Page 34 of Hunter's Revenge
Earlier, he was annoyed with me because it was clear that tonight of all nights, we needed an extra pair of hands. The softer look in his eyes suggests he’s back to his old self.
“Why don’t you go home? The girls and I can do the rest and lock the place up,” he offers with a sure nod.
Usually, I would decline such an offer, but I’ve wanted to go home from the moment I got here. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. You look like you’re barely hanging on. You could use an early night.”
“I could, and thank you.” I give him a kind smile.
“A word of advice, Gwen, if I may. I can see you’re doing your utmost best to keep everything going. I also know that in your grandmother’s absence and illness, times are hard, but everybody needs a break. If I were you, I’d take tomorrow off and get Tony or Lilly to cover. I’m in all week, so I can manage the place.”
I didn’t want to take any days off or get extra staff to cover me, but I think I need to. My mental exhaustion is worse than the aches in my body from running around. If I don’t take the time I need to rest, I might burn out sooner. Then I’ll be screwed.
“Okay, I’ll do that.” I nod and give him a gentle smile. “I’ll get Tony to cover.”
“Good. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will, and thanks for looking out for me.” I always thank him for things like that. Gilman has been the restaurant’s manager for years. Practically from the time it opened its doors, so he’s part of the family.
“Of course.” He gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “You’re going to be okay, Gwen.”
I give him a curt nod. It’s all I can do because I’ll believe that I’ll be better than I am when I can erase Conrad Duncan from my mind.
“See you in a few days.”
I turn to depart but quickly return my gaze to the balcony, searching for Malik. But he’s not there.
I scan the area, looking through the groups of people who have gathered to talk and drink cocktails. But he’s not anywhere.
Did he leave?
I know I had the spellbound moment where he mesmerized me and I couldn’t do anything but look at him, but if he’s gone, it was odd he didn’t say hi.
Maybe the moment of fascination is over.
Or maybe I need to get a grip on my common sense and put my priorities in order. I know something isn’t quite what it seems with him, so I should leave well enough alone and not seek to add more shit to my plate that I can’t handle.
With that reasoning, I head to my office.
I just need to put away the invoices and documents I was looking through earlier, then I’m out of here.
Sebastian will be happy to see me. It’s super late and will be close to midnight by the time I get home, but I may take him for a five-minute walk before I jump into bed.
I open the office door and leave it ajar when I enter.
I walk over to my desk and start packing everything away. Not a minute later, footsteps approach the door, and I look up to see who it is.
The only person who usually comes down here to see me is Gilman because his office is at the end of the corridor, but since I just left him at the bar, I doubt it’s him.
I’m right. It’s not him.
The door swings open, and the hot Russian ex-Navy lieutenant walks in, tall, foreboding, and with an air of malice.
Dangerous heat simmers through me from the lust glimmering in his eyes. My blood spikes with the fire I felt earlier when I was watching him on the balcony, and my nerves jump to attention, setting off the colony of butterflies nesting in my stomach.
With his eyes glued to me, he proceeds with the confidence of someone who owns the place. My spine solidifies when he closes the door behind him and flicks down the little latch, locking us in.
The public isn’t allowed back here. I’m sure he’s aware of that, and since my office isn’t exactly easy to find, I also don’t miss the fact that it seems as if Malik has been around here before.