Troy opened his eyes and glanced over at the empty side of the bed. Instantly he sat up looking around the room. "Damn it."
"Looking for someone?" Gabriella smiled as she leaned on the door frame, she was wearing his shirt, a button down work blouse he had on yesterday. Troy watched as she smirked and offered the coffee cup. "I made your coffee, figure you might need it after last night."
Troy padded the bed. "Get in here."
Gabriella walked over. "Did you really think I'd just leave you?" handing him the glass Gabriella smiled and sat down.
"You look good in my shirt," he said with a smile, Troy lifted the coffee cup and smiled. "This is amazing."
"You also said I looked amazing naked." Gabriella smirked as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I mean what I say."
"No you don't you're a lawyer." She said grabbing the coffee cup and placing it down on the night stand.
"The good kind," He said moving her into his lap. Troy smiled as she straddled him, her smile looking down at him. "Tell me all about this burlesque thing?"
"Well the term burlesque came from folk poetry and theater," Gabriella said as she unbuttoned her shirt. "The origin of the term 'burlesque' is contentious with most citing the French burlesque, which was, in turn, borrowed from the Italian burlesco, derived from the Spanish burla, meaning joke as its root."
"Skip the boring stuff," with a smile as he leaned back into the pillows.
"With pleasure," Gabriella undid the last button "Beginning in the early 18th century, the term burlesque was used throughout Europe to describe musical works in which serious and comic elements were juxtaposed or combined to achieve a grotesque effect." Gabriella removed her shirt and it fell down her shoulders. "In late 19th century, the United Kingdom, in particular, such dramatic productions became very popular, especially at particular theatres such as the Olympic and the Gaiety in London. In Britain, burlesque was largely a middle class pursuit, where the jokes relied on the audiences' familiarity with known operas and artistic works."
"Really?" he said bringing a hand up to push her hair out of the way.
"Yup and in In 20th century America the word became associated with a variety show in which striptease is the main attraction. Although the striptease originated at the Moulin Rouge in 1890s Paris and subsequently became a part of some burlesque across Europe, only in American culture is the term burlesque closely associated with the striptease. It seems us show girls just aren't on the same level as actors and actual singers." Gabriella shrugged as she leaned down and gave him a kiss on the lips.
Once she pulled away Troy smiled. "I want to make an investment in this. I want to bring this entire thing back to life. Restore it, if you know what I mean?"
Gabriella leaned down to kiss his chest. "Victoria isn't going to sell you her club."
"No she won't but the bank will," Troy said looking down at her. "I want you to run the project."
Gabriella froze and sat up right pulling her shirt back up. "Are you crazy?"
"No," he said with a smile. "I have faith in you and you seem to know a lot about this stuff."
"Troy this isn't a puppy; this is a club, a business?"
"And I respect that you will run it the way you see fit and with my investing and your know how we can take an art long and forgotten, destroyed and condemned distasteful and make it something powerful."
"You really think I can do that?" Gabriella said as she leaned back an looked at him with concern.
"You the hardest working woman I know, I faith in you and I'll be there to support you one hundred percent."
Gabriella bit her lip. "This all seems too good to be true."
"Then stop trying to make it complicated," Troy reached up and placed a kiss on her neck then on her collar bone and then between her breast.
It was the day before Christmas and Troy smiled as he signed the papers and shook the Bankers hand. "Mr. Bolton it is always a pleasure doing business with you."
"No sir trust me, I am the one with the pleasure," Troy held the deed in his hand for the club. With Gabriella hiding in out in his home and a security system keeping her safe Victoria income for the bank loan was coming in slower than she expected with the girls she had on staff. Troy filed an assault suit on Victoria in favor of Gabriella and Chad had dropped her as a client claiming the client was unsuitable for the company. Tomorrow was Christmas and Troy never felt better. Things were looking up for everyone.
Gabriella was in the living when he came home. Her nose buried in a book, he loved that she loved to read. He was so thrilled he made sure Rosy made the guest room into a small study for her. After all she'd need an office and she could have shelves of books. "Good evening."
"Hey," Gabriella sat up and folded the page in her book. "Your mom called, she wanted to know if we were doing tomorrow night's dinner I told her yes."
"That's great." Troy removed his coat and scarf and placed them on the big chair as he came down to sit on the couch next to her. "So what are you reading?"
"Cinderella," she smiled. Troy let out a laugh and pulled her to him. "I got the deed today,"
"Wow," Gabriella said leaning into him and resting against him. "This is happening really soon."
"I'm good at my job," he said with a smug look. "I told you a few scares and she'd back down. No one messes with me or my girl."
"Your girl?" Gabriella said opening her book and letting out a laugh. "What are you 13?"
"I'm 28 years old thank you very much." Troy took her hand in his as she quietly settled back into her book. The room was silent and the tree was glowing with lights. Troy smiled as he held her close to him. "This is nice."
"It is." She said shifting her head to look up at him, "you really are something."
"I always take pride in my work," Troy was silent for a moment and then he suddenly stiffed. "What's that under the tree?"
Gabriella leaned up and looked underneath the tree. "I don't see anything?"
"No right there look, is that yours?" Gabriella rolled her eyes and got up from her spot to take a closer look. "I think you're going crazy." she said as she walked over to it. "There is nothing here."
"That's because it's over here."
Gabriella turned around to Troy on one knee holding up a small box, inside was the most beautiful tear shaped diamond she ever saw. "Oh my god." Gabriella dropped her book and covered her mouth.
"Marry me," Troy smiled and looked up at her with honesty and love in his eyes. "I know we haven't know each other for ten years or even an entire month for that matter, but I know this right."
"What are we going to tell people?"
"That we fell in love, that we're crazy about each other and I've never been happier."
Gabriella hands fell to her side. "I love you."
"I love you too," Troy came up from the floor and pulled her to him, his lips seeking hers and hers seeking his.
"Is that a yes?" he said once he pulled away.
"A thousand times yes." She whisper back at him.
"So after the Prince saves Cinderella and decides marry her what happens?" Troy said as he slipped the ring on her finger.
"They get married and live happily ever after."
"Well, since that doesn't give us much to work with why don't we go upstairs and make a happily ever after ourselves?"
"Chad and Taylor are coming over soon for drinks, you still have to change?" Gabriella said as he led her by the hand.
"So then you can help me undress,"
Gabriella giggled as she followed him up the stairs the both of them joyfully hand in hand disappearing into the bedroom.