Gabby holds her bag tightly as she storms out of the room as she was so filled with not just hurt but rage as well, she wanted to scream and shout at him more but that would have been of no use as he was not into her as she was into him.
She stops as she finds Bernard standing beside the car waiting for her and for a second it feels a sadness crept in her heart that makes her want to sob as it felt and looked so wrong for someone beside Rare to stand waiting for her.
"You okay?" Bernard asks as he takes a step towards her.
"It would have been so much easier for me to fall in love with you right now or any other male, but it seems so very much wrong" she words it out and he chuckles.
"You are awesome Gabby, you really are but you are the one for me" he confesses as he grabs the bag from her hand.
"How?" she tilts her head as it seems she was not one for anyone else these days.
"I am gay" he shrugs his shoulders and her mouth gapes open.
"Excuse me?"
"I did not ask you to tag along with me for any other reason but to come with me, that's it. Also, any man can see it how much that man you want to be right now loves you...
And, he knows better than anyone of us about his feelings for you, I would love to take you home now, but I know if I took you with me today we will both regret it for the rest of our lives...
Bo gave me a head up how the night would turn out and it did exactly as she predicted, you are too hot headed, and he is too calm and sometimes it's a disadvantage...
And today is sometimes, walk away from him breaking whatever you have with him not breaking yourself Gabby" he smiles as he carries her bag and puts it at the back of his car.
"I have to go fuel in the car and I will come back, if you are still standing here, I will take you back home if not, I am going back home" he states as he gets in the car and she sniffs as she nods her head.
"Good guys are always gay" she states making him laugh.
"And the hot ones are always taken" he comments back winking at her.
********
Ricardo grabs hold of kitty as he walks out of the room and checks out, he sighs as he unbuttons his coat as he waits for his car to come by. He checks the box he had hold on before shaking his head and the cat tries to take it from him, but he puts it away from the cat's reach.
"This is mine" he mumbles to the cat who mewls.
He makes his way towards his car as it arrives, handing the cat to one of his man he orders to take care of it as he opens the door to get in.
"Don't scream" Gabby's voice makes him pause in surprise before he gets in the car.
"You got ditched?" he asks as he takes a seat and asks the driver to drive before he touches a button to pull the shutter so give them some privacy from his men at the front seat.
"I am not worth any man's time" she shrugs her shoulder and he sigh.
"We both know that's not true" he comments as he glances her way.
"Where's kitty?" she asks.
"She is safe"
"I get that she is friendly with your people"
"You do leave her alone at home at times, someone has to feed her"
"You know me so better than myself" she scoffs sarcastically as she looks his way and the unshed tears does not go unnoticed by him.
"I am in no place to lay claim on you Precious so do not go make claims on me" he warns and her lips trembles as she looks out of the window as a tear rolls down her eye.
"You are no longer the same person I once knew, you do not care if I am hurt or not" she accuses, and he takes a deep breath.
"It's taking everything in me to not pull you closer to me to wipe those tears you shed in vain Precious, it's difficult to me to not touch you" he confesses while she sniffs.
"I don't want kitty" she clears her throat.
"Because it's from me?" he questions.
"Yes, and the car you gave me, since we are doing this I would like to get all of my clothes that are in your place returned back to mine" she finalizes, and he shifts so she glances his way to find him taking his coat off.
"That's not going to happen" he speaks, and she narrows her eyes at his way.
*******
"I am sure your wife you be livid if she found some other woman's undergarments tucked inside of your drawers" she growls, and he pulls his phone out before texting, which irritates her.
"Don't ignore me" she warns as she pulls the phone out of his hand.
"I am not, you are just upset and saying things to upset me as well and I refuse to be one" he states as he puts his hand out asking her for his phone.
"Texting someone is more important that this conversation between us?" she asks him and stares at her blankly.
"I hear every single word you said to me last night, this morning and now and I have a clear picture of all of it and adding more phrase is of no use...
Now, my phone" he demands.
"Sometimes, I forget just how heartless and callous you can be"
"Because I am not getting down on my knees for you? I have been with Melissa for years; this engagement and marriage was bound to happen...
We both know that fact and I cannot just cut off everything because you feel insecure I will leave once I marry her...
This is not love you feel but insecurities and I want you to sleep on it, be clear about the fact that do you really love me, love me enough to spend the rest of your life with me...
