When the plane landed, I let her get out of her seat first, then I walked behind her, checking out her fine ass and body that the asshole she was with put down. As soon as I climbed into the limo and shut the door, I watched her stare at me as the driver pulled away. I made a few phone calls and found out who both of them were. I spent days and even weeks thinking about Gabrielle McCarthy. She didn’t deserve to be treated the way she was, and she didn’t deserve to be stuck in a toxic relationship. I desired her. All of her. Gabrielle McCarthy was a woman who needed to be saved and I was the one who was going to save her.

“Mr. Young, to what do I owe the pleasure of being summoned to this meeting?” Brendon asked as he sat down across from me.

“I took the liberty of ordering you a scotch. You seem to me like the scotch type of guy.”

“I do like scotch. It’s not my favorite, but it’ll do,” he smirked as he held the glass in his hand.

I glared at him from across the table, not sure of what he would think about my proposal. “So, you work for your father and he’s grooming you to take over the family business. Am I right?”

“You are correct, sir.”

I sighed at his smugness. “I would like to make a business proposition. Imagine your father’s reaction if I were to hire your company to oversee the development of one of my new hotels.”

“Excuse me?” He nearly choked as he sat up straight.

“You heard me. You would look like a hero securing one of Young International’s hotels.”

He sat back in his chair and rested his arm on the table. “I have to question your motives, Mr. Young. I get the impression you’re not doing this out of the kindness of your heart. What exactly do you want from me?”

“Your girlfriend, Gabrielle,” I spoke as I arched my brow.

“Are you fucking serious?” He chuckled. “You’re offering me a huge deal to develop one of your multi-billion-dollar hotels in exchange for Gabby?”

“Yes,” I said calmly.

“Why? She’s worth nothing.”

It took everything I had not to jump across the table and beat the shit out of him. “She is to me. Let me be candid with you, Brendon. You’re an asshole, and Gabrielle doesn’t deserve to be in the company of someone like you.”

“Really? But she deserves to with you? I know your background, Simon, and you’d do more harm to her than I ever could.”

“You’re wrong about that. Do we have a deal or not?”

“You’re serious? This really isn’t a joke.”