Chapter 23

And I know that Gabriel said he'll pay me any amount I want but it feels so wrong to accept that offer. It's like I'm taking advantage of Ardens misfortunes to gain for myself and that's just something I can't do. So I'll just let it be until they no longer require my help and after that I'll disappear without taking the money. 

I had just finished chopping up all the different vegetables and setting up the ingredients when there was a knock on my door. Immediately my heart started racing as I wondered who it was. And whether it was HIM. If it was then I wasn't going to open up, I'd just pretend I'm not home and wait till he got tired and left. He's attractive and any other woman would die to have him but the truth is that he just scares me. Him and the aura of irresistible seductiveness that he carries around with him. 

I rinse my hands and wipe them on the towel I have draped on my shoulder. Then I slowly walk towards the door and stand by it for a while. There is another knock but I'm too nervous to answer. So I just wait.. and wait. Until finally I hear Cassie's voice on the other side as she calls out my name. And I immediately unlock and open up the door. 

" took you long enough, I've been standing here forever, " she said as she walked past me and into my apartment. 

" Sorry, I was a little busy, "

" Oh, are you cooking? What are you making? " she headed straight to the kitchen and started looking around, taking off the lid of one pot and peering inside before heading to the next and doing the same. 

" I'm just making some-"

" Never mind that, tell me how it went with the two hotties! I've been waiting all day to hear about it... did you finally do it? Come on girl, spill it out, " she was talking so fast I barely heard a thing. 

And to answer her question, I lifted up my hand and showed her the ring. She squeaked as she jumped up and down, one would have thought she actually believed it was for real. 

" And it's such a pretty ring, oh God this is so exciting, "

I shook my head as I went back to my cooking. 

" I already told you that none of it is true, it's just all a lie so that Arden doesn't have to marry someone he doesn't love. "

" But still, it's so exciting! And you told me last night that he wants you to move in, sooo.... are you done packing or do you need help? " she asked as she playfully nudged my arm with her elbow. Her eyes twinkling. I chuckled as I stirred my stew, then I told her that I had said no to the offer. She looked at me like I had gone completely crazy. 

" But why would you say no? "

" Because, I can't just go and live with two men who I know nothing about, "

" But they aren't just men, you basically just married one of them and you told me that they're both nice. "

Well that was before one of them kissed me. I still can't bring myself to forget about that. Even my distraction isn't working! 

" That has nothing to do with it. It's a question of morals and what's ethically correct. "

She frowned. Then she slapped a hand on her forehead and shook her head. Huffing out a breath she turned to me and asked me how I could turn down such an offer. And immediately after she noticed the new necklaces around my neck and gasped.

" Did Arden give that to you?... it's so beautiful! "

I had completely forgotten about that. And I wonder if I was supposed to give it back after all the photos were taken. And now that I was thinking about it I also started thinking about what went on in the washroom. Just the thought makes me blush and it's so obvious that Cassie clearly notices it .

" Okay, what are you blushing about? And don't say it's nothing because I won't believe you ! "

Reaching out she touches the pendant on the necklace. And comments about it being an actual diamond, and that I would probably be able to buy myself a brand new house if I sold it. 

" Let me guess, you're thinking about Arden aren't you? This is a basic stereotype love story, " she says afterwards. Taking a piece of carrot and popping it into her mouth. Which reminds me that I didn't offer her anything to drink so I pour her a glass of juice and some cookies I bought from a girl scout outside the building. 

" What do you mean? " I ask. Curious to find out what she's talking about and why she seems so sure that it's Arden I'm thinking about. 

" I mean, this is classic textbook love. He married you out of necessity, but then you two start spending time together and then boom!.. you're in love, just like that. " she sounds so convinced that I can't help but laugh. But if only she knew how wrong she was. Arden is nice but I think of him as nothing more than a friend. Gabriel on the other hand is a completely different story. One I have to forget about. 

" So, what did Arden do or say to make you blush so much? " she insisted and I assured her that he didn't do anything. Though she refused to believe me. And she must have been the most persistent human being I'd ever met. She refused to let the matter go and literally followed my every small move while repeatedly asking me right next to my ear. Over and over until almost ten minutes later, I gave in and somehow just spit it out. 

" Gabriel kissed me! " I squeezed my eyes shut. Unable to imagine that I'd  just said that out loud and to another human being. Then I opened them to find Cassie staring at me with wide eyes. 

" What? " she asked as held me by my shoulders and started vigorously shaking me. 

" Are you serious? And why didn't you start with that very urgent piece of info when I walked in here? "

I tried to pass it off as if it was no big deal. But it was a big deal, a very big.... a HUGE deal! One I was still having trouble coming to terms with. Cassie made me sit down and actually start from scratch. She wanted to hear everything that had happened from the second I arrived at the Germaine Building to the second I came home and decided to cook. 

At first I decided that I was just going to lie. It's not something I usually do but that seemed like an understandable moment to do so. But then I started talking and I realised that I actually WANTED to tell someone everything that had happened. And Cassie had vowed not to ever mention anything I told her to anyone else. So despite of how embarrassing it was, I told her everything she wanted to know. And she very carefully listened, gasping and dramatically fanning her face throughout the entire time. 

" God! You are so damn lucky and you don't even realise it, " 

I didn't see the luck she was referring to. She had told me herself that Gabriel was a certified player who used women like disposable objects. But all Cassie could comprehend at the moment was that the famous and renowned Gabriel Germaine had kissed me. I didn't however tell her that it was my first kiss. I found that part too embarrassing to say out loud. Which was odd since I'd literally told Gabriel. 

" Well, it's great that they're paying you for this. Especially now that dad is planning on selling the store. "

Well that was news to me. I turned to her with a completely clueless and shocked look. 

" Wait, didnt he tell you? " she asked and I shook my head. I knew nothing about this and I hoped it wasn't true because then that would mean that I'd be completely jobless. 

" Oh, well it's true. Some guy offered to buy it for like five times its original worth! Can you believe it? " 

Of course I couldn't. I couldn't believe that I'd be jobless soon. But maybe that wasn't true, maybe the new owner would let me stay there and keep working. 

" Dad told me that the guy is planning on turning it into a some fancy nightclub. He even bought the entire land surrounding the store. "

Well that just put a dumper on my optimistic expectations. Unless I want to work in an unconstructed nightclub, which I don't, then I officially don't have a job. 

" But who is this guy? " 

She shrugged and rolled her eyes. 

" I don't know. Some big shot entrepreneur who prefers to remain anonymous. He sent his agent over to settle the deal. And dad just couldn't refuse, he loves the store and all but he thinks it's time to finally move on. Especially with his illness. "