Alrighty I won't be able to update for a bit so I thought I'd post another chpt to make it up to you guys, I think I'll leave the last chpt as it is Thanks again for the reviews!

Lam Thanks for reviewing! I'm not going to answer your question about Gabi's mom just yet, it ties into to much of the rest of the story (If you really wanta know message me and I'll send you the answer privately)

ENJOY!

Disclaimer: Plot is not totally my own

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That evening after a quiet take out supper Gabriella said goodnight and wandered into her suite she walked into her room, kicked off her heels and changed into a pair of sweats Troy permitted her to buy on their shopping spree… she jumped when the phone next to her bed rang, she only recently had her own line put in and the only ones who had her number where her lawyer back home and Troy… she reached out and picked it up…

"Hello?"

A woman's voice answered, "Oh hello…" the voice stopped briefly, and "I was looking for Troy Bolton…"

Gabriella leaned against her pillows, "That's my landlord…"

The voice continued, "Oh so your Gabriella…"

Gabriella sat up, who was this woman? Some assassin sent by Parks?

Gabriella was cautious, "yes this is"

The woman laughed, "I'm sorry I'm being rude this is Cathy Bolton, Troy's mother…"

Gabriella gasped, "Oh…OH"

Mrs. Bolton went on, "Must be a crossed wire, I'm sorry to bother you dear…"

Gabriella nodded although she realized Mrs. Bolton couldn't see her, "It's no problem… nice talking to you…"

Mrs. Bolton spoke, "You to Gabriella take care…"

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The day after their visit to John Parks Gabriella woke to the sounds of Troy banging around in the kitchen… she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, grabbing an elastic of her night stand she quickly pulled her hair into a messy ponytail, shrugged on a lavender robe over her pajamas she opened her suite door and shuffled to the kitchen where she found Troy cursing over a smoking frying pan…

Gabriella laughed, "What are you doing Wolfgang?"

Troy turned a smug of grease across his cheek and frowned, "I'm trying to cook brunch," He wiped his face with a cloth, "I have somewhere to be and I figured you had to eat something…"

Gabriella continued to laugh as she slid onto a chair, "and where are you going?"

Troy's face went from a frown to a grin, "I have a date…" He searched Gabriella's face for signs of jealousy and sighed when he saw none. Gabriella continued to smile, "well that's good, I'm sure I can find things to do around here"

Troy's frown returned, "I'm sure you can…"

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Gabriella had to hold back her laughter as Troy spoke to her at the door, "Lock the door behind me and don't open it for anyone… I mean it"

Gabriella smirked and rolled her eyes, "I already live with a man who spends every waking minute hitting on me I'm sure I can handle myself…"

Troy sighed and picked up a coat off the coat rack, "I'm serious…"

Gabriella nodded but continued to smirk, "I'll be careful dad…"

Troy returned her smirk at that and said a quick, "Goodbye" before he left…

Gabriella turned the deadbolt and padded up to Troy's office, she was prepared to do some research on her own; she knew for a fact that Troy wasn't telling her everything he knew about her grandfather… As she was about to sit down the front door buzzed… Gabriella groaned and hurried down the stairs… stopping as she remembered her promise to Troy she peeked through the peephole without opening the door…

"Yes?" she asked…

On the other side of the door was a tall man with wavy dark hair… he was thinner then Troy but handsome in an unconventional way and his deep blue eyes peered towards the peep hole, "Hello I'm looking for Troy…"

Gabriella's suspicions rose, "He's not here…"

The man smiled his perfect teeth in a straight line, "I'm sorry, I'm Ashcroft Bolton… Troy's cousin, I just thought I'd come by for a visit…"

Gabriella could tell by his expression he was now expecting her to open the door…

She remained calm, "I'm sorry as I said he's not here"

Ashcroft stepped closer to the door, "Mind if I come in and wait for him?"

Gabriella spoke, "I don't think that's a good idea…"

She saw the man's surprised expression, "Why?"

