Today was the Times interview, which was now so much more than insight to their married life. Hitting the power button he watched as the screen went blank. Anthony had been making lots of progress in the media already; he was coming up with things before Troy could say them. He tapped the end of the remote to his chin. Looking down at his note pad he looked over his own notes. All the idea's were there, just not connected. Letting out a sigh he leaned back. Why on earth he was brothering to pretend that this was possible was beyond him. He was more concerned with his section of the world he had to keep under control, especially now that it included a fake wife, and fake personal front. He wasn't going to pretend like getting married made him any different. It just meant he always had a plus one.
Troy looked at clock then at his desk, Taylor placed a picture of Gabriella off to the side on his desk. She was almost everywhere now. He let out a sigh, she taken over his home, his personal persona in the media and she was leaking into his job. It was bad enough he worked around the clock to avoid being home. Mostly because he could tell Gabriella was upset still, she hadn't spoken to him or come out of her room much.
The door opened and Chad came in. "What are you still doing here,"
"What?" Troy looked up at Chad from the photo placing the remote on the desk.
"Taylor called me, you were suppose to be there 30 minutes ago." Chad looked at his watch then up at Troy.
"Did you know that Anthony is going to be working on a new development to keep local businesses here, instead of letting them be out sourced and brought out by larger businesses?"
Chad paused as he looked at Troy a little lost. "What's the point?"
"I was working on something like that for weeks?" Troy let out a breath. "He's one step ahead of me."
"Troy you'll drive yourself nuts paying attention to the competition, keep your eyes on your own race." He looked back at his watch. "And right now that race needs you home and in love with that beautiful wife of yours."
35 minutes later Troy walked through the front door of his home greeted by Taylor and Sharpay who were on their way out. "Good afternoon," he said to both of them.
"She's as ready as she'll ever be, Sharpay did her hair and makeup we got the house together and she's dress in a nice sensible dress. No one can mess this up," Taylor said watching as Sharpay greeted her driver.
"Thank you," Troy said as he continued on his way inside walking in he noticed a difference immediately his couch was gone in its place a warm brown couch, there were bookshelves and flowers. A lamp on an end table with a phone, Troy raised a brow. This is where he lived? Everything was so inviting hints of colors popped out at him and he moved on to the dining room where an oak table sat with green fabricated chairs. The sound of heals made him look up and Gabriella stood in the door way staring at him as he looked around the room. "The house looks amazing."
Gabriella turned and walked away leaving him alone. She was still upset. He didn't blame her going over the events he was aware he lost his temper to fast. Troy followed after her placing his suit case down in the dining room.
"Gabriella we have to talk about this eventually," He said walking into the kitchen; he was hit with a warm feeling and the smell of chocolate chip cookies. She was standing over the stove using a spatula to transfer her cookies from the cookie pan to a plate. She was good in the kitchen, she cooked last night too and although she was upset she left him a plate and it was the best pasta he'd ever had. "I'm sorry," he said walking over and standing behind her. "When I factor all this together it's still weird and you might be my wife but I don't own you."
Gabriella stopped and put her hands down on either side of her as she stared at the cookies and listened.
Troy took this as a sign to continue and he did. "You're going to have needs and I understand that, I don't expect you to take on a life of celibacy or-" Troy paused as he looked for the right words, or what? Expect that she would come to him, expect that he might be the one she choose to ease that sort of thing. His pause must have been longer than he thought because she turned around so they were face to face.
"Or," she said looking at him questioningly.
Troy let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand. "Just not him," he said finally letting her eyes drop down to her lips. "Anyone but him," like me? He left out on purpose. He watched her as her eyes watched him.
"Nothing happened, nothing is going to." Gabriella let out a breath, Antony had a way with women but she was stooping any lower than she already had. "I just wanted you to believe me," guilt reared it's ugly head, although she wasn't flirting with Anthony were was a spark there. Plus she was working for him to destroy Troy campaign, she was already the gum on hobo's shoe.
"I know," his voice cut into her thoughts. "I just seen him and you, you smiled the way you did and I," Gabriella pushed up on her tippy toes and pulled him to her, their lips meeting instantly her arm wrapping around his neck. She pushed herself hard against him and out of shock Troy hands grabbed hold of her hips holding her in place and stabling himself. They leaned against the stove and Troy let out a small moan from the softness of her body against him.
Someone behind them cleared their throat and Gabriella pulled away, the moment gone as soon as it started. Troy turned to see a woman standing with a notepad in her hand and a man with a camera. "Hello, Natalie Vargas, reporter with the times. The front door was open."
Troy turned back to Gabriella and raised his brow as a quick thank you and reached behind her to steal a cookie. "Yeah my sister just left not too long ago, I just came in while she was leaving. Guess I was a little too excited to be home early." Troy took a bite of the cookie and heaven exploded in his mouth. "This woman makes the best cookie ever," he said reaching for the plate and holding them out, "You must have one."
The next hour was filled with all the expected questions about how they met, their first date, when each other knew that it was love. Now the reporter had moved on the political questions about his nomination and stands on certain laws and problems that existed. Gabriella sat quietly by Troy's side as he causal sat there and had a conversation with the woman. Gabriella could tell that his work was important to him, anyone with ears and eyes could see by just how many hours he stood in the office, how comfortable he was explaining concepts and his own ideas of better political ideas. They he talked promised the world and more if he could deliver it.
