Chapter 7
Gabriella went to work the next day with a cup of starbucks in one hand and her hand bag in the other.
As she approached her desk, her eyes widened. There was a small bundle of flowers on top of her table along with a box of sushi take out.
She dropped her bag under her table and placed the cup of starbucks on top of her coaster.
She took the flowers which are actually 4 calla lilies tied with a string. She smiled and untied the flowers. She took her almost empty starbucks cup and rushed to the bathroom. She cleaned the cup and filled the bottom half with water. She went back to her desk and placed the 4 lilies in the cup.
She then opened the sushi box but it was empty. Instead of mouth watering sushi, she found a folded note. She unfolded the paper and read what was written on it.
To Ella
No sushi for you yet…
You have to join me for lunch later before you can have your hands on them.
I promise it will only be you and me this time.
Meet me at you-know-where 12 sharp.
I have an early meeting right now so I'll see you later!
From Troy
Gabriella smiled as she folded the paper once more. She slipped it inside her bag and placed the empty box of sushi under her table beside her things.
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By lunch time, Gabriella arrived at the same restaurant and sat on the same table for four. She has learned to love their sushi and wouldn't mind eating there everyday.
She looked at her watch and it said 12:01.
"I'm not too late am I?"
Gabriella looked up and saw Troy standing there with another box of sushi.
"Only a minute late but I'm too hungry to pass on sushi" she replied.
"Good cause this one's for you" he said, handing her the box.
Troy took a seat across her as Gabriella opened the box to check if he wasn't bluffing.
"Satisfied?" Troy asked.
She smiled.
"Very. Let's eat?"
Troy nodded and asked for their food.
They were halfway through the meal with Troy discussing plans for the next issue and Gabriella reminding him of scheduled meeting he has to attend.
They were talking business when Troy suddenly asked her a different question.
"So Ella… did you like the flowers?" he asked as he took another bite of his food.
"The lilies? I love them Troy! Thank you!" she said as she smiled gratefully at him.
He smiled back.
"They're called Calla Lilies. Do you know what they mean?"
"No not really. Do they mean 'I need to ask a favor'…?" she asked jokingly as she looked up to meet his eyes.
He chuckled.
"Beauty" he simply said.
"That's what it means. Calla Lilies are a symbol of beauty."
Gabriella smiled at him.
"You are beautiful Ella but you just don't know it. I can't wait to see what's beneath those glasses, the braces, your clothes… You are so much more than you think you are. Don't mind what the others say, you don't live for them. Just be who you are and your beauty will shine brightest."
At that moment, her heart stopped. She wanted to cry but she held back the tears. She just smiled.
"Thank you Troy… you don't know how much that means to me" she said.
"No… I think I'm the one who should be thanking you. So thank you Ella." he said, smiling at her.
She smiled back. There was a long pause before she started talking again.
"So why 4 lilies Troy?" she asked as they went back to eating.
"Because that means 'Thank you very much'… or it could also mean 'Have lunch with me'… or it could also be 'Sushi owns you Ella'... it's whatever you want it to be." Troy said.
She laughed and Troy could swear he knew that laugh. It was music to his ears.
I can't be imagining things again… This is really weird… Ella reminds me of her in so many ways… he thought.
"I'll go with the first one" Gabi said, interrupting Troy's thoughts.
"Huh?"
"I said I'm going with the first one… I take the 4 lilies as Thank you very much" she said, still smiling.
"Oh well good cause that's what it originally meant" he smiled.
They finished their lunch and headed back to the office. Instead of the usual stares and whispers they got from people; it was like they were now invisible and no one said a word or even looked at their direction.
"That's better" Troy said, noticing the change in the office.
"I just hope they don't burst out laughing at us or erupt in loud whispers once we get to our hall" Gabi said, clearly surprised at the sudden change.
"Don't worry, if I hear a single noise, I'll have them all fired" Troy said as they turned round the corner going to their office.
"Troy!" Gabi said, lightly slapping his arm.
In just a few days, Troy and Gabriella have grown closer and they were more comfortable with each other. It was surprising but neither of them cared nor did they complain at the sudden closeness. It was like a natural thing.
"Ow!" Troy said, rubbing his arm as they approached their hall.
"Be a man Troy. It really doesn't hurt" Gabi said as she sat on her chair behind her desk.
"No sushi for you tomorrow!" Troy said as he smiled at her one last time before entering his office.
Gabi just smiled and went back to work, very much pleased at how well everything went.
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Afternoon came and Uncle Richard made his usual round at the office. He spotted Gabriella and he approached her.
"Hello Ms. Montez"
"Good afternoon Sir" she said as she stood up to acknowledge him.
"Take a seat and let's talk" he said as he took the seat opposite Gabriella.
"Is everything ok, Sir?" she asked not quite sure what he wanted to talk to her about.
"Yes in fact everything is more than fine. I heard about Marcus. He called me up just before I made my rounds" Uncle Richard said.
"Really Sir? He's not backing out is he?" she asked worriedly.
