49

49
49
Gabrielle didn’t consider herself a paranoid person. She trusted Matthew of course, she did. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to notice when he started acting strange.

And right now, he was absolutely hiding something.

It started with little things. Secretive glances at his phone. Whispered conversations with Julian when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. Disappearing for hours with vague excuses.

The worst part? He was way too good at covering it up. Every time she tried to question him, he would just smirk, brush a kiss against her forehead, and say something infuriating like, “Darling, you wound me. Why would I ever keep secrets from you?”

And then he’d change the subject—distracting her with kisses or teasing remarks until she forgot what she had even been asking in the first place.

Well.

Not this time.

Tonight, Gabrielle was going to catch him in the act.

Gabrielle stood in the kitchen, casually sipping her tea, watching Matthew out of the corner of her eye. He had just finished a call—his expression unreadable as he tucked his phone away.

“Who was that?” she asked casually.

Matthew barely glanced at her as he moved toward the fridge. “No one important.”

Liar.

She took another sip, narrowing her eyes. “You’ve been on your phone a lot lately.”

Matthew grabbed a bottle of water and twisted off the cap. “Have I?”

“Yes,” she said pointedly. “You have.”

He turned to her then, his gaze soft but unreadable. “Do I need to remind you that I’m an extremely busy man, love?”

Gabrielle scoffed. “Matthew, you own one company and you are the CEO! final boss You barely work, all you do is ordering people".

Matthew smirked. “Ah, but that’s because I’m very good at what I do.”

She rolled her eyes. “So, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

Gabrielle groaned, setting her mug down. “You’re impossible.”

Matthew just chuckled, stepping closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. “And yet, you still love me.”

She hated how easily he could make her forget her frustration.

Gabrielle sighed, resting her hands on his chest. “Yes, I do.” She looked up at him, searching his face. “But I also know when you’re keeping something from me.”

For a brief second, something flickered in Matthew’s expression—like he was caught between amusement and guilt.

Then, before she could press further, he kissed her.

Soft and slow, but completely distracting.

Gabrielle’s breath caught, her mind momentarily blanking as he deepened the kiss, his hands tightening around her waist. When he finally pulled back, she was breathless, her suspicions momentarily shattered.

“You were saying?” he murmured, brushing his lips against her jaw.

Gabrielle blinked, trying to remember what she was mad about.

…Right. Secrets. Lying.

Damn him.

“You’re still hiding something,” she said, her voice slightly breathless.

Matthew smirked. “If I was, I promise it’s for a good reason.”

That wasn’t exactly reassuring. But before she could push further, Matthew gently nudged her toward the couch. “Now, I believe we were supposed to watch a movie tonight?”

Gabrielle knew he was changing the subject. But she let him—for now.

She was still going to find out what he was up to.

Julian lounged in Matthew’s office at the nightclub, sipping a glass of whiskey as he scrolled through his phone.

“You know,” he said lazily, glancing up at Matthew, “I think Gabrielle’s going to murder you soon.”

Matthew sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She suspects something, doesn’t she?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Julian grinned. “She was giving me the death glare last time I saw her.”

Matthew groaned. “I knew I wasn’t being subtle enough.”

Julian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You do realize she’s going to figure it out, right? She’s not stupid.”

Matthew sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I know.”

“And yet, you’re still determined to keep this surprise proposal a secret?”

Matthew smirked. “It has to be perfect.”

Julian rolled his eyes. “Mate, she already wants to marry you. Just give her the damn ring and be done with it.”

Matthew pulled the velvet box from his pocket, flicking it open to reveal the ring inside. The diamond glinted under the dim light of the office—simple, elegant, timeless.

Julian let out a low whistle. “Alright. That’s actually pretty nice.”

Matthew snapped the box shut. “Of course it is.”

Julian chuckled. “So, when’s the big moment?”

Matthew leaned back against his desk, thoughtful. “Two days from now.”

Julian raised an eyebrow. “You do realize you have to keep this up for two more days, right?”

Matthew exhaled. “Yes.”

“And you think you can keep her from figuring it out until then?”

A pause.

“…No.”

Julian laughed, clinking his glass against Matthew’s. “Well, good luck with that.”

Gabrielle lay in bed, curled against Matthew’s side, his arm draped around her. She was quiet, her fingers tracing lazy patterns against his chest.

Matthew kissed the top of her head, his voice soft. “Still don’t believe me?”

Gabrielle sighed. “Not even a little.”

Matthew smirked. “You’re too stubborn for your own good.”

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with mischief. “And you underestimate me.”

Matthew knew he was in trouble.

Because in two days, he was going to propose to Gabrielle.

And he was almost certain she was going to figure it out before then.

Almost.