DREAM

by Mary Smith

  I giggle. “Um…what do you want to know?” I’m embarrassed when she asks me, and takes a lot to do that.

  “Well, I know a little bit from what Gable has told me, but I want to hear it from you.”

  I’m taken aback that he’s been talking about me to his mother. He’s never said anything to me.

  “Gable told me you recently graduated from college. What was your major?”

  “Business and management. I wanted to run the family business.”

  “I’m sorry to hear of your father’s passing. I know that’s very hard, especially on someone so young.”

  “Thank you.” I’m moved by her sincerity. I feel comfortable with her, like I do Gable.

  “Gable.” His mother looks at him. “There’s punch made. Grab Dream and me a glass.”

  Without hesitation, billionaire Gable Butler fetches glasses and a pitcher from the fridge just like his mama told him to.

  “I know the story,” she whispers to me. “About your arrangement with Gable. You’re a strong woman.” Mama pats my hand.

  There’s a small burn in my eyes as the tears form. Gable brings the punch to us and sits next to me. He puts his arm around the back of my chair and rubs my shoulder.

  “Mama, there are no cookies in this whole house.” Gideon comes in and pouts.

  “How old are you?” Mama gives him a mean look. “I do believe thirty-eight years ago I gave birth to you, but right now I’m looking at a four year old. Lunch will be here in a moment. Shut up.”

  The laugh escapes me before I know it and Gable joins me. Gideon rolls his eyes. When the doorbell rings, Gideon jumps up, and heads to the front door.

  “I have a new addiction to Thai food. I hope you like it,” Mama tells me.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Gideon comes back in and sits the large bag of food on the table.

  “Now, I’m not one to have fine china like Gable. It’s buffet style here, Dream.” She unloads the cartons and Gideon hands me a paper plate.

  “Sounds wonderful.”

  We all dig into the food and talk about everything from the weather, JE, Butler Corp, and sports. Mama is a baseball fan and hates mustard, mushrooms, and mayo. She’s proud of her sons and she stills does alterations for people.

  “She doesn’t need the money. Gable takes care of everything for her,” Gideon informs me.

  “I don’t need my sons to take care of me. I’m an adult.” She stabs at her food. “However, I’m grateful for what they do, but I do it to have pocket money. I’m sure Gable doesn’t need to give me money for my pantyhose.”

  I giggle, and both boys shake their head.

  “I’m sure you understand, Dream.”

  “I do, Mama.”

  When we finish eating, it’s Gable and Gideon who clear the table, put up the leftovers, and clean up.

  “My husband and I taught the boys if I cooked or got dinner then they would clean up.” She nods over at them.

  “Even if one of your sons is worth as much as a small country?”

  “Doesn’t matter to me. Granted I’m glad my family has financial security, because it’s something they didn’t grow up with, but at the end of the day, those are my babies.”

  I nod, understanding how much she cares for her children.

  “Mama, we must go now,” Gable announces.

  The four of us walk to the door, and Mama has her arm linked with mine. She tells me several times how much fun she’s had today and not to be a stranger.

