AUDREY
Charles had called me five times already since morning, according to the call logs. I finally answered.
“Charles?” I looked up at Gabriel, whose eyebrow shot up.
“Audrey, I’m glad you finally answered,” he sounded somewhat relieved.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Listen, someone suddenly came here two days ago about your house. He said he’d be willing to pay double the price you loaned, which is pretty strange to me. Do you know about this? I haven’t told anyone about it.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“The name is Coulson Stark. I called to ask you if you know about this because I can’t think of anything else, but you told me you work for Stark Apparel. What’s the meaning of this, Audrey?”
Coulson? Did he know about this too? I clenched my fist. I couldn’t freaking believe this. “Charles, can I get back to you about this later?”
“Wait, but you know this, right?”
“Somehow,” I answered. “I’ll just need to check on something, and I will call you back, okay?”
“Sure.” He sighed. “Audrey, if there’s any way that you are selling this house to someone else—”
“I’m not selling it, Charles. I won’t, okay? You can relax.” I glanced up at Gabriel again, whose expression turned furious while tapping his fingers on the table.
“Fine. Fine. I believe you, of course.” I heard his smile. “I’m going to fly to New York in two weeks. I hope to meet you there then and talk about your house.”
“Of course. I’m just around. Um, Charles? I’m actually at dinner right now—” I abruptly paused as I watched Gabriel spring up and toss the napkin on the table. “Gabriel? Gabriel!” I called, but he ignored me and walked away.
“Gabriel? Are you with someone, Audrey?” Charles asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry, Charles. I have to hang up.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I’m sorry I didn’t know. I was just too excited to call you. Enjoy your dinner.”
“Thanks. Bye.” I hung up, and soon the call dropped. I went to the living room to find Gabriel, and he was standing by the window, watching the night sky of Central Park.
“Why did you walk out on me? You’re not done with dinner yet.”
“You were occupied.” He looked at me. “What is he calling you about?” he ignored my question, answering me with another one.
“Charles? It’s about the house. Wait a minute. I should be the one demanding an answer right now.”
His eyebrows knitted together. The tension between us was palpable. However, Gabriel seemed to have felt it, and he brought me to his arms and cupped my face between his palms. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have walked out on you, but this friend ruined my mood.”
“We were just talking, not more than a minute, Gabriel,” I pointed.
“I know, angel. I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around my body and kissed my shoulder. “But I want all your attention when you’re with me.”
“You have it all night.”
He nodded. “Let’s finish our dinner, or would you like something else while we talk? I know you have a lot to ask, and I’d be more willing to answer it if I can, but I expect the same thing from you.”
I nodded. “I’m fine. Maybe a dessert?”
“I’ll rather have you for dessert,” he whispered in my ear, and the sounds he made penetrated deep down my core. “Wait for me on the couch.” Gabriel released me and strode back to the dining room.
I opened my eyes and almost stumbled but leaned against the window for support.
***
The soft acoustic playlist continued to play on as I rested my head on Gabriel’s chest, curled into one piece in his arms as he tenderly stroked my hair. We were like that for a couple of minutes in tranquil silence.
“Darling, would you like me to show you around?” he whispered.
For a non-British lad, the endearment came from his mouth flawlessly. Darling, oh, how lovely to hear. I loved what he had been calling me, in addition to Angel.
I sprang up and looked into his face. I bit my lower lips, smiling. “Show me the paintings.”
He cocked his head to the side and smirked. He reached out his hand to my face and caressed my cheek. “I’m glad you’re trying to look at the bigger picture. Are you finally having an interest?”
“I’m more interested in what fascinates you. I’m very curious,” I teased.
He chuckled deliciously. He stepped out off the couch and offered his hand to me, so I held on to his palm.
We took the staircase upstairs and walked past his spacious bedroom, and then there was this other passage towards an ebony wood door.
Gabriel’s house never ceased to amaze me. The room he brought me turned into another world. Different kinds of art pieces and canvases hang on the wall, and some are inclined on the floor, mostly the bigger ones. But besides that, the room seemed to be like his library, with hundreds of books behind a mahogany desk.
But there was one thing that was too loud not to notice. It was a magnificent sculptured ship and a dragon head tinted with gold and rosewood. The art was carved on half the wall when I spun back.
“Gabriel, it’s beautiful!” I mouthed in awe.
“The Voyage of Dawn Treader, it is called,” Gabriel informed, appearing behind me and slipping his arms around my waist.
“King Caspian X’s ship,” I said breathlessly.
He chuckled between my hair and ear. “You know stuff.”
“Of course. The Chronicles of Narnia is one of my favorite books.” I turned around so I could see his gorgeous face. “It’s very beautiful, Gabriel. Thank you for showing it to me. Who made it?”
“A brilliant carver artist, Maurizio Ricci. I met him in Rome two years ago and saw some of his artworks, and he sold me the Treader,” he explained. “Come, I’ll show you another one that’s one of my favorites…”