"Come in!" He let Viviane pass.

Although the rest of the house displayed luxurious decor, Mr. Welsch's bedroom was more sober, with black and brown dominating the furniture, bedding, and curtains. Even feeling out of place in such a masculine room, she tried to maintain her composure.

Silently, Gabriel removed his blazer and tossed it onto the brown leather sofa facing the huge television mounted on the wall.

He touched the buttons of his shirt and began undoing them one by one. Vivian looked away and focused on one of the walls, covered in a three-dimensional paneling. Raising her eyes, she noticed the ceiling with its scattered points of light.

"Your suitcase is over there!"

Gabriel pointed to the other side of the enormous king-size bed draped in a brown satin sheet. He pulled off his pants and noticed Vivian's flushed cheeks.

"Never seen a naked man before?"

He walked around the room in just his underwear, his abs chiseled, his thighs muscular. Gabriel opened the curtains, letting sunlight pour through the massive window.

"You've been married for ten years and you still feel embarrassed when you see a naked man?" he asked dismissively.

Of course, she had seen Pietro wandering around the house in his underwear. Nevertheless, he was the only man she had slept with since high school, and the only person to have seen her naked.

"This room is very masculine!" Vivian tried to divert the conversation.

"She didn't sleep here, if that's what you want to know." He opened the sliding closet door and stood inside for thirty seconds. "I grew up in this house, but later, my father took us to Los Angeles." He returned to the bedroom, holding a pair of black pants and a long-sleeved white shirt. "Whenever I come to Brazil, I stay here."

"I bet the Los Angeles mansion's bedroom has Rachel's feminine touch," she said without thinking.

"Don't say her name," he snapped harshly. "I want to forget that bitch existed. Got it?"

Vivian didn't respond; she remained still, unsure of Mr. Welsch's reaction.

"Change your clothes," he ordered before entering the bathroom.

As soon as she heard the water running, Viviane took the opportunity to walk calmly around the room. She noticed her phone and wallet on the desk next to the laptop and turned to look at the greenery outside the large window. Pietro had always wanted a house in a condo like this. Viviane remembered when her ex had commented on visiting luxury condos in Alphaville.

She walked toward her luggage. The first thing she thought of was calling her mother to let her know she was okay. Viviane searched through her bag and emptied it but couldn't find her phone. Opening the suitcase, she took out all her clothes and both pairs of shoes. She checked every corner but still didn't find it.

She looked at the clothes scattered on the bed and tried to recall the last place she had been.

"The office!" Viviane rushed.

"Where are you going?"

Gabriel, drying his hair, appeared at the bathroom door with a white towel wrapped around the muscles below his stomach.

Vivian froze, looking like a living statue.

"Haven't changed out of that dress yet?" He looked at the bed. "What a mess!" He pointed at the clothes strewn across it.

"I can't find my phone," she said in a choked voice.

"Who are you trying to call?" He passed the towel over his neck while watching her. "Your ex?"

"No!" Viviane immediately retorted. "I just wanted to talk to my mom. I think I left my phone in your office."

Gabriel shook his head and strode to the desk at the other end of the room. He opened a drawer and took the phone.

"Call her and invite her to dinner," he said, handing over the device.

"This isn't my phone." Her pupils dilated.

She took a few steps back as Gabriel approached. His intimidating presence made her legs wobble. Viviane backed up and sat on the bed.

"I destroyed the SIM card and threw your phone in the trash."

"You shouldn't have done that." She gathered her courage to face him. "You crossed the line!"

Finally, Viviane asserted herself. Her boldness disappeared when Gabriel lunged at her and laid her on the bed. He looked into her green eyes after lifting her arms above her head.

Viviane's heart and pulse raced. He brushed his lips across her face until reaching her mouth. Already hard, he ached to enter her warm, wet body ever since he had barged into her room in the middle of the night. He rubbed his rigid member against her stomach, making her feel its thickness.

"Don't do this, Vivian!" he murmured against her lips. "I'm trying to trust you. I really want to believe you didn't know about that bank account," his voice rougher than before.

Luckily, Viviane heard two faint knocks. Gabriel stood up as soon as he heard his daughter calling him.

"Tell her I'm coming."

He grabbed his clothes and went to dress in the bathroom while Vivian opened the door.

"Where's Daddy?"

"He's finishing his shower."

"What a mess," the little girl said, looking at the bed as she entered the room. "Daddy doesn't like this!" she whispered.

"I'll tidy up quickly and get changed for our outing."

Elizabeth climbed onto the bed and helped Viviane pick up the clothes.

"What are you doing here, Liz?"

Gabriel returned to the room, adjusting his shirt collar.

