Gabriel-Chapter 1

Gabriel Agreste concentrated hard on the sketchbook in front of him, biting his tongue as the beginnings of a dress took shape. For anyone daring enough to wear it, it would definitely be a big hit in the fashion industry. The beige dress had a high collar and was see-through from the top all the way down to the bottom of the mermaid-style dress that swept outward like beautiful amber waves. However, thick, lacy designs covered both the front and the back, and then lined the hem of the dress. Magnificent.

"Gabriel!" a deep voice shouted, making Gabriel instantly slam his sketchbook closed as his father entered the drawing room. If his father ever knew what he was doing in the shadows of his life, his life would be ruined.

"Y-Y-Y-Yes, father?" Gabriel stammered as he fixed his glasses so they lay straight on his nose.

His father, John, took a deep breath and sighed. "You're twenty-six years old. It's about time you stop stammering and speak like the nobleman you are. I thought we broke this habit of yours years ago."

The backs of Gabriel's ears turned red with shame. Although he had been born with a speech impediment, he had worked so hard to get rid of it. It wasn't unless he was nervous or caught off guard when he stuttered like a blubbering fool—which, admittedly, usually happened around beautiful women or when he had to speak in front of large groups of people. However, if he concentrated hard enough, he didn't have too much of a problem.

Right then, his mother, Bridget, walked in and gasped. "Gabriel! You're not dressed yet! We're leaving in five minutes! It's important that you be there. After all, you're the next face of the Agreste fortune."

Holding his sketchbook tight to his chest, Gabriel hurried up the stairs and didn't breathe a sigh of relief until he shut his bedroom door behind him. If only he could move out… Life would be so much better without his parents breathing down his back.

In a hurry, Gabriel picked out a nice suit and tie, smoothed his hair down until it looked slick and clean, and then rushed back downstairs, just in time before his mother blew a gasket.

"Look, and a minute left to spare," Gabriel said sassily as he walked past his mother and out the door, climbing into the waiting car. Of course, John was on the phone as always, so he didn't hear the sass. "Who knew that it didn't take three hours to get ready for a benefit dinner?"

Bridget scowled so ladylike that he wasn't entirely sure it was a scowl. "You better put that mouth of yours away when we meet with the Bourgeois family. Your fiancée will be there, so be on your best behavior."

Gabriel clenched his fists at the mention of Bourgeois. "Samantha isn't my fiancée."

"We arranged the marriage when you were born. Two wealthy families joining together as one? What could be more perfect? The two of you will marry and create beautiful children. It's all a mother could ever ask for." She pursed her lips as she glided her lipstick over her lips. It took all of Gabriel's self-control not to point out that it was the wrong shade of red for the color of dress she wore. "You should count yourself lucky to be engaged to such a wonderful young woman. After all, she helped put on this dinner."

"I'm not marrying into that family," Gabriel muttered under his breath. "She has horrible fashion sense."

"What was that, darling?" Bridget asked, applying powder to her face for the second time in the last ten minutes.

He shook his head. "It's nothing."

On top of having a horrible fashion sense, he had nothing in common with Samantha. She didn't like him for him, but rather the money and renown behind the family name. What he wouldn't give just to escape his family name and do something unique with his life.

His thoughts turned to his sketchbooks, which brought a smile to his face. Maybe someday he'd be recognized for his designs.

All too soon, the car pulled up in front of Le Grand Paris and already, Gabriel felt dead inside. Social gatherings certainly weren't his thing. He'd rather be reading at the library or locking himself away to doodle with his designs. Besides, it took so much of his concentration not to stutter in front of so many people. Would anyone notice if he disappeared for a while?

Begrudgingly, Gabriel followed his parents out of the car and into the hotel, and unsurprisingly, the hotel looked even fancier than it normally did. Guests sipped champagne from crystal goblets, silver and gold littered the lobby and the ballroom, and tables had been set up all around the ballroom floor with cutlery that looked as expensive as the hotel itself. The Bourgeois family really went all out on this dinner.