  “I won’t be.” I hug her, as do the guys, and we head back to the waiting SUV and Bruce.

  ~~~

  The ride is quiet because Gable is on the phone the whole time while I answer emails.

  Now, sitting in my room, at my desk, I finish the business plan for Jacob’s business. I had evaluated it this week and it really doesn’t seem to be hard because it’s running itself, pretty much. However, it has older staff and old, dated equipment—a big issue I’ll need to change soon.

  I look it over again and again, but I feel like something is missing. I lean back in my chair and look over at my movie poster. The book is still encased in the holder and sits on my dresser.

  My dad told me many times that it’s okay to ask questions and no one can do it all on their own. He never let his pride get in the way. I need some help and I know just who to ask.

  Are you busy? I text to Gable.

  I always have a few minutes for you.

  Can you come to my room, please? I need some advice.

  No more than a couple minutes later, Gable is coming into my room.

  “What can I help you with?”

  “This.” I stand up from my chair and point to my laptop. “I think I’m missing something in this plan and I need a new pair of eyes to look at it.”

  Gable gives me a small smile and takes a seat. “Sure.” He stares at the screen for a while and I sit over on the couch.

  “Is it bad?” I ask after several moments of silence.

  “Actually,” he turns to look at me. “I think it’s great. You were detailed and precise on what needs to be done. I think Jacob will have no problems with the upgrades and staff changes.”

  “My managers are the ones who usually write these up. However, this is the first one I’ve wrote without Dad reviewing it. I don’t want to look incompetent.” I shrug and I don’t know why I told him that.

  Gable stands and comes over to me, sitting next to me. “I understand what you mean; I’m glad that you asked me.”

  “I enjoyed today. Your mom is pretty awesome.” I should have told him earlier but we both were busy with work.

  He nods. “She is.”

  “You didn’t tell me she was alive.”

  “I assumed it came up with the background check.”

  “No. I take it your father has passed.”

  “He did. I was in my late twenties. He spent all those years in the factory and it wasn’t the best working conditions. It took a huge toll on his body and health.”

  I can see the sadness in Gable’s face and hear it in his tone.

  “Were you close to your dad?”

  “I think I was. He taught me all the things a father does. Ride a bike, throw a ball, treat a woman,” he stops. “I know the pain of losing a parent, Dream.”

  “Thank you for everything today.” I take his hand and change the subject so I don’t cry about my own father. “Not only the gift, but meeting your mom, too. She told me she knows why we got married.”

  “I don’t keep too many secrets Dream especially from Mama and Gideon.” He flips my hand over and traces my palm.

  “What secrets do you keep?” My voice cracks as he tickles my skin.

  “I hide my feelings a lot.” He doesn’t look at me. “Among other things.”

  “Such as,” I push.

  Gable clears his throat and adjusts his body on the couch. “Well, you remember me telling you, several times, I didn’t want you to cheat on me.”

  “Yes.”

  “That long relationship I was in ended by me coming home early from a long trip and catching her in bed with a friend of mine.”

  “Ouch,” I hiss.

  “That’s an understatement since the reason I came home early was to propose to her. We had been together for almost three years. I thought I loved her, but she didn’t feel the same about me.” The hurt is flowing from him; I can almost feel it. The woman really messed with his emotions.

  “Is that why there’s been no one else?”

  “Somewhat.” He scratch his beard. “And I didn’t want to go through that again.”

  Could he have a broken heart? Does he have a heart?

  That’s a bit heartless, Dream, I internally tell myself. Of course he does. He’s a good man. Look at everything he’s done for you; his only request for you not to cheat on him.

  “Why me, Gable?” I ask him again to see if his answer has changed.

  “What do you mean?” He turns fully to me, resti
ng one leg on the floor and the other tucked under him. I mimic his pose.

  “Why did you pick me to marry you? I want the truth.”

  He rubs the blonde hair around his chin for a moment. “Do you remember when I said I saw you around campus?”

  I nod.

  “When your father told me about you, I wanted to see you for myself. I, may have followed you a bit when you were at school.”

  “May have?”

  He chuckles. “Okay, I did.”

  “Stalker,” I tease.

