molten lava.

‘Morning.’ He gave her a smile, and Clara sat down at the table. ‘Would you like some coffee?’

Clara shook her head. ‘You’ve been out to get yours?’

‘I can’t drink instant.’ He nodded to the jar of coffee that had been bought to replenish his empty cupboards yesterday.

‘So you decided to take a stroll and get some. Along with a morning paper.’

‘I brought coffee back for the night guards as well. I was going to get some for you, but I didn’t want to wake you.’

His charm was working overtime. Liquid brown eyes that seemed to collude with her and invited her to collude with him.

‘You can’t do this, Gabriel.’

‘I just have.’ He shot her a penetrating look. ‘You’re not my keeper, Clara.’

The words rolled off his tongue so easily, as if he’d come to the conclusion that no one was his keeper a long time ago. They’d be sure to hurt anyone who cared about him...

Clara placed her palms on the table in front of her, leaning forward. ‘I am your keeper, because that’s what I’m paid to be. And if you think that bringing everyone coffee is going to make any difference, when you’ve just gone out of your way to demonstrate that my team can’t do their jobs properly, then you’re wrong.’

She was taking a risk. But Gabriel wasn’t going to terminate the contract and order her out of the house. Even if he didn’t care to acknowledge the risks he was facing, he obviously cared about his mother and wouldn’t do anything to worry her.

‘It wasn’t the night guards’ fault. I take full responsibility...’ A flicker of genuine remorse showed in his face.

‘That’s not how it works, Gabriel. If some harm had come to you, they would have been held responsible. I won’t have them treated like that.’

‘All right. I hear you, and I apologise. But I won’t make this house into a fortress that I’m afraid to leave. It’s like...being buried alive.’

Gabriel seemed suddenly hollow-eyed at the prospect. He had been buried alive. The details in his file were scanty, but basic facts had been noted. The accident that had killed his brother had trapped him underground for three days.

‘I hear you, too.’ She could feel his pain, hanging in the air between them and pounding in her chest. ‘If you’ll work with me, I’ll respect your wishes. Always and without question.’

Suddenly he capitulated. ‘All right. I’d like to go in to the charity’s offices this morning, there are a few things I need to discuss with Alistair. If you can facilitate that, I’d be grateful.’

Clara nodded, puffing out a breath. ‘Thank you. We’ll be ready to go when you are.’

‘Half an hour? I’ll make you some coffee. Instant, I’m afraid...’

He’d made a concession and now wasn’t the time to tell him that coffee was the last thing on her mind. ‘Thank you. I’ll go and tell the guards and be back in a moment.’

* * *

Clara had seen Gabriel approach each one of the night guards before they went off duty, and had heard his apology. He’d thanked them for their night’s work and shaken their hands. It wasn’t necessary, they were all used to being treated like part of the furniture, but it was a nice thing for him to do and everyone appreciated it.

She’d also seen the words that Molly had mouthed to Ian when she handed over to him. He’s so hot... Ian had delivered a smiling reproof. That wasn’t something that anyone needed to notice, and Clara should take the advice on board too.

The charity’s offices were just ten minutes’ drive away. Quietly exclusive, the three-storey building looked out on a leafy square, bounded by iron railings. Gabriel waited until Ian opened the door of the SUV for him and followed him up the front steps. Once inside, he seemed to regain his momentum, giving the guard in Reception a brisk wave and striding through into an open-plan studio.

‘These are our main offices, and we have a development team upstairs, along with a meeting room. Our clinic is next door, and it also takes up the top floor of this building.’

Clara knew that already. She’d seen the schematics for the two buildings. But Gabriel seemed to be intent on co-operation and she wasn’t going to discourage him.

‘Thanks. That’s useful to know.’

He gestured towards a couple of glass-walled offices at the far end of the main space, one of which was occupied by a man who had sprung to his feet when they entered.

‘That’s my office and Alistair’s is next door...’ He broke off, greeting the man with a smile. ‘Alistair. This is Clara Holt. She’s closer to me than my shadow at the moment.’

That was the aim. When she could keep up with him.

‘Nice to meet you, Clara.’ Alistair gave her a relaxed grin, and Gabriel hurried away, towards his own office. ‘We need to talk, Gabriel...’ he called after him.

‘Yes, we do. Be with you in a minute.’ Gabriel was sorting through the papers on his desk, obviously trying to find something.

‘Don’t let him run rings around you.’ Gabriel’s habit of doing the exact opposite of whatever he was meant to be doing clearly came as no surprise to Alistair. ‘Thanks for sending your colleague in to see us yesterday, by the way. It was a really useful session, and it’s good to know we’re bug-free.’

‘Thank you for being so...co-operative.’

Alistair chuckled. ‘My pleasure entirely. You’ll find that Gabriel can be co-operative if he puts his mind to it.’

Clara would wait and see about that. And meanwhile she’d watch and learn. It seemed that the two directors were a fusion of opposites, and if Alistair could get him to co-operate then there was hope for her.