"No don't worry about that. He just told me that you are the real reason he's doing the shoot. I was surprised at first but he told me about you and how the two of you have been friends for a long time now. He said he's doing it for you. So I just want to thank you for doing this Gabriella. I truly appreciate it." He said as he gratefully smiled at her.
"Oh I'm sure he really wanted to do this too but thank you Sir. It's no big deal really." She said, flattered by his words.
"He has one condition though"
"What would that be Sir?"
"He wants you in the shoot Gabriella" Uncle Richard said, looking at her directly.
"He— what?"
"Oh don't worry. I said its ok and I would really want you to be in the shoot… after everything you've done for us in just a few days. It's the least we can do… so we're having you in the photo shoot next week." Uncle Richard smiled.
"But Sir—" she protested.
"It's going to be ok. We'll make you look fabulous."
He doesn't understand… I can't be beautiful… I'm on a very important assignment and I can't blow this up now! Not after everything I just went through for this…Troy cannot know… she thought.
"Sir you really don't—"
"Gabriella, please do this for us or we'll lose Marcus."
She sighed. There was really no other option.
"Ok Sir" she replied, half smiling.
"Thank you. Now I have to get going. I'll see tomorrow Miss Montez" Uncle Richard said as he got up and left.
There was only one solution to this... Call Marcus… she thought.
She immediately dialed his number and was greeted by his usual husky voice.
"Hello Gabi. I'm guessing you heard?"
"Marcus!! How could you? You know I can't do what you want… I'm on a very important assignment! You can't just give me a makeover"
"Ok first you need to chill Gabi. Let me explain first"
Gabriella let out a deep sigh. "Ok shoot"
"Ok so I was thinking of a good theme for the shoot and then I thought of you being part of it and it was total perfection. I called up your boss, yes your department boss… and then I asked him till when you're going to be in the case and he said you're over in a week because your social experiment will only be for a couple of weeks and then—"
"Wait. You mean I'm over in a week?" Gabi asked, oblivious to the fact that she was only needed for two weeks.
"Yes that's what your boss told me. After two weeks, you're case is closed and then you need to start writing the article—"
"I need to write the article?" she asked, again oblivious to other terms of the assignment.
"Yes that's what he told me. You are writing it because you're the one involved and then he'll have it published."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm sure now moving on… you're done in two weeks Gabs which means you'll make it just in time for my shoot. I'm starting Monday the week after next week so you'll be ready by then."
"Marcus… look I'm really sorry. I'm sure you have a really good vision about this but is it ok if I think about it first? Because I'm not so sure if I want to do this… I didn't even know I only have two weeks— no make that a week and a day to make this work. And I didn't even know I'm writing the article!"
"I get what you mean Gabs… too much info?" Marcus said, very concerned about his friend.
"I'm sorry Marcus"
"It's ok Gabs. Just think about it… but please don't let me down because I already made the deal and I really want you in it or else I'm not doing it"
Gabriella smiled despite the fact that she is utterly confused at the moment.
"You really want me in it huh?"
"You bet! You're gorgeous Gabriella and I will not pass this opportunity to make that beauty shine"
She laughed.
"Ok I'll think about it… thanks Marcus!" she said as they both hung up.
Too much in one day Gabi… Just breath and you'll get everything together… she thought.
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Later that day…
"Hey Ella!" Troy said as he approached her desk.
"Oh hey Troy" she said, looking up at him.
"Are you busy?" he asked as he took the seat in front of her.
"No not really… just fixing your schedule" she replied as she got back to her notes.
"I heard about the Marcus deal. I can't wait to see you in the shoot" he said, smiling at her.
"How did you know?"
"Uncle told me. And I think it's a great idea! This is your time to shine Ella… time for you to finally see how beautiful you are."
She smiled.
"Thanks Troy but I really don't think—"
"Hey now don't say you're not doing it… Look Ella, if you don't do this shoot then I'm with Marcus, I also won't agree to do it anymore." Troy simply said.
Gabriella's mouth dropped. She can't believe Troy is dropping the project if she won't do it.
"Troy you can't do that! You'll find better models. I'm just not into all this so I would rather just watch the shoot than be in it but please don't say you're dropping the offer!"
Troy shrugged.
"I've made my decision and it's a done deal. You're doing it Ella or we're both backing out" he said as he got up from his seat.
Gabriella couldn't think of anything to say. She just looked at him like he was going insane.
"Now how bout a cup of starbucks before you head home huh?" he said.
"I'll be out in 30" he said as he walked back to his office.
"Troy you're not doing this to me!" she shouted at his direction.
He turned around to face her with one hand on the door frame.
"But I already am" he replied as he smiled once more before retreating inside his office.
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THANKS TO EVERYONE for helping me reach a decision.
I finally thought of something to make this story more interesting.
One thing is for sure: Gabriella is so going to be gorgeous!
Lol. You know what to do… r&r please! c:
Oh and next chapter… it's already FRIDAY! One more week for Ugly Gabi… but the week ends with a very interesting night.