Hey guys,

Some of you are probably wondering why my pen name suddenly has AKA Punkpoet69 on it. Well that's because since I was 12 my stage name has always been Punk poet. When I created Jamiesgirl I was kind of hoping to just post a story or two, I didn't expect to like this so much or want others to read it. I have not broken up with my boyfriend, I am very much in every way still Jamiesgirl, just transferring over to my authentic penname. Plus its makes my google search engine life easier! So please feel free to follow me on twitter Punkpoet69 and instagram as Punkpoet69. Hope you guys enjoy this story because I think this might just be the sexiest one I've ever written. ;)

Thanks guys!

Gabriella worked the dough as she silently went over the ideas in her head. She hated feeling defeated, she hated feeling helpless and right now helpless and defeated seemed to be her middle name. Yesterday while Troy was talking to the investors she overheard something she was almost sure she shouldn't have. One of the men talking to Troy asked about making an offer on the restaurant as soon as the merger was completed and she'd heard him with her own two ears telling him that the sales price of the property would be put on the market after the prelaunch if everything went according to plan.

She didn't want to believe it. He'd lied to them. After all this time she just believed that he was helping them with the restaurant. She had been fooled to believe that her mother had seen some good in him and that why she'd been forced to marry a stranger. A stranger that needed a wife for business and her business that needed the help only a stranger would offer. It was too good to be true and she could almost chop off her own hand for not seeing it herself.

Looking up above through the small window in the kitchen to the dining area she watched her younger sister flirt with the new bus boy she hired last week. Letting out a sigh she blew out and up at her bangs which were again in her way. Her mother had made her grow her hair out for the wedding, now she was left with this reminisce of this ridiculous hairstyle that just wouldn't stay up and out of her way. Just last week her mother dragged her to the salon again for a touch up and already her French tip manicure was cracked and scrubbed away from all the cleaning she put them through. The timer behind her went off and she moved from her spot to one of the bread ovens where she opened the oven door and pulled out a fresh rack of bread, setting it on one of the nearby rack for it to cool.

"Mrs. Bolton?"

Not really hearing her name being called she walked further down the kitchen as she checked on the soup for the afternoon crowd. It wasn't until she turned around and saw a strange dark skinned man in her kitchen that she quickly reach for her spoon and held it up to the intruder. "What are you doing back here?" The intruder was wearing a chef uniform.

"Mrs. Bolton?" the man said holding his hands up in surrender, "I'm sorry I don't mean to frighten you it's just that I've been trying to get your attention for a while and figured you had ear buds in or something.

Not putting down the spoon she let out a sigh and brought a hand up to her bangs to sweep them for a fourth time from her face. "What can I help you with?" she said as politely as possible.

"I was sent here by Mr. Bolton, he said you needed a chef, I was told to speak to you?" he said with a worried look pointed at her raised spoon.

Gabriella said with a frown, he had mentioned in passing that they needed a new chef and she agreed with him full heartedly. She just hadn't expected him to find someone so soon. "I certainly can't afford to pay you," she said deciding that the intruder was no risk to her safety she placed the spoon back on the counter top.

"Your husband already took care of my payroll,"

"Well," Gabriella said a little more sadden then relieved, "I wasn't prepared to train someone today. Or expect help at all for that matter."

"I understand," the man said with a frown.

"Well," she sighed as she looked around the kitchen, "Have you ever worked in a kitchen like this before?" she said as she turned around to reach for one of the spare knives from the magnetized strip. Pulling up one of the pepper from the bag she began to chopping it finely.

"Yes maim."

Gabriella nodded slowly as she looked around the kitchen again trying to figure out what he should begin working on. With an inward groan she turned around and paced five steps before turning around and looking at the man. "Do you know how to make bread?"

"I can make bread,"

Gabriella nodded and placed her hands on her hips as she blew up making her bangs flutter out of her eyes again. "Fine, make bread but don't get comfortable. I don't know what you can do but we'll learn together."

"Hey Brie, there's an order up," Isabella said as she leaned into the window into the kitchen to see what was going on. "Who is this?" she said looking back at her older sister.

"I don't know," Gabriella said looking back at the man, "What is your name?"

"Zeke," he said rolling up his sleeves so he could wash his hands.

"This is our newest chef, and his name is Zeke," Gabriella looked back at her younger sister and smiled tightly.

