Free The Gift: Book 1 (The Billionaire's Love Story) by Lily Zante Page B

had no option but to sprint out of here, across the road, run into the sandwich shop and sprint back.
    It would be better to go now, before the shops got too busy, than run the risk of taking more time later, when the lines built up.
    “Jacob, listen to me honey.” She walked over to his desk and bent down. “I’m going out very quickly to get some lunch.”
    “Can I come?”
    “No, you have to stay here.”
    “You’re leaving me?” Fear walked in his eyes.
    “It’s just across the road, honey. It will take me ten minutes. I promise.”
    “Don’t leave me, Mommy.” The begging in his voice clutched at her heart strings. Nowhere else would she leave him alone, but she was caught between a rock and a hard place. She knew he was safe here if he did as she’d told him. It wasn’t as if she was leaving him in a public place. He was in a building, and she knew he would be safe, and she would be back quickly.
    She forced a brave face knowing that he would sense her fear and feel scared himself, and she never wanted him to be scared ever again. “Ten minutes, Jacob. I promise.” This wouldn’t happen tomorrow. She’d make sure to bring lunch with her.
    “We can do this, Champ. Do you think you can turn on your super powers?”
    “Like Iron Man?”
    “Like Iron Man.”
    The fear vanished as he became the superhero. “Go, Mommy. Ten minutes, you promised.”
    She rushed out, her thoughts on Jacob the whole time as she dove into the elevator and tried to still her beating heart as the elevator descended painfully and slowly, stopping at different floors along the way. She was more frightened by the idea of leaving him alone, knowing she had left him willingly, than by him being found. When it reached the ground floor she sprinted out.
    And almost crashed straight into Candace who was on her way in.
    “In a rush?” Candace asked her.
    “Yes,” she said, and gave her a quick smile before rushing out of the door.
     
     

Chapter 15
     
    Tobias arrived back from his meeting with the chief finance officer simmering with anger as he stepped back into his office. It had taken two hours to discuss what should have taken no more than forty minutes.
    No sooner had he sat down than Candace knocked.
    “You’re back,” she said, cheerily.
    “I’ve been in meetings all morning.”
    “Yesterday was a great success, by all accounts,” she said, sounding her own trumpet.
    “Good,” he replied, hoping she would move on quickly. He had emails that needed his attention as well as the pressing matter which refused to leave his thoughts. “Anything else?”
    She seemed surprised by his directness. “Are you in a bad mood, Tobias?”
    “Candace, I’m really busy. Did you want something?”
    “No. I’m only in for half a day today and tomorrow. Is there anything you need me to do before I go? Do you need anything?”
    “No, I can cope.” He gave her half a smile. “I’m not completely useless without you.”
    She smiled at him. “I noticed that temp is still here.”
    “And what of it?”
    “I thought she’d finished.”
    “Briony asked her to stay on. Why?”
    “No reason. I saw her just now and she seemed to be in a mad rush. She almost knocked me over when she got out of the elevator.”
    It made him wonder, but he remained silent.
    “What are you up to this Christmas?” she asked, refusing to budge. But her gaze soon fell upon the Tiffany box on his desk.
    “Oooooh,” she purred, her beady little eyes honing in on the blue and white box. He knew exactly what she was thinking. “Naomi will be happy.”
    Tobias felt his jaw clench. He badly needed Candace to disappear, not only because his nerves were already frayed, but he had so many things he needed to sort out. In an effort to get rid of her he remembered something. Ignoring her comment about the gift, he instructed her. “Call Herman in accounts and get him to make sure that Ms. Page gets her wages paid into her account before she leaves work