Hey everybody! I am so, so, SO sorry for not updating for so long. My mother finally dismantled the computer…but it's been dismantled for so long! She's done it to paint…I get to do this chapter for you and then she has to dismantle it again! Gutting! But this story will continue, I just need you guys to be faithful and wait for my chapters! You know I update regular and this is an irregular thing for a little while. When the paintings finishes, which should be in three days, my updates will be frequent again! SORRY AGAIN!
Anyway, a lot of you have great ideas and I'll try to use some of them through my story so keep your eyes out for them. And to freakygeniusgirl12141, lol, I would never get annoyed with you for suggesting ideas. I'm actually considering your idea at some point! So keep your eyes open! Lol.
Chapter 9 – Daddies Gentle Words
IF Gabriella thought her life without Troy would be alright she was completely and utterly wrong! Gabriella soon began to realise that life without Troy was pretty lifeless and dull. Richard returned late in the night and passed out in bed, he didn't touch Gabriella; gosh he didn't look at her much to her relief. He simply dropped onto the bed and passed out. He had been drinking! Pathetic man.
Of course, that was over now. As soon as he had woke up he had smacked Gabriella across the face and demanded that she go and get the Christmas decorations. He gave her some money and she had driven off down to one of the shops that sold practically anything.
Gabriella looked at her money, Richard had money to burn, he had given her $150, she could easily run off. She could stay in some hotel for a night and then just leave…but then she thought of her father…his words of absolute dedication!
She walked into a store completely dripping with decorations and her face brightened into a large smile. It was beautiful. She walked up to a young shop assistant and smiled.
"Excuse me, 'She said in a timid voice, "Could you please point me to the Christmas tree's please?"
The young man overlooked her for a moment. Gabriella felt nervous under his stare.
"I don't mean to frighten you, its just…are you…Miss Gabriella Montez?" He inquired curiously.
"Yes." Gabriella replied, perplexed, wondering if she had once known him.
The youngsters face broke out into a beam, "Oh wonderful! Mr Bolton said that a lady by the name of Gabriella Montez would be stopping by soon and to give her everything free of charge!"
"Everything?" Gabriella queried feeling dizzy as the assistant nodded.
"Oh…well that's…unexpected, 'The brunette said, "I…I couldn't do that! I'd feel so guilty."
"No its fine, Mr Bolton personally went around to every store, Dinah, café, hotel…well practically every place in Sampoe Ski Lodges and demanded that if a lady called Gabriella Montez came by she was to have absolutely everything free of charge. Also, 'He said, noting the surprised look on her face, "If no – one listened or helped you out…they'd be fired!"
"I…I…where is Troy…um Mr Bolton?" Gabriella stammered still flabbergasted.
"He has business to attend to and won't be back until Tuesday." The assistant told her.
Gabriella was heart broken that Troy was gone, she saw him as a protector, someone to comfort her and when he wasn't near by, she felt unsafe!
The shop assistant must've seen her smile falter for he looked worried, "Are you alright ma'am?" He asked.
"Oh…ye…yes." Gabriella stammered.
"Great 'The Assistant, "If you'd just follow me, I'll show you our finest Christmas trees."
"Thank you." Gabriella said and she followed him across the shop, confusion crossing her mind. It hadn't occurred to her until now that Troy had been on her mind more in the past few weeks than Richard had ever been in the entire 'too many years' she had been with him!
GABRIELLA finally managed to drag all the trimmings and decorations home that evening though she could hardly argue that she wasn't tired! She was exhausted. To make it worse she knew she'd have to put them all up as soon as she got in too. Richard, the selfish pig, was a perfectionist.
She unwrapped the scarf from around her head as Lupin came prowling over and curled himself around her feet purring and nuzzling his Mistress lovingly.
"Hey Lupin! What have you been doing?" Gabriella crooned.
The cat meowed gently before darting into the kitchen, Gabriella smiled, he probably wanted food. She was about to follow him when she felt a hand grip her around her waist and she yelped in pain and panic.
"Took your time didn't you?" A raspy, cold breath said on her neck, she smelt alcohol.
She was turned and came face to face with a very drunk, very angry Richard.
"I…I got the…decore…decorations." Gabriella stammered.
"I don't care about the decorations." Richard snarled thrusting his mouth down on hers and kissing her hard and viciously.
"No! I…I don't want to." Gabriella screamed trying to pull away.
He smacked her hard across the face, "Listen here little girl, you're mine to control." Richard snarled, he snaked his hands up and down her body, "Do you see this, this is mine, everything about you is mine!"
He dragged her upstairs not faltering by her loud screams of protest. He threw her onto the bed and she whimpered trying to move away from him.
"Please, Richard…I'm…I'm…begging…you." She sobbed.
"You can beg all you want, 'Richard said, "I'll get what I want from you."
Gabriella saw a fist thrust into her face…and then it all went black.
THE light was bright, far brighter than anything she had seen before. She strained her eyes to see a strange figure walking slowly towards her. Wherever she was, the room was cold and dry. She rubbed her eyes and the figure moved closer.
"Who…who are you?" Gabriella queried faintly.
"Don't you know your own father?" The stranger chuckled.
"Papa?" Gabriella said perplexed.
The man laughed and the light from around him dimmed and he was standing before her looking well and robed in white. (lol, I know)
"Wh…I'm…I…how?" Gabriella stuttered.
"Everything is possible here Gabriella. I have seen your life. I have seen how you've committed yourself to Richard Sullivan." He exclaimed.
"Oh Papa, I don't think I can do it anymore. I'm just so tired all the time, I feel like I'm going –"
He cut her off.
