THE ARROGANT WOMAN

TYLER

There was something called private for Tyler. It meant that the party was so small and probably only included one or few people. But that was not the case when Tyler walked into the large room where Gabby had insisted he was holding his unwanted birthday party.

The music was so loud, he was forced to take a breather. The room was dimly lit but Tyler could still make out a few faces in the room which he knew. He was already making plans of avoiding them as soon as he saw them.

“Tyler!” Gabby groaned as he walked up to him, a glass of wine in his hands. Before Tyler could protest with a hand raised upwards, Gabby was already pulling him into a hug.

“How do you like your party man?” Gabby asked after he let him go, his hands hanging around his dude. Tyler was finding it hard not to yell but he knew he would have to with all the loud music turned up.

“The women should have come easier. I didn't have to come here.” He seethed.

“Of course, you didn't.” Gabby grinned, his amber orbs a reflection of his heart; clean.  “But I wanted you to. This party is for you. Your day. Come get your woman yourself.” He explained.

“Gabby, I told you what I wanted—”

“I know, I know. Don't you think I pulled it off pretty well?” Gabby cried with excitement. “Mehn, look at those ladies. See those booties, the music, the dance, the vibe, the damn alcohol! What else could you possibly want?” He screamed, laughing like a raccoon.

Tyler shook his head with a sigh. He should have known that his best friend wasn't one to reason about it. He already knew that so much that he couldn't keep his mouth shut most times.

When Gabby began to lead him to a more private spot in the room, he exhaled a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he hated the usual partying scene. He adored it. He loved it. He just didn't want to do all of that now when he could have his woman and be with her.

“I got special picks for you. Want me to introduce them?” Gabby asked as he settled down on a stool beside the bar, a position that gave him access to the front view of the large room.

“You will. I need a drink.” Tyler's voice was gruffly. Gabby disappeared from beside him only to appear a little while later with a glass of whiskey.

“The deal,” Tyler mumbled as he took slow gulps of his drink in satisfaction.

“Why were you late though? You told me you were on your way about two hours ago.” Gabby grumbled. Clearly, he wasn't going to let that go and Tyler knew that much.

“My rude neighbor found a bouquet of black roses right in front of her apartment minutes after she screamed at me to get lost.” Tyler rolled his eyes when he finished speaking.

“Seriously?” Gabby was a laughing mess. “You haven't told me about her. What's she like? Was it that hot lady I met in your elevator the last time I came by?” Gabby sat up, eager.

“You didn't tell me that you met any woman at all.” Tyler frowned at him.

“Yeah. It was early in the morning and I thought she was one of your one-night stand girls. Besides, when I came into your room later, you were still in your towels.” Gabby laughed as he patted Tyler's shoulder. Tyler didn't find that funny as he scowled at him.

“Well, it's possible.” He shrugged.

“But nah, I'm not going to lie, that lady I saw was very pretty. The curves and body, I couldn't stop staring.” Gabriel continued while Tyler took sips of his drink.

“I have nothing to do with her if she was the one you saw. She has been nothing but rude to me since I moved in.” Sitting up, Tyler's face took a concerned gaze. 

“The security men are the worst. I think I'm going to have to fire them though. Do you know that after I called them to report the issue, they were so nonchalant? One even stated that it wasn't my business.” He frowned.

“Wow, that's rude.” Gabby frowned too. “I bet he said that because he doesn't know who you are. He would eat his words if you were to just say a word.” Gab hissed, now annoyed.

“Gabby, Oh...Tyler, man!” Someone called out to them, strolling toward the man with a large smile.

“Nick!” Gabriel shrieked as he pulled the tall guy into a hug. He had known Nick for a long time before he introduced him to Tyler.

“Hey, Nick. What's up?” Tyler nudged him and the man grinned.

“Happy birthday, man.” He slapped hands with Tyler, that grin still intact. They started talking, the conversation mostly between Gabriel and Nick.

“Baby,” a small voice called as she strolled toward the three men. She stopped in front of Nick and wrapped her hands around his neck. Nick smiled and kissed her lips.

Planting a hand of possessiveness on her waist, he swirled her toward the other men right after he winked at his girlfriend's best friend.  “Guys, this is my girlfriend, Joyce.” He introduced.

“Hey, Joyce!” Gabby was familiar with Joyce and pulled at her hair, playfully.

“And this is her best friend, Sophie.” Nick continued his introduction by pointing at the white-haired lady standing behind the group. The lady stopped typing and stepped into view.

“Hey, Sophie!” Her head snapped toward the little group and rested on a particular man. Not the one that called her name. The color drained out of her face and the little smile she was sporting earlier vanished.

“You?”

“What are you doing here?”

They called at the same time, shock written all over their faces. Annoyed by the face of the familiar man, Sophie let out a loud hiss, and glanced briefly at Joyce before she turned around and headed out, away from the little group. Joyce didn't waste a second before she hurried after her.

Sophie? So that's her name, huh?

Tyler thought with a grimace.

“Man, what was that for? Do you know her?” Gabby had to yell at the top of his voice since the music was turned up a notch. He was confused and so was Nick.

Tyler sent them a tight smile as he held out his glass of whiskey and took a sip from it. His face was expressionless just like most times. Turning toward the men, he said in an overly bored and dry tone, his voice lacking any interest.

“And that is my next-door neighbor, people. Shouldn't we be excited?”