"Great we can't hire Kelsi but we can afford another chef?" Isabella said as she rolled her eyes and slapped the ticket order on the rack.

Gabriella rolled her eyes and reached for the ticket, her sister had been pestering her about hiring one of her friends from school. Unfortunately as much as another waitress would help out she just couldn't afford to pay one. Giving one last look over to Zeke, who was grabbing the dough she'd been already working on, she let out a sigh and went back to work. Walking over to the stove she turned the soup and then walked over to begin preparing for the ticket.

As the dinner service kicked up she noticed her mother arrived and was already in the back room on the phone with someone about the plumbing in the back room. With a sigh she continued to fry, yesterday after an hour of listening to her mother tell her for the millionth time that Gabriella had to make it work with her new husband.

"Hey table seven wants to add an order of sweet bananas," Isabella said from the window, "Hey when do have a free minute?"

"I'm trying to cook here Izzy," Gabriella shot back as she switched over to the other burner. With a sigh she walked the lifted pan over to the plates waiting. "Table five is plating now."

"Well, there are only five tables tonight," Isabella replied, "hey; can I break out early if no one else shows up after 6?"

"Izzy, I can't make that decision right now," Gabriella said as wiped the edges of the plates and put the food up in the window.

"Fine it's not like anyone comes in anyway." Isabella rolled her eyes as she took the plates from the sill. "This is why David left," she muttered under her breath as she walked away with the plates.

The comments made Gabriella flinch. David was her ex-boyfriend from college. David had been her only boyfriend since college, until her father passed and she came back home to work in the kitchen of his restaurant. That was when the trouble started, when her life began to decline. When it slowly became this and she woke up one day married to Troy Bolton. Gabriella let out a sigh as she blew her bangs out of the way again. Turning around she saw Zeke standing at his work space slicing bread for the baskets going out. "You're holding up alright?"

"I'm holding up fine, are you sure you don't want me to help you out?" Zeke said raising a brow as he looked around the kitchen.

"Not necessary just yet."

Maria made a show of entering the kitchen her glasses on top of her head as she spoke into the phone. "So what you're just going to leave us with no water in the back room. Are you aware that I'm running a business?" there was a pause as she motioned to Gabriella then looked at Zeke oddly. "No, I'm telling you to get off your ass come down here and fix it or else my son is going to buy your company and fire you first how about that?" she said pulling her phone away from her ear and hitting the end button. "Who is this?" she said looking at Zeke.

"Your son hired him," Gabriella said with an eye roll as she went back to work. David had been around longer and was much nicer over all and she still called him an idiot. Troy had only been around for less than six months and he was already her son, must be nice to be held up on such a high pedestal.

"To do what make bread?" Maria said voice whispered in her ear as she looked over at him oddly, "Does he know how to cook Puerto Rican food?"

"I don't know, I didn't interview him," Gabriella said over her shoulder.

Maria let out a sigh and looked back at her older daughter, "Your hair is getting frizzy, see, I told you to do a treatment on it."

Gabriella let out a sigh, "I'm cooking mom, and I can't just lower the flame because my hair is curling up."

Her mother rolled her eyes and began mumbling in Spanish before letting out a grasp and catching Gabriella hand in hers. "Look at your nails," she exclaimed. "Have you been to saloon to get them touched up like I told you?"

"No," Gabriella said pulling her hands away.

"You have to keep up with it," she scolded, "Your husband is an important man, how do you think it looks when his wife looks so run down? Honestly are you deliberately trying to lose us this restaurant? Your father would be rolling over in his grave if he could see how selfish you are. This man has given you everything and you can't be happy with that?"

"Mom," Gabriella exclaimed as she turned around to face her mother, "Please go do something about the walk in and leave me alone."

Maria frowned as she narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "Fine," she said with a sigh, "let me know if you need help in the kitchen," she said as Gabriella nodded as she turned back to the frying pan on the stove.

"Trust me, I won't" Gabriella said under her breath as she went back to the frying pan.

Later that evening when she came home, or at least to this large house big enough to house an orphanage of at least 15 children, she dropped her keys into the bowl in the hall. The house was quiet, something that she was already use to. In her old apartment, which was really just a bedroom in her mother house, things were always quite. Her mother had bingo nights three nights a week and a movie night with her friends on Thursday. Gabriella shuffled her feet as she made her way to her room. Her shoulders were sore, her neck was stiff and her cheeks were still flustered from the heat of the kitchen.

