Chapter 23 - Professional Tease(1)

Valerie glanced around her apartment, it was seven-thirty in the morning, Gabriel would arrive in thirty minutes to pick her up like usual. She took the day off so she could focus on Rachel, her sister would arrive around one in the afternoon. She needed to convince Gabriel about going out Friday night and she still needed to see Ethan.

Ethan didn't come to the office after he told her he needed to talk to Tiffany. No one but Gabriel had seen him since. Gabriel told her Ethan was doing fine, he didn't tell her anything else. He didn't mention Tiffany to her either which made her curious. Did Ethan and Tiffany break-up or not? She needed to find out quick.

Reaching for her travel mug she swiped away Gabriel's call and made her way downstairs, heading to the awaiting shiny car. Climbing inside she closed the door and handed her travel mug to Gabriel like usual. He held it while she placed her bag down by her foot and strapped her seatbelt on.

"You sure about this?" Gabriel asked, handing back her travel mug.

"Thanks." She trailed her eyes up to his, "Mom talked to Rachel when she went back home and Rachel made life changing decisions. I think that I should let go of my anger and mend things with my sister."

"Rachel made life changing decisions?" Gabriel didn't sound too keen about that, "What does that mean? She decided not to be a meddling bitch anymore?"

Valerie wanted to look offended, but she couldn't take offence. Rachel had been a meddling bitch and she was aware that her boyfriend always spoke his mind, not concealing how he felt at all. That didn't mean the man didn't play games, he did. He was manipulative and did whatever he needed to get what he wanted. It was Gabriel who made her realize that only people who took charge didn't end up getting stabbed in the back.

"She decided to break off her engagement." Valerie sipped her coffee, letting Gabriel take it all in before she continued, "Rachel is trying, I acknowledge that and figured I should meet her half way."

"So your sister is staying the weekend." Gabriel concluded.

"Yes, she is." Valerie shifted, facing her boyfriend fully, "I'm cooking dinner tonight so if it's not too much to ask I was hoping you'd come over and have dinner with me and my sister."

Gabriel frowned, "Valerie, there is no need for you to sound so afraid. I'll come over and be on my best behavior." He reached for his phone, "I just need to cancel my plans with Ethan, I was going over to his place to keep him company-"

Valerie took his phone from him and swiped to call Ethan, she held up a finger when Gabriel wanted to protest.

"Hi Ethan, it's Valerie." She giggled when he told her he got it, "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay." He told her, "You took hostage of Gabe's phone?"

"That I did." She smirked at Gabriel which made him cock an eyebrow at her, "I'm cooking dinner tonight and Gabriel is coming over. I was hoping you'd come over as well."

"You're cooking dinner?" Ethan asked to verify.

"I am. I was thinking spicy homemade pizza and of course wine. Lots of it."

"Some of us are still heading to the office Friday morning." Gabriel reminded her.

Ethan was staying home for the week, that meant that lots of wine was no problem to him. She, however, only took this Thursday off and decided to head to the office together with Gabriel Friday, accompanying him on his meetings with clients. Lots of wine wouldn't work for them. Friday night she'd go all out, giving Gabriel the time of his life while Rachel worked her magic with Ethan.

"Okay, homemade pizza and SOME wine." Valerie muttered to Ethan.

Ethan chuckled, the quiet sound made her smile as well.

"Sounds good to me. Let Gabe pick me up after work."

"Sure thing. See you tonight."

Valerie ended the call and handed the phone to Gabriel. She noticed how he became distant, he behaved the same way as when Tiffany threatened him. She couldn't help but to wonder if Tiffany told Gabriel to change Ethan's mind. It would piss her off if Gabriel did intend to mend things between Ethan and Tiffany.

"What's with that look?" She asked him, "Ethan is coming over for dinner, that's a good thing. Him going out of the house means he isn't drowning in emotional pain over whatever is going on."

Gabriel still didn't look too pleased as he finally informed her about his friend's situation, "Ethan told Tiffany to pack her things and get out. He hasn't been coming to the office, because he needs to settle in. They've been dating since high school, it's a big change no longer living together."

