Gabriella looked at her face in the mirror she'd been getting ready for the past two hours. Troy announced he was ready to go a half an hour ago, however Gabriella couldn't stop the buzzing in her ears. She'd perfected the last curl on in her hair and let out sigh as she unplugged the curling iron. Tonight everything would change; he'd be nominated for the democrat presidential candidate. Every fiber of her body yelled at her to take Chad's offer, get out while you still could, but she couldn't. She couldn't just leave not now there were too many things riding on this. Besides, It wasn't like he was mean or rude towards her, in all honesty it wasn't like the last two months had been miserable at all. Plus, how could she just leave when he bailed her out of debt and took her in when she had nothing and nowhere to go?
"Gabriella, we're going to be late," he said from behind the closed door.
"I'm putting on my coat." She called as she slipped into her black pea coat. She opened the door to find him standing against the opposite wall in his own match black coat.
"About time," he muttered, "come on, the driver has been waiting long enough."
"Sorry, I had to curl my hair," Gabriella said as she hiked her dress up and walked briskly to the front door.
"Your hair already has curls?" Troy said as he got out his keys to lock the door behind them. Honestly this was another reason he didn't want to deal with a woman, there were always doing something ridiculous to their appearance that took hours.
Gabriella rolled her eyes, "You know a simple, you look nice, does wonders?" Gabriella said stepping out into the chilled autumn air. He was in his Mr. PW mood and she let out a sigh, tonight was nail biting enough.
"Your hair looks curly," he said upon turning around and making his way down the steps offering her not a glance or a hand for help.
Gabriella let out a frustrated breath and began to follow him to the car, last night must have been a fluke, just a freak accident when the moon and Saturn aligned and shined a bit of humanity into his heart. It was a quiet drive, when they got there she insisted he could go in without her, she needed to use the bathroom and readjust her dress from the car ride. He groaned and mumbled but didn't fight her, he simply kept going.
Troy checked their coats and moved along into the dining room where everyone was gathering. He hated attending these, not that it was mandatory but to miss one might be the difference between social suicide and more votes. He nodded politely to a few familiar faces in the room, then his eyes landed on one and he snarled inside. "Anthony," he nodded reaching for a glass from a passing waiter, he was going to need this.
"Troy," the man said, his black her was slick back and his skin was tanner than usual. He wore a blue suit with a white tie and as he came up to Troy he held out his free hand and in the other was a glass like Troy's. "So good to see you, sorry I couldn't make it to the wedding."
Troy wasn't. "Shame, it was beautiful." Troy said as he brought the glass to his lips for a taste.
"So I've heard, I never figured you for a husband," he said with a chuckle, "Then again who knows?" he too brought the glass up to his lips.
"What can I say," Troy looked around the room for anything that might allow him to move along. He spotted his family sitting at the far right and he looked backed to Anthony. He was about to speak when Anthony spoke again cutting him off.
"So rumor has it you and I are in the running for the nominations," Anthony nudged Troy and smiled, "I hope you don't mind a little completion among friends."
Troy nodded slowly, he was under no impression that they were friends, nor did he believe rumors. "May the best man win," he said politely after a moment he took a breath, "Now if you'll excuse me-"
"Who is that exquisite creature?" Anthony lowered his glass and turned his body to face the entrance.
Annoyed from being interrupted he turned his eyes to spot Gabriella standing in the doorway her brown eyes shifting around the room. Her dark curls had been swept to the side hanging freely in spirals over her bare shoulder. Her dress clung to her curves outlining not only her amazing hour glass shape but it highlighted her honey skin color, drawing her out as a rose among the many daisies. Looking around the room he notice not only Anthony and himself but others watching as she entered the room. It was like a light had been casted on her and she wasn't even aware, looking back he could tell she had spotted him and her brown eyes landed on his blue.
"That would be my wife," he said a smile growing on his lips as she came closer. Anthony mumbled something and for the life of him, Troy couldn't bring himself to care. Once Gabriella was in hearing distance he reached out a hand to take hers. "I hope you know you've stolen all the light in the room," he smiled at her and he could see the faint red on her cheeks, a natural blush, and an attractive blush at that.
