Thank you for review averyone, sorry for the lack of author's notes, not sure if you're bothered or not lol. Just been very tired lately and resting lots. I also realised I have two characters names Ryan in this story- Ryan Grinchley the journalist and Ryan Evans, Troy's friend. Just a warning as they both feature in upcoming chapters though I think it's clear who is who ;)

Completely Alluring – I quote "Loved this chapter, well except for that rude whore who was at the ball.. Forgot her name…" – seriously, lmfao.

Mcs2533- don't we just?

Minixoxmya- thank you :)

Itsi- :D

Kaybaby- she's 26 :)

CHAPTER 10

Troy Bolton celebrated his record-breaking year last night by throwing an all-expenses paid party for his 1000 strong staff. The rumours about his love-life only continue to get stronger as he escorted his Arabian import; Gabriella Montez to the limo at the end of the night.

Bolton has been living with Montez since he brought her home at the end of his sabbatical and so far both of them have refused to answer questions about the basis of their relationship, leaving everyone guessing; but after last night, everyone seemed convinced the pair are couple, but are hiding it for reasons unknown.

Either way, whatever happens between Troy and his Arabian princess, Forbes will be featuring America's richest man on their front cover next week. It seems Bolton is the flavour of the moment and his selling power is not about to stop…

Gabi laid down the Sunday Times and bit into her toast, her frown lines deepening at the thought of Troy coming under pressure just for her presence alone.

"Hey, there you are," He came into the kitchen to find her curled up in a wooden chair and he sank his hand into her hair, kissing the top of her head before he got a glass of water and set the coffee maker.

"They wrote about us again."

He looked over, surprised. He'd almost forgotten about the press after the night he'd shared with Gabi.

"Awesome," he joked, coming over to scan the article that had her frowning.

"They make it out like I shouldn't be here…"

"Well, ignore them," Troy said, throwing the paper over his shoulder and leaning down to kiss her mouth. "I want you here."

Gabi swallowed, looking up furtively. "Do you think I can get a visa?"

"You already have one," Troy assured easily, heading over to make his coffee.

"I do?"

"Yeah, I applied when we got back."

"And it came through already?" she queried.

"Yeah, all clear." He nodded.

"What if I didn't work for you?" She wondered.

Troy sat with his mug of coffee and pursed his lips. "Do you want to leave already?"

"Someone told me you paid for me to stay here…that my visa isn't real…"

"Who told you that?"

"Does it matter?"

Troy sighed, pushing his coffee away. "Look, I have influence, okay? I'm not going to pretend…"

Gabi closed her eyes and winced at his admission. "This isn't what I wanted…"

"Then what do you want, Brie? Because I will make it happen, whatever you want…" he promised.

"I want to be here on my own terms; not have my freedom bought. It's no worse than buying me for slavery."

"Gabi, I secured your freedom. What is so wrong with that?"

"You could have told me!"

"And have this? Have you sitting there wondering how you can repay yet another 'debt'? A debt that means nothing to me. A debt that doesn't even exist in my mind…"

"I shouldn't be here, Troy. Millions of people apply for a visa every day and mine was bought. How do you think that makes me feel?" She stood up, flung her arms out and let the tears wash down her cheeks.

He heaved a heavy breath in and looked to the table. "Like you're owned."

"I just can't live with that on my conscience…" she headed for the doorway, but not before he spoke.

"Gabi, just know something before you go…" he called, pausing her. "Those people, the ones I 'bought' your freedom from…you should know they owe me, too. Only I decided to cash in that debt because believe me, they don't play by the rules and it's about time they gave something back to me. So don't go thinking I did this with some twisted logic in my mind. They came to me. I just didn't say no."

She swallowed and kept walking; right into her room.

/

"Oh my god, what happened?"

Sharpay opened her door to a tearful Gabriella.

"I left, I walked out," the small girl hitched on heavy sobs and Sharpay immediately welcomed her in; hugging her to comfort her.

"Why, what happened?" The blonde wondered.

"We had a fight."

Sharpay raised her brows and o'd her lips but luckily the petite Arabian couldn't see her.

"What about?"

Gabi winced and took a few breaths to try and think of an acceptable lie.

"He didn't like my cleaning," she blurted, cringing at her own words.

"What?" Sharpay pulled back and looked into her face. "Why on earth not?"

"He said…" Gabi gasped. "He said he liked it messy; that he was a single guy and I made it too nice. He said I made it too girly."

"Isn't that why he hired you?" Sharpay puzzled, sensing there was more to this than Gabi was letting on.