Coming into her room she kicked off her shoes and through them to the side. At least that hadn't changed; she was still allowed to have her own room. She removed her back pack and placed it on the bed for now. With a sigh she sat down at the vanity and looked at the fishbowl with a small smile. "Hey buddy," she said to her fish, well to be fair it was a wind up fish she named Charlie. With a sigh a she looked up in the mirror and caught her reflection. Disappointment settled in and she frowned at the image reflected, her glaze dropped back down to Charlie. Most nights Charlie was her one and only companion, he was a great listener and an amazing swimmer. "I bet your day was better than mine," Gabriella said tapping on the glass. Reaching into the bowl she picked up Charlie and round him up and placed him back in the bowl. Leaning down she watched for a while as he swam around.

"I promise no matter what happens to us Charlie, I'll never marry you off to some stranger," Sitting up she reaching up she pulled the band from her hair and shook her head as her curls fell in a free fall around her shoulders. Her hair was wild from all the whipping around in the wind. Her eyes were a slight shade of pink and had dark circles under them, looking back at the time she saw it was half past two in the morning.

"I guess it's already morning," she said turning her attention back to Charlie as he floated around his little fins moving his body in the water. David had won Charlie for her at a carnival, it was the only pet she'd ever been able to keep alive and it was their inside joke. Life as a chef meant that you never really had a real life. It meant early morning inventory, late night clean up and always on duty during the holidays. Charlie understood the pressure and he forgave her if she went a day or two without winding him up. Leaning down she tapped on the glass lightly as she thought of that time that seemed so long ago before the marriage. Back when she was studying to be a cook, when cooking actually meant something to her, when she didn't feel so trapped. There was a knock on her bedroom door and Gabriella rolled her eyes as she dropped her head down on the vanity. "Go away!" she shouted.

"Is it asking too much for a phone call," Troy said as he pushed the door open anyway and came into her bedroom. "You know who did call, Zeke! He says you made him make bread all day."

"I don't know what he knows? Why would you hire someone and not tell me?" Gabriella said lifting her head up and turning around to face him.

"I did tell you, remember the other night when I walked in and you were making some kind of green blended mush?"

"You told me while I had the blender going?" Gabriella said with disbelief.

"Point is what the hell happened tonight we had another meeting with the investors," Troy said crossing his arms.

Gabriella winced as she lifted a hand to her brow. "I must have forgotten," Gabriella said standing up, "oh and by the way, thank you for the flowers, the card was extremely poetic," she said making her way to the private bathroom.

"That's it? We had a dinner to go to," Troy said following her, "I looked like idiot sitting there alone all night."

Gabriella slammed the door shut behind her keeping him out as she began to undress. "Some of us actually have jobs that require work."

"And here I thought I made all this money because I was pretty," Troy let out a huff, "Look the deal goes both ways you know, if I'm going to help you, you have to help me."

"If you wanted to help me you wouldn't have just sent a strange man into my father's kitchen."

Troy rolled his eyes as he leaned against the door, "Your father is dead, he doesn't have a kitchen you do, and you also have a husband."

The door opened and Troy fell back a little before turning around to face her. She changed into her oversized t-shirt and boxers her hair was pulled up high in bun. "No I don't have a husband I have an employer."

"Why do you wear clothes that look like they came from a homeless shelters lost and found box?" Troy asked looking down at her wardrobe.

Gabriella rolled her eyes, "Oh my god," she said reaching into the bathroom for her glass of water. "I'm sorry I don't look like a playboy bunny at all hours of the day like your secretary," she said walking past him and to her bed where she put the glass on the nightstand.

Troy reached out and wrapped a hand around her waist pulling her towards him. In one swoop they were face to face. "As far as I'm concerned you could give a couple playboy bunnies a run for their centerfold."

Gabriella gawked as she pushed on his chest to put distance between them. "I'm not going to sleep with you. I've seen some of the girls you sneak in here I refuse to be one."

"Yet," Troy said with sly grin.

"Ever," Gabriella corrected.

Troy shrugged his shoulders, "So tell me," he said looking around her dirty room, "What am I supposed to do with a wife who's never around."

