Chapter 118: Protecting his kitten

Camille’s POV

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He gritted in a low voice, those eyes glaring daggers at Victoria.

I heaved a sigh of relief and maybe I shouldn’t feel so satisfied that he’d come to my rescue, but I did. An angry vein popped in his neck, as he glared down at the intruder. Her dark eyes remained steely for a while, then her face softened as of a few seconds ago, she wasn’t about to maul me.

“Gavriel, hi,” She said in a falsetto, tipping her head towards the basket she carried. “I thought I’d bring you something to eat. I made all of your favorite dishes. You work so hard and-“

“I told you to stay the fuck away from me,” He spat, and I watched her wince, he must have squeezed her hand too tight.

But I had to give it to her, Victoria did not budge. She simply held her head up higher and laughed. “Come now, Gavvy boo, there’s no need to be rough. We can discuss it in your office, yeah?”

I glanced at Gavriel, worried he would give in. He was principled and all, he would probably think he wanted to hear her out first or something. My mouth curled in distaste. Men were such simple creatures-

The sound of Victoria gasping drew my attention and my jaw slacked when I saw Gavriel squeeze his grip tighter, trembling visibly in anger.

“Gavriel!” She gasped trying to wrench her hand out of his hold. “Gavriel you’re hurting me!”

“The next time,” His voice came out even, unlike the livid look on his face. “The next time you raise your hand on my assistant, I swear it’ll be the last time you get to raise your hands ever.”

Victoria’s eyes widened in shock, her facade of confidence crumbling as she stared up at Gavriel. She tried to mask the fear in her voice as she stammered,

“I-I didn’t mean to... I just wanted to talk, Gavriel, please.”

But his expression remained unyielding, his grip relentless.

“I can’t believe this right now. You’re acting up all because of her?”

He was. He was. I tried to bite back the urge to rub it in her face that Gavriel cared more about me than he did about her.

“Do not show your face before me, ever again,” Gav spat, shoving her away aside and placing himself before me, protectively. “Call security, Camille. I want her out of the building and never to be allowed in again!”

“Calling them right away!” I said, reaching for the phone to buzz the security office.

“I’ll bet you’re feeling quite cheeky!” Victoria spat. It was directed at me. “You get to oust your boss’ ex-wife out. I’m willing to bet you’ve got some sort of stupid girly crush on him.”

My shoulders went rigid and her witch eyes picked up on that.

“We’ll see how long it lasts. You think you’ll have his heart but this man here only cares about himself. He’ll have his way-”

“That’s enough!” Gav shunned her gesturing at the elevator doors. “The guards are on their way. Your fucking choice if you’d like to go out on your own or be forcefully dragged by them.”

The proud woman smiled then, a cold cynical one. She clutched the picnic basket, threw one last look at me, and walked away. For some reason, I could only breathe when she stepped on the elevator and the doors closed behind her.

Gavriel turned to me, his expression softening as he took in my tense form. “Are you alright, Camille?” he asked, concern evident in his eyes.

I forced a smile, trying to shake off the lingering unease. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you for... for stepping in like that,”

“She didn’t touch you, did she?”

He reached out a hand to gently touch my shoulder. I shrugged it off and made my way to my seat.

“She didn’t.”

“Good,” he nodded, throwing one look at the elevator and sighing. “Just ignore her okay?”

A scoff made its way to my lips. “Ignore her? That’s a bit hard since she’s showing up all in my face now isn’t it?”

First at his birthday and now at his office. I knew that it wasn’t exactly his fault, but if he hadn’t gotten married to her, she wouldn’t be all over him like ants to sugar. There was that niggling feeling, that fear that this wasn’t the last I would see of her. She would be back.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Gavriel frowned, glaring down at me. “I asked a question, Camille.”

“How much longer would I have to put up with her? It was easier to roll along with her arrival because she seemed distant and unreal,” I bit my lip trying to calm my agitated feelings. “But now she’s showing up here? What next? I’ll have to fight her to keep you?”

“I’ll handle this-”

“You said so at the beach!” I yelled. “You said you would handle her at the beach. And she still managed to waltz in here like she own the fucking place!”

“Camille,”

“Don’t growl at me. She’s the one who’s coming in here to ruin what we have!” I spat, trying to calm down but failing terribly.

Perhaps a part of me was scared. Scared that his crazy ex-wife may have been right. What if what I had with Gavriel would not last? What if she somehow managed to worm her way back into his life?

“You’re scared,” He murmured, his gaze softening. He walked round my desk to help me up. “I’ll always choose you, kitten.”

“I don’t want you to have to choose,” I grumbled, folding my arms like a petulant child. “I don’t want a rival. I don’t want to have to fight for your love. If she’s going to cause a scene and hang around us like some ghost, then I’m done!”

“Done?” He sounded amused. Angry, yet amused. “Have you learned nothing this morning, pet? Shall I teach you another lesson?”

His hand skimmed the curve of my hips before grabbing my sore ass. I sucked in a breath and shook my head.

“I’m serious Gavriel!”

“And so am I,” He rasped, cupping my face so I could look up at him. “There is no ‘Done’. You’re mine. If I have to brand it all over that ass of yours, I fucking will!”

I blinked, stunned by his words. Heat creeping up to my cheeks, I squirmed against him trying to step away from him. He was doing that thing where he slowly intoxicated me and then I’d be nothing but putty in his hands.

“Gavriel, don’t-“ I started when he kissed my cheek, but he cut me off by devouring my mouth with his in a wild kiss.

I felt my head spin and my knees grow weak until I melted against him, moaning at the welcome intrusion. When he pulled away, I gasped for air, clinging to him.

“You belong to me,” He murmured, teasing my lips before skimming his lips down my neck. “Mine. You cannot leave me, love. I won’t allow it.”

Dumb butterflies fluttered in my belly.

“What if she comes back?” I asked, his fight slowly fizzling out for me.

“You’ll let me deal with her, okay? Look at me,”

I did then, flushing at that raw intensity in his gaze. “I’m sorry she intruded. But you need to trust me. Trust that I’ll always protect you from her craziness.”

Victoria’s words flitted through my head and I closed my eyes tight trying to ignore those words.

“I trust you,” I opened my eyes and smiled. “I trust you, Gavriel.”

“Good girl,” He murmured, reaching for another kiss when my phone rang.

Gav groaned and I giggled at the torture in his voice while reaching for the device.

“It’s my father,”

He sighed, stepped away, and made his way to his office with a forlorn look on his face.

I blew him a kiss before picking up Dad’s call.

“Hey Kiddo,” Dad’s cheery voice reached my ears.

“Hi, Dad,”

“See if you can come home a little earlier today, will you?”

Uh oh, that couldn’t be anything good. “Why?”

He laughed lightly, as if he had pulled a string he was very happy about. I found out soon enough when he replied. “We’re having dinner with Chad Martins.”