Destiny Undone: The Complete Series Box Set (48 page)

“Yes, that sounds wonderful, but I want to help your mom finish her project first. We’re having a good time together.” I smiled at Adrian and she gave me a thumbs up sign.

“Okay, well, it’s going to take me a while anyway. I’ve got to fuel up and get supplies. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“That sounds fine. Thank you for everything, Gabe. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I ended the call and set my phone on the table beside me while I thought about everything that was happening.. Evangeline was going to be all right, my dad and Charlotte were back on the right track, and with any luck, Evangeline would be out of commission long enough for the media shit-storm to blow over to someone else’s crisis.

“Good news, then?” Adrian asked.

I looked up and nodded. “Yeah. Evangeline’s going to be fine. The doctors had to pump her stomach, but they’re pretty sure she’ll recover within a few days.”

“That’s great.” She put her arm around my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

I let out a deep sigh and felt more relaxed. “I just can’t believe it’s all going to be okay! I’m going to go call my sister and then we’ll get these bags done. Spontaneously, I hugged Adrian and she hugged me too. “I’ll be right back.”

I stepped out on the porch to call Mills and for the first time since the whole ordeal had started, we cried happy tears together.

When I got back to the house, my heart lifted as I heard the conversation coming from the dining room and Pepper and Mom were laughing and giggling together like old friends.

Thank God. It was all going to be all right.

My mind took me back to my trip to the jewelry store, where I looked at sparkling diamond engagement rings and I wondered what it would feel like to slip one on to Pepper’s finger. It seemed so long ago, when in reality it had only been a couple of days. So much had changed in the past forty-eight hours, but now, things were back in place and I could think about our future together again.

“Hey, Gabe,” Pepper called as I stepped fully into the room. She looked tired but she seemed happy. Mom smiled, and looking around at all the boxes piled up on the floor, apparently they’d had a great time getting to know each other a little better.

“Hey, babe. You all ready to go?”

“I just need to pack a few things,” she replied as she tied one last little bow and handed the box to my mom and they hugged each other.

“You two have a great time,” Mom said as I kissed her on the cheek.

“Thanks, Mom. We will,” then we waved goodbye to her and went back to my guest house.

Pepper packed quickly, apparently eager to get away from Destiny Beach for a while and I couldn’t blame her after everything that had happened. I stashed our bags in the trunk of my car and we took off down the private road out of the estate and headed towards to the marina. It was a nice drive through the glittery, dusk air. The stars were starting to pop into the sky and a huge moon hung low on the horizon, spreading a soft, yellowish light into the haze. I’d managed to catch the weather report on the radio and it looked like it would be smooth sailing for the next twenty-four hours. Perfect, because I’d planned on taking Pepper away for at least a night.

On my way back from the hospital to pick Pepper up, I’d called Bobbie Jo and filled her in on the Evangeline drama, but she already knew about it. “I do watch Entertainment Tonight, you know.”

“Okay. Well, I’m just calling to ask you to teach the new interns tomorrow. I'm going to be out of town for a couple of days.”

She snorted. “Prince Charming to the rescue, huh?”

I cocked an eyebrow in surprise at her pointed remark and tried to keep my own attitude in check. Obviously, I’d caught Bobbie Jo in a bad mood, but after everything that had happened, I wasn’t willing to play along.

I sighed into the phone. “Is there something going on you want to talk about, Bobbie Jo?”

“I just think that right now, you need to stay focused on Sea Lab. We have two whales that we need to get placed, and soon.”

“I’m fully aware of what we need to do to be ready for the arrival of the whales and everything’s taken care of as far as it can be for now.” I coasted my Escalade to the side of the road and ran my hand through my hair in frustration. “Shit happens, Bobbie Jo, and I need to take a few days off. Case closed.”

Bobbie Jo and I had butted heads before so this was nothing new, but still, her level of contempt surprised me and I suspected there was something much bigger boiling under the surface.

“I get that I’m not your boss, Gabe, but I just think you need to prioritize. Pepper’s a grown woman and I’m sure she’d be fine on her own for ten hours while you were at the office.”

“I’m sure she would. Now, I need you to take over with the interns tomorrow. Can you do that, please?” I said as I gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“Fine, yes, but you need to listen to me too, sometimes. All I’m saying is that you seem to have lost your focus. I’m glad you have someone special. You deserve to have a life, but you can’t allow her to take over. I swear, I like the girl but Sea Lab needs someone all the time, not just some of the time. Up until recently, you were that guy. Now, I’m not so sure.”

“I see. Well, I appreciate your thoughts, Bobbie Jo, and thank you for bringing them to my attention.”

