Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Don't own anything . . .


In the eleven days following Chad's beach house party, both Troy and Gabriella were busy with their respective work. They haven't seen much of each other and when they do, it was always short and hurried as one or the other is rushing off somewhere that was work related. Even their occasional phone calls to each other lasted no longer than five minutes.

Gabriella was booked on a shoot for an upcoming issue of a major magazine and there were several models to photograph in various designer labels and set concepts but with very little time on her hands. Almost all kinds of delays—from the models being a pain, the wrong props, schedule conflicts and even equipment breakdown—were encountered. She was cramming to get photos submitted for approval by the creative team of the magazine.

Her stress level ran high. She spent longer hours in the studio than usual even sleeping there most nights, coming to the mansion only when she needs a fresh batch of clothes.

Troy, on the other hand, spent most of the week at the site of the new restaurant Reiss Corporation is constructing. He met up with city engineers, architects, potential suppliers and employment agencies. He was personally overseeing the progress of the construction and at the same time making sure the future operations of the restaurant will be according to his plans. He has his hands full with details and sometimes mishaps that veer away from their target schedule.

He would come to the mansion very late at night or in the very early hours of the morning after having been in meetings with the marketing department of Reiss and once with the board when he was asked for an update on the project.

To say he is exhausted would be an understatement. The lure of his bed for reasons of catching up on sleep has never been more tempting. And by the end of nearly two weeks, he was dead set on just lazing around and not thinking about the restaurant.

Friday, he woke up at exactly ten in the morning and felt less crappy than the past days. He told his secretary yesterday to cancel all his meetings and appointments for the day. So he has time to spend for himself … and with Gabriella.

He chuckled softly at the direction of his thoughts as he got up to go to the bathroom. He's slowly getting used to the idea of having Gabriella around, especially in his head. And truthfully, she's a pleasant thought to have.

The phone calls they had over the past days were ones he looked forward to and most of the time it was him who calls her. He couldn't seem to stop himself from dialing her number which he already has on speed dial and hearing that sweet voice of hers to perk up his mood.

Their conversations were mostly casual greetings, asking what the other is doing, teasing or jokes here and there, sometimes subtle flirting but basically it was nothing significant. Yet he likes it—whether it's for sexual reasons or not, he's not entirely sure.

Once he was done, Troy grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist and went out of the bathroom deciding he would come by the studio to see Gabriella. Maybe give her a break from work and take her out to lunch. They haven't had that official date yet as a couple. And no, that night at Chad's beach house doesn't count. It's high time they go out in public as Mr. and Mrs. Bolton.

Feeling well energized by his plans, he started toward the closet that was on the far left side of the bed to choose what to wear but midway through he stopped. His brows furrowed and he tilted his head sideways listening intently at the strange sound coming from somewhere in his room.

He looked around, carefully inspecting his room. Nothing was amiss. Everything was in its place from last night before he slept. With long strides, he went over his partially open bedroom door and peered outside. No one was there or along the hallways.

And there is that sound again getting more frequent and louder too. It's like forcing air through the nose or like the sound of water when blown with a straw. Annoyed and curious at the same time, Troy listened acutely.

Realizing that the harsh noise is coming from under his bed, he tightened the towel around his waist, crouched on all fours and peeked, determined to stop whatever is causing the infuriating sound.

But as his eyes where beginning to focus on the dimness under the mattress, a round, pink, cold and wet thing poked out to touch his nose. "Fuck!" He jumped up immediately in fright and ran out of his room calling any servant that might be close by. He's sure it wasn't his mind playing tricks on him. There's no way in hell that he's dreaming again.

"Did you see a ghost or something?" Gabriella's familiar voice whipped Troy's head in her direction. She is coming up the grand staircase in a red racerback shirt with pinstriped shorts, carrying a pack of cookies and looking amusingly at his flabbergasted expression.

Troy ran a hand along his damp hair and shook his head still stunned by his discovery. "I think there's a pig under my bed!" He announced pointing with his free hand at the wide open door of his bedroom.

Her eyes seem to enliven at what he said then she asked, "What does it look like?"