Gabriella continued, "How do I know you are who you say you are…"

Ashcroft dug into his pocket and produced his wallet; flipping through it he held a New York license up to the peep-hole and let Gabriella inspect it…

Thoughts whirled in her head, Well he's obviously Troy's family, I'm sure it would be fine to let him in…

Gabriella put the chain on the door and pulled it open so she was still locked in but they could talk face to face, "maybe it's better if you come back when Troy is here…"

Ashcroft smiled a smile that resembled Troy's when she amused him, "Of course, and maybe that time I can ask you to coffee?"

Surprised Gabriella's mouth fell open if Troy's going on dates there's no reason why I can't meet his handsome cousin for coffee…

Gabriella stern expression melted into a smile, "I'd love to…"

Ashcroft nodded and handed her his card through the space in the door, "I'm looking forward to it…"

Gabriella took the card and continued to smile, "Me to, nice to meet you Ashcroft I'll tell Troy you stopped by…"

Ashcroft nodded, "I'll see you soon…" with that he turned and left the stoop…

Gabriella relocked the deadbolt and turned to wander back up the stairs still smiling she figured from what Troy told her, his mother sent this Ashcroft to make sure she wasn't some floozy interested in Troy… "I guessed I pasted the test" she said aloud as she flopped into Troy's desk chair to start on research….

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Two hours later Troy had returned from his "date" His face was fire engine red as he paced the office, "You're going on a DATE!" he practically shouted, "With Ashcroft!"

Gabriella leaned towards the desk, "Yes"

Troy went on, "I've been trying to get your attention for weeks, and my snake of cousin comes here and in 15 min's gets you to go on a date…'

Gabriella sighed, "Uh huh…"

Troy shot her a gaze that made Gabriella jump, "Why?"

Gabriella shot him an angry gaze back, "because he asked me…"

Troy sighed and Gabriella went on, "And correct me if I'm wrong but you just got back from a date…"

Troy groaned a leaned against a bookcase, "I was meeting with a woman who might be your last living relative…"

Gabriella growled deep in her throat, "you have no claim on me…"with that she walked out of the room, she wasn't sure but she thought she heard Troy mumble, "The hell I don't"

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The next afternoon the buzzer to the house hummed and Troy bounded down the stairs, he paused then pulled open the door to his cousin; still in a funk he hissed, "Keep your hands off her Ashcroft…"

Troy's cousin understood, Troy thought he had a claim on his tenant Ashcroft smiled, "Good to see you to cousin…" They made smile talk until the door knob to Gabriella's suite turned and she immerged… she was dressed in black ballet flats, dark jeans and a soft brown sweater, her hair was swept up in a mock French twist and she was wearing a pink lip gloss, and mascara… A gentle blush rose in her cheeks as she saw Ashcroft… "Hi"

Ashcroft's smile brightened when he saw her, Gabriella ignored the scowl Troy shot their way… "Well Hello again…" Ashcroft said, "You're even more beautiful then I remembered…" he reached out and lifted her hand to kiss her wrist… Gabriella held back her laughter as Troy pretended to gag behind his cousin…

Ashcroft stared into her eyes, "I know I said I wanted to take you for coffee but it's such a nice day, I was thinking ice cream in Central Park…"

Gabriella ignored Troy and smiled at Ashcroft, "That sounds great…"

Gabriella reached for her jacket but Ashcroft took it and helped Gabriella into it as she spoke to Troy, "Don't wait up for me I have a key…"

Troy's eyes narrowed, "I won't…"

Gabriella frowned and turned back to Ashcroft, "Ready?"

Ashcroft smiled down at her, "Of course..."

Gabriella took his arm as Ashcroft escorted her down the stairs, Troy followed and watched them from the stoop… he waited till they were a good distance away before he locked the door behind him, walking down the steps in there direction he thought to himself I'm not spying, she need protection right now… He tried to reason to himself…

As he walked he didn't noticed the man dressed in dark clothes, and wearing aviator sunglasses who seemed to be just as interested in Gabriella… He was also following the couple towards Central Park; he smiled and patted his handgun tucked into the waistband of his jeans. His eyes were trained on Gabriella as he thought to himself, just a little longer, just a little longer...

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Cue suspenseful music here ha-ha, thanks again for the reviews if there's mistakes please bare with me I wrote this pretty late… I'll fix it up later just wanted to get it posted, thanks again for the interest