"You're done," said Gael. It wasn't a question, rather a statement that was close to an order, while he threw a disapproving look at Justin who was still talking to Angela and seemed to ignore Gael's and Giovanni's arrival.

Crap. She had to bring them out of here now. She wouldn't want testosterone flying all over the place just because a man talked to her.

"Yeah," she replied as she pressed the stop button on the machine, grabbing the handles for balance before stepping off. Gael readily grabbed her elbow to support her and she immediately walked away from the treadmills so they could leave.

"You're leaving? Can I get your number?" asked Justin.

Angela's eyes widened. Was this man dense? Couldn't he see the two giant men towering over her?

Giovanni chuckled at whatever he found amusing, though she was sure it was about Gael, considering the latter's grip on her tightened upon hearing the man's question.

Before she could answer to tell the man she had a boyfriend, Gael had already responded for her, "No." His voice was cold and final.

One word was all it took, and the man didn't attempt any further.

Angela breathed out a sigh of relief as they walked away, thankful that it didn't escalate.

***

Giovanni didn't leave after he followed them from the gym and then back to the apartment. He used the guest room's bathroom to shower and change into a dark green Henley shirt and dark jeans. Meanwhile, Gael wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and white pants. Angela swore these men were models with the way they looked—like they walked straight out of a magazine.

Gael ordered breakfast, which they ate at the dining table, and after that, the two disappeared into the office. Angela didn't mind being left on her own as she had the chance to catch up on her emails, though she wished she had her laptop with her because it was inconvenient to use her phone for work stuff. She could borrow Gael's, but she thought it was in his office, and she didn't want to disturb them.

She finished going through her emails around 3 p.m. and decided to scribble her thoughts on her small notebook—the one she always kept in her bag. Most of the things she wrote were her observations about New York, wishing she could explore the city more if only the weather permitted.

Her phone beeped and a smile formed on her face when she saw Gabriella's name. Gael's sister had been messaging her from time to time, sending photos of Honey or a random rant about her brother or uncle. Yesterday, she sent a photo of her with a sick girl in the hospital. Both of them wore masks, but the other girl appeared frail and pale. Gabby told her she was the sister of someone close to her.

Angela opened Gabriella's text.

[ Gabby: Men are frustrating. ]

[ Angela: ???? Tell me about it. Your boyfriend? ]

[ Gabby: No… not really. ]

[ Gabby: Can I tell you a secret? Don't tell my brother. ]

Angela wasn't sure what it was about, and she couldn't really give her word to Gabby when it involved keeping it from Gael. Caught in the middle, she tried to tread carefully.

[ Angela: What is it about? ]

[ Gabby: Mariano called me a few minutes ago. ]

Her brows knitted.

[ Angela: Your fiancé? ]

[ Gabby: He's not! I refuse to accept that. ]

[ Angela: What did he say? ]

[ Gabby: I didn't answer his call. ]

Angela bit her bottom lip. Now she was curious.

[ Angela: How did you know it was him, though? Have you guys been talking? ]

The dots floated around, indicating that Gabriella was typing her response. It took two minutes before she finally sent the text.

[ Gabby: Not the first time he tried to contact me. It was only texts before. Today is the first time he called. ]

[ Angela: What does he want? ]

[ Gabby: Actually… A text came when I didn't answer. He wants me to accept the marriage, saying it will happen in two weeks. Can you believe the nerve of this guy? He's been telling me there's no way out even after I told him it's not happening. He insists that I just have to accept it. He's infuriating! ]

Angela's chest felt heavy. Gael wasn't the only one burdened by this matter. Gabby was also feeling the pressure. They all were. Angela couldn't imagine being forced to marry someone she didn't want—well, she did kind of know how it felt like when her father insisted for her to go on dates to find a potential husband.

Instead of responding to her text, she called her, and Gabby answered on the first ring.

"What did you tell him?" Angela asked as she settled at the end of the couch, pulling her knees up and hugging a pillow.

"Obviously, I told him to go to hell. He might be insanely good-looking, but I'm not an idiot to marry him! He's a Morelli!"

Angela grinned, glancing at the closed office door at the end of the hall and then keeping her voice low. "You think he's good-looking?"

"What?" Gabriella gasped as though realizing what she just said and then cleared her throat. "No. I mean…" She sighed. "Who am I kidding? Mariano is like a god… But that doesn't change the fact that I still don't want to be married to him."

"Why haven't you told your brother that he's been contacting you?"

"I just don't want to add to his headaches. He's been doing everything he can day and night. Sometimes I think he doesn't sleep. Besides, Gael and Giovanni already promised me that it wouldn't happen. I just have to trust them. So Mariano will just have to…to…to kiss my ass."

Angela nodded even though the other couldn't see her. She also suspected that Gael had been sleeping less. "I wish there's something I can do to help."

"Well… Can you make sure my brother's sleeping at least? He doesn't sleep long hours most of the time. I get that he has to work, but he can only do so much before his body gives up from exhaustion."

If his body was exhausted, Angela was sure his mental health was affected too. "Of course. I'll drug him if I have to."

The two of them shared a laugh and Gabby joked that weed makes her brother sleepy and Val could give them supply if she asked.

The door to the office opened, and the two men came out. Angela met Gael's grey eyes that she missed seeing for a few hours. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, though his didn't reach his eyes.

"I have to go, Gab. Talk to you later." She ended the call as Gael sat by her feet. He pulled her legs and placed them on his lap.

"You were talking to my sister?"

"Yeah… Girl stuff." Not technically a lie, but for now, she was keeping what Gabby said to herself. She hadn't done anything for Gael since she arrived and it killed her to see the exhaustion on his face. "Why don't you take a nap? I'll get the food ready."

That was probably not the right thing to say because Gael's eyes widened as he said, "You're not burning this building down."

"Angela's cooking?" Giovanni plopped in the armchair opposite them, a smirk dancing on his lips.

"No." Gael furrowed his brows. "You're not."

A tiny prick grazed her chest and she smacked him with the pillow—he caught it with his hands. "You're mean! I meant, I'll have food delivered."

The bastard literally sighed as if he was relieved to find out. She swore, one day, she would learn how to cook, and Gael would cry because of how delicious it would be. She jutted her chin up and stood, walking away from the men who snickered behind her.

Gael caught up with her when she reached the kitchen to check the restaurants, his hand wrapped around her arm. "Hey…"

"Hey…" Angela glanced at him. "You're not mad at me anymore?"

"I wasn't mad."

"Really? Because I swear you've been kinda avoiding talking to me since your uncle arrived this morning."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like that." He pulled her to him, his arms circling her waist. "It's just…" Gael briefly glanced at his uncle before shifting his gaze back to Angela. "Having him around reminds me of the shît I have to deal with."

"It's okay." Sliding her hands around his neck, she threaded her fingers through his hair. Between keeping her company and dealing with family matters, Gael hadn't had time to really take it easy. "You worked hard, so you deserve a break too. I meant it when I said you should take a nap."

"Okay." He leaned down and kissed her with a mischievous gleam. "Promise you're ordering and not cooking?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. Men were indeed frustrating.