“The thing is, Gabe—and I’m telling you this as a friend—these aren’t just my thoughts. What do you think the investors and the board thought about the whole Sophie situation? Before she went bonkers over you, she did an excellent job of representing us. In fact, we’ve been invited to participate in some big events because of her. Now that she’s out of the picture, we need someone to replace her and so far, you haven’t even put up a job listing or called any of the usual headhunters. Do you think the marketing is just going to take care of itself? Have you even checked in with Sophie’s contacts to see if they’re salvageable after everything that happened?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I really didn’t want to be having this conversation with her now. Admittedly, Bobbie Jo had a point, but I still resented her acting like she could do my job so much better than me.

“I’m aware of the situation and I’ll admit, there’s been a lot going on, but how can you say I’m not focused when Sea Lab has been my whole life since I left high school?”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, then in a steady voice she said, “Well, I think you should know that I’m actively lobbying for your job. Sea Lab needs someone who can give one hundred percent and I just don’t think that’s something you’re capable of right now.”

“What are you saying? Actively lobbying?”

“It means I’ve talked to several of the board members about replacing you. It’s not my intention to hurt your feelings or blindside you, but I care about Sea Lab and I want what’s best for the facility.”

“Wow.” I couldn’t hold back a humorless laugh. “I really didn’t think you’d stoop so low as to try and steal it out from under me. You’ve always made it clear you’ve never liked the idea of me having the position, and everyone knows you wanted it. I knew that from the beginning. You think I’m too young, too inexperienced. But this? To try and get me fired? I thought you were better than that.”

I heard her sigh again. “I’m not trying to get you fired. I’m sure there’ll still be a place at Sea Lab for you, but you need to take a step back and re-evaluate the commitment you’re able to offer. Over the last few weeks, you’ve been cutting out early, taking longer and longer lunches, you haven’t interviewed to fill Sophie’s position—not to mention the fact that she’d still be with the company if not for you and your girlfriend. I mean, honestly, Gabe, you’re trading in the opportunity of a lifetime for some spoiled heiress. What kind of future can she possibly hold for you? You’re her lap dog, Gabe. I hope you know that. Just another face in her posse. Another pawn in her little game.”

“Don’t bullshit me, Bobbie Jo. Taking my job is as good as getting me fired. As far as Sophie goes… I’m sure you’ve heard of sexual harassment? She’s lucky I didn’t press charges so don’t make me out to be the bad guy for firing her ass. Now I’m done with this conversation, . as long as I’m still the boss, I still make the decisions, so I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

I hung up the phone and stared at it. I was pissed and my hands were shaking. She had a lot of fucking nerve talking to me like that. Pepper’s lap dog? I had to laugh. That was a shitty thing to say, especially since she’d barely gotten to know Pepper. Sure, they’d played nice while she was training her to work with the dolphins, but that was where their relationship stayed.

Was she seriously talking to people on the board about having me removed or demoted? I wouldn’t put it past her. There were newspaper and tabloid reports all over the place showing me and Pepper together and the incident with Sophie had been doing the rounds on the entertainment news for a while. Sadly, I realized it wouldn’t take much to build a case against me. Why was I being punished for having a life? I’d never even thought about having to choose between Pepper and my position at Sea Lab. Sure, I’d had some emergencies to deal with recently in regards to her family, but that was part of being in a relationship, right? Bobbie Jo had always wanted my job and she resented the fact that I got promoted to the position over her. Now, I suspected she never really cared for Pepper either, despite her recent praise of her.

I tried to push it all out of my head so I could focus on picking up Pepper and enjoying our time together, but it was hard not to replay the conversation I’d had with her and mull over the possible outcomes if she was successful in convincing the board that I couldn’t do my job.

Pepper chatted away about something she and Mom had talked about while I was at the hospital and I tried to appear interested, but I didn’t know what to say since I’d missed the majority of what she was saying. Damn. I need to snap out of this. Pepper deserves better, I told myself.

Pepper ran her hand down my arm as I shifted gears. “What’s the matter, Gabe? Did you hear me?”

“Nothing. I’m good. I’m glad you got to spend time with my mom,” I smiled at her as we pulled into the marina. “You ready for an adventure?”

“Yes, but you haven’t answered my question. I know you, Gabe and I can tell something’s wrong. Is it about Evangeline? Is it Dad?”

“No, there’s nothing. Let’s get aboard and get out of here. I thought we’d sail out to Sand Island. What do you think? Have you ever been there?”

Her brow was still crinkled with concern and I knew I hadn’t convinced her. I prayed she’d let it go. I didn’t want to spoil our alone-time together by worrying her with the heated conversation I’d had with Bobbie Jo, and then she shook her head and smiled. “No, but I like the name. I’ll help you get the bags.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and she leaned across the seat and kissed me softly on the lips. “This is just what I need. It’s going to be perfect. Thank you, Gabriel Charles.”

“Oh, no. She told you my middle name? She must really like you.” I smiled, kissed her again and felt my cock stirring in my pants. God, she is so beautiful.

“Well, that’s good to hear, but all I care about is if you like me.” Her blue eyes appeared soft and she looked so vulnerable.