Gabi looked up with big brown eyes and wondered how wise it was to blame the entire fight on Troy when he hadn't really done anything. Other than illegally arrange for her to stay in the country…

"I said some things too…" She admitted shamefully.

"So you should," Sharpay frowned then moved for her phone, to call Troy.

"No! Don't call him," Gabi begged.

"Too late," Sharpay's brow rose as she dialled and tapped her foot at the same time.

"I just want some space…" Gabi murmured to herself.

"Troy? This is Shar, your best friend from High School. Get your ass over here when you get this." She hung up. "Voicemail." She told Gabi.

Gabi nodded, grateful for that much as Sharpay brought her into her home and settled her on the sofa.

"Do you want a drink? Tea, coffee?"

Gabi shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself.

"Hey, don't worry, it'll sort itself out," Sharpay assured, rubbing her back consolingly.

"What if it doesn't?" Gabi's brown eyes were so large and empty and Sharpay struggled for words of comfort. When he wanted to be, Troy could be really stubborn.

"It will. I'll kick his ass and make sure of it," she said before heading out to get a blanket and a glass of water for her guest.

"Thank you, Shar. I didn't know where else to go."

"You're welcome, hun. Just relax there and keep warm; you look kinda pale…"

Gabi shivered. "Yeah it is kind of cold isn't it?" She wrapped the blanket around her as Sharpay rose to put the heating up.

"I'll make you a tea to warm you up."

/

"Is she here?"

The strain showed on Troy's face and Sharpay almost cracked at the desolate look in his blue eyes; but she lifted her chin and held her resolve.

"I cannot believe you said that to her!" Sharpay whispered angrily.

"Said what?" Troy frowned; sweat beading on his skin at the thought that Gabi had exposed him to his friend.

"You mean you don't remember?" The blonde accused incredulously.

"A lot has happened…" he mused.

"She was in floods of tears when she got here, you should be ashamed of yourself!"

"Shar, what did I do?"

"Don't pretend with me, Troy Alexander Bolton. She told me everything."

Troy sighed and wiped a hand over his face. "Well I wish someone would tell me so I could fix this…"

"You told her she couldn't clean! And that she was in your way! Like you're some fancy free bachelor who wants to live in a pig sty, well then why bring her back, huh? Why put her through all that just to send her away?"

Troy let out a shocked breath. "That's what she said?"

"Oh for god's sake stop being a total guy and get in here…" Shar grasped his forearm and dragged him inside.

"Is she okay? Does she hate me?" He wondered as Shar marched him through to the kitchen, right by Gabi who was laid on the sofa, seemingly sleeping.

"You broke her heart, Troy, don't you see? You're not a bachelor anymore. You have Gabi. And by criticising her skills; you broke her heart."

"We're not together, Shar…" He frowned.

"Bullshit!" Shar jabbed her finger into his chest, taking him by surprise. "You should be!"

"Just let me go talk to her," he twisted toward the living room.

"Not until I've kicked your ass properly," Shar smarted.

"Shar, I get it, okay?" Troy looked into her eyes. "Do you really think I want to stand here and tell you how I feel about my house-maid?"

"No, but you better or I'm not letting your ass anywhere near her…"

Troy sighed out. "Look what makes you think she feels anything for me, anyway? When she walked out, she looked like she wasn't coming back."

Sharpay pressed one side of her mouth in and squinted her eyes. "If you can't see that that girl is totally in love with you; then you're stupider than I thought…"

He licked his lips and blinked his eyes down. "She's not in love with me. She's never been in love and it's too soon anyway."

"Bullshit," she said again, this time more softly, grasping his arms to force him to look at her. "You both are, you just don't know it yet."

"Shar?" Gabi's weak voice came from the living room and Troy went to answer her call.

"Stay here," Sharpay told him firmly, attending Gabi's call herself.

"What's up, sweetie?" Sharpay asked her.

"I heard voices…" The dark haired girl frowned confusedly and Sharpay noticed the sheen of sweat on her skin.

"You look ill, honey, do you feel ok?"

"Achy," Gabi sighed, then flopped back down.

"Look, Troy is here, okay? That's who you heard talking." Shar mentioned softly as she tested Gabi's forehead.

"He's here?" The girl tried to sit up but couldn't.

"Just relax, okay. I'm not letting him see you until you're ready."

"I feel weird…" Gabi closed her eyes and sighed again.

"I think you have the 'flu." Shar diagnosed.

"Troy had the flu…" she murmured and Shar had to smile.

"I see. I'll get you more blankets, just rest, Gabi."

"Well, is she okay?" Troy practically shot off his leaning post against the counter as Shar reappeared.