Think with your head not heart, you are too emotional"
"And you are thinking with your dick as well as behaving as one" she snaps as she throws the phone as his chest and he stares as it falls on his lap.
"One of us has to stay practical, Precious" he points, and she folds her arms.
"Or perhaps on knees giving you a blowjob" she mutters under her breath and he pauses what he was doing to slowly turn his head to stare into her way.
"What did you just say?" he asks raising a brow her way and she turns her head to stare out of the window once again.
"Precious?" he calls when she ignores him.
"I don't want to have any conversation with you right now"
"Turn your face and say those words louder and clearly, the one you muttered under your breath" he commands, and she takes a deep breath and turns to face him as she knew that tone of his.
"I saw you getting a blow from Melissa" she confesses, and he closes his eyes cursing under his breath.
"You were not well-endowed" she peeks at his crotch area and shrugs her shoulder.
"As if you would know" he scoffs as he puts his coat on his lap and she raises her brow at him in challenge and he does not like the way she smirks his way.
*******
"I refuse to have a talk with you that goes below the belt" he informs, and she loses her arms as she shifts to look his way.
"But we both know it was not such case as you asked if my kitty was wet" she teases, and his head jerks her way as his eyes narrows.
"And don't lie saying we were talking about my cat, we both know we were talking not just below the belt but under my skirt" she grins as his jaw ticks a little as he was controlling himself.
"You should focus on Katie's wedding preparation" is his reply and she chuckle shaking her head.
"One you won't get invited at" she snaps.
"I will be busy with my own" he jabs, and she feels the sting on those said words.
"Strange how you are engaged yet drag me around to check for the wedding reception and furniture for your house but not your fiancée" she throws at him.
"It does not matter, who I take at the end it will be my wife's decision what goes n my house and what happens in our wedding"
"Shoot me with a bullet right in my heart instead of stabbing the knife, why don't you?" she asks too upset by his hostility.
"I have known you for more than a decade Precious, so why now?" he questions as he puts his phone away and shift a bit to face her.
"What?" she asks in confusion.
"Why the change of heart now? Why suddenly you do not like the fact I am engaged to be married? Is it because I am not signing the treaty?
Are your brothers behind this change of feelings of yours?" he asks and she frowns.
"Why would you think so?"
"I don't know Precious, you tell me? More than a decade you know me and now you confess you love me, now you start to talk dirty to me...
Now, why now? What's the so different?"
"You think this is fake, my feelings for you?" she asks and he rubs his face tiredly.
"If I break up things with Mel, I am not just walking away from her but the benefits I gain being with her. What do you have to offer Precious?"
"What?" she asks stunned.
"Let's be practical Precious, I am a businessman, everything to me is a deal that should always be of my benefit...
Melissa is bringing a lot on the table for me, I get excess to a venture with Lucero, one of the biggest merchants going in, what do you have for me?
I know your family in and out by now, love is not enough sometimes"
"Why are you talking like this?" she asks as she stares at him in shock.
"This is how I am, this is the cruel reality your family has kept hidden from you all. Marriages are not because of love it for power...
You are too naïve and that is why I love spending my time with you. You make me forget the world I have built for a while"
"Is that how you have seen me all these years? An amusement to you, I just don't know you anymore" she closes her eyes shaking her head.
"So, don't claim you love me when you do not even know me" he breaths as he touches her cheek softly wiping her tears.
"I just want to go back home and be alone and forget all about you" she confesses as he pulls her close to him and drops a kiss on the top of her head.
"You get hurt easily, Precious"
"Please don't talk"
"Look at me" he sighs but she just shakes her head no.
"Please" he breathes near her ear, so she slowly raises her head and he hold her face in his palm joining their forehead staring at each other deeply.
"You are not an amusement to me, every time I leave your side you make me think, you make me re-think of all the different possibilities that was not there, that I fear the most...
Because you bring nothing on the table for me, but yourself. Your complete true self that astounds me beyond my expectations...
A girl who gets excited with the prospect of a sale, who beats down men because he upset someone she cares for, who has the most accepting mind than anyone I know...
Who is loyal to her core, who does not have one ounce of lie on her bone, she is just what she is, the way you see her...
In and out, you are what you are Precious, and that word fits you so perfectly that it shakes the very core of me...
