***Gael's POV***Without saying a word, she instantly ran towards me and wrapped her hands around me. “Oh my goodness, Gael. I never thought I'd ever see you so soon,” she said with a tear filled voice.“I'm so sorry for only coming now, mom. I know I promised to come last Christmas but couldn't make it.”“Please don't say. I understand you fully well. I know that you've been quite busy. You have nothing to explain, my dear child,” she muttered as she held me even tighter. I buried my head on her little shoulder and shed some tears. I missed her so much as well. After our little emotional reunion, I helped her in trimming the flowers she was working on. “Where's Brenda?”“Oh, you just don't know this, but Brenda got married a few months ago, and she's left the country with her husband.”“Oh my God. I had no idea.”Brenda was my mom's sale's assistant. “I miss her, you know, and I know it will be hard finding a replacement.”“I know. By the way, have you found a replacement yet?”
**Gael's POV***That evening, my mom made me a hearty dinner with all of my favorite side dishes. “Mom…you don't have to do all this for me, you know. You're spoiling me.”“What do you mean spoiling you? You ought to be spoiled. Who else should I spoil if not you?”“Well, you can say that again. Then I'm going to enjoy a hearty meal.”“Of course you should, child.”“While in the middle of eating dinner, a thought flashed through my mind. “Uhm, mom, did you hear from dad, recently?”“Huh? No, of course not,” my mom replied with her gaze facing downwards. Why do I feel like she's hiding something from me? “Mom, you can't hide anything from me, and you know that, right?”“Gael, why would you bring up your dad, in the middle of a joyous meal?”“Right, I shouldn't be bringing that up. But then, I have a feeling that you're keeping things from me. Did he come to you and demand money again?”She quickly raised her head up to meet my gaze as if I had grazed a spot, but at the same time, sh
***Gael's POV***“I missed you, Gael,” he said without a second wait. “No, no, no. You can't be serious. I mean, you can't be here without informing. I understand that you must have thought of doing this to surprise me, but I'm seriously not liking this surprise at all.”“So, what do you want me to do? You want me to drive all the way back home in the middle of the night when it's raining cats and dogs?”“That's not what I meant. Oh, God!!” I quickly jumped out of bed and began pacing from one end of my room to the next. What should I do with Turstin!“Tell me, where exactly are you right now?”“I'm staring at your house right now.”“What?!” I exclaimed, wide-eyed. “Turstin, you can't be serious. How the hell did you even find where I live?”“I have your address right here with me. Gael, just so you know, there's not a place you'll go to without me finding you.”I bit my bottom lips nervously. This would have been cute if only he had told me about coming way before now. What he jus
**Gael's POV**I woke up only to find myself wrapped up in the arm of Turstin. I looked out of the window and noticed the rain had stopped. I breathed a deep sigh. Finally, the rain has stopped. I looked up at Turstin and found him soundly asleep with his hands wrapped around my waist. While I laid on his chest, a smile spread across my face, seeing him look so peaceful and unbothered. I wonder if he was telling the truth when he said he had to come see me because he missed me. I quickly searched for my phone, which I found on the floor of the car. I carefully reached for the phone, to avoid waking him up. I clicked on the phone to see what the time was, and behold! My mouth fell ajar when I noticed it was almost 6:am. Shit! I had no option but to get off of Turstin's chest. This made him stir. At this point, the only thing on my mind was my mom waking up to check on me at exactly this time to see whether I was still asleep or not. I'm done for. I'm so done for! Shit! Shut!“Gael,
***Gael's POV***As soon as I got into the house, I met my mom, who was about to go out.”“Gael, where did you go?” I was about to go out to see if you were outside?”“Oh, I actually went for a morning Jog,” I said, smiling at my mom.”“Oh, that's why I couldn't find you when I came into your room. It isn't that too early? I mean, you don't usually go jogging this early.”“Well, I adjusted the time I go out for jogging.”“Oh, that's why. By the way, I'm almost done preparing breakfast. You should go get yourself cleaned up and join me at the table.”“Alright, mom,” I rushed into my room and shut the door behind me, slowly. Damn! That was close. What if she had come and saw me coming from a different direction. She'll surely ask me more questions with a suspicious expression. Good thing I was able to make it on time. I quickly pulled off my shirt and shorts and got into the shower. While I scrubbed myself, I thought about Turstin. I'm sure he'll be on his way back home now. Though I
**Gael's POV***Instantly, I trembled, seeing my mom look at me with a confused expression. I hate to see her looking at me this way. It makes me feel like I've committed the worst crime. Slowly, her gaze dragged on to Turstin who was holding me by the hand. “May I know what's going on here?” She asked with an innocent expression. Immediately, I released the breath I had no idea I had been holding. She has no idea, and I can't lie to her at this point. “Mom, the thing is,” I tried to explain the situation, but my heart was racing so fast and everything about me seemed to have stopped functioning judging from how I was struggling to find the words to speak. “What I'm trying to say is-”“Hi, Ma'am, I'm Gael's friend, and he's told me a lot about you. I'm glad to have finally met you.”