"What do you mean what does it look like?" Troy said in an absurd tone. He was expecting her to be shocked but she is calmly standing in front of him undaunted by the news of a loose animal—a pig at that—in the house. "It's a pig, Gabi! It's fucking ugly, smelly and fat and right now it's snorting under my bed!"

"Calm down, Troy …"

"You aren't even concerned there's a farm animal in our house?"

"Relax Troy. It's just a harmless pig. That's probably Petunia or Toto." She said not oblivious to the alarm in Troy's face. She turned her back on him to call out, "Jorge," Referring to the gardener that was running towards them from the opposite wing of the hall, carrying two short leash of red and black. "There's one under Troy's bed!"

Troy's mouth hung open at Gabriella's tranquil tone. He raised both hands placing it over his head like he was supporting his noggin from falling off. "There are two of them?! And they have names!" He said clearly freaked out by the information. "What the hell, Gabi? Are these—creatures your pets?"

As Jorge accepted the bag of cookies from Gabriella, which he would use to lure the animal out from under the bed, and went inside the room to capture the pig, Gabriella erupted in giggles finding Troy's reaction comical. His eyes were wide with alarm and he would open and close his mouth like a fish out of water. "I'm sorry, Troy—"

He cut her off to address his more pressing concern about the pigs. "I don't want them here, Gabi. I'll buy you a dog—five dogs if you want—just get rid of these pigs." He was practically begging her to reconsider her choice of pets. "And this isn't funny!"

She leaned against the wall by the door and slid down to the carpeted hallway in a fit of laughter. She was laughing so hard that she barely noticed Troy padding back into his room in a huff. Overcoming her laugh with an effort, Gabriella pushed herself up and wiped the tears that welled from her eyes.

"Troy, I can explain … they're not mine!" She called out to him holding in another wave of giggles before she walked inside the room.

Jorge had captured the snorting animal by then and he excused himself out to look for the other pig. "Well? I'm listening." Troy said as soon as Gabriella came in.

He was slightly perched on a dark mahogany desk littered with stacks of papers and some books which served as a home office table and his arms were crossed over his chest. He had his clothes on already which Gabriella was silently thankful for. She may find the incident funny but seeing him not five minutes ago with just a towel around his waist, his hair wet and with droplets of water still on his honed body was definitely bothering her to a point of discomfort.

"Those pigs are for the shoot, Troy. The magazine wanted a farm scene with real animals." She explained while she let her eyes roam the interior of his bedroom noting the spaciousness and the masculine colors of the walls and carpet. "I agreed to look after them as a favor to a friend. They're here only for two hours until the owner picks them up. I asked Jorge to take care of them for the time being."

"How did it end up under my bed?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I might have neglected to check the leash and they sorta ran off."

"I see."

"I'm sorry, Troy!" She wailed holding in another wave of mirth but it proved futile. She wrapped her arms around her middle and started laughing again. "You should have seen your face when you came out the hall. That look was priceless! Too bad I didn't have my camera with me."

He remained perched on the table just looking at her. The sound of her musical giggles lifting the corners of his mouth into a smile. She looked gorgeous standing there wallowing in hilarity with the sun streaming from the open window behind him, highlighting her features with a healthy glow. Even without a touch of make up except for the faint blush on her cheeks caused by laughing too much, she is naturally lovely.

He stood up, moved away from the desk, dropped his arms and crossed toward the open door to lean a hand on the knob. "You are well aware that you're in my room, right?" He drawled meaningfully.

She held her hands up in front of her immediately aware of the mischievous flash in his eyes. "Yah. First time here. Nice room by the way but I think I better go . . . check on the pigs."

"Not so fast, Gabi. Do you really think I would let this pig incident pass with you laughing at my expense?" He couldn't help smirking at the way she instantly tempered her laughter and her body tensed when he pushed the door shut and locked it.

"Troy … we talked about this and you agreed …"

"Agreed to what exactly?" He took a step toward her.

She took a step back, warily looking sideways and behind her for a chance to get away. "T-That we will get to know each other …"

He took another purposeful step forward, enjoying her apprehension. "And we are. So you should know by now that I'm not very patient with certain things and I don't really appreciate being laughed at."

