Mine

Chapter 5 - A Familiar Face

GABRIELLE POV:

When I woke up the next morning, Harry was nowhere in sight, but the space next to me in the bed was still warm. Silently, I tiptoed towards the dresser in search of some new clothes. I found a pair of underwear that I doubted would cover my butt cheeks and I pulled it on quickly underneath my jeans from yesterday, which were still balled up in the corner. After rifling around, I also found my bra from the day before and yanked that on as well. I knew that my tank top from the day before was hopeless, considering that Harry had completely destroyed it, so I began digging through various drawers while in jeans and bra in the hopes of finding another shirt.

Having little luck at finding something that I might be able to be comfortable in, I yanked on an extremely tiny red t-shirt. When I turned around, I jumped nearly ten feet in the air as I saw Harry leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed tightly. I stood terrified and frozen to the spot as he crossed the room in three easy strides and tucked his hands into the back pocket of my jeans. My ass immediately seared with pain from what had happened last night, and I shoved Harry as hard as I could in the chest.

He stumbled slightly, but didn't relinquish his grip. "Careful now, kitten." He growled in my ear, squeezing roughly and smirking as I bit back a whimper of pain. I glared up at him, my whole body shaking with fury as he tugged his hands from my pockets and let his fingers rest in my belt loops. The tops of his warm hands skimmed my bare midriff, and I placed my hands onto his wrists, trying to push them away.

"Can I have my phone please?" I finally asked as I continued in my attempts to wrestle away from him. Harry's large hand caught the back of my neck easily and I froze.

"What for?" He asked calmly, winding his fingers into my hair.

"To call into work." I spat before pursing my lips.

Harry reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out my phone. "Quit your job." He ordered. I opened my mouth to protest, but he interrupted. "Do it now."

"I'm not quitting my job. That's ridiculous." I scoffed.

"Oh yes you are." He growled, "I'd hate for anyone to get hurt." He paused and my stomach churned as I thought of the adorable children that I nannied for. "Because that would be all your fault."

With shaking hands, I gulped and took the phone from him before calling Sharon's cell phone number. "Hello? Gabrielle, honey, is that you?" She answered on the first ring and my heart plummeted to my stomach.

"Hi Sharon. Yes, it's me." I blinked back tears at her sweet gentle voice. "I'm so sorry that I didn't come into work yesterday. I had a bit of a situation." I tried to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, sweetie, that's okay. I was worried though when you didn't answer your phone. Are you all right?" She pressed on as I internally screamed that I wasn't.

Harry mouthed the word 'now' to me, and my eyes glossed over with tears. "I'm so sorry, Sharon. I'm dealing with a family emergency, and I'm afraid that I can't work for you anymore. I'm so sorry about the late notice." My voice cracked as I said it. "Please give Hannah and Frankie all my love."

I ended the call before I could hear her response, and Harry quickly plucked my phone out of my hands again. I tried to grab it, but he pushed me against the wall easily before lifting me on top of the dresser. Angrily, I tried to climb down but he gripped my thighs tightly. From my new vantage point, we were almost at eye level, and I stared coldly into his dark eyes.

Uselessly, I tried again to get down and this time he pressed me onto the dresser even more tightly, snickering at my feeble attempts to overpower him. Hot frustrated tears bubbled in my eyes, but I refused to let them spill over.