Chapter 99

LAYLA'S POV

" But why?" I asked Arden once he told me the news. I couldn't believe he was leaving again,and I was scared that he might want him to go with him. I didn't think I could do that. These days I felt more and more worse about the fact that we had lied in the first place. But I was also grateful because otherwise I wouldn't have ever met Gabriel..and Arden too. 

" Just some family business, "

" Is it something bad?" 

He really didn't look good, the Arden I was used to was always smiling, cheery. And he liked to just randomly crack jokes. This one looked tired and worn out. His dark hair was falling over the green of his eyes, covering the lovely shade, and I had a feeling it was intentional. 

" Nah, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. But I have to be there because I know more about it than anyone else. "

I was curious and in that moment I really wanted to ask him what he did. It had to be something complicated. Or maybe it was just one of the many companies his family owned, Cassie had mentioned something of the sort to me, that just like Gabriel, Arden's family liked to tip their toes into a variety of things. 

" Okay, " I was seated cross legged on my bed, my blanket over my legs because I had slept in Gabriel's t-shirt. I couldn't even remember how I got into it. Arden had brought me a mug of coffee and I held it cradled in both hands

" It's really late, are you on leave or something?" He asked me and I parted my lips as I struggled to find something to tell him. I couldn't tell him the truth,even if he already knew about Gabriel and I. Which was yet another subject I hoped he wouldn't bring up because it would be way too uncomfortable for me. 

" Not really, it's just, ummm.."

" You're scared because the pregnant blonde caught you kissing Gabriel?" he casually asked and my face fell. It sounded like he was stalking us. Because how else would he know such a thing. He laughed on seeing my expression, but it was a bland laugh. Arden's laughs were usually deep, sometimes a little sarcastic. That laugh was as plain as I'd ever heard it. 

" Yeah, after hiding your little relationship from me Gabriel resolved to telling me everything that goes on..." My eyes widened and he shook his head. 

" Well, not everything everything, just the basic stuff. "

" Oh, " I hang my head. He glanced at his watch and winced. 

" Fuck! I'm officially late, the pilot texted me fifteen minutes ago. " He said, then he came over to the bed and kissed my cheek, a quick peck before he started walking away. But before he did, he turned and asked me to go back to work. 

" Quit letting the fear control you, if it doesn't go well at least you tried. Plus you have us, just tell us where you wanna work and we'll take care of it, " were his exact words before he dashed out. 

I finally understood why he and Gabriel got along so well. Their mentality was based in getting exactly what they wanted using their fame and wealth. A fact that I later on confirmed when I walked into a trumpet in the living room later on. By that point I was so used to his antiques that I wasn't even shocked. As I had come to realize, Gabriel's motto in life was that he either got what he wanted or he bought the establishment that housed what he wanted. 

I refilled my coffee and then I wondered what to do. I had never been that alone in the house, and I had already cooked and there was food in the fridge. I couldn't cook more because it would end up going to waste, especially with Arden gone. His food schedule included alcohol, a little more alcohol...and then for supper he'd choose to be adventurous and have even more alcohol. I couldn't even handle a large sip. 

Cassie was probably busy, and despite his wonderful words of advice, Arden hadn't managed to convince me to go back to work. I realized that without Gabriel, my life was the same absolute bore it had been before I met him. I had nothing to do, then I recalled the books he had bought for me and decided to read one. But I had no clue where he had kept them. I took my coffee and went back to my room, I looked around for a while but didn't find them. They weren't in the living room either. I figured that they must have been in his room, where I spent an unhealthy amount of time searching. His wardrobe was intimidating. I felt like I was in a clothes store, with the countless watches and sunglasses pit on display. And the shoes, half of which still seemed new. 

After snooping around and confirming that my books weren't in there either, I left. But then I passed by this room which I realized I had never been to before. I had always assumed it was a spare bedroom but I really didn't know for sure. And I also knew that there was no way my books could be in there but I was curious and decided to check just in case. 

I held the doorknob and turned it slightly, relieved when I realized the room wasn't locked. So I opened it up all the way and stepped in. It was really dark, darker than one would expect it to be, so I searched around until I found a light switch. And when I flipped it on and got accustomed to the light, I gasped, taking a small step back. 

It must have been where Gabriel painted. His artwork filled the walls, the entire space was flooded with his pieces. But it was the pieces themselves that had my eyes widening as I glanced around. 

They were expertly painted, and I'm certain they must have taken time to complete, but they seriously creeped me out. 

I looked around and I didn't catch even a tiny trace of color. Everything was painted in black, and they reminded me of that one particular painting in his room which had somehow disappeared after I saw it. 

I moved closer, it was either Gabriel has an affinity for gothic art or there was something seriously troubling him and he didn't know how to express it except through his art. And if that was the case then Gabriel was in serious pain. My eyes landed on one particular painting, the brush strokes were exquisite, the black shade he had chosen was intense. It was a boy, a teenager if my guess was correct. I could hardly make him out because it was just darkness in top of darkness but I was able to see the outline of his features, he was seated on a bed, the room was small. It was too small....like the walls were closing in. My hand lifted to my chest, I trailed the boys form until I got to his hand. 

Was that a rope?

I swallowed and nervously looked around. Of course it could be nothing, he was an artist. The paintings didn't have to be related to him in any way. And it was Gabriel we were talking about. He would never! At least not the Gabriel I knew. 

After a while it all became too much and I had to step out of there because my mind was jumping into all these conclusions that didn't sit well with me. I switched off the lights and shut the door behind me. Regretting having gone in there in the first place. I headed to the kitchen because it was the only room where I could think well. There had been a recent painting, it wasn't even done yet. And it was just as dark, which meant that those weren't only from when he was young. I had seen his other paintings, like the ones from the gala. And those had been nothing like the ones in that room. Shaking it off, I blew out a breath and tried to forget about it. But I couldn't. 

