Page 39 of Buying Angel

I was only partly lying with my comment. I did know where she was, but she wasn’t with Hudson. She was with me. I decided to continue.

“With regards to the auction, how you found out that Hudson was possibly there, I would really like to know, because whoever told you has broken the terms of their contract, if indeed he was even there. So, who told you?”

I watched as Vincent’s face dropped. He knew the terms of that contract as well as I did. He knew he’d just made a very big mistake by even mentioning it.

“You know I’m not at liberty to tell you that. However, it still doesn’t cover the fact that Gabriella was in my apartment when Hudson turned up, then he gave me some drugs and I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, both of them were gone. Where is she?”

I stood there shaking my head. He really wasn’t going to give up with this line of questioning, no matter what I said.

“When are you going to get it through that thick head of yours that I don’t know where Gabriella, or whatever her name, is? Have the years of alcohol and drug abuse killed all your brain cells? She isn’t here, and she is not with Hudson. Could it be possible that she left of her own accord? I’m sure you mistreated her like you mistreat all women.”

Anger finally got the better of him and he lunged forward to punch me, but I was quicker and grabbed his hand before it landed. I twisted his arm and pushed it up his back, causing him to cry out in pain.

“Now, I suggest you don’t try that again. Next time, I won’t be so nice. Now, for the final time, Gabriella isn’t here, so I suggest you go and look elsewhere for her, because the next time I see you, you won’t see me.”

With that, I let go of his arm and pushed him toward the open door.

“This isn’t over, Nico. I have very influential friends who would kill you just for speaking to me the way you have. So I suggest you watch your back, because they certainly will.”

He walked out of the door and headed across to the elevator. I watched as he entered it and the doors closed, then walked back into the apartment and sent a text off to Hudson. I wasn’t in the mood to speak to him right now and would probably say something I shouldn’t. In a few moments, he replied.

Is Gaby okay? Does Vincent know she is there?

I replied saying that everything was okay and I was just about to go and check on Rosa. Also that there was no way he was changing his plans for this evening, even if I had to stay at the club all night. After a small argument, he agreed. I knew it was nearly time for us to leave, so I went upstairs to check on Rosa. I knocked on the door when I found that it was locked, meaning she must have heard everything.

“Rosa, it’s me, Nico. It’s okay. It’s just the two of us here.”

I didn’t want to tell her that it was Vincent, just in case she hadn’t heard anything. The door unlocked and she opened it. I was in complete shock when I saw her standing there.

Chapter Twenty-Three

GABRIELLA-ROSE

I'D HAD AN AMAZING morning with Nico. We had sat down for most of it just enjoying some movies and spending time together. Whenever he was with Hudson, they would play off of each other, but he only showed his kind and caring side to me. Throughout the movies, we were snuggled up together, but for some reason, I didn’t feel as though I was disrespecting my relationship with Hudson. It somehow felt right, as if this was what Hudson would want. I couldn’t tell you why, but with Hudson just saying that he wanted me to get to know Nico, I felt that this was what he wanted too.

I knew that Hudson had wanted to talk this evening, and I had decided that I needed to be honest with him and tell him about my feelings for Nico. I was way past the point of caring about him; I was head over heels in love with him. With both of them. I knew I was risking a lot, but keeping it to myself was only hurting all of us. I hoped that both of them would understand and would accept it, but I wasn’t sure if they would. We would just have to see tonight.

When Nico had suggested that I should go up and have a long, relaxing bath, I didn’t need to think twice. It would give me a chance to unwind and get ready for the evening ahead, whatever that might entail. I got undressed as the bath was running and then immersed myself into the hot, foamy water. The scent of the essential oils relaxed my entire body and cleared my mind of everything I had been through the past five years.

As I lay there, I went through in my head exactly what I was going to say to Hudson tonight. I wondered to myself if I should ask Nico to stay while I spoke to Hudson. After all, it affected him as well. However, how would Hudson take that when it was just meant to be the two of us this evening?

My head was awash with questions. Did I just come out with it and say that I loved Nico? Did I ask Hudson whether he would consider a relationship where he shared me with his best friend? Did I speak to Nico first to see what he thought?

The more I thought about the situation and tonight, the more questions came to my head, but no answers. There was no point in me dwelling on them. I had to just clear my mind and get ready for the evening. I finished my bath and I had just gotten out when Nico came to check on me, making sure I had not fallen asleep.

I heard him walk into my bedroom and stand outside my bathroom door before he spoke.

“You haven’t fallen asleep in there, have you, Rosa?”

I laughed as I wrapped myself up in the towel. “I just got out. So no, I haven’t fallen asleep.”

“Okay, bellissima. I will wait for you downstairs. There is no rush. We still have plenty of time.”

I listened as he walked out of my bedroom and closed the door. It hadn’t escaped my notice that he had called me beautiful again. Why did he keep doing that? It couldn’t be a term of endearment, because he knew that I was his best friend’s girl. I shook the thought from my head and carefully opened the bathroom door, just in case Nico hadn’t left the room. I wasn’t worried, but I really didn’t want to give him the wrong – or right, in my case – idea. Not yet, anyway.

When I was sure that he wasn’t in the room, I walked over to the closet. I had already planned what I was going to wear. Hudson had completely filled my walk-in closet full of dresses and clothes for me to wear. I had been well and truly spoiled. I’d picked out a gorgeous red dress with matching lingerie, gold shoes, and accessories. It was perfect and brought out my complexion and color of my hair. I laid my clothes on the bed and proceeded to dry my hair.

I knew that Hudson loved my hair in its natural form, so I dried it into its natural ringlets. I got myself dressed and looked at myself in the mirror. The dress he had purchased fitted me perfectly, accentuating my curves. I looked absolutely amazing, even without any makeup on. I was just about to sit down and start my makeup when I heard raised voices downstairs.

---