"I said I was sorry! You're overreacting!" She said, moving two steps back hoping to increase the distance between them before she could ease past him then out the door. But she over estimated her space from the bed. The backs of her knees hit the mattress on her second back step causing her to fall butt first on the dark blue bedspread.

It didn't take long for him to stand directly in front of her. "And that was a bad move, Gabi." A half smiled teased his lips as he quickly grabbed her arms and wrestled her down on the bed then without warning began tickling her sides.

Gabriella's initial anxiety over the unmistakable sneakiness in his eyes was replaced by a loud shriek and the realization that he was only teasing her. "Troy! Stop! Have mercy!" She screeched, trying her best to wiggle free from under his weight and his mobile fingers that were connected to her sides.

He paused as if considering her plea but kept her pinned on the bed. "Hmm … not sincere enough." He said staring down at her with a wily smirk then moved his fingers again.

"I'm sorry!" She laughingly exclaimed twisting her upper body and pushing against his chest with one hand and the other grabbing a plump pillow to whack him with. But it didn't deter him one bit, in fact it made him double his efforts in tickling her. When she couldn't take it anymore, she bellowed, "Troy! I'll do anything you want! Just stop please!"

He did stop. But not because she apologized. "You mean that? You'll do anything I want?"

"Anything except that!" She retorted slapping his shoulder. It doesn't take a genius to know the direction of his thoughts and taking into account their position on the bed with him on top of her, faces so close and their legs tangled together from the struggle earlier, it was not surprising to have that line of thinking.

Now that he stopped his assault on her sides, she couldn't rebuff the amazing feel of his weight on her. But she strengthened her resolve to keep herself from grabbing his face and kissing those amazing lips of his. Reminding herself that if she did that, especially with the convenience of the bed, it wouldn't end like that one time in the studio. And right at this stage of their friendship, she doesn't want sex to ruin it.

He must have sensed her thoughts as his piercing blues gazed directly into her brown eyes but didn't remark on it, instead he muttered with an exaggerated sigh, "You're no fun."

"You get horny even when its pigs were talking about." She said finding the thought funny again. "That's just gross, Troy."

He smiled at her tactic to turn the subject back to the pigs to keep the sexual tones at bay. He shrugged carelessly. "Whatever you say, Gabi. But you'll spend today with me."

He felt himself his pulse quicken when she ran her tongue over her plump bottom lip then said. "Is that an order? You know I hate being ordered around."

"It's a demand." He stated complacently but deep down he was having trouble keeping his hands steady. The feel of her satin smooth skin beneath his fingertips was too good to pass up a chance for him to caress. But he welcomed the torture as long as he can keep her pinned on his bed for a little bit longer. "And its non negotiable considering the shock you put me through with that damn pig."

She cackled at the mention of the pig, but he could see that she was agreeable to his demand. "Fine. You win. I'll call the studio. I'm yours for today."

"Yeah . . . mine."


Instead of going out to eat, Troy decided they have lunch in the house which came as a shock to every servant of the household who never thought they'd see a day when their master and mistress would be in each others presence.

The household staff rushed to get the elegant dining area ready for the very first lunch that the couple will share. The table which can seat twenty four people was wiped clean and polished twice. The floral arrangement at the center was replaced with fresh colorful blooms from the mansions own garden. Plates, utensils and wine glasses were carefully chosen and meticulously inspected by the head staff and set up adjacently on one side of the long table instead of on opposite ends as is customary. The staff was overjoyed and eager to make the couple's lunch a pleasant one.

But there was none more thrilled than the plump and kindly cook herself, Mrs. Lewis who has been employed by Troy's grandfather when Alicia Bolton was five months pregnant with Troy. She had always cooked for Troy and had grown to care for him like he was her own son.

She was saddened by the way Troy's marriage turned out and had given up hope in ever seeing it fixed. So when she was told that the two were having lunch in the house, Mrs. Lewis nearly fell off the kitchen stool in her excitement to be able to finally show off her cooking skills for Troy and his wife. She prepared an impressive feast that was meant to wow and satisfy the couple's taste buds. And hopefully make them realize that they should spend more time together than go out with other people who have nothing to do with their marriage.

