Author's Note: Many thanks to rungirl60 and Bluesapphire2284 and special thanks with love to jameni and artemidoula for reviewing! You're loved!
And here is the latest chapter!

Gabrielle placed Pongo onto the carpeted floor softly. She unzipped it and watched as her companion popped his head out to investigate. She giggled as Pongo attempted to free himself from his carry bag.

"You brought Pongo" she heard the almost melodic voice of her new boss. Josef. "I hope he is toilet trained" the old vampire watched eerily as the white dog sniffed around the plain room.

Gabrielle just rolled her eyes "Of course he is Josef" she smiled up at him as he leaned himself over her desk. "besides you love him and wouldn't have him any other way" Josef wanted to deny that but before he could even speak, Pongo padded up beside his leg and barked happily at seeing the familiar vampire's face. Gabrielle giggled at Josef's expression "he likes you Josef" she teased.

Josef flashed her a charming smile "Who doesn't?" Gabrielle laughed merrily and Josef winked at her as Pongo ran off to investigate more "What did our good pal Mick say about you working here?" Josef asked casually although they both knew he was dying to know. Josef studied her features carefully. She has beautiful eyes and a cute nose. Josef thought taking in her face for memory. He breathed her scent in quickly remembering it forever. Absolutely beautiful. He sighed almost dreamily.

Gabrielle watched Josef amused as he stared at her. She could see why women would fawn over him. Josef was absolutely handsome. Mmm delicious body and those sexy smiles. She thought as she watched her boss. And oh those eyes. Gabrielle knew she could fall in love with Josef but she couldn't do that. There were too many things in her mind right now and falling in love? Ha that would be the last thing I need. She sadly reminded herself but a smirk came to her lips. But just sleeping with Josef could be alright. Scratch some itches.

"Micky doesn't like you and me together much" Gabrielle answered with a casual shrug of her shoulders. Josef rolled his eyes but couldn't help but feel hurt by his old friend "but that's Micky's own opinion, personally," she drawled looking up at him from her long lashes and Josef felt himself get drawn into her "personally I think you and I will be great" she grinned at him before answering the shrilling ring of the desk phone that interrupted them.

Josef swallowed. He finally knew Gabrielle was a minx and she was good at it. He wanted nothing more than to bend her over this desk and have his wicked ways with her. He knew she wouldn't object. Sexual tension was practically oozing out from her. Their sexual tension was so high a human could even smell it. Josef moaned quietly as images flashed quickly in his mind. Images of himself and Gabrielle everywhere in this building. I need a drink. Bad. He concluded as he observed his new employee.

Josef smirked and quickly appeared behind her his mouth hovering just at her ear. "Dinner tonight?" Josef felt Gabrielle lean back against him and his pants tightened. "Pick you up at 7" he added. When Gabrielle nodded, Josef disappeared so quickly into his room like a lightning flash, most likely to release his own frustration.

Poor Josef being played at his own game. Poor Josef finally becoming a victim although willingly.

Mick St. John stood under the shade watching Beth Turner as she went on her way to investigate the death of the dead body found in the alleyway. Sometimes he wondered whether the woman should consider a change in her career. Speaking of career made Mick think back to Gabrielle and her so called job with Josef Kostan. His best friend who had failed to mention that detail.

Mick was not jealous of Josef and Gabrielle getting close, no way, he was jealous of the fact that there was a greater chance of Gabrielle telling Josef of what she really was doing now living in Los Angeles. Gabrielle had never kept a secret from him before but the years apart had really changed her. She was different somehow; there was always something on her mind that Mick couldn't get right.

He sighed frustrated thinking back to his own declaration of love to Beth. Of course he loved Beth but in some way, Beth had reminded him of Gabrielle and having Beth around helped fill in the gap that Gabrielle left behind when she was away but somewhere along the way Mick found himself in love with Beth. He wasn't sure if he loved Beth because he knew Gabrielle would never love him that way in return or because he really loved Beth Turner for who she was.

