Five

BLAKE MORENO POV.

FIVE MONTHS LATER.

I wanted to quit! I badly needed everything to be over already because I didn't think that I'd be able to tolerate a day more of her suffering attitude. Gabrielle was making me into a slave and it was fucking infuriating. 

I could bet on my life that she didn't know the difference between a personal assistant and a personal maid because she had me doing nearly everything for her... Getting her coffee, and her meals, holding her coat, following her everywhere like a lost puppy, shopping for her clothes, acting as her bodyguard while still doing my darn best to draft up files, accompany her to board meetings, and help point out holes in some of the business deals that her associates proposed, not that she couldn't see them herself. Gabrielle had me going on her behalf to meetings or on ridiculous errands that made absolutely no sense.

She also made me study a lot of business books because she felt I wasn't good enough at my job. And when I mastered those, she switched to languages. She wanted me to learn freaking Chinese, which by the way she spoke fluently. 

I had it up to my neck with work that once I got home, I went straight to sleep, that was if I could close my eyes for one hour without her calling me to go through business emails, or having me draft up irrelevant files that she'd never use in a million years. It was annoyingly petty and harsh of her but she just seemed to enjoy making my life miserable. 

She single-handedly made sure I couldn't go anywhere except for the office and my house. And the most horrible part was that I couldn't even get any incriminating evidence to tie her to the shady business of her grandfather Genovese. 

When she made calls, my devices couldn't pick up the voices at the other end which meant she was using a blocker and why would she, if she had nothing to hide, so I kept on working, hoping that I would find something but I didn't get zilch. And I was frustrated, horny, and tired.

There was also her habit of staring eerily at me until I felt like my face was going to disappear. She watched me like she knew something I didn't. I had tried to hold her gaze on numerous occasions to force her to look away from me, but she took it as a challenge like I've noticed she tended to do at the board meeting. She just smirked and continued gazing at me, until I was forced to look away from her, hard as a rock in my pants, uncomfortable for the rest of the day. It was dizzying the effect she had on me. That was why I wanted to quit. How could I do my job when I was sexually attracted to her?

Everything about her turned me on these days. Her sharp voice when she berated me for being an incompetent PA, since nothing I did ever seemed to be perfect in her eyes, and as much as I hated to admit it, deep down I craved her approval- I rather die than admit It to her.

Even the way her eyes flashed when she felt threatened, or when she discreetly inspected the area for any threat made my heart rate spike irrationally. There was also the way she wore her suits, the elegance to her stride like she could talk the talk and walk the walk, even her menacing looks were entrancing... The way she took charge in the board meeting was so darn sexy, she had those men fidgeting in their seats. She had zero fear. A total badass. 

Usually, I wasn't the only one at the receiving end of her anger and Elena once told me that I was the only assistant that has lasted so long working with her and that half of what she excused from me had not been something she tolerated before. 

I spoke back to her a lot and it pissed her off when I did but she hasn't fired me yet so that counted for something. But It was maddening that I was so enamored with her. 

It wasn't just me who felt this way, most guys working for her seemed to have the same darn problem. She was like a drug you craved but couldn't have or use, because it would kill you.

She was also a total playgirl judging by the number of guys I've had to break up with for her... It sounded weird even to me, but that was what it was. Her taste in men was unique and with the number of orders she gave daily, the way she wanted everything done her way made me conclude that she'd be a total dominant in their relationship. 

 The guys were good-looking, like vogue cover-worthy good-looking, and some were more desperate than others It was alarming. 

She probably would have been worse if she had been a male and not a female.  

There was also the fact that the thought of her dominating men always got me aroused, not that I wanted her to dominate me but now and then I did think about it, but the thought that truly got me all hot and bothered was how explosive it would be if I could dominate her, if I could get her to submit. 

I felt a shudder ripple through me, forcing me to adjust my dick in my pants. This was why I needed to quit. This obsession with my Gabrielle was not helping my investigation. I needed to get out before it was too late.

The sound of the door opening made me flinch and when I glanced up, it was Gabrielle. Talk of the devil and he shall appear.

She had a dark aura about her which meant she was pissed about something. I guess I had to wait it out, but it never took long for her to flip out. 

Gabrielle walked toward her desk, took her seat, and opened her laptop. She had become snappier this past month and it seemed to get worse every time she saw me. The feeling was fucking mutual.

We'd argued just the day before because she seemed to have no idea what personal space meant. She crowded me daily for absolutely no reason. Sometimes she was all but in my face. Those days were the worst. I had to fight against the basic instinct in me not to shove her against the wall to show her who was in charge. I clenched my jaw, glaring at her. 

She suddenly glanced up, her gaze colliding with mine and my heart skipped a beat, then began drumming widely in my chest.