Gabriel boredly glanced around while his parents disappeared to mingle. Many people who attended the party were rich wannabes while other more recognized people walked the floor with those wannabes looking as if they were about to kiss their feet. Even now, Gabriel could easily point out those who came from a background of wealth and fame, and those who only pretended to fit in. However, the whole aspect bored him and he quickly found himself studying what everyone wore. Several people tried to pass off their dresses as designed by mysterious designers from another country when they obviously came from no name retail outlets. Others, he could only gawk at, as they would cost a fortune just to get that designer's time, let alone have them design a dress for them.

Sweeping his gaze across the sea of colorful people, Gabriel's heart completely stopped as he caught sight of a sweeping emerald green train. That couldn't possibly be…

The woman began moving and Gabriel couldn't help himself as he followed after, ducking under waiters' trays and dodging past people who looked as if they were dying to approach him. And then finally, his suspicions were confirmed as his eyes raked up and down the dress. He knew the design all too well—flowing emerald green fabric that had a slit on each side of the leg that traveled all the way up the thigh, a fitted bodice that showed curves in all the right places, and a wide, beaded halter neck that gave the appearance of fame and wealth despite who wore it.

"Like what you see?" the woman asked coyly, making Gabriel's cheeks fill with an instant blush. In any normal circumstance, he may have stammered, but he felt way too excited about having found this creation.

"Where did you get your dress?" Gabriel asked as he tried to suppress a grin. "I haven't seen anything like it in all of Paris."

The woman smiled and gently touched the crystals woven around her neck. "The designer's name is Gawain Papillion. You've heard of him, I assume?"

Another woman cut in right then, preventing him from answering. "Rumor has it that isn't his real name," she said. "He's mysterious and has never shown up to any fashion shows, neither has he shown his face at designer showings. I absolutely love his designs and I'm dying to meet him."

Gabriel's mouth twitched in a smile. Little did she know that she just met the designer, but for now, he'd rather keep his true identity a secret. If his father ever caught a whiff of what Gabriel did with his time on the side, he'd likely never get to design again. That would probably be the worst thing that could ever happen to him.

Suddenly becoming flustered at the praise, Gabriel backed out of there and found his spot at a round table in the ballroom, the tablecloth gold to match the interior design. If he had to see gold one more time…

"Mrs. Moreau just complimented my earrings," Bridget said as she turned her head to the side so Gabriel could see the gold that dangled from her earlobes and he had to stop himself right in his tracks as he was just about to sigh. So much gold at one party… Was it really necessary?

"Thank you all for coming tonight to our benefit dinner!" a female voice said in the microphone at the front of the room and Gabriel couldn't see past Samantha's curled brown hair, her brown eyes, or even her bright smile. All he could see was the dress she wore and her shoes that clearly didn't match.

No no no no no. Those shoes did not go with that dress. This was a disaster! Why couldn't anybody else see that? Or was he the only one who wasn't hopeless enough to notice it?

Continuing, Samantha said, "The children at the orphanage will certainly be blessed by your participation. Now before we get started on dinner, I'd like to invite a very special guest up here to give a few more opening remarks. Gabriel Agreste? Will you please join me up here?"

Gabriel choked on the champagne he had just been drinking as all eyes turned on him. No one told him he'd be giving a speech tonight! He had absolutely no time to prepare!

Very hesitantly, Gabriel stood up from his chair and made his way to the front. But when he looked out over the audience, he completely froze. There had to be hundreds of people here tonight. He was going to bomb this. He was completely going to bomb this. Gabriel wasn't so much as worried about what he'd say rather than worried about choking on his words.

He took a deep breath and opened his mouth, but immediately regretted it as he did, indeed, choke on his words. "W-W-W-We're—" He stopped and had to force himself not to run right off the stage in horror. He could do this.

Taking a deep breath, Gabriel cleared his throat and smiled, trying to play it off. "Did anyone else feel that tremor in here?"

The audience laughed, thankfully helping to put him more at ease. He'd pretend no one was in here. Just him and Samantha. Short and sweet.

"I'd like to thank the Bourgeois' for putting together this event so that we may all attend and support the orphanages in need. Let's all give them a round of applause."

In one sweep, the audience burst into applause and Gabriel took that moment to escape the spotlight, but not before Samantha could place a kiss on his cheek. Ugh. Was he the only one on board with the fact that they weren't engaged?

Gabriel slipped back into his seat just as the food began getting served. The sooner this night ended, the better.