"Sorry," she said in a low voice she watched as Troy lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on back of her hand. She felt a rush of blood flowing through her in surprise; he'd never looked at her that way before. He might have played a loving husband for the cameras but this was past pretending and loving.
"We better get to our table," Troy tucked her arm under his and they both began to move past Anthony toward his family who were all watching and smiling.
Gabriella smiled as Troy pulled out her seat and she greeted everyone around the table.
"I told you that dress was going to be a knock out." Sharpay said pleased with herself, her mother nodded with approval and Gabriella thanked them.
"What did Hill want?" Chad said leaning forward as Troy sat down.
"Some rumor about the nominations, small talk, all just for appearance, I'm sure." Troy leaned back in his chair and shifted his attention to Gabriella. "I'm sorry would you like me to get you a drink?"
Gabriella smiled and shook her head, "I'm alright with the water provided," she said motioning to the glass beside her plate.
Chad leaned in again, "What kind of rumor?"
Just then a man from congress came up to their table between Troy and Chad, "Just heard the wonderful news it's official I can't wait to see you campaign." He shook Troy's hand and Troy who was at a lost looked back at Chad. Was he missing something?
"Something you want to tell me Chad?" Troy said once the man had moved on greeting the next table.
"I didn't want to tell you because I know you, you would have gotten out of it but it's done, your nominated," Chad said in a low tone, reaching over he patted Troy on the back. "Congratulations."
Troy sat up and Gabriella quickly placed a hand on his lap. The action made him jump a little and he looked over where she was looking at him a little concerned. "Are you alright?"
Troy gave her a short nod and then looked over at his mom and dad. Gabriella let out a small sigh as she pulled her hand away and looked over at Sharpay who was taking about something hair related. His constant mood shifting was beginning to get on her nerves but instead of saying anything she just turned away. Why bother?
The dinner was on the dry side, Gabriella picked here and there ate her vegetables and listened as Chad, Jack, and Troy talked politics and the woman sat kindly and listened. To be honest she zoned out every so often to glance around the room. So this was the glamorous life of high society? Seemed dull and boring to her. Taylor said something and Gabriella shifted her attention from the table laughing in the distance to the faces looking at her. She felt a heat rush up to her face. "I'm sorry,"
"Troy says you like to read?" she asked looking around the table. "What do you read?"
"Have you read, "America by Heart," by Sarah Palin?" Lucile asked.
"No," Gabriella answered smiling a little.
"Griftopia," by Matt Taibbi?" Jack said with a smug look, "It's about the rise of the grifters and the stranglehold they have on America, financially and politically." He said looking to Lucile.
"Not quite," Gabriella said feeling herself shrink a little.
"What do you read?" Sharpay asked
Gabriella smiled a little and put her fork down, "I don't know, I mostly read romance novels, nothing much with any value." She said shyly as she looked back at her plate.
"Yeah, right now she's reading "Agnes and The Hitman" by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer" Troy said with a smile as he placed a hand over hers. "I envy her ability to lose herself in her book. It a gift to have the imagination to invest in something like that. I like that about you."
Did hell freeze over? Taylor had the same look on her face while the others smiled tenderly. As soon as the moment came it left and Troy's father had brought the conversation back to politics but Troy tried to throw her a bone or two instead of going along with his father.
When the nominations happen not many people were surprised that Anthony Hill and Troy Bolton were the Democratic Party. Gabriella stood up beside her husband and cheered as he went up on stage; her mother in law came around the table and hugged her. It was a surreal moment. She listened to the other nominations placing Dave Franklin and Brandon Collins for the Republican Party.
After the nominations Gabriella did her best to stand by Troy as he worked the room. She was introduced to person after person, pretty sure she should be memorizing faces but to bored to make an actual effort. Her heals were killing her and Troy was talking about his stand on the gas prices, taking a moment she excused herself.
She found the outside Terrance and slipped out, the cool air was refreshing and welcome against the heat from inside. Leaning on the railing she looked out into the yard. Looking down at her ring she let out a sigh, she was beginning to feel something. She wasn't sure what it was exactly but slowly the idea of Troy as her husband was beginning to make a slow turn for the better. She looked back up at the stars, what were the chances that she could actually love her husband.
