Chapter 85

" I'm not running off, " I told him, getting ready to leave. And in the back of my mind I recalled that a time like that the following day I would no longer be living under the same roof as him. Normally I would have liked that he was paying so much attention to me, especially after that afternoon. But I didn't like that he thought he owned me. That's exactly how he was acting, as if I were a puppet and he was the puppet master. Pulling the strings as per his wish. 

" Yeah, right. " I noted the sarcasm in his statement and ignored it. He stepped back, tucked one hand into his pocket and used the other to stare at his phone, then he looked at me and that rage was still there. It was a look I had never seen on him before. Like he was angry and didn't know what to do with that anger. I actually started to wonder whether it all really had to do with me. It seemed as if there was something else going on with him, but I didn't bother asking because I knew he'd never tell me. His affairs were exclusively his, yet he still expected me to tell him everything that happened in my own life. 

" I have to take an interview to boost this places' image. Don't fucking leave till I'm done!" After he said that he walked away. Leaving me standing there as I wondered what exactly his deal was. I took a few moments to compose myself. Then I wondered how I was going to get home. Calling Arden was out of the question, I didn't want to make things worse than they already were. I wasn't going to wait till Gabriel was done either,I knew how that would go. It would be either of two ways, in the first scenario, we'd either argue or drive in uncomfortable silence, and in the second scenario, he'd seduce me with his stupid charm and make me forget why I ended us in the first place. 

I went back to the exhibition, Gabriel was busy talking to one of the reporters I had spotted earlier. Crystal was with him, some photos were being taken. I guessed that the event itself was a means for the place to get publicized, and Gabriel was there probably because the rich were all connected and so he wanted to help crystal out. 

I spotted Matt in one corner and smiled at him. He nodded in my direction and smiled back. Gabriel was facing away from me and I took it as an opportunity to slip out unnoticed.

I looked around the street, hoping to spot a taxi,and when I didn't I decided to walk until I came across one. And if that still didn't work then have to sacrifice whatever cash I had left and call an Uber as well. Although that would be the last resort. I still had a motel to rent out. I hated how far from the penthouse I was, there was no way I'd be able to walk all the way home. Not unless I wanted to get there the following day, worn out and panting due to fatigue. 

" You are just set on pissing me off, aren't you?!"

I inwardly winced. Stopping on my tracks and slowly turning back. He was standing there with that same look. And I was convinced that me ending things wasn't the only reason he was that way. There was more to it, I knew him well enough to be sure about that. And whatever it was must have really been bothering him if he didn't even have it in him to throw me a smug look or make the usual nasty and sarcastic comments he was so fond of. 

" I'm going home. I'm tired, " I was. I was tired of the constant bickering and the nonstop thoughts that were driving me insane. But most importantly, I was tired of having to look at him and feel the exact depth of my feelings for a guy who could never reciprocate them. 

" And you couldn't wait for twenty bloody minutes? We both know this has nothing to do with exhaustion. You're trying to get away from me!"

His tone was fully accusatory. He started walking towards me, I nervously looked around, noting the people casually walking down the street. 

" What did I do?" he asked with narrowed eyes. sounding curious.

" What?" I wondered what he meant. 

" I mean, I must have done something to make you change your mind so suddenly." 

It was more of what he hadn't done, what he couldn't do. But that information would follow me to my grave. 

" You haven't done anything. I'm just over this entire thing, that's all. "

He scoffed, took the last step to where I was and looked down at me with fierceness in his eyes and a mountain of thoughts in his mind. 

" You really won't tell me?"

" There's nothing to tell. " 

I wanted him to drop it, and to stop looking at me like that. He knew very well what that look did to me and I'm certain he was doing it intentionally. 

" Is it because of sex? Because I've made it clear that I wasn't going to force you into--"

" That's not it. "

" What then?!"

He nearly shouted. He was clearly itching to shake me until I spit it out. He seemed so frustrated I actually felt bad for contributing to his state. 

" Gabriel, please just let this go. "

He shook his head, then he placed his hand around my nape and held on tightly, forcing me to look at him. 

" This isn't fair!" 

What wasn't? My leaving him even though we hadn't been a couple? 

I had nothing to say. And the more I looked at him the closer I got to just wrapping my hands around him and staying still. I honestly wanted a hug, his to be exact. And I wanted him to quit acting the way he was because it was slowly breaking me inside. 

He sighed defeatedly, so did I. 

" I searched for my birth parents, " he finally said. I hadn't expected that.

" Really?" 

He nodded.

" Yap. Apparently, they have three children, one is almost my age. I saw pictures of them from last Christmas on their vacation."

He was avoiding my gaze completely, and in his tone I heard so much pain, more than I had ever thought he was capable of. He blinked repeatedly and let go of me. 

" I came by the restaurant afterwards because..." he shook his head. Letting the statement remain unfinished. I suddenly felt guilty. And I could see he immediately regretted having told me anything.

" Gabriel, "

" You know, you're right. We should end this, it was never a wise idea to begin with. "

He ran a hand over his face and straightened his tie, glancing back towards the shop before he returned his focus on me. His features composed, no emotion in them whatsoever.

" I'll call my driver over, he'll take you home. There's a coffee shop over there just in case you don't care to return to the exhibit. I'll tell him where to get you so you--"

I hugged him. As tightly as I could.

He stopped talking, remaining immobile for a while before he finally hugged me back. That closeness was something I had become addicted to, I loved how gently he held me. Like I mattered to him somehow. He tightened the hug, I heard him as he took in a deep breath and very slowly let it out. Then he drew back just enough to look at me. He was holding so much within him, I saw hurt and fear and pain that he was unwilling to let loose. And I was about to say something that would make him open up when he leaned down and kissed me. 

Every thought I had disappeared after that. It had been too long since I kissed him, and part of me felt as if I needed those kisses to survive. And so when he would have pulled back I held onto his lapels and kept him in place, he made a sound of approval from the back of his throat. Deepening the kiss even further, showing me just how much he had wanted to do that. We were out in public and I knew I ought to be cautious but I didn't care. He needed me, I needed him. 

" Gabriel?" The shocked voice had me instantly pulling away. I turned towards the source and found Dahlia and Miguel standing there, looking at us with unhidden shock on both their faces. 

" Wait..." Dahlia stared at both of us in turn, her mind clearly confused. Why wouldn't it be? Just a couple of weeks before she had had lunch with me and my alleged husband. 

" What are you guys doing?" Miguel asked. 

I had never been in a more complex and uncomfortable position. I wanted to disappear from existence. I looked at Gabriel, he was staring at the couple as if there was nothing shocking about what we had just been doing. Well,at least his uncaring attitude was back.