Friday finally arrived. After what felt like an incredibly long and trying week, the familiar anticipation of the weekend and the rest it promised was palpable in Gabriella. Only, there was one more day to get through at work.
Things had gotten a little better, but not much; people seemed too cowardly to discuss the purported scandal involving Gabriella in her presence, but it didn't stop them from discussing it behind her back. And the pantry had turned into a regular gossip center since she never frequented it. Still, she didn't miss the snatches of gossip upon passing by.
"Just one more day," she told herself, struggling to keep her peace. She wondered what exactly Brandon had planned to fix the mess Archer made. In addition to that, she couldn't stop thinking about her job being at stake. How was she going to make ends meet without a job?
"That's a bridge I'll cross when I come to it," she convinced herself, but her stomach did not stop churning at the thought.
After work, (she got through the day in one piece) she waited in front of her office for Brandon to come pick her up. Wanda, Marci, and her other coworkers stood a little way from her at the bus stop. She kept her eyes fixedly on the road. She didn't need to turn to know that their gazes were on her – she could feel the heat of them on her neck.
Brandon's Acura appeared within seconds – his punctuality always touched her; he never made her wait if he could help it and it showed that he really cared for her. She smiled at him as he got out of the car to get the door for her, as was his habit.
"Evening, my Angel. How was work?" He asked.
"Oh, you know, mostly the same," Gabriella replied, glancing toward her coworkers. They were gazing curiously at her and Brandon, hushed murmurs issuing from their mouths. Brandon noticed it and suddenly wrapped his arms warmly around Gabriella. She gasped.
"Brandon, people are watching!" She hissed. He merely smiled.
"It's not a crime to greet my girlfriend with the affection she deserves, is it?" He kissed her daintily on the lips. Gasps arose from the watching crowd.
"I hope no one gave my Angel a hard time at work today," Brandon spoke up for everyone to hear. "My lawyers will have to get busy if they do."
"Okay, Mr. Millionaire, get in the car before they start quaking in their pumps!" Gabriella whispered to him with laughing eyes. Brandon winked at her, got in the car after her, and drove away, leaving all Gabriella's coworkers alarmed with mouths agape. Gabriella broke out in laughter with Brandon in the car.
"Any subtler and they would've fainted!" She said, wiping her eyes.
"I'm getting really good at suing people lately," Brandon chuckled.
"Oh, how did it go with Archer?" Gabriella asked, bringing his name out with some difficulty as it left a bitter taste on her tongue. Brandon smiled reassuringly at her.
"Hmm, he should be on the five-thirty news."
"Huh?" Gabriella looked confused but Brandon didn't answer. Instead, he drove to Times Square and found a spot to park his car.
"What are we doing here?" Gabriella asked him.
"Oh, you'll see." Brandon pointed out to the news screen flashing on their right. Suddenly, a breaking piece of news came on and Brandon's name appeared on the screen. Gabriella gasped as the news reporter spoke.
"And as notable millionaire, Brandon Whiteley does some damage control, light is shed on the truth surrounding his mysterious love interest. Over the past week, uncensored speculations have been circulating like wildfire over his undisclosed relationship. The lovestruck millionaire has requested news agencies maintain his privacy amid a series of lawsuits. He has publicly attacked several defaming tabloids and demanded just compensation for publishing false articles about his, and I quote, 'Angel'. The source of the slanderous articles was alleged to be a spurned ex-lover of Mr. Whiteley's girlfriend, Archer Steele. He came forward with a video today, openly apologizing for his fallacious comments:" the video shifted to one of a shame-faced Archer and Gabriella covered her mouth which had fallen open:
"I, Archer Steele, apologize for all the harm I caused—" Gabriella's name was muted out, "and refute every false statement I ever made against her." The screen returned to the reporter who spoke with a laugh:
"Well, this millionaire certainly didn't waste any time, did he? Don't cross a millionaire folks, or you might end up on the receiving end of a lawsuit." The piece ended here. Gabriella turned to Brandon with shocked eyes.
"Did you really do that?" She asked hoarsely.
"Getting Archer to do that was the cherry on top," Brandon smiled triumphantly. "They actually clipped the video. The rest of it goes with Archer promising to pay every penny he owes in damages—" He got no further as Gabriella wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight, tears spilling from her eyes.
"I don't know how to thank you enough for what you've done for me… but I do. You have no idea what it means to me to finally be free of Archer." Brandon heard the tremor in her voice and patted her back.