“Gael, did?” She asked with a surprised expression.“Yes he did.”She slowly turned her gaze towards my direction. “Gael, why didn't you tell me you had a guest coming, I could have had more dishes by
**Gael's POV***I stared at Turstin wide-eyed like he has said the most absurd thing on earth. But of course, what he said was the most absurd I've ever heard. “No, you don't mean what you just said, Turstin.”“Gael, you ought to know by now when I'm being serious and when I'm not.”“So, are you truly telling me that you're going to expose my relationship with you to my mom?” I asked, wide-eyed. “Well, it's better I do so now.”“But why?”“What do you mean, why? I want the whole world to know about us. You think I want to keep you hidden?”This made my heart skip. What is Turstin trying to say?”“Wait a minute, Turstin, are you trying to say that you want this to get serious?”“If not, then what?” He asked, staring into my eyes as if searching for answers. “Wait a minute, Gael, what did you really think I am to you? A fuck buddy?”I blinked without saying a word. And this was because that's what I thought we were to one another, fuck buddies. “Shit! This is dragging on for too lon
***Turstin's POV***“You don't have to dwell on that photo. You can look around every other part of the room. This made me raise a brow at Gael. For some reason, I could sense a slight fear in his eyes. That's a fear of him giving out whatever it is he was hiding. If I can remember clearly, he told me something about his father not loving him. He told me how his dad hated him for what he looked like. If I'm not mistaken, that father is the reason he didn't want me to look at the picture on the wall. “Gael, you don't need to hide it away from her, you know.”“Huh?” He muttered as if he didn't know what I was talking about. “I already know why you're hiding the picture. You told me about your dad before now, have you forgotten?”“Huh? I did?”“Of course you did. You told me how he disliked you for what you are. How can I forget.”This made him shut his eyes and take a deep breath. “Why were you scared, though? Thought you said he left you both, right?”“Yes, he did leave us.”“Since
***Gael's POV***“You must be shocked to see me here, don't you?”“Well, I would like to believe that everything doesn't revolve around me, and for that, I will not ask questions that might not have anything to do with me.”“How so? Why don't you try asking so you can decide whether it's because of you or not,” she replied with a grin? This doesn't feel comfortable. There's this thing about Victoria I don't strike comforting, even though I do not know what that is. “So, why are you here?”“It's simple. It's because of you. How does that sound?” She answered with a smile. “You see, I find that challenging to believe, and I mean the fact that you're here because of me.”Victoria chuckled when I said this. “You don't perceive when to tell a joke, do you?”“Well, I'm sorry, but there's ever a little time for jokes in my life,” I replied, not impressed in the slightest. “Why don't I believe you? I mean, if there's nothing special about you, I don't see why the Barclays are all engross
**Cole's POV***When I heard Gael pleading with my brother's about going to a friend's party, at first, I didn't like the idea. I thought it was better that he didn't attend. But when they all refused him and seeing how sad he became, I felt troubled. I mean, why should I be troubled when they are only trying to look out for his safety. At that moment, an idea struck. If there's anyone Gael isn't interested in, it was no one else but me. I certainly do not want to do this if I truly wanted Gael to pay me any mind.When I finally agreed to him going to the party, I noticed there was a spark in his eyes. He must have truly wanted to go to his friend's party. “Alright. I should get dressed to leave,” just as he was about to leave, I quickly grabbed him by the hand and pulled him back.“Are you just going to leave?”“Huh?”“I thought you were going to, you know, appreciate me for letting you go to the party.”“Oh…" He muttered and stared at me for a few minutes, slowly he leaned in and
**Gael's POV***With Tracy being here with us, it seemed as though the table was complete. To be honest, Tracy is such a nice person to talk to and one reason I like her naturally. “Tracy, I heard Gael came over to your place. You know, I was just telling Gael about how stunned I was to know that he actually came.”“You're right. You had no idea just how happy I was that day. I never expected that he'll come, but he came anyway, and I'm still thankful that he came.”“This is good! Let's drink to it, guys,” Greg said, proposing a toast. We all drank to our hearts content and with a smile on our faces. I was glad that I was able to reconcile with my friends. This was something, I never thought, was possible. “Now that we are on the topic, I would like to extend my invitation for my birthday, which is coming up this weekend. I would be glad if you two could attend.”“Wow! Happy birthday in advance, Tracy,” Greg said. “Thank you…"“So you'll be a year older by the weekend, congratulati
**Gael's POV***“Gael, I'm so glad you finally decided to meet me,” Greg said in excitement. “Oh, please. I feel ashamed for not being the kind of friend you actually need in your life.”“Huh? What makes you say that?”“A lot of things. I mean, you're my friend and I don't check up on you as much as you check up on me.”