"I came to get you."

"Wait in your room." He ran his hands through his hair.

The girl looked at the clothes Viviane was folding and kissed her on the cheek before getting off the bed. Gabriel accompanied his daughter to the door and closed it.

"Don't do this again," he said, pointing at the clothes Viviane was folding. "I hate mess."

"Liz mentioned it."

Gabriel tucked his shirt into his linen pants.

"Change the damn clothes!" he barked.

After putting everything in the suitcase, Viviane set aside only a short-sleeved graphite-gray dress.

"Have you called your mother yet?" He adjusted the silver-strapped watch on his right wrist.

"Not yet," she replied, closing the zipper of her suitcase. "You can't stop me from communicating with other people..."

"Other people? From what I know, you don't have friends! No one but your mother visited you while you were vegetating in that hospital." Gabriel crossed his arms.

Looking down at her feet, Viviane picked up the dress and passed him without saying a word.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to change in the bathroom," she said, turning away.

The drive from the condo to the mall took only a few minutes.

The driver maneuvered the car while a security guard beside him communicated with two others escorting the vehicle behind them.

Meanwhile, Liz played a game on her tablet, teaching Viviane how to play Plants vs. Zombies. Gabriel argued with an executive on the phone. Suddenly, he swore. Liz's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth.

"You shouldn't say that around her," Vivian warned.

Gabriel touched his furrowed brow and exhaled heavily. In a sudden act of rage, he opened the window and tossed the phone onto the middle of the road.

"Daddy has another phone!" The little girl, used to her father's stress, explained. "He'll buy another one later," whispered little Liz. "Your turn!" She handed the tablet to Vivian.

"Put that away," Gabe ordered, "we're here!"

The car entered the cold, dimly lit parking lot. They remained inside the Mustang until the guards allowed them to exit.

"Don't stick together," Gabriel ordered. "Just watch Liz and my wife, and let me know if you notice any suspicious movement."

During their shopping trip, Gabriel handed over a credit card and insisted that Viviane and his daughter accompany the saleswoman. Sitting in a comfortable chair, he typed frantically on his phone.

Viviane helped Liz try on shoes. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, his brow furrowed as he argued on the phone.

'Gabriel must be so focused on his work he barely had time for Rachel,' she thought. 'That's why the poor woman spent all her time shopping and working. To make up for Gabriel's absence in the family.'

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear while watching him. Their eyes met when Gabe lifted his gaze. She quickly looked away and helped Elizabeth remove her shoes.

"The dresses you requested are here!" the saleswoman smiled at Viviane. "You can try them on if you want."

One of the guards kept an eye on another employee helping the girl try on another pair of shoes. Viviane took the opportunity to enter the fitting room before anyone noticed her absence. She was lifting clothes over her shoulders while looking in the mirror when the curtain suddenly opened.

"What are you doing?" Gabriel shouted. "You should be taking care of my daughter." His voice faltered when he saw Viviane's firm, perky breasts..

She covered her chest with one arm and watched Gabriel lick his lips.

"The guard is watching Liz," she said, grabbing the dress from the hanger with the other hand. "It's quick; I'm only going to try on two pieces."

On impulse, Gabriel entered the fitting room. He took the dress from her hands and pulled her close to his body. His hard penis throbbed inside his pants.

"No!" Vivian blushed. "The saleswoman will come in here."

That didn't convince him. Instead, he caressed her back, admiring her curves in the mirror, and then Gabriel pulled her ear between his teeth and let out a moan.

Trying to free herself from Mr. Welsch's advances, Viviane said, "It's not wise," and quickly made up an excuse: "Liz will be here any minute!"

"What?" Gabriel stepped back. He ran a hand over his neck, took one last look, and left the fitting room. "I need some fresh air."

Viviane felt relieved once he left. She tried on the spaghetti-strap dress, adjusting her breasts within the draped neckline. The rose-colored fabric slid down her body to her ankles. She put on black high heels and fixed her hair while evaluating her reflection.

"Try this one!" Impatient, he opened the curtain again.

"Does it look good?"

"You look beautiful!" Gabriel was silent for seven seconds before regaining himself. "Try it!"

He handed her a set of red lace lingerie matching a daring silk nightgown of the same color.

"I want you to wear this tonight."

________________________________________

After eating at one of the mall's restaurants, Elizabeth was upset because her father had scolded her and said they wouldn't go to the park that day for being rude to her grandmother the night before.

"You promised!" Liz complained.

The girl pouted and crossed her arms, just like Gabriel used to do.

"We can play over there." Viviane pointed to a toy store.