"I don't know what am I supposed to do with a husband who cheats?" Gabriella called over her shoulder.

Troy rolled his eyes, "Fine, I'm giving up other women."

"Oh," Gabriella said turning around to fix her bed, "So you're moving onto men now?" she said pulling the covers back. "I'll be sure to notify the papers tomorrow; after all you're such a catch."

Troy watched as she got into the bed, "You're going to put me in an early grave."

"Remind me to double check your life insurance in the morning," Gabriella punched her pillow before laying down on it. "I believe you can find your way out."

Troy crossed his arms as he looked down at her with a frown, "We have a breakfast with my step-mother tomorrow, at seven."

Gabriella shot up, "That's in four hours!"

Troy smirked as he made his way to the door, "I highly suggest that you start putting Zeke to work then,"

Gabriella let out a groan as she reached for a spare pillow and tossed it at him as the door was closing.

The next morning Troy adjusted his cuff links as he made his way down the staircase. He didn't hear any noise coming from Gabriella's room or the kitchen but the clue that she was up was the strong smell of tea wafting through the house. He come to enjoy the smell of her morning tea, admittedly at first he found it disgusting and preferred the smell of coffee but as the weeks of their marriage began to tick away he found there were more and more things he liked about his new bride. He'd just never tell her that.

Try as he might to keep his distance he admired her fire and determination. He was also impressed by her annoying workaholic tendencies; he hired the other chef after a vigorous interview process because her long hours in the kitchen working alone were taking a toll. Aside from sleeping here at the house she practically lived at that restaurant. No doubt about it, she needed all the help she could get. She was just too stupidly proud to ask for it.

Walking into the kitchen he raised a brow as he seen her standing there quietly staring out into the distance, she was wearing a cream colored summer dress with a beige belt around her waist. Her brown hair was still damp as she held her tea between her palms. "Penny for your thoughts," he said making his way to his coffee machine.

Gabriella stood up straight and looked down at her mug, "Wouldn't you like to know," she said with a frown.

Troy emptied the filter and opened the cabinet to put in a new one, placing it back in place he opened the jar next to the machine and put in two scoops. "Your lack of rest isn't apparent this morning," Troy pushed the button turning the machine on.

"Is that a complement?" she said looking over at him over her shoulder.

Troy smiled as he leaned back against the counter, "It was," he nodded as he watched the damp curls fall down her back from her shoulder. He liked her long hair; it made her look more ravenous and cultured which also made her stand out in the sea of women he was normally surrounded with. "Cathy wants us to help plan their 25th wedding anniversary,"

Gabriella took a few steps back and leaned on the counter where the sink was so she could see him better. When she didn't say anything Troy nodded and reached for a cup from the dish rack. "I think we should host it at the restaurant for its prelaunch ceremony."

"What?" Gabriella looked up at him and her cup lowered.

"Think about it, we could use the publicity and you know that the guest list is going to be impressive." Troy said placing his mug down and crossing his arms as he leaned back.

"She's never tasted my cooking," Gabriella said bringing a hand up to scratch the back of her neck, "I'm not even sure I want that kind of attention."

"You do," Troy said listening to the coffee fall into the coffee pot.

"San Juan is an old style Latin family restaurant; it is not a corporate headquarters for your family's fan club."

Troy rolled his eyes, "San Juan died five years ago when your father did," he said with a shrug. "I know what I'm doing; I revive companies and people for a living."

Gabriella felt her fingers get tighter on her cup of tea; his dismissive comments about her father were really beginning to push her buttons. "You have no experience with restaurants," she added, "You need me to teach you, and I can't teach you if you refuse to listen to me."

"Then teach away," he said leaning forward and placing both hands on the counter in front of them.

"You can't just hire anyone to work in the kitchen," Gabriella counted off her finger.

"He's a four star chef for Latin cruise; he graduated top 5% of his class in the Institution of Culinary Art, I believe that were you attended is it not?" Troy said with his arms extended out in frustration.

"I didn't know that," Gabriella responded.

"Because you don't listen to me," Troy said slamming his hands on the counter. "You too busy rejecting everything I say or not being here to hear it."

"I listen to you plenty," she said taking a step forward "All you do is order people around; half the time I don't think you have an idea about what you're doing."

