She Gets Splashed By A Passing Car, Never Expecting The Man Apologizing Is A Millionaire Falling
A Life-Changing Splash
Gabriella Reigns had exactly five minutes to get to her interview or risk losing the one shot she had at turning her life around.
A speeding black car hit a puddle and drenched her in muddy water from head to toe. She froze, soaked and stunned, standing on the edge of West 59th Street.
Her blouse clung to her skin, her skirt was dripping, and her tote bag was ruined. A pair of polished black leather shoes appeared in front of her.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
The voice was low, smooth, and unapologetically expensive. Gabriella looked up, ready to unleash hell, and stopped cold.
The man standing in front of her was tall and sharply dressed in a navy wool coat and tailored suit. His dark hair was tousled by the wind and his amber-brown eyes were wide with concern.
He looked like he walked out of a magazine spread or a boardroom, or both.
“You,” she started, her voice catching. “You were driving that car?”
“No, but I own it,” he said, pulling out a crisp white handkerchief and offering it to her. “My driver took the turn too fast. I’m Quinn Navaro.”
“You think a handkerchief is going to fix this?” she asked, waving her soaked arm. “I have an interview in five minutes.”
He looked her over, not in a creepy way, but in a very calculating, very intense way.
“Get in. I’ll take you.”
Gabriella blinked. “Get in your car with a stranger?”
“I just ruined your day. It’s the least I can do. And you can call someone while we drive.”
He paused.
“Actually, no. Don’t call. Just trust me. I’ll get you there.”
“No offense, but you don’t look like someone used to being told no.”
Quinn actually smiled for the first time. “That’s true. But you should still say it if that’s what you want.”
Gabriella hesitated. Her phone was dead and her clothes were a mess. She had no time and she didn’t have options either. She sighed.
“Fine. But if you’re secretly a serial killer…”
“I’m not. I’m a venture capitalist.”
“Same thing.”
He laughed, opening the back door of the car. The leather interior looked untouched and smelled like new money. As soon as she slid in, the heat hit her skin and she groaned softly.
“Your name?” he asked, getting in beside her.
“Gabriella Reigns.”
“Gabriella,” he repeated, like he was trying it on. “What’s the interview for?”
“Assistant project coordinator at Radcliffe and Moss.”
He nodded and tapped the partition. “Take us to Radcliffe and Moss. Fast.”
As the car pulled back into traffic, Gabriella tried to pat her skirt dry with the handkerchief, which was now ruined. She glanced sideways.
“You know they’re not going to take me seriously like this.”
Quinn pulled out his phone and made a quick call.
“Have someone meet me at Radcliffe and Moss with a clean outfit. Women’s size six, business professional, neutral colors.”
Gabriella’s eyes widened. “You just… did you just buy me clothes?”
“You said they won’t take you seriously. That’s not acceptable to me.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t have to know you to want to make this right.”
She stared at him, confused. “Why are you being nice?”
“Because I can.”
The car stopped in front of a tall glass building. As promised, a woman in a black suit was waiting at the curb with a garment bag.
“This is insane,” Gabriella muttered as Quinn handed her the bag.
“Go get that job,” he said. “And if they don’t hire you, let me know.”
“I’ll figure something out.” She paused. “You serious?”
“Completely.”
Gabriella didn’t know what to say. She just nodded, lips parted, and ran into the building. She got the job.
For the rest of the day, she couldn’t stop thinking about Quinn Navaro. She didn’t even know why. He was just some rich guy who felt guilty, right?