He turned as Gabriel shot back out of his office, making towards them. ‘Clara, feel free to use my desk, we won’t be long. Ready, Alistair?’

‘I have been for the last ten minutes.’ Alistair began to follow Gabriel towards his own office and then turned to Clara. ‘We actually might be a while. Refreshments are over there.’

The guards outside would be making sure that no one who wasn’t supposed to be here would be finding their way past the reception area and Clara could watch and learn. She found a seat that gave an unobstructed view of both Gabriel and Alistair through the glass wall that divided the two offices. Alistair sat back in one of the easy chairs to one side of his desk, obviously listening. Gabriel was more animated. The conversation seemed to be getting heated and Gabriel rose and paced a little, then threw himself back into his seat.

It was clearly a case of an irresistible force meeting an unmovable object. Just as Clara was wondering whether there would inevitably be an explosion of some sort, and whether it might be wise to take cover, Gabriel smiled and Alistair nodded. Peace was restored, only to be shattered again when they started in on a new topic of discussion.

Sitting and watching. Waiting for nothing to happen and yet prepared for anything. Clara had become used to it, but Gabriel made it a lot less tedious. Something about the way he moved invited her to watch, and it was difficult to tear her gaze away from him and scan the office, as people filtered in to start their day’s work. Names would have been checked at Reception and her presence seemed to excite a studied lack of interest. Alistair had clearly already dealt with any questions about the situation.

After two hours, it seemed that Gabriel and Alistair had run out of things to wrangle about and it looked as if neither of them could be any more pleased about the outcome of their discussions. Gabriel picked up the sheaf of papers he’d brought with him, tucking them under his arm, and joined Clara in his own office.

‘We’ve decided what we’ll do about this...business.’ He settled himself into the leather armchair opposite the one that Clara had chosen as a vantage point.

‘Which is?’ Clara wondered whether Alistair had been able to talk any sense into Gabriel.

‘I’m keen that no one here suffers any fall-out from anything that might happen to me. I was thinking of taking a step back from the charity for a while, but Alistair disagrees. Apparently he had a very fruitful discussion with one of your colleagues yesterday, and he won’t accept the possibility that I may become a liability. We’ve decided that I’ll maintain my involvement here for the time being but keep the matter under review. Do you have any thoughts on that?’

It didn’t matter what Clara thought. It mattered that she could keep Gabriel safe. But something about those dark eyes of his, and the sudden vulnerability in them, made her answer.

‘I think that now isn’t the time for you to abandon your core priorities. If the people here want to stand by you, then you should let them. Your work here clearly means a great deal to you.’

‘You thought it wouldn’t? What gave you the right to question my commitment?’ The sudden coolness in his eyes passed and he smiled. ‘The money, maybe...’

Yes, it was the money. And Gabriel’s charm, which made everything seem as if it was a game to him. Clara was beginning to learn otherwise, and she flushed in embarrassment.

‘Do you know how my brother died?’ he asked quietly.

‘Yes, I do. You were both visiting a cave, close to your parents’ summer home in Italy, and you were caught in a rock fall. That must be a very difficult thing to live with. I’m sorry.’

Gabriel nodded. ‘I’d find it impossible if I didn’t do something in support of the people who go into dangerous situations to help others. You must understand that. You were an ambulance paramedic.’

‘Yes, I do. I’ve seen people who work with the emergency services get hurt in the course of their jobs.’

He nodded, the warmth in his eyes telling Clara that this was exactly what he wanted to hear. That she wouldn’t just support his commitment to the work of his charity, she’d put her heart into it as well. Shame he didn’t know that her heart wasn’t a vessel that she relied on any more.

‘Thank you.’ He leaned back in his seat, smiling, and suddenly the atmosphere in the office seemed to change. Being with Gabriel was a lot like being on a roller-coaster at times. ‘There’s another...engagement that I should mention.’

‘Yes?’

‘There’s a cocktail party on Saturday. Alistair thought it would be better to cancel, but I’ve persuaded him otherwise.’ Clearly the conversation between Gabriel and his fellow director had been a matter of give and take.

‘You’re going to a cocktail party. The day after tomorrow?’

‘I’m holding one. At my place. It’s not just a cocktail party, we’ve put the guest list together very carefully.’

‘People who are in a position to help the charity, you mean?’

‘People who share our aims. We’ve asked a couple of Parliamentary advisors, chief executives from companies and charities and so on...’ He grinned roguishly. ‘I doubt any of them will be slipping me a roofie.’

And Gabriel wouldn’t call it off. Clara was learning that putting a few toes back into the water wasn’t his style. It was all or nothing with him, and he had to strip off and jump straight in. Clara tried to ignore the mental picture, because the temptation to dwell on the stripping-off part made her want to fan her face.

‘I’ll prepare a plan of action, then. Are there any other engagements I should know about?’

He shrugged. ‘I’m going to Italy for a few days in a couple of weeks’ time. It’s the anniversary of my brother’s death and I always go back, to be with my parents. In between then and now... I guess that anything that happens will be just as much of a surprise to me as it is to you.’

