Song for the chapter: Baby I'm Jealous ~ Bebe Rexha ft. Doja Cat

VANESSA

Who does he think he is?

It's been hours since Gabriel dropped me off, and he has yet to respond to my texts or calls. As if I did something wrong? He seems to forget it was he who sprung an impromptu meet and greet with his family.

While I had a good time, the fact that he gave me no warning prior was a douche move. Granted, he probably knew I would have flat out refused to go.

Still, he has the nerve to ignore me?

Shaking off the frustrating thoughts from my mind, I step out of my car, and hand my keys to the valet driver. There is a red carpet laid out, leading to the entrance of the hotel where the award ceremony is being held tonight.

This year's theme is A Summers' Christmas. Not the most original idea, but as a fan of Christmas I was curious how this would all unfold. Different color poinsettias line the walls near the doors and there are lights twinkling in the ceiling and on garland decorations spread throughout the lobby.

Well-known Christmas songs resonate through the speakers and waiters are milling around serving spiced eggnog to guests on their trays. I spot Lily, Evan, Jenny and Jason near the opening to the banquet hall and make a beeline for them.

The girls squeal when they see me and gush over my red satin sleeveless dress. I complement Lily on her gold gown and Jenny on her classic black, halter dress. There's a tapping on a microphone and the emcee announces the awards will be getting started and asks for everyone to find their assigned tables.

We find Jake and Gary already sitting at our assigned table. Not long after we sit, the hotel staff begins serving each table their soups and salads. My eyes roam around the room, but I don't see Gabriel. Maybe he decided not to come after all.

"Gabriel is sitting with Keith and Kyle near the front of the room." Jenny leans over to whisper, but I shrug, taking a drink of my wine.

"I don't care."

"Then who are you looking for?" Jenny raises her beautiful sculpted eyebrow.

"No one."

"Uh-oh, what happened?" She presses, but I shake my head, wanting her to drop the issue. Luckily, the Emcee grabs everyone's attention and turns the time over to the New York Apartment Association President.

Taking a peek over my shoulder, I find Gabriel exactly where Jenny said he was; he's conversing with Kyle and Keith like they're old friends.

After the Association President concludes his remarks and latest statistics report, they begin announcing the different categories and winners for this year.

Arbor Pointe wins the best leasing award to Gabriel and Best Large Community. We win the Best Clubhouse and Best Onsite Team awards and I do my best to ignore the stares coming from the table where Gabriel is sitting with the Thompson brothers.

When they announce the names for the best manager of properties over two hundred, I nearly choke when my name is announced as the winner. Our group erupts in loud cheers and whistles and fists pounding the table.

As I pose for my picture with the president of the association, my eyes drift to Gabriel and I find him staring back at me, but then he looks away. Cold panic washes over me and my pulse races all of a sudden, but I don't want to admit that his disinterest has any affect on me.

Once the ceremony portion concludes, the emcee announces the dance floor will be opening up. He reminds everyone to drink responsibly and then also points out the different photo op stations in the large room.

"This is such a great theme!" Lily exclaims excitedly. "I love all the small details to make all things Christmas come alive in the middle of June. Even the mistletoe that's spread all over the room. Mr. Tate is already taking advantage of that." She giggles and my head snaps toward the direction of her gaze.

It's no surprise Gabriel and the Thomspon brothers are surrounded by a horde of women, but one in particular breaks away from the group and throws her arms around Gabriel's neck. Their bodies flushed together in the overly long embrace; both smiling. She blatantly runs her hands down his back and gives his ass a squeeze.

There's an audible gasp within our group and I realize where it came from when the others look back at me. But I'm too busy watching the happy reunion between old lovers...or maybe old is not the right word. A laugh—a rather grating laugh at that—erupts out of the gorgeous woman after Gabriel whispers into her ear.

He's not that funny.

They finally break apart, however the distance only encourages the gorgeous woman to poke or touch him and flip her hair over and over again. Steam bellows deep within my belly as Gabriel throws his arm around her bare shoulders and introduces her to the Thomspon brothers. No surprise that Keith's eyes rake down the young woman's body while she is so focused on Gabriel.

Beautiful or not, this woman has no self control as she reattaches herself onto Gabriel. I study the blank screen of my phone when he looks over. After a moment, I glance at them again and I watch as he pulls away just enough to press his lips on hers. Full on lip lock. It's longer than a quick peck but not quite a chaste kiss either.

That son of a bitch.