"Shh, Angel, it's over now. For good this time." He comforted her as best he could, but inwardly he pondered on what might have happened if he'd not been around to protect her if he'd never entered her life. Where would she have been today? Probably fighting off Archer by herself. Or worse. Archer wasn't the first stalker nor would he be the last. Imagining Gabriella going home alone, traveling on unsafe roads, happening upon unsavory characters, and trying to ward off other depraved males in her defenseless way gave him chills. He shuddered at the thought. No, that would never happen to her again. He would protect her for the rest of his life.
"Angel?"
"Yes?" Brandon pulled back to meet Gabriella's face. He saw the traces of worry harrowed in her face from the past week and longed to make her forget it all. He smiled at her, a sparkle appearing in his eye.
"Let's get out of here, go do something fun together. Have a date, be a normal couple." Gabriella smiled wistfully at him.
"Barry, I'd love to, but I don't feel like going out in the same clothes I wore to work." Brandon took in her outfit, recognizing it as one he'd seen her wear before. He furrowed his brows and spoke.
"This calls for a shopping spree." And he started the car before Gabriella could voice a protest.
"You reserved an entire boutique?!" Gabriella exclaimed at Brandon. They were standing inside a massive glittery boutique in Soho, apparently, the only two people in the entire place save the staff.
"When my girlfriend shops, I want her to have the luxury of having the whole place to herself," Brandon said.
"Brandon, you're gonna spoil me!" Gabriella laughed. Brandon took her chin between his thumb and finger and spoke seriously.
"Spoil you? Never." He knew no amount of wealth could despoil his angel. He guided her forward by her waist.
"Go on. Pick out whatever catches your eye."
"This feels like deja vu," Gabriella muttered as she browsed through the racks, remembering the time he replaced her stained dress.
"At least this time there's no hostility," Brandon laughed, and Gabriella smiled at him. He's really happy to be with me, she thought. It wasn't the fact that he wanted to buy her things that made her elated; but the fact that he loved her so much, he wanted to do everything he could to make her happy. And his efforts only drew her heart closer to him.
They took a long time to pick an outfit, mostly because Brandon was looking for 'perfect' and Gabriella would've been content with anything. When he finally spotted a delicate, off-shoulder, golden evening dress with flowing layers and white embroidered blossoms, he jumped on it.
"Here," he handed it over to Gabriella, "this will look perfect on you."
"If you say so," Gabriella said with a demure smile. "I knew you'd pick something out for me eventually." She stepped into the dressing room to put it on, but a minute later she opened the door and peeped out awkwardly at Brandon.
"Er, Brandon? I can't reach the zipper…" Grinning, Brandon got up and slipped into the dressing room without any of the staff seeing. He locked the door and turned to her in the cramped quarters.
"What would you do without me?" He mumbled softly as he slowly zipped her up. She shivered as his fingers brushed the bare skin of her neck and suddenly both their senses went into hyperdrive at being pressed against each other in such a small space.
"Gabriella…" Brandon whispered throatily. "It's times like this that remind me of just how much I want you…" Gabriella stared up at him for a moment, their eyes meeting in a fiery gaze. Without further ado, Brandon tipped her up against the wall, making sure she wouldn't get hurt by cushioning her back with his fingers. She gasped before his mouth plunged into hers, imbibing her taste with his tongue. Slow, hungry moans hummed in his throat with each kiss.
"Brandon – people – will hear!" Gabriella gasped between breaths, although she could feel her own senses slipping into oblivion. Brandon only pushed up harder against her, his breathing going ragged as he ravished her with his mouth.
"Then it's up to you not to make a sound," he whispered, his mouth sinking lower, leaving hot wet kisses across her jaw and onto her neck. Gabriella stifled a gasp, desperately trying to stay silent. But with Brandon's galvanizing mouth all over her skin, she found it very hard. A small squeal burst out from her lips.
"Shh, Gabriella…" Brandon stilled her, hoisting her off the ground and pressing her against the mirrored wall. Holding her securely in his arms, he continued exploring every inch of her neck with his mouth. Her head rolled back as the sensations drove her close to insanity. Feeling lost with her limbs, she clung to him and suddenly felt Brandon's hands guiding her legs around him.
"Hold on to me, Angel," he whispered before continuing to press her mouth with his own. His hands continued to caress the side of her thighs while his lips worked hers. Gabriella's legs squeezed around him, hot burning electricity crackling between their bodies pressed against each other. Good heavens, Brandon was going to make her lose it before long at this rate! She had no idea he could be so sensual while giving love. She had suspected for a long time that he liked and craved physical touch, but he never broke the boundaries she always put up unless she invited him in. But now, having him touch her in ways she'd never experienced before reminded her that he was also a man with hot-blooded desire – for her. And rather than fearing it, she was fascinated by it.
"Oh, Brandon please…" The slow tantalizing way his tongue tasted her made spots blink in her eyes.
