Free The Alphabet Game the Complete Alpha Series a to X, Y, Z by Andie M. Long

were here.’
    ‘I’m just your dirty little secret, aren’t I?’
    I see a trace of guilt and then it’s gone.
    ‘I’ve told you -’
    ‘You can’t give me more. I know. I don’t recall asking for any more. I’ll see you later.’ I walk out of the reception and head up the stairs.
    I hear a heavy huff of frustration behind me.
     
    The rest of the afternoon Gabe is cool with me and withdrawn. He’s extremely business-like, acts like any other boss, chatting to me about work he needs me to complete and signing letters I’ve typed.
    At five I get my stuff together to leave, walk over to his door and say ‘Good night.’
    ‘Good night.’
    He doesn’t even raise his head to look at me. I go home, have a lovely swim and then enjoy a night alone in my apartment, though every time someone walks past my door, I jump, hoping it’s him.
    Friday is the same. It’s the end of my first working week. What an experience it has been. I’ve actually enjoyed the work I’ve been doing for the past few days, but it would have been even better without the silent treatment.
    I decide I can’t leave it like this over the weekend. I don’t know whether to go out with Ronnie, or wait in on the off chance I might score some steamy sex. I push open Gabe’s door.
    ‘What’s going on? You’re treating me like an employee.’
    ‘You are an employee.’
    ‘I’ve been a lot more than that this week and you know it.’
    ‘That’s just it though. I’m scared you’re going to want more from me. I saw what you were like at The Rodeo.’
    ‘Look Gabriel,’ I snap, ‘I’m not looking for a wedding ring, but at the same time I’d like to not be treated like a call girl. I’m enjoying our arrangement, all I ask is that you just give me a little respect and treat me like the grown woman I am, okay?’
    He looks up at me. ‘I can do that.’
    ‘Good. Now for being such a pain in the ass over the last two days you can take me out to dinner.’
    ‘Tonight?’
    ‘No chance. You can wait, I’m going to see my friends. Pick me up tomorrow at eight and I’ll decide where you’re taking me. It’ll be expensive.’
    He laughs,‘Okay.’
    ‘And there may be no sex. We’ll have to see if you earn it. See I figure it’s my turn to choose and that’s what the E is for, earn. You can work on getting into my good books and earning some rewards.’
    Then I let the interconnecting door swing back closed without a second glance at him. Next I turn my mobile phone off leaving it to voicemail. ‘Stella is unavailable right now. Please leave a message.’
    Time to toughen up.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Lazy Saturdays. The best part of living alone. I pad out of bed just to make a coffee and as the day’s a little slow in warming up I slip on my robe before I head back under the duvet. I grab my book from the bedside table and spend the morning reading. The book I’m currently reading is a little racy and I can’t help my thoughts wandering to imagining Gabe doing those things to me as I take in the words on the page. I sigh. I need to gain ownership of my plan again.
    There’s a knock on the door and I reluctantly drag myself out of bed to answer it. I open to find Ronnie standing there, looking majorly hungover, with her gym bag at her feet. She looks me up and down taking in the unbrushed hair and pyjamas.
    ‘I was going to see if I could lose the headache in the steam room, but I think I’ll join you in whatever you’re doing.’
    ‘Come in. I’ll get you a drink, you sure look like you could use one.’
    ‘Heavy Friday night, good though.’ She gets in at the other side of me and picks up my book off the bed, ‘Well, I hope I didn’t disturb your alone time you dirty tart.’
    ‘I was just reading, you disturbed nothing other than a few fleeting thoughts in that direction.’
    ‘You sound fed up.’
    ‘I don’t know what I’m doing there Ronnie. I just seem to be wasting time shagging Gabe and