Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED HIS MONEY
Gabriel offered Norah a job.
A private cook.
Full-time.
A salary ten times what she earned at Benny's.
She refused.
Gabriel stared.
“Why?”
“Because I'm studying nursing.”
“You can study while working for me.”
“No.”
He frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because I don't want my life to become someone else's emergency.”
Gabriel leaned back.
He wasn't accustomed to refusal.
Norah continued.
“I helped you because you needed food. Not because I wanted a wealthy man to rescue me.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“I wasn't trying to rescue you.”
“Then stop treating my future like something you can purchase.”
He was silent.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
Norah smiled faintly.
“Good.”
He hesitated.
“Would you consider cooking for me occasionally?”
She considered.
“As a paid professional service?”
“Yes.”
“With a schedule?”
“Yes.”
“And no armed men threatening Benny?”
Gabriel winced.
“I'll make sure that never happens again.”
Norah nodded.
“Then we can discuss it.”
Gabriel smiled.
May you like
For the first time in years, someone was negotiating with him without fear.
And he liked it.
