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“I’m happy for you to stay, but if those are your terms,” I say. “It’s yours for as long as you want it.”
“Let me at least pay you what I pay Vince,” she says. “This is too little.”
She waves the piece of paper I gave her.
I sigh. “I don’t need your money, Leah. This place is empty. It’s costing me money. If you cover the costs it incurs, then I’ll be more than happy. Caleb wants to check that everything works, and I can only do that if someone lives in it. I want someone considerate living beneath me.”
“What if I decide to have parties... loud parties?” she asks.
I scrunch up my eyes as I stare at her, unsure whether she’s joking.
“Are you going to?” I ask warily.
“No,” she says, grinning at me. “But it was worth seeing the look on your face. At least I’ve had none to date. But then, I haven’t been single in a really long time.”
I scowl at her now. “Then I don’t understand. It’s a moot point.”
She looks at me, her head tilted to one side, as if she’s weighing me up. “Why Gabriel? Why are you doing this? You don’t owe me anything. I simply work for you.”
“You’ve worked for me for eight years. Been loyal. Done everything I’ve asked, worked longer hours than most would have in your position. Helped me become what I am today. Take this as me paying back.”
She gives a slight nod in acknowledgment of my words. Well, that was easy.
“If I take the apartment. Would you prefer I don’t use the balcony?” she asks as we leave the bedroom.
The air around me becomes less suffocating.
I frown, confused by her question.
“You can use the balcony. This will be your home,” I say. I trust her. This is Leah, after all. “There’s also a gym, a fifty-metre swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms, a residents’ lounge, a library, and you can hire out the cinema.”
Leah’s jaw drops before she clamps it shut, her lips pursing.
“What do you think? Do you want the apartment?”
She nods, her eyes twinkling, a wide smile splitting her face. “Yes... oh my goodness. Yes.” She takes a step towards me but freezes, instead holding out her hand. “So, you’re going to be my landlord. I promise to be the best tenant.”
I take her hand in mine, surprised at how my large one engulfs hers. The awareness I thought I imagined the night I dropped her home reignites where our skin touches.
“I’ll get the papers drawn up, and you can move in whenever you want. If you need help. Caleb has a company he uses.”
“It’s okay. Vince is purchasing all my furniture. He wants to keep the apartment as it is, for him and Yasmin.” She sighs. “It will only be me and my suitcases. Maybe a few throws, pillows.”
Jesus. What a fucking arsehole.
“Well, if you need a hand moving, we’re happy to help,” I say instead.
We stand in silence for a moment, before walking back towards the door. Leah touches my arm, sending more shivers of awareness down my spine.
“Thank you, Gabriel.” She screws up her face. “That seems to be my favourite phrase around you. But I want you to know I truly mean it.”
I look into her eyes, lost in the sincerity. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I can help.”
CHAPTER 11
LEAH
Icall the girls as soon as I get home.