‘Okay. I’m sure we can handle it.’

‘Great.’ He got to his feet. ‘Now that’s settled, I need to go and see the Dream Team.’

‘Who?’ Clara picked up her bag, ready to follow him.

‘Come and meet them.’ He shot the words over his shoulder. ‘I think you might like them.’

* * *

The Dream Team was located on the next floor up, in a large office that contained three desks, some seriously hi-tech computer equipment and a lot of clutter. The muted colours of the offices below were replaced with posters and whiteboards, with a couple of bright purple sofas in one corner. An inflatable gorilla sat at one of the desks and the other two were occupied by a pair who seemed barely out of their teens. The young woman was concentrating on a large screen in front of her, and her companion was fiddling with his phone.

‘This is Kaia and Alfie.’ Gabriel frowned at the gorilla. ‘Where’s Ben?’

Alfie pulled a face and Kaia looked up apologetically from her screen. ‘He’s...gone home to get some sleep.’

‘And how long was he up for this time?’

Alfie and Kaia exchanged glances, and Gabriel rolled his eyes. ‘Okay, I don’t really need to know the details. Tell him that I won’t have any more all-nighters from him.’

Kaia shrugged. ‘He gets involved with what he’s doing, and he loses track of time. You know Ben...’

‘Yes, I do. And I know that he gets results, but I won’t have him doing it at the expense of his own health. If he can’t get into some kind of a routine where he eats and sleeps regularly, I’m going to have to...’ Gabriel shrugged. ‘I’ll think of something. Just tell him.’

‘Will do, boss.’ Alfie grinned.

‘While you’re at it, you might mention that if he tries coming into the office at the weekend, he’ll find a security guard who’ll politely but firmly refuse to let him in. You can organise that, Clara?’

‘Yes, I can revoke his access out of working hours. And we can tactfully make sure he leaves at a reasonable hour in the evening.’

‘Good. Thank you.’ Gabriel turned to Kaia. ‘Are you dropping by his place tonight?’

‘I thought I might.’

‘In that case...’ Gabriel took his wallet out, extracting a couple of notes. ‘Will you leave a bit early and go and get some shopping for him? Let’s see if we can introduce him to fruit, shall we? And perhaps a few things he can’t eat straight out of the packet?’

Kaia nodded, taking the notes and putting them in the pocket of her ripped jeans. ‘Will do. Thanks.’

Gabriel nodded, and both Kaia’s and Alfie’s gazes turned to Clara in silent curiosity. Then Kaia stepped forward, obviously the spokesperson for the two.

‘Hi, I’m Kaia.’

‘Clara. Alistair told you who I am?’

Kaia nodded. ‘He said we mustn’t get in your way.’

Gabriel chuckled. ‘He means you mustn’t get in my way. If you do then there’s always the chance that one of Clara’s team will spring from the shadows and tackle you to the ground.’

‘Really?’ Kaia’s eyebrows shot up and she backed away.

‘No one’s getting tackled to the ground.’ Clara shot Gabriel a glance, hoping it might imply it was perfectly possible that she might tackle him to the ground if he didn’t stop messing around. ‘My job is to make sure things never get that far.’

‘Of course. Forgive me. Kaia, Alfie and Ben are our design and ideas team. Ben’s alter ego is the only dangerous thing around here and all you really need to deal with him is a pin...’ Gabriel gestured towards the inflatable gorilla.

‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ Clara turned to Kaia, smiling. ‘So your work is with rescue teams?’

‘Partly, but not exclusively. If we have a good idea about pretty much anything, Gabriel lets us run with it.’

‘Sometimes they come up with nothing. But sometimes they hit gold.’ Gabriel grinned.

It all sounded a bit haphazard. This must be one of the high-risk projects that Gabriel had referred to. But if the Dream Team was as good as he obviously thought they were, then giving them free range opened up the possibility of new ideas and outside-the-box thinking. Sometimes unconventional and head in the clouds was exactly what it took to come up with undreamed-of results.

‘You might find the project that Kaia and Ben are working on interesting, they’re looking into 3D printing to make prosthetic limbs.’

‘I’ve read a little about that, it’s got some great applications. This is one of the projects that falls slightly outside your core interests?’

‘It has all sorts of applications...’ Gabriel shrugged. ‘It’s not a new idea, but it’s something that Alistair and I were both passionate about and Kaia and Ben felt they had something unique to add to what’s already out there.’

Clara was having difficulty working out whether the team’s activities were an exercise in chaos or an inspired leap of faith. When she looked into Gabriel’s face, she saw only the leap of faith.

‘Kaia will be happy to show you...’

He turned to Kaia and she nodded. Clara hesitated. Much as she wanted to see what Kaia was doing, her responsibility was to keep her eye on Gabriel. ‘You’re staying here?’

‘Yes, Alfie and I have a few things we need to talk about.’

If she was going to give in, she may as well do it gracefully. ‘Okay. I’d love to see what you’re doing, Kaia.’

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