After their makeout session, they manage to walk away from each other and he begins to mingle with other guests like he isn't a lying, cheating bastard. Jenny's emphatic eyes skitter over to me, but knowing she doesn't want to make it obvious looks away quickly. Feeling stupid and overwhelmingly angry I stand.

"I'm going to get another drink."

"They bring them to you, though." Lily calls out as I head to the open bar.

"What can I get for you Miss?" The bartender smiles and leans his hands forward on the counter when I approach.

Before I get a chance to order a voice from behind me beats me to it. "She'll have a Gin and Tonic." The bartender tips his head and begins pouring the drink.

"I can order for myself." I toss my hair over my shoulder, not bothering to spare Gabriel a glance. "Make it a double."

"I'm fully aware of that, sugar."

An undignified snort sounds off from me and I mutter, "I can only imagine how many sugars you have."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Gabriel leans against the counter, pitching forward so his lips brush against my ear. "You're breathtaking in this dress, baby."

"I bet I'm not the only one you used that on tonight." I pick up the glass the bartender slides my way, throwing it back in one go, wincing at the burn growing on the back of my throat. Gabriel's eyebrows pinch together, and he licks his lips with a questioning look on his face. I roll my eyes.

"You can't return my text or calls but you can act like nothing happened?"

"You're mad, because I didn't return your calls or texts?"

Rather than answering, I ask for another drink and the bartender's eyes skirt between Gabriel and me, but he starts making my drink after I narrow my gaze on him.

"You really are something, you know that?" Gabriel's irritation is rolling off him in hot waves as he moves closer, straining to keep his voice down. "I'm trying to keep up with your demands but it's getting hard to keep track of what you say when you change your damn mind every five seconds, sweetheart."

"My demands?" I counter, raising my voice. A few heads glance in our direction, and I lower my tone. "You're the one who said you wanted no strings attached and then you take me to a fucking family reunion!" I chug the drink down and walk away.

"You could have told them the truth about our arrangement, my family knows enough about me not to judge my choices," he says behind me. "You want to know what I think your problem is? You're afraid. You're afraid to get close to someone so you use your work as an excuse to not even try."

I whirl around. "Three weeks of being a fuck buddy and you think you're an expert. Go fuck yourself!" I hiss. "Actually, look around, you have plenty of options! Pick one, any one! All your groupies are drooling over you and eye fucking you. I'm surprised you and your friend didn't go at it on one of the tables."

Gabriels face transitions from anger, to confusion and then surprise. "My friend?"

"Let me guess, you're going to tell me she's an ex-girlfriend, right? Because it's normal to flirt, grope an ex's ass and kiss them. The fact that you're in a hotel works in your favor, you could even keep the door revolving with all your other fans." I glance around the room, noticing the lingering come hither looks sent in Gabriel's direction.

He steps in my line of vision. "Chelsea is an old friend. We grew up together. We did date when we were younger. And yes, she's a...touchy person and yes I kissed her. In case you didn't notice we were under a fucking mistletoe and it wasn't a kiss with sexual meaning to it. That's just the way I was raised when I greet people I know. If there was meaning behind the kiss, it would have looked something like this."

I gasp when he pulls me to him by my hand, sending me teetering forward until our bodies collide into each other and he grabs my face, crushing his lips to mine. It's a bruising kiss, tasting of anger and raw passion. I push against him, but it's pointless and for a split second, fear begins to replace my rage. His hand moves from my face to thread up my neck and through my hair, pulling to the side as he deepens the kiss. He lets go of me, staring deep into my eyes.

I shove him away. "What the hell are you doing? What gives you the right to treat me like that?"

His deep brown eyes have darkened more than I thought possible. "The same right you have in branding me as someone I'm not. I don't screw around." He steps closer, cupping my face. "I don't want Chelsea or anyone else in this room." He nods his head toward the guests, who I'm sure are loving the impromptu free show they're getting. "I just want you, Vanessa."

"Right." Pushing his hands away from my face and I step back. "I know what I saw, you can spin it anyway you'd like—"

"You saw what you wanted to see. You always had one foot out the door and you just saw your out and ran with it." He shakes his head, and chuckles looking down at his feet, his hands slide into his pocket. "I should have left when I finished the lease up at Arbor Pointe, two weeks ago."

My eyebrows furrow in confusion absorbing his words. "What? Y-you finished the lease up? Then why are you still here?"

Emotion swirls in his dark eyes like a raging storm. The muscles in his jaw tick before he nods, more to himself. He walks away without responding and without looking back.

***