Page 41 of Please, Forgive Me

The way she furrowed her brow, the slight tilt of her head… every small movement etched itself into my mind, like I was unconsciously recording every detail.

It was becoming a pattern—and that bothered me. I’d always been a focused man, disciplined. Nothing ever threw me off balance, and no one—especially an employee—should have that kind of power over me.

But she did.

And it wasn’t just about physical attraction.

I’d spent nights with plenty of women before—fleeting, meaningless encounters that never left a trace. But with Maria Gabriela, it was different.

I moved closer to the window, staring out at the city, trying to shake off those thoughts. It felt like something was chasing me—a gnawing, uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach that I couldn’t explain.

And the worst part was that I knew exactly where it came from, even if I refused to admit it.

Was I obsessed with her? Or was it something deeper? Something real?

The questions irritated me. They got under my skin in a way nothing else ever had. Maria Gabriela was my employee—my secretary.

And yet lately, she’d become more than that. I caught myself watching her more than I should.

Thinking about her more than I should.

And that obsession—because that’s what it was starting to feel like—was driving me insane.

I spun the pen again between my fingers, unable to shake the restlessness crawling under my skin.

I wasn’t the kind of man who let himself get caught up like this, especially not with someone who worked so closely with me. And still, there I was, watching her like I needed to figure her out, to solve her somehow.

It wasn’t just the attraction—it was the way she unsettled me on a level I wasn’t ready to face.

I dragged a hand down my face, trying to shake off the discomfort that wouldn’t leave me alone. I needed to get these thoughts out of my head. I needed to focus on what really mattered: work, business, the company.

That was what defined me. What had always kept me grounded.

So I made the decision to do what I did best. I turned my chair back toward my desk, resisting the urge to steal another glance at Maria Gabriela.

Work.

That always worked. Bury yourself in spreadsheets, contracts, meetings… it was the only way to keep my head straight.

I opened one of the latest reports on a new expansion we were planning, forcing my mind to focus on the information in front of me.

I had to stay in control—of myself, of her, of this whole damn situation.

Still, even as I read, some part of me remained aware of her presence across the room, steady and constant, impossible to ignore.

And that… drove me absolutely out of my mind.

CHAPTER 17

“Love can be found in the most unexpected places…”

MARIA GABRIELA

“So, you’re really going on another trip with your hot boss?”

Carolina’s voice echoed through the living room, dripping with playful sarcasm that made me laugh.

She was lounging on my couch, one leg crossed over the other, sipping juice while looking at me with that teasing expression only she could pull off.