Chapter 11

Gabriel's POV

Christ these things are boring! 

If it weren't for the fact that i got to see a whole lot of people admiring my work then I would have never attended them. But I can never bring myself to pass off the chance of seeing people wishing that they had even a tiny bit of the amount of skill I possess. That's not bragging, it's simply self awareness.

I'm always looking forward to the end. When I get to go home with one hell of a sexy lady. Although somehow I always end up picking the one with the daddy issues. The turn side is that they are the most willing. And flexible as well. I've done some things in bed that I'm certain an average human being can't. 

Spotting a possible mark, I slowly approach her. Short brown hair, long legs and an ample amount of cleavage. Just what I need to get through the night. 

I just hope she won't end up telling me about her dog like the last girl I talked to. Some stupid chihuahua, which according to me aren't dogs at all. 

They're more like overgrown mice with blow drys.

And speaking of rodents! Where on earth is Arden. He is the most unreliable son of a bitch I've ever met. Last time I saw him, he was taking credit for one of my paintings, saying he was the one that gave me the inspiration to draw it. And now he's nowhere to be seen. That imbecile! I need him to help me lure the girls in. Not that I need any help, I am perfectly capable of getting a girl to sleep with me without an issue. 

It's just always so much more fun when Arden joins in. Not for the sex, we ended our threesomes back in highschool. But I always need him to act like the jerk with the girl, then I'd sweep in and save her from him. It's worked out great so far. 

And unless he's banging into someone in the restroom, he better be planning to come back soon. 

I make my way to the girl, not initiating conversation first. It's always good to wait a few seconds. Give her enough time to check me out from the corner of her eye then pretend she hadn't even noticed me standing there. She's looking at a painting. Not one of mine, but it's still nice -ish. 

" Do you fancy the piece? " I finally ask. She acts all startled by my " unnoticed " presence. That's textbook flirting if I've ever seen any. 

" Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. "

" Oh, that's okay.. what was your question again? "

Now she's acting like she hadn't heard me. Classic. 

" The painting. Do you like it? " 

She smiles, looking back at it. A glass of champagne in her hand. A clutch in the other. 

" I do. It's definitely eye-catching. "

I can judge from her fake diamond earrings and cheap quality nail polish that she came here as either someone's escort, or a plus one of some old rich guy that's about to die and she's sticking around for what he'll leave behind. And that is not a territory I want to cross so after a nice two minute chat, I very politely excuse myself. Realising that Arden is still nowhere to be seen. This is strange, he had promised to stick around for the entire thing. And if he was going to leave he would have informed me, regardless of what it was he was going to do. 

Maybe he's still worried about being sold off. That issue really has him caught in its ugly claws. He isn't nearly as jovial as he usually is. And I can understand him. If I were in his place I would have probably told my parents to fuck the fucking hell off. But that's because unlike Arden, I couldn't give a dying care about what my parents want. 

I decide to go and look for him if he isn't back in the next twenty minutes. But for now, I have to play host to all my guests. I spot my lawyer and his pregnant girlfriend a few feet away and decide to go say hi. 

" Diaz! " I say as I pat his back from behind. He turns around with a broad smile. So does his girlfriend whose name I didn't care enough to remember. 

" Isn't this a surprise, I've been sending you invitations for the past three years and this is literally the first time you've shown up. " 

" What can I say, I'm a busy guy, "

He was. Miguel Diaz is the second best lawyer in the entire state. Which is exactly why I hired him. He turned to his blonde girlfriend introduced her. 

" This is Dahlia, my fiancé. "

I raise my brows. Fiancé? Yet another perfectly attractive man bites the dust. Now all he's going to worry about is changing diapers and making sure that there are no wet towels on the bathroom floor. Changing my somewhat shocked expression, I shake the females hand. On the plus side, at least she's hot. 

" So, Dahlia, how far along are you? "

" Three months. "

" Isn't that brilliant! You must be very excited to welcome the little..." 

Thing? What name can be used to refer to those mini-sized infants?

She chuckled, placing a hand on her belly. 

" We are, very much so, " Miguel said as he placed his hand on hers. I congratulated them, then we talked about several things before I saw Arden coming from the back. Relieved that he was still around, I excused myself from Miguel's company and went over to him. 

" Just where were you? " I ask as he takes a glass from one of the waiters and gulps down the entire drink. 

" Why? what happened mom? " he joked and I shook my head. Realising that he smelt like disinfectant. Just what had he been up to? I shrug the matter off and decide to concentrate on my event. I have an new textile business in the making and I've spotted a number of potential investors. What can i say? I'm like the Gabe of all trades. So if you happen to buy any piece of clothing with a logo of two interlocking G's then you should be aware that you just served to feed my ego by giving me your money. 

I drag Arden along with me to a couple of the possible investors. But throughout the entire time I can sense that there's something off about him. It's like he's in another world of his own. 

So I pull him aside afterwards and ask. Fearing that I might have underestimated just how much the matter he was dealing with affected him. But I would never had guessed what he had to say. 

" I found my last pick. " he clearly said before twirling the drink in his hand and looking up at me to gauge my reaction. 

" Arden, I already told you that my guests are off limits, " 

He smirked, first time I've seen him do so all night. And I could already tell that he had something up his sleeves. 

" Who said anything about a guest? " he asked. Then he turned me around, his concentration straight ahead.

" I pick.... her, " he pointed to the distance. And when I followed his gaze, I wondered what he meant at first. There wasn't anyone there apart from some waitress, then the waitress turned towards us and it was like a punch to my gut. It didn't take more than a second for the realization to sink in. It was her. I blinked several times to confirm. She had her head bowed but I could very clearly tell. Afterall, I've been fantasizing about her for the past freaking month. 

" Layla, " Arden muttered. I frowned, my eyes narrowing as I continued to stare at her. And as if she could sense me, she looked up and straight at me. And every other thought I had disappeared. 

It truly was her.... my lovely highway girl. And she was even prettier than I recalled. And now, she was also possibly Ardens future fake wife. 

God! How very entertaining life was. It never failed to surprise me.