He didn’t know what his father was doing. Taking Summer away from him like that. Talking to her in private, and not letting him know what they were discussing. Conner wondered if his father used her to spy on them. While they waited, Gabriella acted triumphant and wouldn’t let go of his arm until he shook her off him. “Why are you so clingy tonight, Gabriella? What’s with the look you keep giving Conner?” Joseph Mandela, Gabriella’s father, asked her. He’d criticized the gown she’d chosen already. He claimed it was too revealing and demanded that she wear a jacket over it. She didn’t react well to that. Conner hadn’t liked how Joseph looked at Summer, either. He’d looked at her in a predatory admiring fashion and didn’t say a thing about the dress she’d worn. Even Conner would find it too revealing to accept. Joseph leered at Summer, but Gabriella didn’t give him a chance to talk to her father. Summer’s departure from the elevator with h

Conner found the washroom down a secluded corridor. What he didn’t expect to find was Summer having a heated discussion with Joseph Mandela. A rather intimate one. His needs forgotten for the moment; Conner listened to what he walked in on. “You’re a beautiful woman, my dear. That beauty won’t last forever. You’re chasing after a dying horse chasing after Conner O’Keefe. He won’t matter soon enough. Now let’s get better acquainted and you can call me, Joe going forward.” Joseph crowded Summer where she stood in the small dead-end corridor that only led to a cleaning closet and the two washrooms. The four large artificial flower arrangements that hid the doors from passersby made its small space smaller. He leered at her still and in the dimly lit space. He looked as evil as his intents were. Conner’s first instinct was to step in and break up the incident, but he hesitated because he knew Summer appeared able to handle herself and everyone around her. Conner al

Initially, Conner was unsure of the situation or the nature of his observation. How could he treat her in such a manner? It didn’t matter that Conner wanted Summer for himself. No, that only compounded his feelings into a ball of hate, disgust, and anger. He wanted to confront Joseph Mandela, but he escaped while Summer debated who should handle him. Now she was storming off after defending his honor against Gabriella’s accusations that she’d caught Conner kissing Summer. Gabriella didn’t stop with her spiteful attack on Summer, either. When Summer announced Gabriella’s father had kissed her, Gabriella turned on her again and accused her of luring her father for his money. Conner was unsure of how to respond. He’d seen Summer turn Joseph down and continued to tell him she wasn’t interested. He’d forced the kiss on her as though it were his right. Conner knew he’d found Gabriella uninteresting and even annoying. However, he witnessed her

Summer couldn’t believe how the evening ended. She wanted to scream. Conner wouldn’t stay in his lane. This brought too much attention to her. Joseph Mandela’s actions had no impact on O’Keefe business, but if Conner takes advantage of the incident, all attention will shift to her. She couldn’t afford anyone looking too close at the situation or her. His concern about a few bruises, though. Summer didn’t know how she’d handle that. Conner stood so close and then he was touching her arms and shoulders as he looked at the state Joseph had left her skin in. Her father, unfortunately, stood aside and did nothing. Hell, he called her and blamed her for the incident. She’d do what she had to just to prove to her father he’d made a mistake. She would leave them to clean up the mess they made, aware that she was the only one who could fix it. Summer, knowing it was childish, desired revenge as the most fitting option. Then she rememb

Conner looked up unprepared to hear Gabriella’s angry voice. When did she enter? What did she hear? “How did you get in here?” He couldn’t believe this woman. “Why are you here?” “I came to ask why you didn’t follow me, but instead I find you pursuing your secretary.” Gabriella appeared nauseated by an odd smell. “Gabriella, how dare you make such claims here? You dare enter and make uninvited claims, forbidding me from following? That’s on you, Gabriella. I don’t come when I’m called or when you try to yank my chain.” Couldn’t believe her nerve. His father wanted him to date her. How could he do that? She looked like she needed serious mental help. Conner accused Summer of stalking, but he couldn’t prove she broke into a hotel suite. “That’s not the point Conner. This part of the suite is my space, and she’s invading it. She’s coming in here calling me names. No, I’m off the clock and no one does that to me.” Summer pushed past Conner a