"YOU MADE A COMMITMENT! YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IT!" Her father bellowed and she flinched.
"I want to…I really want to! Its just I feel I can't do it anymore and Troy…he's so –"
"And you should never be unfaithful." He screamed.
"How can you say that?" Gabriella spat and her father fell silent, she took advantage of the situation immediately.
"I have done nothing wrong, I have slaved away while Richard sleeps with countless girls, I have been raped continuously until I am sore to the brim, I have endured beatings and when someone shows me a little respect everything thinks its wrong!" Gabriella snapped.
"Listen to Daddies gentle words darling, be faithful, show respect, but be yourself." He said.
Gabriella felt a little foolish and shook her head feeling tired and sick. She didn't see it as betraying Richard; she saw it as living a little and having a little passion in her life. She certainly wasn't sleeping with Troy!
She didn't see her father starting to fade away before her eyes, when she did notice, he was already gone.
"Wait! Don't go…I want to tell you how sweet Troy is! Papa, Papa, PAPA!"
SHE shot up out of bed naked, screaming for her father. Gabriella looked down; her body was bloody, sore and bruised. She looked across at the cupboard; a note lay in front of her. She had slept all the way through to the day, it was at least nine in the night, Richard had knocked her out, raped her and by the looks of her note, left!
It read.
Gone away for a few days, keep the house clean!
She pulled herself out of bed and showered washing the blood away from her body; she got changed and grabbed a few clothes. She put Lupin into his carrier and with tears falling down her cheeks remembered Troy's words 'if he touches you and I mean dares touches you once you call me and I'll be down to take you away for a few days."
Well she wouldn't phone him, she'd just go. She needed and craved the company and affection that Troy could and most certainly would give her. She locked the door behind her and made her way up to 'The White Lodge'
TROY arrived home that night absolutely exhausted. Henry opened the door for him and smiled warmly.
"How's your weekend been?" He queried.
"Terrible, 'Troy muttered, "I've hated it."
Henry laughed removing his coat, "It can't have been that bad!"
"It was." Troy argued back.
Troy shook his and kicked off his shoes. He went into the kitchen grabbing a pair of pyjamas. He didn't see the small cat carrier in front of him. He poured himself some orange juice, downed it quickly and changed into his pyjamas so he wouldn't have to worry about them when he went to bed.
"Do you want something to eat, 'Henry questioned holding up a plate, "I made chilli."
The only thing Henry could not cook was Chilli; he backed away quickly, "No. I'm cool; I've had a rough day. I just want the comfort of my bed." He said and he started to climb the stairs.
"You'll have a lot more than that." Henry laughed.
Troy frowned but did not turn back, he had no idea what Henry was talking about but he could almost see the smirk playing on his face. He was just about to open his bedroom door when a soft purring at his feet woke his senses.
"Lupin?" He queried.
The cat meowed gently before skulking downstairs. He looked at his door and dared to wonder. He braced himself and opened the door slowly. His room was in darkness. He switched on the light and a very large lump formed in his throat when he saw a very tiny lump curled up under the covers of his bed. The soft brown hair sprawled out across one of his pillows and he smiled, she was back!
He moved slowly and switched the light off. He sat down on his bed and admired the glorious beauty before him. He crawled under the blankets and nuzzled his nose into the brunette's soft brown curls. He felt the body stir and flinch beside him and she turned in his arms. Gabriella's eyes were wide with fear and fondness. She was about to speak when Troy silenced her with a kiss.
"Hey." She whispered when they pulled apart.
"Hey, 'Troy said his fingers tracing her body, he felt her react gently and smiled, "What are you doing here?"
Gabriella looked a little embarrassed, "Didn't you want me here?" She asked sitting up.
Troy pushed her down gently, "Of course I do. I love it that you're here."
She smiled and rested her head on his chest, his fingers absently played with her hair, her breathing was regular and gentle and he felt she was comfortable with him.
"Where's Richard?" He asked.
Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, 'She seemed to hesitate briefly, "I…I think he raped me."
Troy sat up looking startled, "What?"
"Oh its nothing, he knocked me out and when I woke up I was naked and bloody. I washed it all away. Everything's okay. I'm quite used to it." Gabriella replied trying to make out like it was no big deal, but in truth, it was everything to Troy.
"How can you say that? He's hurting you!" Troy said a little angry, he saw the fear on Gabriella's face and saw the flash of fright in her timid eyes.
"I'm sorry, 'He whispered to her lying back and pulling her back to him, "I'm just worried about you that's all."
"I know you are. I'm fine though, it's become something I'm used to." Gabriella replied.
"You don't have to go back to him. You could stay here…I would never be like him." Troy said serenely.
Gabriella shook her head as if she wasn't sure whether to believe him, "He makes me feel so stupid, so ugly."
"I don't think you're ugly." Troy replied truthfully and Gabriella leaned up and kissed her passionately, their tongues mingling, their bodies pressing tight to one another's.
"I'm going to take you away from here for a few days. I'll take you to one of my hotels, how's that sound?" Troy asked.
Gabriella nodded and yawned.
"I'm so tired." She muttered.
"Lets get some sleep then, 'Troy said pecking her forehead, "And we'll leave in the morning."
They both fell asleep together, unaware of how much they meant to each other, unaware that they could save each other from their pasts and presents!
There! Now like I said, my mothers dismantling again to paint, so I thought I'd get another chapter done before she does it again. I feel so bad for not being able to update regular. But when the computers up permanently again in a few days, I promise they will be regular once more, chapters daily! Thanks and sorry guys! Hope you love this chapter! And hope you're all still reading and have faith in me! xoxMusicalxox reviews!