"Let's go, Daddy!" Liz hugged Gabe's leg as he walked. "Please!"

"Okay," he exhaled heavily.

Both girls were excited. Liz turned to look at her father, who remained in place.

"Come on, Daddy!"

"I'll be there soon. I have to make a call."

Elizabeth shrugged, held Viviane's hand, and went off to play.

Gabriel looked at one of the guards across from him and signaled him to accompany them.

____________________________________

At home, Gabriel had a long argument with his mother because Katherine didn't approve of his sudden marriage to a nanny. Even without knowing the real reasons behind her son's intentions, she refused to accept Viviane as a daughter-in-law.

In the office, Kathy repeatedly said Viviane was just a gold digger who had bewitched her son.

Gabe was as hot-tempered as his mother. The two always disagreed on anything involving love. He lost count of how many relationships ended because of her interference. Only Rachel seemed suitable for a successful CEO like him.

"You had to find another woman like Rachel," Kathy said.

"She was cheating on me," Gabe admitted.

The words seemed to escape him. Katherine's face froze.

"Rachel was running away with her lover on the day of the accident," he revealed.

"What did you do, Gabriel?" Katherine stood up from her chair.

"Nothing, Mom. I just let her go..."

He turned his back, hiding his expression of disgust. Gabriel knew his absence had opened a space for someone else to step in. He just didn't expect one of his employees to be the man his late wife slept with.

"I'm tired." He ran both hands over his face. "See you tomorrow, Mom!"

Gabriel locked the desk drawer and left, leaving his mother alone in the office.

Striding down the hallway, he remembered the times Pietro had stayed in his house and the days he drove Rachel to the law office. According to the staff, there was no doubt Pietro had slept with Rachel in his residence.

He needed to rid himself of that torment called Rachel and relax a little.

Opening the bedroom door, Gabriel saw the woman curled up in the sheets.

He lay on his side and approached Viviane's back, pulling her closer and noticing the pink flannel pajamas. Indignant, Gabe muttered. Viviane hadn't even thought to wear the lingerie he had chosen.

"What are you doing, Vivian?" He reached out and switched on the lamp.

"Sleeping," she answered, her voice thick with sleep.

Pulling the sheet over her head, she mumbled.

"That's not how things work, Vivian!"

She was so sleepy she barely heard his complaints.

"I'd prefer you sleep naked." He dragged his beard over her neck.

"I hate your beard!"

"What?" He raised his black eyebrows.

"It stings," she pushed his chin away.

"Viviane Bernardi Welsch!" He raised his voice, making her sit up on the bed. "I'm going to shave, and when I come back, I'll rip that pajama off and enter you."

Vivian felt relieved when Gabriel left. She thought of countless excuses to keep him from touching her. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn't fall asleep again. Several times, she glanced at the light spilling from the slightly open bathroom door.

How would she react to that man's irritation? Most men were hostile when deprived of sex. Viviane understood that primitive instinct well. Pietro constantly complained when she rejected him.

Turning over in bed, she thought about the moment Gabriel had tried to kiss her in the mall's fitting room.

At times, her eyelids grew heavy, but fear kept her awake. Even if she dozed off, Gabriel would wake her, just as he had half an hour ago. Viviane tried to find a way to keep him at a distance.

"Who does she think she is?" he muttered, running the razor across his face.

Gabe was used to seducing models, actresses, and even women he didn't know at bars he frequented. None had refused to offer him a little love and attention. He tapped the tip of the razor on the sink and continued shaving from top to bottom, removing the hairs Viviane hated.

Deep down, Gabe didn't want sex just for pleasure. The idea of impregnating her and having more children excited him.

Rachel had never wanted a house full of kids, which fueled countless arguments between them. As an only child, he knew how lonely it could be, hating to play alone as a child. Gabriel was sure Liz would be happy to have a little brother.

Turning on the faucet, he filled his hands with water, leaned over, and rinsed his face to remove the remaining shaving cream. He dried with the small fluffy towel and ran his hand over his face, feeling the softness of his own skin. Stripping off his clothes, he stepped under the warm water, massaging his hair as the droplets fell and washing the rest of his body.

In the bedroom, Viviane curled up on the bed when the sound of water stopped.

Soon he would return and enter her. It would be easier if sex were like it had been with Pietro: just close your eyes and wait for it to be over.

The bathroom door opened, casting more light into the room. Gabriel wrapped a towel around his waist. His hair was still wet, and his tanned body glistened, as if he had applied some kind of body oil.

"Good to see you're awake!" His eyes were full of irony. "Still haven't taken that off?" He pointed to her pajama top.

He went to the small minibar, grabbed a beer, and popped the cap.