"I love you… I always have… But for once I couldn't stop myself from showing you how much." Brandon's succulent mouth made Gabriella bite her lip to keep from crying out. He felt her teeth clasping her lower lip and pried it out with his tongue before absorbing it between his own. More suppressed cries erupted in her throat and Brandon chuckled.
"Is it hard?" He asked, dipping his head careening against her moist neck, dewy with his kisses. She nodded vigorously.
"Yes, Brandon, I'm not strong enough…" Gabriella looked into his eyes as he withdrew to see her face. He smiled softly at her.
"I won't push you beyond your limits, Angel. Not now, anyway."
"But someday?" Gabriella asked in a small hopeful voice. Brandon nodded, his sparkly white smile dazzling her.
"Someday. That's a promise." He placed one last chaste kiss on her lips and put her down, making sure she was steady before letting her go as her legs were wobbly.
"Next time, it'd be safer if we did that sitting down," she said with a nervous laugh, as her weak body threatened to collapse. Brandon held her close to himself for a minute longer.
"Next time, I won't go so easy on you," he whispered, and pleasant shivers of excitement filled Gabriella at the thought of a next time.
An hour later, Gabriella found herself guided by Brandon through what seemed to be a wooden hollow hallway – he had his hands covering her eyes so she was unable to see a thing. He said he wanted to take her out to dinner (after finally purchasing her the dress) and as she clip-clopped against the wooden floor in her new rhinestone stilettos (Brandon said they go with the dress), she wondered where exactly Brandon was taking her to dinner.
"Brandon, please, I don't do well with suspense, it makes me nervous!" She protested after walking through the long hallway.
"Just trust me, Angel, it'll be worth it." The merriment in Brandon's voice told her he was excited; maybe he was trying to surprise her.
"Couldn't we have ordered pizza or something?" Gabriella asked. "You like pizza, and we've eaten it before!"
"Plain old pizza? On a day like this?" Brandon sounded horrified. "No, no, no, today is special, today you're gonna enjoy the treat I have prepared for you!" Gabriella suddenly caught a whiff of aromatic spices and her mouth watered.
"Oh gosh, Brandon will you just tell me—" she got no further as his hands fell away from her eyes and she beheld an exquisite private dining room – a single table and two red cushioned chairs stood in the center on a lush red carpet, in a room full of floral, carved wooden walls surrounding the table in a pentagonal circumference. Above the table hung colored, hand-painted paper lanterns, giving the room a red and gold glow. The table itself was spread with a variety of little dishes of varying colors and flavorful aromas. It all looked most inviting as well as luxurious.
"Cinnamon, cilantro…" Gabriella's eyes sparkled at the sight. "Brandon, you've outdone yourself!"
"Well, I didn't prepare it myself," Brandon laughed, "but I did plan it. An opulent Indian dining experience for my special Angel. Oh, and the best part is, it's all vegetarian."
"Oh, I could kiss you!" Gabriella exclaimed joyously, clapping her hands together, "but I really want to sample the food first, I'm starving!" Brandon pulled out a chair for her and they sat down, partaking of each dish with delight.
"Oh my goodness, that's so good! Oh, that's absolutely delicious! I simply must learn to make that myself!" Gabriella thoroughly enjoyed each dish and Brandon never felt more satisfied than in seeing her joy rather than enjoying the dishes themselves.
"I might have to get a translator to name each dish, everything looked like gibberish on the menu to me," Brandon said sheepishly. He hailed the waiter, who promptly began naming each dish and its main ingredients.
"The green dish is cottage cheese cooked in a spinach gravy, the orange dish is vegetable balls in a tomato gravy, and the yellow dish is a warm lentil soup. Then we have roasted eggplant with cilantro, marinated fried cauliflower, spiced green pea rice, and stuffed buttered flatbreads. And for dessert, we serve a sweet milk cream pudding."
"An eight-course meal? Brandon, you are incredible for planning all this," Gabriella said appreciatively when the waiter had left. "I never even knew I liked Indian food till today."
"I wanted you to try the best, Angel," Brandon replied earnestly, "because when you're with me, you deserve the best." He placed his hand over hers on the table and they threaded their fingers together.
"I want this to be a new start for us, Gabriella," Brandon went on in a more serious tone. "I want this to be the start of us without anything standing between us. I know we might not have had a – pleasant beginning," a smile appeared on both their faces here, "but I sure want us to have a happy ending."
"No, Brandon," Gabriella said softly with a loving smile at him, "with you, every moment is new for me. It's not a happy ending, it's always a happy beginning."
"And you'll stay with me, won't you, Gabriella? No matter what comes our way?" Gabriella looked earnestly into Brandon's eyes as she gave her answer.
"Always, Barry."