Chapter 84

The Layla I had been before meeting him slowly began taking over. And all I wanted was to stay hidden, to not be there. I had felt somehow comfortable at first , even though the guests flooding in seemed to all be wealthy and stable, nothing at all like me. And once Cassie made me realize that Gabriel had just walked in,I had immediately looked around, desperately trying to find a place I could run off to and disappear.

" Hey, relax will you. Let's go say hi..."I didn't wait for her to finish her statement. Rather I turned around and I saw a small turn that led to the washroom, I had been there earlier. And I as glad that the space was hidden off from view. I didn't care if running away from him made me seem like a coward, he had hurt me! Driving me back to the restaurant without saying a word. All because I said I wouldn't be sleeping with him! It made me feel cheap somehow, like I wasn't valuable. I made it to the turn, there was only a singular stall hidden off. Nothing too fancy, but it would work. I wouldn't be going in there, perhaps I'd just stand there until I got a chance to leave unnoticed. I liked the fact that all I had to do was look around the turn to see what was going on in the party. I looked around for Cassie but she was nowhere to be seen. So I assumed that she had left, I prayed and hoped that she had. I watched as Crystal hurried to welcome Gabriel. He looked at her and I watched as he gave her a subtle smile, but it held none of the charm that he usually portrayed. He glanced around, waved at someone, leaned down to hug Crystal and kept his hand on her shoulder as he talked to her, looking around once more with a look I termed as approval. 

He seemed to be impressed. And had I not known that she was engaged and very much in love with another, I would have probably died of unfiltered jealousy. It was the truth, and I hated it because I was never really jealous of others. I knew I didn't have much but I had always been okay with that. I had been content to some extent. 

Nick went and joined them, I watched as the two males engaged in some kind of staring contest. Neither doing anything, then Gabriel finally stretched his arm and said something that had Crystal laughing and Nick hanging his head, seeming a bit flushed. 

Shaking my head, I looked away and leaned against the wall, right next to the stall's door. 

I had to get out of there, fast. And seeing that Cassie had left, I was completely on my own. 

The next time I went to peer around the wall,my head bumped into someone. My heart immediately started beating as I thought it was Gabriel, but then the black sweatshirt and blue jeans confirmed that it was not him. I looked up and smiled at the stranger. He smiled back. 

That event had way too many hot people as far as I was concerned. This one looked like a Hollywood star. 

" Well hello there," he said, his tone full of humor. 

Embarrassment flooded through me as I placed a hand on the back of my neck to ease the tension there. I also felt my muscles cramping up a bit, probably due to looking around the wall so much. 

I looked at the stranger, found him staring at me and oddly looked away.

" Damn babygirl, are you also an artist coz you just drew me in! " he said.

I frowned, slowly looked up at him and when he saw how horrified I looked, he burst out laughing. 

" I'm kidding. You're clearly taken..." he gestured to the ring on my finger. The one I always forgot I had on, " Unless you're not?" 

He raised a brow and I shook my head quickly, then I nodded on realizing he'd get the wrong idea, then I frowned and just used my words.

" I am. Happily married, " I glanced at the ring. Then I looked up at him again and smiled weakly. He must have thought I was a creep. 

I stood there, uncomfortable, then I realized he probably wanted to use the washroom and I quickly apologized. 

" It's vacant, go ahead. " I was about to walk away when he told me he wasn't there for that.

" Saw you looking around the corner, figured I'd come and make sure you were okay. "

That was actually kinda sweet. But then he must have really thought I was a freak. Especially considering the fact that I wasn't dressed like all the other females in that place. But he didn't seem to be that interested in fitting in. I mean, almost everyone else was dressed in a classy suit while he had on jeans and a sweatshirt.

" I'm okay. "

" Really?" 

" Mhm. " I nodded for emphasis. He didn't seem convinced, then his attention fell towards the exhibition and remained there. 

