NovelAppMy CEO 241
241 Gus and Maria (Judy)
Gabriel watches quietly, his eyes flicking between us. He doesn't intervene, but his presence is undeniable. His
sisters start talking to each other in Spanish.
| don't speak Spanish and I have no clue what they are saying.
Gabriel answers them. | asshe's relaying what he thinks is wrong with Cass.
My annoyance flares. "It's polite to speak in a language everyone at the table can understand," | say, trying to
maintain control of the situation.
Gabriel turns his gaze on me, his expression calm but authoritative. "I will speak with my sisters however |
please, Judy," he says, his voice smooth but firm. "We don't need to explain ourselves to you or anyone else."
The power in his words hangs in the air, and for the first time, | feel a shift. Gabriel isn't just playing a role, he's
asserting himself. | don't like it, but | can't afford to challenge him openly. Not yet.
Cass, emboldened by Gabriel's support, crosses her arms and looksdead in the eye. "You're not going to get
betweenand my family, Judy. | don't care what you think you're doing with Gabriel or anyone else." | open
my mouth to respond, but Gabriel cuts in smoothly. "Cass and | are very much in control of our own decisions.
Perhaps it's best if we all focus on our own concerns, rather than family ."
"In other words, everyone can mind their own business," Cass says.
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"Indeed," he replies
It's a calculated move on his part, and it's effective. The conversation stalls, and | realize I'm not going to win
this round. Not tonight, anyway.
| glance at Phillip, who has been observing quietly, as usual. I'm sure he'll be reporting this back to Winona. Let
him.
| sip my martini and then | spot Gus and Maria heading for our table. Just what | need.
Maria greets her children, her Cuban Spanish flowing smoothly. Gus answers her just as fluently. | hate that. |
hate how | have no idea what they're saying
| glance at Gus. The way he looks at her makeswant to vomit. The fact that he's even here with her,
flaunting her in front of me, pissesoff, | feel the rage bubbling up inside me, but | keep it contained. | have to
Gabriel and his sisters can't know the extent of my loathing for their holler than thou' mother.
Maria is talking to her kids in Spanish, her voice soft and soothing. She says something that makes. Gabriel
smile, and he nods in agreement. It's enough to make my stomach turn.
1 clear my throat, determined to take the control back.
"Gus. How nice to see you. | guess this is Maria?"
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241 Gus and Maria
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"Yes." He's looking atas if he's worried about what I'm going to say next.
I don't know what he's playing at with her, but if he thinks he's having sgreat romance like that dirty, rotten,
cheating brother of his, he's wrong.
"Maria, I'm Judy. Greg's wife." | reach my hand out to her.
She smiles and looks to Gus for translation. He talks Spanish and she eyesfor a second before taking my
hand. Then she says something Gus translates. "She's sorry for your loss, all those years ago."
I laugh. "Well, I'm not."
Gabriel bristles at this. | ignore him. Whoever they thought Greg was, | have news for them and it's all bad. I'm
done with this happy-happy joy-joy crap.
"You know, Gus," | say, "it must be so nice for you to play translator all night. You're just so useful."
He stares at me. He knows I'm being sarcastic. "Well, Judy. It's about understanding, isn't it."
Understanding. Right. As if Gus ever understood anything. Especially when it cto Jayden and me. He threw
us to the wolf and he'll never stop paying for that
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"Well, it's been a successful evening for the Brennan Wing."
"It certainly has." Gus replies.
Gus and Maria start another conversation, and Maria gives her kids a warm smile. | grit my teeth, hating how
perfect and loving she seems. It's clear they dote on her every word. | watch as Gus leans in, whispering
something to her in Spanish that makes her smile even wider.
I want to scream.
But instead, | turn to Gabriel, giving him my best business smile. "I'll take you on a tour of the Brennan Wing,
Gabriel. They do sreally wonderful work there." He nods, "I'd like that."
"Judy," Gus says, pullingout of my thoughts. "We're heading out soon. Are you staying?"
"I think I'll stick around a bit longer," | say, smiling sweetly. "You know me-always working. The. 's quite a few
business prospects | need to mingle with."
He givesa look, clearly not buying my act. But | don't care. Let him judge. Let him play nice with Maria. I've
got bigger plans in mind.
As they leave, | lean back in my chair, turning my attention back to Gabriel. He's laughing with Cass now, his
hand resting casually on her arm.
I may not fully trust Gabriel, but for now, he's a useful ally. And if | can get what | want-if | can secure those
shares and solidify almost full ownership of Brennan Industries then everything else will fall into place.
As for Jayden? Well, he'll caround. He always does.
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