Chapter 16 Christmas

Gabriel spends Christmas with Diane, Jasmine; his aunt, and the guys. He had dinner with Diane's family which was a barrel of laughs. Alex came by his house on Christmas day but didn't stay long. The guys, his aunt, and Diane all spend Christmas night with him and they watched movies until early Boxing Day. He had a wonderful Christmas even though Alex wasn't there for most of it. It was his first Christmas without Alex and he missed his friend a lot, it was as if a part of him was missing. Alex still got him a present and Gabriel got Alex one too which they exchanged in awkward silence.

Now it was New Year's Eve and he was getting ready to leave the house. He was thinking of taking Diane out for dinner then they would go to church together. He was about ready to leave when Alex walked in. "Going somewhere?" "Yeah, I'm." "Oh, I was thinking we could go somewhere together tonight. You know, ring in the new year together." "Sorry man I have a date with Diane and then we are going to ring in the new year together in church, you are welcome to join us if you like." "Hold on a second you're dating the toilet cleaner now? What the hell is going on around here?" Alex demand. "Don't you dare call her that?" Gabriel sneered coldly. "Okay so I not only have to take a back seat to God; now it's your little toilet cleaner too; who's next?" Alex asks folding his arms across his chest.

"I don't have time for this. I have to go." "You never have time for me anymore, do you, prince? Me the one who has always had your back." Once again Alex had managed to bring Gabriel's temper to the surface. "Whose fault is that Alex? It was your idea to go to church in the first place. I didn't go there to get baptized. I went because you wanted to go. But when I decided to give my life to God you turned your back on me. You walk away from Me! You are like a brother to me and when I needed you the most you turned your back on me! You know Alex The only reason I put up with all your nonsense is that I think of you as my brother. But I think it's time you grow up!" Grabbing his keys Gabriel stormed from the house.

Alex shakes his head and snorts as he ran his hands over the marble counter in the kitchen. So; he thought to himself. They all want to replace me huh. First, it was those idiots princes called his friends; then there was God; now it's the toilet cleaner; well we will just see about that. Prince only has one best friend and that's me; it's time I remind them of that; taking up his keys he left the house.

Gabriel had a wonderful time with Diane and Jasmine on New Year's Eve. They had dinner at the Pegasus hotel; stop for ice cream at sovereign center then went to church. They left the church at 2.00 am and she came home with him. She and Jasmine also spend New Year's Day with him. He took her home that night but the very next morning he went back for her again.

Jasmine was spending the day with one of her aunts so he had Diane all to himself. He had just gotten home when his phone rang; he was needed at the plaza. "I have to go on the road for a little while; do you want to come?" "I don't think so; I think I'll go soak in the hot tub for a while; you go ahead and hurry back okay." "Are you sure?" He asks kissing her lips softly. "Yes, I'm sure I'll be fine. Now go." "Okay, I'll be back soon." He kisses her gently on her forehead and left.

Diane relaxed in the hot tub for about an hour; she then got dressed and tour Gabriel's house for the hundredth time. Anytime she was there she would walk around and admire the artwork, expensive furniture, and exquisite appliances in his house. She loved it here; it was like a palace and she was feeling very much like a princess right now. She had some fruits and yogurt and was watching television in the living room when Alex walks in. "Where's prince? He barked. "Diane jumps and turns around. "He's not here." She mumbles. "So, he's done with you already huh?" "What do you mean by that?" "What I mean is that he's done playing with you; you're just a toy to him, but you already knew that right? And the only reason you're still here is because of his money." "I'm not a toy and I don't care about Gabriel's money."

"Yeah right; but seriously, you didn't really think prince was serious about you, did you? I mean prince is a Multimillionaire what would he want with a toilet cleaning trash like you?" "Now you're just been rude; Gabriel and I are dating and he's not the same person he was before." She states defensively. "You know what; you need to shut up; you all think that prince has changed; well guess again; I'm his best friend and I know him better than anyone; he's the best at what he does; playing people, especially idiots like you; what? You thought that he was in love with you?" He asks looking at her scornfully.

"Do you know why you're here and he's not?" He asks with a wicked grin on his face. " He had to go take care of some business." She said biting her lips, she really didn't like this guy. "That's what he told you, but here is the truth; he's tired of playing with you. He told me you were here and that you were mine for the day." He said grabbing the front of his pants.

Diane bolt from the sofa and began backing away from him. "What is that suppose to mean?" She asks in wide-eyed shock. "It means that you're mine now and after I'm done with you I'm to toss you out like the trash you are." He came towards her and she ran behind the sofa. "Stay away from me!" "Come on, you'll like it, I promise."And immediately panic took hold of her. "Stop right there; I will leave; just let me leave." "After I'm done with you, not before." He laughs wickedly as he leaps over the sofa and grabs her by her hair as she tried to run. "Not so fast." "Alex please don't do this." He pushes her down on the sofa and ripped open the front of her blouse.

"Let's see just how holy you really are." He said with a menacing look on his face. At that moment his phone rang distracting him for a little while. With all the strength she could muster, she twists away from him; free herself, and ran for the door; flinging it open she ran outside and down the driveway and through the gate which Alex had left open.

