Chapter 34: This one is mine

Twelve months later:

"We have four days to ourselves and what do we do? Go to some charity event!" Gabriella said and brushed through her locks. "To make us public. Like they don't already know that we are together! I mean, parents must have seen you picking up the twins. Just like I picked them up at times. This is crazy."

"If they knew, then there would have been thousands of rumors of us hooking up all over the internet."

"Now you can't deny that there aren't any rumors."

"Of course there are rumors. There always will be rumors. But fact is, that there is no proof." he said and looked at her.

"But tonight, they'll get the proof." she said and looked out of the car window.

"Are you nervous?" Troy asked her.

The brunette turned her head to her boyfriend, facing away from the moving images. "Are you?"

He shook his head, "No." he answered and squeezed her hand softly.

"Then I am not nervous either." she said smiling before she turned her head around, to look out of the car window again.

"You seem nervous."

"Well, I am not." she answered as she watched the skyscrapers.

"We can still turn around and drive back. We don't have to do this." he explained.

She sighed, "We have to do this. Otherwise the press will keep on writing some horrible stuff about Emily's and Johny's parents. You want them to read that in a couple of years? I don't. And I rather do this at a charity event than at some Award show. Because we both know that this will create major media attention. So let's use this attention for something good. Like the help for kids who have cancer. It's a good decision. We made a good decision. It's gonna be a good night. Hectic and stressfull, but it will be a good one. Because once we are out there, I'm gonna forget all this mixed emotions I am feeling right now. I'm gonna seize the moment, enjoy it. Because it will be the first and last time I will be in the spotlight like that."

He nodded, "So you..."

"I've never been one who wants to have all the attention on her. I am fine by working in the background and giving back to those who need help the most. And I know that you are the opposite of me. You need to go out every once in a while. And you will, but just not with me. Because I don't like those Awards shows or Grammy's or Oscars or whatever. This is not my world. My world is right here. With you." she explained and the car stopped.

"Are you ready?" he asked her after a couple of seconds.

The brunette nodded, "Let's do this." she said before the door opened and Troy stepped out first.

The paparazzi's screamings made their way into Gabriella's ear. But she was not afraid. Not of this. Not with him.

Troy helped her getting out of the car and they were greeted by even more screaming paparazzi.

"Mr. Bolton! Over here!"

"Miss Montez! One smile!"

"At least they know that we are not married." she whispered into her boyfriend's ear and he smiled.

"It's still bothering you, isn't it?"

"Oh shut up!" Gabriella said and hit him slightly. Both laughed, making the flash lights appear even more often.

"You wanna take pictures?" he asked her.

"No." she answered simply and walked hands in hands to the entry. She tried to ignore all the screaming and those awfull flashlights, but it was hard.

Once both were in she brushed through her dark brown locks, "That was our first and last public appearance."

"Okay..." he accepted her decision. As long as he had one appearance with her, it was enough. "Let's do some charity." he suggested.

The brunette nodded, "Finally something which we can actually look forward to."

The dark blonde man raised an eyebrow, "Oh so you enjoy that your boyfriend will fall under the hammer in one hour?"

The brunette smile, "Yes, I love sharing you." she answered and stuck out her tongue before she hugged him, "Come on, it's for children with cancer. Besides, I can have one evening without you."

"Now what's that's suppose to mean?"

"Nothing." she answered and bit her lip, "Absolutely nothing."

"Mhm..." he said before he put his arm around her waist and they started to actually go in.

The ball room was decorated beautifully. The room was held in a light golden and white color. Tables with dishes were all over the room, a stage was in front. Above it was a sign, saying Menforgoodwill.

"Are you gonna bid for me?" he asked her as they walked over to their table.

The brunette shrugged, "Maybe."

"My girlfriend's answer is Maybe? Seriously?" he asked her, "Isn't there at least a little bit of jealousy when you think of me and another woman on a date?"

She shook her head, "Not a bit. You wanna know why?"

He nodded.

"Because I know that no matter how hot or how stinky that woman is going to be, you will come home after the date. You will come back to me. That's why I'm not jealous. Because you are mine and you always will be."

"And what if she's your twin sister?" he asked her, making the brunette laugh.

"Then I think I would have to have a serious talk with her." she answered and laughed again.

"Are you bidding for someone else then?"

She shrugged and nodded towards a man in a group, "You see that man in the dark grey suit?"

"Andrew Anderson. What about him?"

"I want to bid for him. I need to have one evening with him."

"Say WHAT?"

She giggled, "Chill. He's the manager of a newcomer. I heard a song from her on the internet. That girl's got some talent. And I would love to get her to sign with us. It would be good for the company."

"And you say I am all about work and no play. You're quite a workaholic yourself, Miss."

"Never said I wasn't..." she said grinning. "You think I am going to be able to get him?"

Her boyfriend shrugged, "He definitely has some style. It may be hard, considering all those single women here."

"Right, they either want you or him." she said and laughed.

"But then again, you're an eyecatcher as well..."

"Troy Bolton?" a female voice asked and they both turned around.