💮🌼💮🌼💮

" Sweetheart! I'm home, " I heard Gabriel's voice shout a couple of hours later. Then his footsteps as he walked around, probably searching for me. I was still seated on the bed, feeling a little sore from last night, watching.....I couldn't even remember what was playing in the TV because my mind wasn't there. He finally opened the door and peered inside.

" Feeling lazy today, aren't we?" 

He smiled and walked in, his grey pinstripe suit looked divine on him. He had taken off the jacket and was currently in the shirt and vest. He narrowed his eyes at the TV, trying to find out what I was watching.

" I didn't know you were into these lifestyle reality shows!" he excitedly said, as if he'd just found something great out. 

" I personally hate them, but-- oh! " he cut himself short, his brows arching up and the smile disappearing. I looked up to see some lady as she was getting out of the pool, and because I didn't like his reaction, I reached for the remote and switched it off. 

" I think I met her at a charity event once, " Gabriel said. Then he turned to me after I switched it off and this satisfied expression took over. 

" Possessive much?" He asked and I shrugged. 

" You left without telling me, " I complained. Not believing he had done that, I had hated realizing that he was already gone. 

" I didn't want to wake you, figured you'd be tired. " 

He sat down next to me on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Then he reached for my upper arm and gently gestured for me to move closer, so I moved and snuggled beside him. He wrapped one arm around me while the other sought out my hand and held it in his. I liked how nice he smelt. I unhooked the sunglasses from his vest and studied the elegant frame. 

" Arden left?" He asked and I nodded. He sighed and kissed the top of my head. his hold on me tightening a bit.

" Didn't you get my text? I was expecting to find you showered and ready. "

" Ready for what? My phone died and I still haven't charged it. "

" We're going to Dahlia's. Goodness, my honesty levels have really improved. I was planning on blindfolding you and making you believe it was a romantic surprise. "

His phone buzzed, indicating a message. He took it out and stared at the notification before he threw it aside. 

" In what universe do you use a fucking parrot as a company logo?! I'm definitely firing that crazy individual!" He complained immediately after, but my focus had shifted to something else. I reached out and took his phone, then I turned it on and tried not to smile. Gabriel cursed and snatched it from me. 

" Not a word!" He threatened, throwing me a warning glare, but I couldn't help it. 

" You have me as your wallpaper?" 

I must have sounded like a teenager while saying that. He chose not to reply. Instead he reached for the remote and switched the TV on again. For a second, I swore I saw a blush creep into his features. But he somehow managed to chase it away.

It was a picture of me, leaning against the kitchen counter. I seemed to be thinking about something, probably trying to decide what I would cook. And if I was correct then he had taken it a while ago. 

" Gabriel, " I placed my hand on his cheek, trying to get his attention, but his eyes were focused on the TV screen, some ladies were arguing over only God knows what. 

" That's so sweet, " I said, then I watched as he threw me a quick glance before he looked away again. 

" The phone must have malfunctioned, I don't recall ever setting the photo. I ought to buy another one of these gadgets.." 

I shut him up with a kiss. I didn't want him thinking that what he had done was too much. And it was obvious he didn't want me to mention it, it was making him a little uncomfortable. So I kept quiet about the whole thing and concentrated on the show which had turned hostile, a really nicely dressed lady with lips that were clearly not natural had taken off her heels with the intention of hitting yet another lovely dressed lady. 

" That's right! Get her! She deserves it!" Gabriel suddenly shouted, leaning towards the screen with a devilish smirk on his handsome face. I realized that even if I chose to focus on the wallpaper, he would have ignored me and left me to it. But that was a really huge deal. He saw me each time he switched his phone on. That had to mean something. 

" Come on Pixie! You're seriously going to let her talk to you like that? Oh! She's reaching for the glass... perfect!" He shouted when this girl with a pixie cut poured champagne on another girl. He seemed to really enjoy the drama so I decided to let him, I personally still didn't like the show but as long as he was having fun. It was a strange kind of fun but who cared. 

But even as I sat there, next to him, with a bunch of angry ladies screaming on the TV, my mind found a way to go back to those paintings. I wanted more than anything to be able to bring it up and ask him, but not knowing his reaction made me scared. Since meeting him I had caught glimpses of another version of Gabriel. Like when he thought I liked Arden and he became genuinely mad. Or just the other day when I ended things and he started treating me like I had stolen all his cash or something of the sort. 

What if that was his reaction?

Although I knew what he would have most likely done. The same thing he did to my reaction to the wallpaper. Just push it aside and pretend it wasn't even there to begin with. 

" Hey, " he called out to me and I looked up to find him studying me keenly. 

" What's on that mind of yours this time?" He asked and I smiled and shook my head. Then I told him it was nothing. He seemed to have forgotten about Dahlia's, being too invested in the reality show. And I was glad because I wanted to postpone that for as long as I could. 

I resulted to taking in the sight of him. Wondering what normally went on in that mind of his. He never spoke about himself, about what he was feeling. Then an image of the teenager with a rope in his hand flashed across my mind and I had to ask him something. 

" Gabriel?" 

" Hmm?"

He raised an inquisitive brow and looked at me. His hand still around my wrist, the grip accidentally firmer than he realized. But I didn't bring it up. 

" You're okay, right?" 

He frowned. Then he asked me what I meant. 

" Like, you know. There's nothing wrong? You don't have any... problems?" 

He chuckled and shook his head. 

" I told you not to read too many of those books of yours, " he said before his attention returned to the screen. Then after a while he turned to me again.

" I'm fine. As long as I have you then I'm okay, is that what you wanted to hear?" 

I gave him a weak smile and nodded. But it wasn't what I wanted to hear.