I fought not to look away, my cheeks heating up. What the fuck is wrong with me? I was not a freaking teenager with a crush for god's sake. why was she so damn compelling? Her gaze slipped away to focus on her laptop and I exhaled sharply. 

"You're still here" she noted, barely glancing at me. The ugly feeling that reared its head in my chest at her obvious disinterest ate at me, poisoning my blood. I hated when she decided to ignore me for no damn reason. 

"Yes, I'm still here since someone decided to make me work overtime on my day off".

"Don't be so melodramatic".

I kept quiet because I felt like I was running on a short fuse and I was going to explode at some point if she continued to antagonize me in that condescending manner.

"If I'm done with these files, can I go"? I requested, standing and packing my stuff. She looked up finally, her grey eyes brighter than usual. They slid right back to her laptop like I was something not worth looking at. 

She just had a way of pushing buttons I didn't even know I had. 

Gabrielle finally decided to answer after moments of me just standing uselessly. The fucking nerve.

"I didn't say you could go yet. In case you haven't noticed, I pay you extremely well for your services, so you should try to earn that money".

"I have done more than earn that money" It was a lie, the pay was freaking ridiculous, but working with someone like her for that amount was also a fucking pain. She looked up from what she was typing, leveling her gaze on me. It was too intense. I fought to maintain eye contact.

"No, you haven't because you still speak to me as if we are equal as if I'm not your boss".

"Just because you pay me doesn't mean I'll become a mindless robot doing everything at your whims. I am a man too, I deserve some respect" I grumbled fiercely. 

Gabrielle stared at me eyes wide, then she smirked, amusement shining in her eyes. The dormant rage I'd been keeping barely in check seeped into my bones and I knew I was going to do something I'd regret or pay for.

"Respect" she cocked her head to the side, looking thoughtful for a second. "You deserve respect? But Have you earned that respect? Isn't respect said to be reciprocal? I don't see you doing anything that shows you respect me".

I gaped at her as her words registered. "I don't show you respect? I follow all your fucking orders, doesn't that count as respect" I snapped.

"Is that what you think? Hmm. Fine, if you want my respect... Get on your knees then" she got out with a serious expression on her face and my eyes widened a bit. Did I fucking hear her right? 

She got up, stepped out from behind her desk, and started to walk toward me, a harsh smirk ghosting across her lips. She managed to look both sultry and intimidating. She stopped just in front of me. 

"I said to get on your fucking knees" she whispered viciously, so close to me that I couldn't concentrate or focus on anything but her lips. "You obey all my fucking orders right, why, is getting on your knees for a woman too hard for you to do... well, Angelo... you'll never get that respect you seek until you learn to beg for it on your knees". 

Her voice was like frost washing over me. She was very overwhelming when she wanted to be. I clenched my fist, meeting her gaze head-on. This was a freaking battle of wills and I planned to win.

"You should be on your knees for me" I braved in my deep dark voice, which I've been told scared people shitless. Rage flared in her grey eyes, deepening them, but It lasted for just some seconds before she smirked again, her eyes brightening up. Fuck my life for noticing all those little things. 

"Really?" She stepped closer and despite myself, I moved back matching every step she took until I felt the wall behind me. I cussed. What the fuck was wrong with me. She was almost pressed against me, making me feel very aware of the warmth that seeped from her skin into mine. Her scent wafted up to my nose. Strawberry, a hint of sandalwood. I was freaking glad to see the displeasure on her face as she looked up at me. She hated that I was taller. It made my chest swell. But It didn't deter her

"What do you think you can offer me to make me get on my knees for you, Angelo," she asked, voice taunting, her gaze roaming over my face. I also noticed she always sneered at my name. Like it was a fucking joke. It was not my real name, but I still didn't like it.

"I'll give you the answer you're looking for. Nothing." She stilled, staring at me as if searching for some flaws in me. "I. Own. You. Angelo and you'll do whatever I say. Got. It." she got out, enunciating each word slowly.

I lost my mind, my hands grabbed at her shoulder, spinning and slamming her against the wall. The way she maneuvered out of my hold was a mystery, leaving me confused for a split second, then it was her hand wrapping around my throat, her thighs coming in between mine as my back hit the wall. I felt the pressure increase in her hold and I forced myself not to make choking sounds to feed her crazy. 

Gabrielle looked like she was enjoying herself way too much while I reeled from shock at just how strong she was and the way she had me in place. she leaned in closer, her mouth mere inches from mine, teasing my senses.

"I. Own. You". She asserted, staring deeply into my eyes. I gulped as I saw the possession take root in them. She wasn't kidding. She was staking a claim. My blood burned in my veins, but it was not from anger... I refused to acknowledge it.