"Want one?"

"I don't drink!" She lowered her gaze.

"You should have a little time to relax."

If he knew what had happened the last time a man had been inside her, he would understand her desperation.

Summoning courage, Viviane slid the pajama pants off under the sheets and tossed them to the floor. Her slender fingers trembled as they unbuttoned the first button of the pajama top.

"Hey, stop!" he said, then took a long gulp of the beer.

Gabriel sat on the bed, stretching his legs over the rumpled sheet. He set the green German beer bottle on the nightstand.

"Can I sleep?"

"No!"

Gabriel closed the distance between them, and she curled up.

Persisting, he moved closer and touched her chin, examining her frightened look. Though Vivian still feared the intimidating man, her green eyes sparkled before her predator. He stroked her flushed cheeks, studying the delicate features of her face.

"Why did you get married so young?"

She lowered her gaze, discouraged. Gabriel's question brought back memories of the first time she had slept with Pietro in her bedroom. Viviane had been seventeen when her ex had demanded proof of love. Taking advantage of her parents being out, Pietro took her to the bedroom where, in minutes, he thrust into her, insisting until he entered. He moved so fast that he climaxed in under three minutes. Pietro left her when her father opened the door and caught them.

"My father caught us in my room..."

"Having sex?" he asked.

Gabriel's brow furrowed.

"Yes!" Vivian admitted, embarrassed. "My father was extremely strict."

"Did you marry to please your father?"

Viviane nodded in agreement. The story wasn't so different, since Gabriel had married the woman his mother chose.

His index finger traced her neck to the first button, slowly undoing it.

"I'm not very good in bed," Viviane admitted in a shaky voice.

"I need to check that." He opened the next button.

His long hand slid inside the shirt, brushing against the bra cup. Passing through the fabric, it touched her breast, massaging it and making her shiver.

"I've never really liked sex."

"You're going to learn to like it!" Gabriel said sharply.

His patience exhausted, he quickly unbuttoned Viviane's shirt, the buttons scattering across the bed.

"You're wearing," he noted, eyeing the red bra she had picked earlier. "Beautiful!" He studied her breasts.

He pulled the sheet aside to reveal the bottom of the lingerie set. Leaning over her, Gabriel removed the towel, displaying his hard, prominent penis without shame.

Wasting no time, he grabbed Viviane by the legs and leaned over her.

'Just close my eyes and it will be over soon!' she repeated to herself as Gabriel's full lips traced her neck. The heat of his tongue on her skin made Viviane moan softly.

Gabriel smiled, continuing to touch her body and feel its softness. He massaged her right breast, taking it into his mouth.

This wasn't how Pietro had done it-he usually mounted her, moving until they climaxed-but with Mr. Welsch, it was different. He continued torturing her with eager caresses and hungry kisses.

Vivian gasped as he took the other nipple into his mouth and sucked.

This man awakened a dormant volcano, every part of her responding to his touch. She felt the heat of his tongue on her stomach, hot like burning embers bubbling beneath her skin.

Gabriel's long fingers traced paths between her thighs, pulling her lace panties aside and burying his face. Then he spread her legs further, growling.

"I love this scent..."

Immediately, Gabe's mouth tasted her sensitive flesh.

Viviane arched against the slow strokes of his tongue. In an involuntary movement, she lifted her hips against his masculine face.

Gabriel held her thigh muscles firmly as he plunged his tongue, kissing her hungrily and drawing frenzied moans from her.

Viviane had never felt such desire for a man. She wanted more; she needed to feel him.

He continued teasing her, withdrawing his mouth to slip in his middle finger. Finally, Gabriel took his revenge. He had the key to torment the man who had stolen his late wife's love.

"Yes!" He gazed at her with closed eyes.

He added another finger, intensifying the movements as her inner muscles contracted. This woman was erupting. Gabe loved hearing her moan as he moved his fingers. He reached over with one hand while the other cupped her breasts, pulling her hardened nipples between his thumb and forefinger and twisting slowly.

"Oh, God!" Vivian exclaimed.

Unable to resist the delicious torment, she surrendered to the man licking his lips. Overcome with pleasure, she stiffened her thighs and lifted her hips. She whimpered as she enjoyed the sensation.

"You aren't frigid." He raised his body and leaned over her.

His elbows rested on either side of her head, breathing fast.

"I'm very demanding, Viviane!" He spread her legs further. "This isn't my favorite position, but I'll be gentle until you get used to it."

Positioning himself between her legs, he rubbed his penis at the entrance, moving up and down, brushing the tip against her wet slit. He held the pink nipple between his lips, sucking deeply.