All my life, I have been taught to always be a step ahead of everyone, but you are the one who halts my foot, you make me pause...
And it's a privilege to be your friend but to hear you say you are in love with me, it's an honor I shall forever hold onto proudly...
You just do something to my pride and I want you to hold onto your love for me along with my pride and that is the only thing I have with me that I can give you, for now" he shudders before distancing himself from her.
Gabby holds both of his wrists and pulls him closer to her as she goes to kiss him only to touch the side of his jaw as he turns his head a slight bit.
"No" he whispers, and she stays frozen.
"You don't deserve to be kissed by a man who cannot claim you, Precious. I refuse to let the memory of our first kiss be this way, not when I am engaged to someone else...
You deserve better far better than this. And I will always want best for you and nothing less" he confesses so she nods her head before wrapping her arms around him as he pulls her on his lap.
"I love you so much" she cries hugging him tightly as he rubs her back.
*******
Gabby shudders as the aftermath of her crying subsidies before she clears her throat and shifts a bit on Ricardo's lap.
"What?" he asks pushing her hair away from her face as he hands her a napkin.
"What happens now?" she asks him, and he smiles as he takes the napkin to wipes her tears along with the lipstick smudged on her lips.
"You just focus on Katie's wedding and enjoy your time with your family. I heard the Price weddings are always something to look for" he smiles.
"Yeah, if you like the fact that my dad and uncles bully the groom until the very end of the wedding night" she laughs.
"Hugo can handle them, I am sure"
"Katie is on Uncle Damien's ass for interrupting their dance practice"
"Oh yeah, the dance. So, who are you practicing with, I am sure Bernard will not be so free?" he asks curiously as he pulls few strands of her hair stuck on the button of his shirt.
"You will be shocked to find out" she grins before wincing as he pulls her hair a bit harshly.
"Let's not talk about that then" he groans as he shifts her a bit, so she grabs his shoulder, straddling on his lap as they stare at each other.
"When will I see you again?" she asks.
"You forbid me to come attend Katie's wedding" he reminds as he caresses her cheek.
"Oh, guess you won't be able to see me dance then" she sighs pushing his hand away as she goes to move off him, but he holds her hip putting her on the same spot.
"Your dance?" his eyebrow raises a bit.
"A sexy hot number you will miss if you do not attend it"
"So, am I to expect an invite?" he questions.
"What does it matter, you will be too busy focusing on yours" she teases but their talks come to a halt as the car stops and some taps on their window.
*******
Gabby touches the button to roll the window down as she pokes her head out of find Tyson standing out of the door and he does not look happy seeing her in the car.
"Can you step out?" he asks Gabby who frowns.
"What are you doing here?" she asks as she refuses to leave before she glances at Ricardo.
"You better not be doing anything except sitting on his lap, Gabby" the man warns just as he steps aside, and Nicholson comes in view.
"Get out of the car Gabby" Nicholson orders.
"I do not smell sex" Tyson voices out but both ignore him as they stare at each other.
"What's going on?" she asks him before sighing as Ricardo rolls the window up and unlocks the car door.
"It's nothing, your brother and I have some unfinished business, you go in the house and rest" he smiles as he kisses on the tip of her nose before he opens the door and moves Gabby a bit as they step out.
"Do you want Ty to stay with you?" Nicholson asks his sister who rolls her eyes.
"Unlike you I do not need someone to babysit me Cole and we all know Ty is your babysitter not mine. I am good" she announces as she turns to face Ricardo.
"I will see you around" she smiles as she kisses on his jawline before she steps away from his side but his arms wounds around her waist.
"The least I can do is walk you to the door" he smiles as they both walk away.
"Are you in trouble?" she asks as they halt in front of the door.
"No idea, he just texted, me to see him and I told I was on my way to drop you off home, so guess"
"You two are fine right?" she asks as she glances behind to find Nicholson watching them.
"I will take kitty with me for a while" he states as he kisses on her forehead.
"I did not mean all the things I said, I was just upset"
"I know, still" he smiles as he keeps on kissing on her forehead few more times before she starts to giggle and push on his chest.
"Stop, it's kind of tickles when you do it so many times" she laughs, and he takes a deep breath as he steps away from her.
"Go get in" he asks, and she does the same before he turns to face Nicholson who does not seem one bit happy.