  “Anyway, I would watch you and I saw a different side of you than what’s on your Twitter or Facebook.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I thought you would be some big socialite and party all your daddy’s money away. But you weren’t. I never saw you at a single party. I never saw you outright drunk or making a fool of yourself. I followed you to the library, study sessions, and your dorm to study more. Even now,” he points to my laptop. “It’s Saturday night and you’re home working on a business plan. Would a real socialite do that?”

  “I wasn’t raised to be married off to some rich guy. Dad made sure I was prepared to be the CEO.”

  “I understand. Did you go to any parties?” He keeps pushing the issue.

  “A few.” I shrug.

  “I…” he trails off and rubs his chin again, harder this time. “I saw you. I mean, I really saw you. I thought you were magnificent in person. When your dad and I talked further, in detail, about this arrangement, it felt right. I knew I was taking a lot from you, but to me it’s different.”

  “How so?” I want to keep him talking because I want him to tell me everything.

  “I’m ready to settle down. I would like to have children, but I didn’t want the whole dating game. You and I know exactly what this situation is. Plus, I grew to like your father; I wanted to help him.”

  “Then why didn’t you give him a loan? It would have been simple.”

  “But, I wouldn’t have gotten you, and that’s what I wanted.”

  “Gable,” I rub my temple. “You’re talking in a circle. Give it to me straight. Why me?”

  He smirks. “Because you are feisty, you’re smart, and I didn’t want some woman to take me for all my money.”

  “But I did,” I furrow my brow. “Did you already forget about the thirty million dollar check you wrote at the beginning of our relationship?”

  “I didn’t forget. I wanted to give you that check because I knew how much you loved JE and you wanted to make your father proud.” He brushes a strand of hair from my forehead. “The women I’ve been with don’t care about anything but themselves and my checkbook. You’re different because you’re trying to figure out a way to pay me back. Trust me when I say a lot of people wouldn’t.” He rubs my cheek.

  “How did you know what I was planning?”

  Gable says nothing but continues to rub my cheek.

  “I could divorce you at any time and never pay you back a dime.” I remind him. “Technically, I have the company and there’s nothing to stop me.”

  “All of that is true, Dream, but you’re not going to.”

  “You don’t know for sure.” My voice is low. I know the tone. It’s husky and full of lust.

  Lust?

  “I do know.” He leans forward. “Because you care about JE, the employees, Leo, Mrs. Stones, and me.”

  His breath is warm. I know, because he’s close to my lips. I lick them slowly and he softly gasps.

  “Are you sure I’m sweet and caring?” I can feel my body leaning forward as if there’s an invisible pull toward him.

  “I’d bet on it.”

  Our lips are about to touch when there’s a pounding on my door.

  “Gable, Matherson is on the phone and needs to talk to you now.” Gideon’s voice bellows from the other side.

  Gable is staring into my eyes and neither of us has moved. His blue eyes have me locked into place.

  “Gable.” The pounding continues.

  He pulls back and yells. “I’ll be right there.”

  We both remain in our positions for another moment, before Gable finally gets up and leaves.

  I release the breath I’m holding. What the hell just happened?

  Chapter 10

  When I go down to breakfast the next morning, I stop at the entrance. There’s a blonde at the breakfast bar and she and Misha are giggling and whispering.

  “Mrs. Butler.” Misha quickly rises from the bar stool that she was sitting at. “I didn’t hear you.” She rushes over to the coffee machine to get my coffee.

  The blonde turns and gives me a smile. It’s Joy, Gable’s assistant. I’d never seen her at the house before.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Butler.”

  “Good morning, Joy. How are you?”

  “I’m well. Thank you for asking.” I sit next to her. Misha places the coffee in front of me. “Would you like anything else?”

  I shake my head. “No, thank you.”

  “You don’t look like you feel well.” Joy says. “Are you ill?”

  “I didn’t sleep well last night.” That’s an understatement. I take a small sip of the coffee. I spent most of the night sitting on the side of my bed trying to figure out Gable’s and my relationship.

  I swear I could write a mini-series about it. I wanted to kiss him last night. I didn’t think I did until he didn’t come back to my room. I heard him in the bathroom and his bedroom, but he never attempted to come over to me.