"Excuse, I can't help the feeling, but I just want to steal your attention like a bad outlaw." The man's voice was smooth and Gabriella attention shifted as she stood up straighter and looked to her left where a man in a blue suit stood.
"Gabriella Mon-" Gabriella stopped herself from letting her last name slip, "Gabriella Bolton." She corrected after a moment's thought, it was the first time she ever introduced herself.
"Anthony Hill," the man took her hand and smiled, it was a warm smile, a smile that made Gabriella smile as well. Anthony looked around at another couple wondering around.
"Congratulations on your nomination," she said politely, they were still holding hands. She didn't know why she hadn't pulled away but his hand was warm and soft, inviting and charming.
"Thank you," he said releasing her hand.
Gabriella brought her hand to her side, looking back inside people were mingling. Troy didn't seem to be anywhere insight and neither was an excuse to leave.
"If beauty were time, you'd be an eternity." His voice was low and Gabriella caught off guard smiled as she felt the blush on her cheeks.
Holding up her hand she wiggled her finger. "I'm also married,"
"Details in the political world," he said with a smirk, "something your learn in time."
The couple when inside and Gabriella shifted her weight from one foot to the other and tilted her head to look at him, "It's been a while since you called?" When he nodded his grey eyes seemed to look up and down her body, this was different. Gabriella could feel a shifting of tension in the air, sexual tension.
"Well, it's not like I could just show up," his fingers reached out and Gabriella watched as he touched a stand of hair. "I told you to get close to him, not marry him."
"He approached me with a deal, if I'd have said no he would have fired me." Gabriella had chills going through her as he pulled his hand away. "Then where would we be?"
"And what about you, what are you getting out of this" he paused and looked her over again, "Surly it can't be sex or love, Troy Bolton is dead fish in that department."
Gabriella looked back into a room and as if sigh Troy was coming their way two champagne glasses in his hand. "That's between me and him,"
"Well just remember, I the one who has you past in their hands. I might have secrets but none of mine compare to yours," Anthony said with a smile. "No matter what, our deal comes first."
"Agreed." she said with a smile as watched Troy stepped out onto the Terrance.
Troy controlled his temper as he approached them offering a glass to Gabriella. "Hello, Anthony." He said placing his free hand in his pocket, "See you've introduced yourself to my wife." Emphasis on the words 'my wife' intended as a big back the fuck off sign Troy wanted to post on Gabriella chest. When she disappeared it hadn't bothered him, when he spotted Anthony holding her hand a second to long and a smile on her face he almost went postal.
"We were just talking about you," Anthony said with a smile, "Your wife is a very lovely woman." With a small bow he reached out a hand and Troy paused before taking it. "Congratulations on the nomination, I look forward to competing against the best."
Troy watched as Anthony left the Terrance his attention shifting back to Gabriella. "I want you to stay away from him."
"Excuse me?" Gabriella said take aback by the sudden shift in his tone.
"You were flirting with him," Troy said his blue eyes meeting her brown eyes, "I saw you; don't even try to deny it."
Gabriella let out a breath as she watched Anthony greet more people inside. "He was flirting with me," she said matter of fact.
"And you didn't have to look so thrilled," he countered, "Your supposed to be married remember?" this time he wasn't looking at her instead he was looking around making sure no one was in hearing distance.
"Nothing happened," Gabriella said beginning to get annoyed with the conversation. "I'm going to the restroom,"
Just as she was about to leave Troy free hand caught her arm and pulled her back, his grip was firm and his strength greater than hers. She fell back into his chest her free hand bracing the impact, and her just as she was about to protest his lips came down on hers. The kiss was hard, it was a kiss designed to demonstrate power, to prove he had it. The sound of a camera shutter nearby explained why he did it, it didn't explain the manner of the kiss or meaning behind it but the message he was sending was clear, 'you belong to me.' Gabriella felt a sickness in her stomach as she forced herself to kiss him back.