"Then why don't you teach me how reestablishing yourself in the community is bad idea, show me that your food doesn't need to be showcased to a new audience because the old one has packed up and shipped out," Troy said with a raised brow. "Please by all means make room for my step mother's anniversary party in your busy restaurant that has reservations booked till Christmas."

Gabriella was quite.

"Is there something I'm missing? Please explain to me why you and your mother came to me with this offer on the table? Do you know how much your hand in marriage cost me?"

"That's enough," she said firmly turning around to empty her tea in the sink, without another word she made her way out of the kitchen.

Troy lifted a hand and dragged it though his hair roughly as he blew out a release of breath. Quietly he made his way into the living room where she disappeared. When he found her she was in her bedroom staring at that stupid plastic fish in bowl on her vanity. "Here's a thought, why don't we get an actual fish," he said quietly as he came in slowly.

"I don't want a fish," Gabriella said quietly as she picked up her brush to begin combing her hair back.

Troy sat down on the bed and looked around her room taking in the pile of clothes in the corner. "Look," he said, looking back at her to see her features in the mirrors reflection. "I'm sorry,"

"No you're not," she said picking her hair up and beginning to wrap it in a bun. "You were right and I'm sorry if I'm being difficult. Changes aren't my strong point."

"I noticed," Troy frowned as he watched her neatly tuck away every strand. Her facial features were heightened and she picked up a compact to begin her makeup. She didn't need it, her skin was flawless, and her features were already drawing. "You know it's just breakfast."

"Should I change?" Gabriella said putting the compact down and quietly looking off to the side. "There's a beige thing in the back," she said motioning towards the closet filled with clothes that didn't actually belong to her but had been brought for her. Only she preferred to where everything she'd brought here in a duffle bag. "I was going to put that on but then it felt a little to business appropriate and –"

"I like what you're wearing," Troy said holding his hands up to stop her from talking, "I just meant I don't think you need the makeup."

"Oh," Gabriella said looking back at her face in the mirror. "It's just that my face is really dry from all the scrubbing, I'm trying really hard not to look like a worn out machine," she said looking back at the fish that was floating in the water.

"Hey," Troy said getting her attention and reaching forward to pull her chair closer to him. Gabriella yelped a little as she moved across the floor and came to a stop right in front of him. Troy looked up at her hair and then down at her dress bringing his eyes up and focusing on her face. "Part of this business is about confidence. Knowing that you either have it or you don't." Troy said in a low voice as his eyes came up to look into hers. "Now I have paid my fair share of money on cosmetics, accessories and plenty of plastic surgeries for women who wish they were lucky enough to have what you do." He said reaching up and taking out the pins she just put in.

"Is that so," Gabriella said quietly.

Troy chuckled a bit as he pulled out the last pin out, "Take it from me when it comes to this industry looks matter, people know when you're trying to be something you're not," Troy looked back down as she watched him carefully. "You're not beautiful," he said unraveling her hair and letting it fall, "You're pretty. A natural untouched pretty that a lot of girls want to be."

"Isn't beautiful supposed to be better than pretty?" Gabriella asked as he moved back and put the pins on the bed beside him. She brought her hands up and shook her hair out a little as it fell back into its natural waves. He could smell her shampoo fill the room as her curls moved and released the scent of peaches and mangos into the room.

"Depends, I guess." Troy let out a breath and brought his hand up to tilt her chin towards him, "Just remember, I never would have agreed to marry you if I didn't think you were a knock out." Troy smirked as he took in the wide eyed look on her face. "Why is that so shocking?"

Her eyes blinked and she took a deep breath and bit on her bottom lip. When she didn't answer him he chuckled and took her hand in his, "You're a funny girl," he said patting her hand gently. "Come on we have some pancakes and eggs we have to over pay for while we listen to Cathy go on and on about herself."

Troy got up and left the room, leaving Gabriella in her seat still facing the direction of his departure even after he was gone. There was something about him, something about the way he was so honest and dangerous at the same time that made her forget to keep her guard up. Taking a breath she looked down at her folder hands in her lap.

She had to get a hold of herself she had to put her guard up; she needed to make it out of this marriage with some shred of dignity. Standing up she felt the shake in her knees the giddy emotions in her stomach. Placing a hand over it she took a deep breath as she tried to blow away her butterflies. She couldn't let what happened in that meeting go forgotten; he was up to something and she couldn't let herself forget that and think that any of this was real.