"Melinda!" Troy said and hugged the woman, "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you. You have been absent from those events lately." the green eyed woman said to him and looked to Gabriella, "Oh, I'm Melinda Clark."

"Gabriella-"

"Montez. I know." the brunette woman said with a smile on her lips, "Nice to finally meet you, Gabriella." she answered. "Listen, are you going to fall under the hammer this time? Just think about Jessica and Amanda..."

"Unfortunatly, yes."

"Oh but I'm sure that Gabriella is going to bid for you as well."

"I don't think so." he answered.

"Why's that?" Melinda asked surprised, "I wouldn't have expected that Troy Bolton's girlfriend won't want to bid for him."

Gabriella shrugged, "Guess I'm full of surprises."

"Wait, you're bidding for someone else, aren't you?"

The brunette shrugged again, "Maybe, maybe not."

Melinda turned to Troy, "I like her. She's mysterious. Just what you need, Troy Bolton."

Troy smiled.

"Well, I guess I should be going now. I have to find my plus one... He has to be somewhere around..." Melinda said and walked away, "Nice seeing you again."

"So how do you like it so far?" he asked her as they got seated.

The brunette smiled, "It's not as bad as I thought it would be. Who's Melinda?"

"Is there someone jealous?" he asked her.

"No. Just wondering how you guys met."

"Aha..."

"So?"

"Huh?"

"How did you guys meet?"

"We're old friends. Met back in college. She studied Medicine."

"Did you..."

"No, we did not hook up. We're friends. Always have been, probably always will be."

"How close?"

"Not that close. We enjoy each other's company. It's easy to talk to her. But we lost contact after graduation. She went her way and I went mine."

"And now you guys meet at charity events."

"And now we meet at charity events." he echoed and kissed her.

"5.000 going once, going twice; sold for 5.000$!" the auctioneer said and hammered on the lectern. "Pay your money and get that man."

A man with dark brown hair, bright blue eyes and a black suite left the stage with a grin on his face.

"Next one is the famous Troy Bolton. Now we all know that you ladies want a piece of him. Just don't start a fight." the auctioneer, Charles, said as Troy walked on the stage. "Let's start with 1.000 $."

"1.500!"

"2.000!"

"3.600!"

"4.000!"

"4.500!"

"You're really not bidding on your boyfriend. Impressive." Melinda said to Gabriella, who was sitting next to her, taking a sip of her champagne.

"No. Because I get him for free." Gabriella said and both women laughed.

"5.600!"

"6.200!"

"7.000!"

"Why aren't you bidding?" Gabriella asked her. "I mean, you guys could catch up. Talk about life, take a ride down the memory lane..."

Melinda smiled, "I'm waiting until those newly-rich women reach their limit. Then I am going to get him. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh no, I don't mind."

"10.000!"

"35.000!"

"40.000!"

"I guess you got yourself a hottie." another woman said to Gabriella, "Cecilia."

"Gabriella, nice to meet you." the brunette introduced herself with a soft smile.

"50.000!"

Suddenly silence filled the room.

"Alright, 50.000 going once, 50.000 going twice..."

"80.000!" a woman in the back screamed, holding up her sign with the number 308. She was wearing a dark red silk dress and she had black locks. Her eyes were chocolate brown and she was definitely from Latin America.

"What about you? I thought you wanted to bid as well." Gabriella whispered to Melinda.

"I'm not paying more than 80.000. A woman's gotta have a limit." Melinda explained.

Gabriella looked at Troy, who stared at the woman in the back.

"80.000 going once, going twice... And sold for 80.000$ to number 308!" Charles announced with a grin on his face.

"Well, well, I hope that there isn't someone worried about her boy toy." Cecilia sang into Gabriella's ear.

"Next one is Andrew Anderson, everyone. Ladies keep your hands steady, you wanna bid on this one." Charles said as the man in the dark grey suite walked up on the stage.

"Oh this one is mine..." Gabriella whispered.

"8.000!"

"10.000!"

"15.000!"

"25.000!"

"25.200!"

"They are reaching their limits..."

"Just wait a couple more seconds."

"25.400!"

"25.600!"

"25.650!"

"26.000!" Gabriella screamed holding up her number, 307.

"26 going once, going twice..."

"30.000!" the woman in the back screamed again. It was number 308.

"She already has my boyfriend. What, she wants my target now as well?" Gabriella asked helplessly. "35.000!"

"36.000!"

"37.000!"

"38.000!"

"40.000!" Gabriella yelled, making the woman in the back finally close her mouth.

"40 going once, going twice... And sold to number 307." Charles announced. "Alright ladies. That was our last. Come back next time."

Charles leaving was followed with several clappings.

"Guess, I'm gonna get my man right now." Gabriella said and got up.

"Why were you bidding on him anyways?" Melinda asked her.

"Business plans." she answered grinning.

"So, what does it take to conquer Troy Bolton's heart?" the brunette said in a seductive voice at the dinner table.

Troy Bolton smiled back. Why not flirt? It wasn't hurting anyone, was it? "It may be a lot or it may be nothing at all."

The woman took a sip of her white wine. "Why is the hottest bachelor still lonely?"