"She has your flu." Shar stated. "Now tell me you two are not involved….."

/

Troy watched Gabi from across the room. It was as close as Shar would let him get and it annoyed the hell out of him but he had to play by her rules.

She didn't know why he and Gabi were really fighting and he owed it to them both to keep his distance.

But she looked so beautiful laid there sleeping, free of make up, her curls all tugged up into a bun while her soft lips parted to breathe.

He wanted to kiss those lips again and he had a lot of work to do if he was going to make that happen but right now he just wanted to hold her. And soothe her pain; like she had his just days ago.

"Just let me sit next to her and put her feet in my lap;" Troy begged his friend as she sat and filed her nails.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't trust you, Troy."

"You've known me since High School," he argued.

"I thought I knew you. The Troy I know would never hurt anyone deliberately…"

"I never meant to hurt her, that's the thing…"

"Well. You did." She stated.

"So let me make it right and take care of her."

"Not until she says its ok."

"How come you're on Gabi's side anyway?" He grumbled.

"Because."

"Because? That's an answer?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Wouldn't I?"

"It's girl stuff." Shar lifted her blue eyes to his.

"So fifteen years of friendship means nothing between us?"

"Don't even try and compare," she squinted. "You play football and boss me around all day. Gabi is my girl."

"Your girl?" He repeated annoyingly.

"God, Troy," She exasperated, standing. "We just hit it off, from the word go. And I know how vulnerable she is. I see it."

"So do I."

"Then don't hurt her," she begged.

"I didn't mean to, how many times do I have to say it?"

"I can hear you, you know," Gabi's sleep muffled voice piped up.

"Gabi," Shar quickly went over and stroked her arm.

"Can you not talk about me please?"

"I'm sorry, I was just kicking Troy's ass like I promised…"

"Troy?" Gabi called, rolling onto her back and rubbing her eyes.

"I'm here." He affirmed.

"You stayed?"

He had a million answers but he couldn't speak one of them.

"Do you need anything?" Sharpay checked.

Gabi blinked a few times to bring the blonde into focus.

"I think I'm ok."

"Good. Now do you want me to kick Troy's ass outta here? Because I will…"

"No it's ok. He can stay."

"Mm…okay. I'll go put some soup on…" Shar squinted at Troy before she left the room and he pursed his lips in chagrin.

"You told her I insulted your cleaning?" He mused now Shar was out of the room.

"It's the best I could think of…"

He sighed and swallowed as pain flickered across his face. "I'm sorry. For what I did. I really am…"

"Can we talk about this later?" Gabi begged, struggling to sit up, but managing and she sighed, too.

"Yes…yes of course…whatever you want…"

"Can I come home?" She looked up with those brown eyes that undid him and he couldn't have said no to her if he wanted to.

"Of course you can," his voice was soft and deep and the timbre of it reminded her of every feeling he awakened inside.

"Really, that'd be ok?" She checked.

"It's more than okay," he assured.

/

"God, can you hear me? Show me a sign; show me the way now because I can't see it. Should I go back?"

"Ehem," a throat clearing beside Gabi brought her head up; a frown on her face.

"Hi," Ryan Grinchley greeted her bashfully.

"Hi," she replied, not blinking.

"I haven't seen you out and about for a few days…" he led.

"I've been ill," Gabi swallowed, wondering how much of her prayer he had heard.

He nodded. "Are you better now?"

"Pretty much."

"I…uh…didn't realise you came here, too."

"It's quiet," she said simply, not wanting to give anything away.

"So, how about we go for that coffee?" He suggested.

"I don't think that's a good idea," she offered honestly. "But thank you for asking."

"I won't spill you know," he winked and gave a dimpled smile. "I just want to go for coffee…"

"I'm sorry, I can't." She excused, standing up to leave but she had to wait for him to move because he was blocking her into the pew.

"Excuse me, please," she said when he didn't move or speak.

"Look, just think about it," he murmured persuasively, leaning toward her.

"I said no," Gabi affirmed. "Please let me pass."

He didn't move for a minute and she felt her heart beat quicken and the tell-tale sheen of sweat coat her upper lip as the fear set in. He wasn't going to move, what should she do? Call for help? She flicked her eyes one way, then the other, looking for another escape.

"Are you sure you want to give up the opportunity to earn a lot of money?" Ryan murmured, his presence alone filling her with the old feeling of dread she was used to.

"You either move or I scream," she offered, her voice equally low and her eyes hard with strength.

Ryan blinked, then nodded and conceded to let her by.

"You're making a mistake…" he called as she made her way out of the empty church.

Gabi turned and looked at him for a moment and then walked out of the church.