  I tried to process the fact he’d sought me out and followed me when I was at college. He had watched me, but I’d been so caught up with school and myself I didn’t notice. I knew he stalked me because he told me, but now it’s all laid out in front of me, I feel different. I’m not as mad as I previously was. Gable thought I was some socialite and he’d been wrong. I think I played a part from time-to-time when I was with Dad, but it’s not me.

  I’m here. Leo texts me.

  “It’s nice to see you again, Joy.”

  I tell Leo where to go and say nothing else as he drives me there. I had never been to this apartment complex before, but I know many people who lived here. It’s for the up and coming young entrepreneurs. I knock on the door marked 6C. When the door opens, Larissa’s red hair is in pigtails and blue eyes are bright.

  “I have to say out of everyone to call me this morning; I was shocked it was you.”

  “I do need your help though.”

  She nods and steps to the side to let me in. The apartment is large, but I don’t see it. I want answers that only she can help me.

  She points to a pair of chairs set up in the corner. “So, what do you need my help with?”

  “Okay, I’m not one to dodge a point, but I think I’m having some type of mental breakdown, and beside my staff, you’ve known me the longest and I know you’ll tell me the truth.” I rush my words out.

  “Dream.” Larissa looks concerned. “What is it?”

  “I’m asking you a favor. It’s huge and I need your word.”

  She nod. I pull a piece of paper out of my purse. “Sign this.”

  Larissa looks it over. She furrows her forehead and glances at me. “A non-disclosure agreement?”

  I know that Larissa is more loyal to the law and her family and I sure as hell don’t want her to go out running her mouth with what I’m about to talk to her about.

  “Please.” I know I’m begging, but it’s serious. I hand her a pen. She thinks for a moment and then signs it, handing it back to me. “Thank you.”

  “Now, what’s going on?”

  I open my mouth and tell her everything from Gable and my contract, to JE’s troubles, and even last night. I can’t stop the words flowing. It’s as if a dam broke and water is spewing out of it. When I’m done talking, my mouth is dry and my throat hurts a little.

  “Wow, that’s a lot to take in.” Her eyes are wide from all the information I’ve thrown at her. “I had heard JE had a little bit of a financi
al scare, but I didn’t know it had been that bad.”

  I nod. “It was.”

  “I don’t understand why you told me?”

  “Because,” I push my hand through my hair. “I’m in a tailspin of crazy emotions, and I don’t know how to handle it. I mean, I’ve had one hit after another in the past few weeks.”

  “It’s understandable. You graduated college thinking you were going to work under your father and learn more of the ropes then he dies and everything falls into your lap. Add in Gable, marriage, and all that entails, I’m surprised you’re not in a straight-jacket at the mental hospital.” Larissa shakes her head. “I know I wouldn’t be able to handle it all.”

  We’re silent for a moment as I’m sure she’s thinking all about my drama-filled life and thankful she isn’t having the same breakdown I am.

  “I think I like Gable.” I blurt it out. “I’m living in his house, I’m constantly with him, and I’m afraid it’s some type of Stockholm syndrome.”

  Larissa laughs. “It’s not that.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because I saw you two at the Wall’s Ball. The way you two were looking at each other, those weren’t Stockholm looks.”

  I’m confused. “What do you mean?”

  “Look.” She stops for a beat and glances away from me and bites her lip. “I know a lot about Gable and he’s not a bad guy, from what I can tell. Granted, he did coerce you into this marriage, but look how he’s treated you. I mean some other guy would have never given you your own room and left you alone. If you understand my meaning?” She gives me a pointed look.

  “I do.” Larissa’s right, and I don’t need to be reminded how good Gable has been to me, because I know.

  “At the ball,” she smiles. “He couldn’t stay away from you, and he kept touching you the whole night. I watched you two when I stepped away. He stared at you and there was nothing but love, respect, and admiration in his eyes.”

  “He’s twenty years older than I am.”

  “So? Have you seen the guys our age? I will pick a mature, stable, older man, than some xbox-playing-beer-drinking kid.” Larissa giggles. “You’re lucky. Besides, he doesn’t look old and it’s not like he’s a hundred or anything.”