"How do you feel about the possibility of becoming the first lady?"
Gabriella jerked in shock; the spotlight had been on him for so long she was more than sure everyone had forgotten she was sitting there. "I think it's exciting and I'm very supportive to my husband and I stand behind him through whatever," A good wife was supposed to wasn't she? Gabriella bit her lip the slight sting brought back the memory of their kiss from the kitchen. "I believe that the role of the first lady has progressed over time from a largely ceremonial one to one of great influence. I mean look at Michelle Obama. I think role of the first lady fulfills multiple roles as campaigner; communicator for the president; a complement to, or extension of, the president's domestic and foreign-policy programs," Gabriella paused "and a designer/curator of the White House." She added receding back into her thoughts what did that kiss mean? Natalie said something and Gabriella bit her lip. Did she say that right? Gabriella folded her hands neatly in her lap.
Natalie smiled as she looked up from her notebook, "Since the 1960s every first lady had chosen a special cause to call her own and has spoken on behalf of an issue she felt strongly about. Several, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Hillary Clinton, have championed more than one humanitarian, social, or cultural cause. What could we expect to see from you?"
"As I said I plan to stick by my husband his views are my views and I want to help anyway I can by being supportive." Gabriella said as a cold sweat began to spread. Did that sound right? Didn't she already say that? She was coming off as a moron wasn't she? Troy was probably embarrassed.
She felt his hand on hers and she smiled with kindness, "Gabriella has been talking about lots of charities over the past few days, it seems like her only concern is how she can save everything, I keep telling her she'll find something, she has a big heart and a lot of fight in her I can't wait to take this step together. We make a good team."
Natalie smiled and placed a hand on her heart. "People are calling you guys the Bolton whirlwind romance and it's not hard to see why; it has to be so amazing to just know when you're perfect for each other." Natalie let out a sigh, "Totally off the record, the sex has to be amazing." She winked at Gabriella and smiled knowingly.
Gabriella felt the heat rush to her face and she already knew her face was three shades of red. She shifted uncomfortably and looked down at her hands. Troy's chuckle surprised her and he brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there. Was that for show or for real? She was beginning to lose the ability to tell.
"Can we expect to see a baby bump soon?"
The air in the room was sucked out and Gabriella giggled to cover her gasping attempt to regain control. Once again the floor was all his Gabriella looked at him with a small smile trying not to be obvious. When he didn't say anything Gabriella turned back to the reporter. "I don't know," Gabriella paused, "I mean I want kids." Gabriella placed a hand on her knee and let out a sigh, "if the time is right I guess?"
"Perfect," Natalie smiled and did that winking thing again and Gabriella shifted in her seat. "Who's ready for pictures?"
When Natalie left Gabriella waited patiently in the kitchen as Troy locked the door after the camera man. She looked at her wedding ring her stomach flipping and bubbling with emotions she didn't understand.
"Do you even know what my views are?" Troy's voice interrupted her silence and she looked up at him.
"I, I mean…" Gabriella shrugged her shoulders, "I have ideas." she finally managed to say. He didn't seem pleased. In fact everything about the way he stood there indicated he was annoyed.
Troy reached to loosen his tie. "You better hope to god she doesn't assume you're pregnant, Or published that we're sex crazed."
Gabriella frowned, "Now hold on I wasn't the one laughing it up and making kisses."
"I had to do something," Troy said a step away from grinding his teeth; "You might as well have said you were a virgin when she brought the topic up."
Troy pulled his tie off and watched as Gabriella winced and looked away from him. Truth came out in the body language and he didn't know if he was surprised or disappointed. "You gotta be kidding me?"
She didn't answer. He didn't know what to say. Trouble. The sound of a car horn from outside sounded and Troy let out a breath. "I'll be in my office." He said turning around and disappearing down the hall.
Troy shut his office door and brought a hand up to his eyes. This couldn't be happening to him, how did this happen, when did it happen. He needed to put distance between them. He was falling for his wife. The knowledge that she was untouched and pure did things to him. He fell into his chair and let out breath.
The door flew open and Gabriella stormed in. "You have no right to make me feel ridiculous for doing something as simple as saving myself for the right man."
"I didn't say anything," Troy said resting his arms on the arms of his chair and looking up at her, she was angry, her face was a bright pink.
"You didn't have too," Gabriella placed a hand on her hip. "You've been judging me and correcting me and driving me nuts." Gabriella took a breath. "You were right, you don't own me if I want to talk to Anthony I'll do it and If I want to be in the kitchen I will." Gabriella stood there her eyes flaring. "Which reminds me, Fire Megan, I can shop and do my own cooking."
"It's done." Troy said calmly watching her breathing slow down. He fired Megan two days ago but he let her think otherwise.
"Fine," Gabriella said and then as sudden as she burst into his office she was gone.
Troy picked up the phone off the hook and dialed a number he knew by memory. He let it ring once, twice... Voicemail. "Call me, we have a problem." he said before hanging up and leaning back in chair. Trouble.