It didn't sound like Ethan told Gabriel about her participation in it all. She figured Ethan confronted Tiffany, letting the woman think he was the one who overheard the conversation which would force her into speaking the truth. Whatever Tiffany told him must have been something which he didn't like since he told Tiffany to get out.

"Ethan wouldn't make that decision if whatever Tiffany has done wasn't serious."

"True." Gabriel let out a tired sigh, "Ethan isn't the kind of guy to make rash decisions like that."

Gabriel still wasn't letting anything go, she could only conclude he kept his tongue because the man didn't want her to know about his relationship with Tiffany. She couldn't figure out if it was to spare her feelings or that he was protecting the woman. Either way, she didn't like it at all.

"It must be tough on him so I want tonight's dinner to be relaxed. So he can just eat comfort food while being surrounded by good company."

Gabriel smirked at her, "You're good company." He told her, "I don't know about your sister though."

"Rachel is very sociable, she won't pour salt into his wounds if that's what you're concerned about. Her anger was always focused on me, so if I can let things go, you should let it go as well."

He sighed, his eyes much softer than a minute ago while a small smile spread across his face. He was slightly warming up to the idea. She couldn't expect him to be okay with everything she planned, she just had to make sure she kept up the act like it was all coincidence. If the airhead Tiffany could do it, she should be able to do it as well.

"Okay. Tonight, dinner at your place together with your sister and Ethan." He reached for her travel mug and gulped down the remaining hot liquid, "I'm game."

She smiled, "Good."

***

Gabriel let Valerie use his car to pick up her sister from the airport, it didn't faze her anymore just how easy things fell into place with them. Stepping out of the shiny car Valerie watched as her sister strolled her way, looking all fabulous. Rachel wore a floral flowy pale blue dress, off the shoulders with thin strips keeping it up. Her chocolate locks shined bright in the sun, reddish highlights making it look more interesting. Rachel pushed her shades upon her head, her red painted lips curling up to a smile.

"Valerie."

Valerie returned the smile, "Rachel." She greeted back, "Let's put your luggage in the trunk and do some grocery shopping. Ethan and Gabriel are coming over for dinner." Once her sister's luggage was safely put away they climbed inside the car and headed out to do some shopping, "Gabriel is skeptical so you should prepare yourself mentally."

Valerie put the privacy screen up, not wanting the driver to catch on their conversation. She doubted the older man would blab, but she was being careful. Tiffany should have done the same when she threatened Gabriel to only have eyes for her.

"Got it." Rachel flickered her eyes to her, "How should I behave? You mentioned the ex was fake overly kind."

"You shouldn't show you have an interest in Ethan. We're going to focus on being friendly. When they do agree to go out Friday night you get your chance to get close to him. I'll distract Gabriel."

Rachel understood without her having to go into details, "I understand. So what are you making tonight?"

Valerie grinned, "Pizza and wine, just comfort food, you know."

Rachel raised an eyebrow at her, "Pizza is comfort food."

"It is!" Valerie told her sister, "And it's easy to eat while watching a movie and chatting away with friends." Her words more serious than a minute ago, "Ethan is not close to his family, instead he focuses on his friends. If you do want to get together with him you should get used to having his friends over, a lot."

"If they're as charming as Gabriel Starr I wouldn't mind at all."

She knew her sister was joking, but she couldn't laugh at that joke. It was Rachel who ruined things between Gabriel and her, it was also Rachel who needed to mend things between them. Gabriel could become an obstacle in her relationship, Rachel also needed to be aware of that.

"If Gabriel hates your guts you'll never be able to start anything with Ethan. The man will rely even more on his friend now that Tiffany broke his trust."

"I'll try and make Gabriel Starr forgive me for the stunt I pulled."

It was mature of Rachel to admit that it was her who was wrong at the time. Her behavior was more tolerable now that Rachel wasn't screaming in her face to get her point across. There was hope for them yet. If Rachel did manage to get Ethan to like her they'd be spending a lot of time together considering Ethan and Gabriel were like brothers. Their situation was an odd one, it wasn't something she wanted to overthink, it would drive her crazy.