Love is too complicate. Look where it got me in the first place he thought back to his first wife. He was trapped in an odd love triangle. There was a time before Beth turned up in his life where he knew he was in love with Gabrielle. There was that moment in both their lives where they decided to try dating but Gabrielle didn't feel the right 'sparks' as she had told him and they remained friends. Her feelings for him changed into sibling love while his feelings remained the same.

"Mick," Beth's soft voice broke him from the past as he stared down at her. The love in her eyes was so clear to him he felt guilty from keeping such a secret from her. "What do you think?"she asked looking back over the entrance of the alleyway that was taped off.

His mind was nowhere near this crime scene it was still trapped in that love triangle he somehow tangled himself in. Their relationship had not changed, they were still dancing along the edge but he knew Beth wanted to move forward yet she didn't want to face a reality where he might deny her love and Mick wasn't sure whether he wanted to move forward with their relationship. He wanted time to sort out his own feelings with Gabrielle. I'm so screwed.

"Just another feeding," he gave her a gruff answer as Beth nodded slowly. Mick winced inwardly at his answer. He was acting odd and almost giving her a cold shoulder again. He needed to get away before he made a big mistake that could jeopardize everything that he and Beth has – whatever that everything is. "I'll give you a call, this sunlight is really strong," he lied as the sun was harmless today but he needed to talk to someone quickly, anyone that wasn't Beth but preferably Gabrielle.

"O-ok then," Beth replied back confused and hurt at his quick escape. Mick flashed her a smile before disappearing away with his quick speed.

He looked up at the building where he knew Josef and Gabrielle were currently in. A few vampire guards were standing guard around various points of the property giving him nods of acknowledgement as he walked pass them. He marched straight to Josef's office when he noticed that the front desk was empty and only Pongo was seen sleeping in his own little corner.

Gabrielle was giggling; he could hear her sweet laugh through the walls. "Lunch break for me Josef," he heard Gabrielle announce to her boss who readily agreed to take her. "It wouldn't a lunch if you're sitting there and staring at me eating Josef," Mick winced at the teasing tone she was using with Josef. The door threw open as Mick came to a stop, "OH! Hey Micky!" Gabrielle flashed him a grin.

Josef stood behind Gabrielle also smiling at him. Mick had to smile back. The muscles in his face moved accordingly, "Hey Gabrielle, Josef." He gave his friend a nod. Their eyes met but Mick quickly looked away and back down at Gabrielle who still grinned up at him, her cheeks slightly flush with what emotion he wasn't sure, "I need to borrow Gabrielle real quick," he informed both Josef and Gabrielle.

Josef scowled but wiped that away only nodding as Gabrielle nodded slowly; unsure of what really was going on. "Thanks," Mick flashed his friend a smile before pulling onto Gabrielle.

"Micky?" even her voice made him wanted to swoon. Fuck. Was all Mick could really think. This is not going to end well for me. He knew he didn't stand a chance but in some depressing part of him, he wanted to hear what Gabrielle thought of him, if his love for her were returned or did they have to stop at a certain point and for him to move on? "Is everything ok?" she asked as he somehow dragged her far away from her new workplace and towards the nearest empty diner.

Now or never. Mick thought determinedly as he flashed her a pained smile.

"There's something I need to talk to you about," he watched Gabrielle's smile fade away and he felt guilty again. Mick didn't want her to stop smiling because smiling made her beautiful and it reminded him of Beth or did Beth smiling made him think of Gabrielle?

Don't chicken out now Mick. He spoke to himself. Tell her! It's your only chance.

"Gabrielle, I-I love you,"

Review Response:

artemidoula: Hey! Thanks for reviewing and I know this is probably not the amount of fluff you want to see between Josef and Gabrielle - for it's too less but there's more to come in the future for the story has yet to end! But do tell me if this is enough to satisfy you for now. :)

jameni: wow! such a long review it makes me happy and feel loved! :) Thanks heaps! But that's the plus side of being the author since I know what's going on and you being the reader has to wait for the plot to unfold itself but this chapter should explain the relationship in some way. If it doesn't do tell me. :) And questions help me make the story into something better. So questions and reviews makes me and you happy! :)