From the appetizer of seared duck foie gras with date and lemon marmalade to the main course of salmon, parsley, porcini and potato fricassee and beef tenderloin, Gabriella's eyes livened up and her lips formed a wide smile, obviously pleased by what was being laid out on the table.

Troy chuckled at the notable dishes knowing that Mrs. Lewis outdid her self for this lunch. The food were worthy of first class restaurant menus. "Send my compliments to the cook." He told one of the servants who eagerly smiled and nodded.

"Medium bodied Pinot Noir for the salmon and Cabernet Sauvignon for the tenderloin. Excellent." Gabriella commented on the choice of wines that were chilling on the side. "Sauternes go well with foie gras. Do we have that?"

"We have it. How do you know so much about wines?" Troy inquired amused by her knowledge of what wine is best suited for their meal.

She gave him a slight frown. "You forget that the orchard and tea farm you now own was my parent's favorite vacation place. I spent a lot of time there up until my teens. I have first hand Wine and Tea 101 lessons. And the chemistry that goes into making them always did interest me."

"Ah, typical nerd interests." He teased as he dismissed the servants from waiting on them. He doesn't want people listening to their conversation.

"I thought you liked nerds."

"I do. I like your nerdiness the most."

"I'm afraid to ask why." She rolled her eyes at the sexual undertones and sunk her teeth into a piece of salmon.

He gave her a grin and offered a bite sized portion of beef stuck to his own fork. "Try it. It's good." He said, keeping the fork near her lips to feed her the meat.

She opened her mouth a little self consciously and smiled at him while chewing the meat. She showed him a thumb up sign to say the beef is indeed tasty like what he said.

Swallowing, she cut a piece of salmon, forked it with a mushroom and offered the same to him. "You're turn. Open wide."

He burst out in laughter but allowed her to feed him as well. "Awesome fish."

They carried on eating the delicious meal while engaging in friendly talk and good-natured banter. They were no longer consciously trying to get to know each other. It came naturally like friends would.

Troy forgot the stress of the busy week he had. Gabriella forgot that Petunia and Toto's two hour stay in the mansion had already lapsed an hour ago. Anyone who would have walked in on them would not have guessed that they hated each other when they were married or that they haven't consummated their marriage yet. One look at them eating, offering food to the other, smiling and staring, unconsciously leaning their bodies toward the other and openly flirting would make one conclude they are indeed a newly wed couple.

Months before, Troy never considered it possible for him to gain contentment from merely talking and playfully arguing with her. But over the course of a few days, a lot has changed in their relationship and his preference. And he would be lying to say he didn't like it.

The only thing that didn't change is his sexual desire for her. He had to temper it in favor of getting to know her but it was still there. It refused to wane and probably with her constant presence in his head, it never will.

"You know, ever since my mom died and my dad remarried, I made it a habit to eat alone or just eat out with Sharpay or with my staff at the studio." She suddenly blurted after a moment companionable silence. "This . . . is a first for me in a while."

He glanced at her, placed down the knife and fork and dabbed the napkin to his lips. "I regularly go to Albuquerque for gatherings with extended family members in attendance but this is actually the most enjoyable meal I've shared with someone."

Her gaze dropped to her unfinished dish. "Me too." She admitted, her voice almost inaudible.

A ghost of a smile slid across his lips as he reached out for his glass of wine. "We should do this more often."

She looked back at him and nodded, "Yeah."

"Let's make a toast."

"To what?"

Troy grabbed his wine glass again while Gabriella followed suit. "To a day of firsts." He said raising his glass. "You were in my room for the very first time, then you were on my bed—another first time—and this, our very first lunch together here in the house."

He could see the reasons he stated for the toast threw her a little off balance but she showed him a bright smile and clinked her own glass to his. "To a day of firsts." She repeated.

"And for more firsts to come." He winked.

"Don't push it, Bolton." She warned jokingly, smiling at him over the rim of the wine glass.