“Don't be like that. I understand you man. You didn't check up on me because you were running from the big wolves.”When Greg said this, I froze. This was the reason I decided to see him. He still doesn't know that I've reconciled with them and that I'm living in the mansion once again. “Uhm, Greg?”“Yes.”“I have something to say to you. But first, I want you to promise me that you wouldn't freak out.”“Freak out? Wait, did you kill someone?” Greg asked wide-eyed. “The hell! No, I'll never do such a thing.”“Well, that's literally the only thing that can make me freak out as it is.”“Oh,” I muttered. Hearing him say this, I'm kind of confused if I should tell him a
**Victoria's POV**As soon as I was informed that I had a visitor, I quickly rushed to the visitors room. To my greatest surprise, it was no one else but Tracy. She seemed to be pacing around but stopped the moment she laid eyes on me. “Miss Victoria, for barging into you when you're busy,” she said, walking over to meet me.“No, of course not. That's not the reason. I'm actually here because I wanted to see you. Tell me, what's going on? You seem to be in a good mood.”“You're right, I'm in a good mood,” she said, smiling from ear to ear. I creased my brow, wondering what could have happened. “So, are you here to share the good news with me?” I asked, taking a seat. She took a deep breath and took the seat next to me. “You see, I want to thank you for the encouragement you gave. I actually took your advice when you said I can't give up on him just like that. I didn't give up and, you know I pulled some tricks. I'm still shocked that it worked for me.”“My goodness! Do you mean G
**Gael's POV*These brothers are so unpredictable, I swear. Who would have thought that Turstin will get us to do it in a garden. He's got no shame at all. He's totally shameless!“What are you thinking about? Do you think this is the wrong place as well?”“Well, it's all the shades of…I don't even know what to say.”“Let's be open to new things.”“Open to new things in the garden you mean?” Turstin nodded his head while staring at me. I could see a laugh in his eye and I couldn't help but wonder if he meant what he was saying. Just then, he began to walk closer to me, while I moved back. I don't know about doing it in a garden because that has never once crossed my mind. “Gael, don't be nervous. It's not like I'm asking you to die. I just want to spice things up,” he said in a deep voice, and he grabbed me by the waist.“Tell me, honestly, why do you want to do it out here?”“Okay, I'll say the truth. Now that I know my brothers have marked you, I also want to do the same. But I
**Turstin / Gael's POV***I was mad and this was because I came early just so I could spend time with Gael. Who would have thought that he would go out to be with a woman he knows full well has a crush on him. “Turstin, I know why you're like this, but let's be honest here. You know for a fact that I won't be able to do anything with her even if there's a possibility of what you're afraid of.”“Well, I don't care. The fact that I know she's in love with you disqualifies her from being your friend. Take Fred for an example, if you tell me you're with Fred, I have no reason to stop you even though I still wouldn't want to see you with anyone. But then, it's better than seeing you with someone I know likes you.”Even though I had said I wasn't going to disclose my feelings this way, I can't stop myself. “Turstin, I know I can't argue with you about this but all I'm asking is that you give me a little time with her. An hour will do.”“What are you talking about? So, you still have the t
**Gael's POV***Tracy and I chatted for almost an hour. From our discussions, I came to realize that she was actually a free soul. Maybe, just maybe, if I wasn't what I was then I'm sure that I would have considered her my girlfriend because she seems to have all what it takes. “So, let's talk about why you called me. Tracy, is there anyone bothering you perhaps?”“Huh?” She muttered, looking at me as if she didn't understand what I was saying. “I mean, when you called me earlier, remember you said you needed someone to talk to. Could there have been a reason why you were in that state.”“Gael, I'll be honest with you. I don't feel like talking about it now. You've made me so happy that I had forgotten what I was going through to be honest.”“If that's the case, then you don't need to tell me what happened then. My main purpose of coming here is to cheer you up. I do not wish to see you in a bad mood, if you understand what I mean.”“Oh thank you so much, Gael. You have no idea jus
**Gael's POV***The next day, I was supposed to meet with Turstin but he left the mansion to attend to an emergency in his company. Not only that, the others had all gone back to their businesses, leaving just me in the mansion. I wouldn't deny the fact that I felt useless. I wanted to do something worthwhile, but I'm not sure I'll ever have the opportunity to go back to my apartment any time soon. Well, it's not like they are depriving me of going to my apartment. I think it's just me and the fact that I missed them. Maybe I'm here in the mansion because I wanted to be with them for a little while. I sat on the patio, and drank a glass of fruit juice while staring at the clear sky. How I missed this place. It has always been my favorite spot to be. While I was basking in peaceful moment, I suddenly heard my phone vibrate in my pocket. I creased my brow, wondering who was calling me. Looking at the caller, I froze for a few seconds. Why was she suddenly calling me again? I thou