"Who said I am lonely?"

"How is live in the spotlight?"

The man shrugged and took a sip of his red wine, "What would you like to know?"

Gabriella was sitting at one of the fancy restaurants she had never been to, because she couldn't understand how people would spend 200$ on a salad. But she was here because she had business to do. And nothing but that.

"So why did you bid on me, Miss Montez?"

"Gabriella. And I have my reasons, Mr. Anderson."

"It's Andrew for you." he said and stared into the brunette's eyes. They had something special. You could get lost in those chocolate brown eyes. "So your reasons are...?"

"Well, it has nothing to do with my personal life, to be honest. I heard that you are the manager of Lana Del Rey." she answered.

The man's smile got bigger, "Of course the record companies are already after her..."

"I heard her song on the internet. She has talent. Potential I could work with. Make her a star."

"That's what they all say, Gabriella." Andrew said, sighing.

"But you know that I don't lie. I'm making stars with my songs." Gabriella said in the man's green eyes, "Give me some time with her and her next single will be a number one hit for at least 12 weeks. I guarantee you that. I stick to my words, Andrew." Gabriella ensured him as she took a sip of her water. "You know my work. Everyone does. There is not one song in the top ten right now, which wasn't written by me. I am excellent at what I do. So trust me."

"Mhm, you do have a good reputation. Although you are rarely in the spotlight, you seem to be working in the background just fine." he thought out loud.

The man sighed, "Alright. I give you a chance."

"Great. Let's meet up in a week. The contact will be ready by then." she said with a smile on her lips. "I'll make sure the office calls you."

"Why don't we get a little personal now after all this business talk, Gabriella?" he asked with a seductive smile on his lips.

The brunette opened the door of her mansion and was greeted by darkness and silence. He wasn't home yet.

She switched on the lights in the corridor and kicked off her shoes. Her thoughts were on their children. They must've had a good day with Ashley and Scott, her new boyfriend. Last time she spoke with them, they were at the zoo. They love the zoo.

Gabriella walked into the kitchen of the huge house and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. This night didn't turn out to be fun atall. I mean, yeah she got what she wanted. She would sign the new artist... But that Anderson guy definitely couldn't help but flirt with her the rest of the evening. He even tried to kiss her. But Gabriella turned him down - friendly, but yet she turned him down.

Gabriella walked to the pool and sat down on a chair, staring at the stars. It was a beautiful night. The stars were shining clearly down at her. She loved nights like this.

She heard the door opening. Seconds later the door shut close and she heard footsteps in the house. Gabriella got off and walked back inside. "Hi." she greeted her boyfriend.

"You look hot tonight. Have I told you that?"

"You haven't. But I don't need to hear that from you." she said, eyeballing him. "How was your evening?"

Instead of giving her an answered he walked towards her and kissed her passionately. She tasted the alcohol. She tasted the 5.000$ wine in his mouth. And she felt his lust. His drunken lust for her. And she also felt his hands already unzipping her green dress.

She let go. "I won't have sex with you-"

He ignored that and kissed her again. His lips kissed her eagerly.

She pushed him away. "You are drunk. And I won't sleep with you when you are drunk. We both know that you are not yourself once you've drunken alcohol."

"I am not drunk, Gabriella."

"You don't have to admit it, but I know. I taste and see that you have drunken alcohol, Troy." she said and brushed through her dark brown locks. "I guess you enjoyed your evening then. I'm glad you liked it." she said into his shocked face before she started to walk up the stairs.

"You know, " he yelled after her, "if I wanted to have sex right now, I could have gotten it from Amber!"

"I'm not talking to you right now." she said in a cold voice. Amber was probably the woman who bid on him.

"She would want to!"

"Then go back to her for Christ's sake!" Gabriella yelled back from the first level. "You want sex? Get it somewhere else, Troy. Because there is no way we will have sex tonight. You want her? Go get her! You can have anyone you want. Anyone!" she explained to him.

"But I don't want her! I want you! I want you right now right here. But of course you have to be all diffucult and refusal on me!" he yelled at her.

"You know what? I'm not doing this. You can sleep in the guest room. There is no way I am fighting with you right now. Not when you're in this state."

"You have to accept that side of me as well, Gabriella! Because this is who I am!" he said as he walked up the stairs.

"I accept it, Troy. I know who you are. I know all sides of you. And I still love you. No matter how horrible you act towards me."

"Then I don't see your problem."

"I accept them, but that doesn't mean I have to sleep with you." she answered and walked towards their bedroom.

He stood there, unable to move. "I don't get you!"

The brunette did not respond with words. Instead she shut the door of the bedroom close. Leaving Troy Bolton all alone in the corridor of their mansion. The drunk man stood there for a couple more minutes, before he walked into one of their guestrooms.

A new chapter and a new link for the house, since the last one didn't work.

New link: .com/realestateandhomes-detail/815-Cima-Del-Mundo-Rd_Santa-Barbara_CA_93108_M11314-34723?ex=CA521581744&cmid=1017590&source=web

Please review :)

Xoxo Nic