" Is your husband by any chance a brown haired gentlemen with a death stare?" he asked, his eyes set on something. My own pair widened, and I would have turned to confirm what he meant when Gabriel finally appeared. Cassie was right on his heel. She turned to me and gave me the most apologetic look. I felt very betrayed by her. 

" What are you doing here?" Gabriel demanded. His tone stern and his eyes on the stranger who suddenly seemed very out of place. He didn't seem intimidated though, he just glanced from me to Gabriel before he realized that the longer he stayed there the more he'd be in the middle of something he didn't want to be a part of. 

" Dahlia asked me to help, why? Aren't I allowed to do that? "

" That's not what I mean, what are you doing here? Hiding with..." he cast his eyes on the stranger once more, " him, " he finished off. Sounding slightly irritated. 

" He has a name, just so you know. " the stranger stated, Gabriel gave him the most deadly look but the guy actually seemed to like the little scene that was starting to unfold. 

" Nothing, we were just talking. "

I shouldn't have said that and I wondered why I did. The guy and I had barely talked.I ought to have said that we had just bumped into each other or something. What was wrong with me?!

" Talking about what exactly?"

" What's it to you?" 

He grit his teeth in irritation. Then he closed his eyes and reached for me, I took a step back. 

" Cut the fucking crap Layla!" Gabriel said, then immediately after he gripped strands of his hair with his hand and blew out a breath. He looked completely worked up. 

" I have to stay here for the next half an hour. We leave immediately after that. " 

I scoffed, wondering who he thought he was to just show up and command me like that. What was this guy doing to me? He made me feel like I didn't know who I was anymore. I had secretly wanted his attention, yet now that he was actually giving it to me, I was pushing him away. 

" I can get home by myself. "

I went to leave but he once again refused. 

" Anything the matter here?" I suddenly heard Nick's voice ask. He stood next to Cassie and eyed us all very sternly. 

" Matt?" he called out, and I watched as the stranger shrugged and shook his head. 

" Lover's quarrel, has nothing to do with me. " the stranger who I now identified as Matt said, then he walked away from us and rejoined the party. 

" I'm sorry, " I told Nick. Hating that I had pulled him away from his fiance's wife. I was afraid that we would end up making a scene so I threw Gabriel a stern look that warned him against following me before I vainly tried to walk away. Gabriel held my upper arm and this time he didn't let go. 

" You leave when I leave sweetheart. "

" And why's that? There's nothing between us, remember?" I was so angry I just let whatever was on my mind escape my lips. Not caring that Nick and Cassie were still there and could hear everything we said.

" And whose fault is that I wonder?"

" Let me go!"

" What the fucking hell has gotten into you?!"

" Sense! Finally I see things as they are."

"And how's that?"

Nick stepped closer and put his hand up to stop us. The wave of embarrassment this time was so profound I couldn't look anyone in the eye. Layla Kendrick didn't do that! I didn't go around causing scenes in public!

" I don't know what's going on here but I suggest you resolve it calmly or take it somewhere else, " Nick said. Then he peered around the corner for a second before he glanced back at us. I didn't stare back, Gabriel however had no issues doing so. 

" Crystal put a lot of effort into this, I won't have anything going wrong for her, "

His words just made me feel worse. That was the type of relationship I wanted! And I felt stupid for ever thinking I'd get it from someone as uncaring as Gabriel.

" Karma really is a hideous little bitch, ain't it Hilton?" Gabriel asked, I had no clue what that was about, but Nick looked ready to raise his fist. 

" You're right however, we assure you that we won't make a scene!" he added. Then he let go of my hand and I stared at him strangely. Nick looked at both of us as if he were trying to understand something. Then I watched as the corner of his lips slightly arched in a subtle somehow knowing smile before he gave us a curt nod and returned to the exhibit. Cassie cleared her throat, then she took out her phone and said she'd called an Uber and would text me later. and after giving me the quickest of hugs and smiling at Gabriel, she once again abandoned me. That was not cool. 

" Well go ahead, you were so desperate to run off. Book a fucking plane ticket and rush to the airport why don't you!" Gabriel said, unhidden anger in his tone.