She didn't stop or look back, she just kept on running. On reaching the taxi stand she slows down to catch her breath. Tears ran down her cheeks as she tried to fix her blouse the best she could. Money, she needed money; she had to get out of here; now. She starts searching her skirt pockets for money she could use for taxi fare. She tried to steady her shaking hands but couldn't. She found a thousand dollar note in her pocket which she must have put there the day before. Diane said a silent prayer of thanks as the taxi pulled away from the stand.

Feeling annoyed Alex answer the phone. "What!" He had felt her twist away from him and watch her fled the house. Damn, there goes his fun. "Hello is this Alex Anderson?" "Yes." "I'm a friend of your family and I have some bad news." "What!" "Well, your father has passed away." "What do I care?" "Well he was your father; now that he has passed away we need help to bury him and your mother isn't in a position to help." "Listen I don't know how you got this number but do me a favor and lose it." He barked into the phone and ends the call. "So my old man is dead; well he can rot in hell for all I care." He grabs Gabriel's bike keys and left the house. Jumping on the bike he sped down the driveway way closing the gate behind him.

Alex speed down the road like a bat out of hell. They could all go to hell; he thought; all of them. Gabriel and his little toilet cleaner; his parents for treating him like shit all his life; his so call friends; they could all just go to hell. He felt when the front wheel twists. Snapping out of his thoughts he tried to steady the bike but he had hit a patch of gravel and the bike was out of control. He tried desperately to control the bike but couldn't. The front-wheel hits a rock and sends him flying without a helmet.

Gabriel had just left the plaza when his phone rang. "Hello." "Hello, Mr. Maxwell?" 'Yes." The engagement ring you order from us is ready." "Okay, I'm on my way thanks." Diane was at home waiting for him in his hot tub; today is the perfect day to propose to her. He had been in love with Diane for months but was too stubborn to admit it but he couldn't deny it anymore; she completes him and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

The taxi came to a stop at her gate; she paid the driver, collect her change, and step from the car. She walks slowly to her door; took the spare key that she kept under the flower pot; open her door and went inside. She had managed to hold in her tears while she was in the taxi but as she closes her door she started to cry again. She strips the clothes from her body ran into the bathroom and starts scrubbing herself. Gabriel's best friend just tried to rape her; he said that Gabriel sends him to have his way with her, but that just couldn't be true; could it? And what's this about Gabriel being a millionaire; she knew he had money but a Multi-millionaire; he never said he was a millionaire; was he really playing her? She couldn't go through this again; not after what she had been through with Kevin.

Did Gabriel really set her up to be raped by his best friend? It can't be true; he was so loving so caring and gentle; this can't be true; she was in love with this guy; she loves him and she was sure he felt the same way. Could she be this wrong about him? It couldn't be true; it just couldn't be true. Still shaking from shock Diane got dressed and crawl onto the bed; laying on her side she let her tears fall freely down her face.

Gabriel examines the ring. "This is excellent I love it." "I'm glad you approve." "I do," Gabriel said smiling. "You haven't gotten to that part yet sir." The jeweler said laughing as Gabriel hand him his master card. Gabriel put the ring in his coat pocket and takes out his phone and dials Diane's number; her phone rang and went to voice mail. "Hi, beautiful still enjoying the hot tub or off exploring somewhere. I'm running a little late but I promise to make it up to you. I'll be home soon bye." "Here you go, sir." The jeweler said handing him the receipt and the master card. "Thanks for doing business with us." "The pleasure was all mine," Gabriel said and left.

On his way to Gabriel's house Mike check his watch, it was 3.00 pm damn it's just three, and the road is already jammed up. Mike thought to himself. What's causing all this traffic? At the pace this traffic is moving I May not get there till tomorrow, he mumbled to himself. After about twenty minutes he finally realized what was causing the traffic. There was a very bad accident. The mangled bike was lying at the side of the road. Wow; Mike said wincing; that rider couldn't possibly have survived. But something about the bike looked familiar. He kept looking at it, and then it hit him like a ton of bricks. "O dear God, that's Prince's bike." He stops his car and jump out then began running towards the ambulance, just in time to see them putting him in the back. "Prince! Prince!" A policeman stops him. "That's my friend please I have to see him." "And he needs to get to the hospital." The policeman said still holding him back. "Listen your friend had a horrible accident and he's in very bad condition, if you want to see him I suggest you get to the university hospital." Mike ran back to his car, turned around, and followed the ambulance, on his way he calls Justin. Gabriel had tried Diane's phone a few more times and now he was getting worried so he decides to see if any of the guys were near his house so he calls Justin. "Hey, Justin." "Holy shit Prince?" "Yes, why do you sound so surprised?" "Wait, holy Christ, Mike just call me, he said that you were in a very bad accident and you were on your way to the hospital. He was sure that it was your bike but if you weren't the one riding then." "Bloody hell, Alex!" They both said in unison. "which hospital is he at?" Gabriel asks. "University." "I'm on my way." Turning the vehicle around Gabriel head in the direction of the hospital. He tried calling Diane again but still got no answer he then tried the house phone and still no answer so he left a message on her cell. "Come on baby where are you. Listen Alex had an accident; I'm on my way to the hospital right now. I'm sorry for leaving you so long. Babe, please call me when you get this."