Page 89 of Gabriel's Album

We’re a long way into the meeting before he mentions Ariana again. “So, Gabriel. We need to discuss your girlfriend.”

“What about her?” I ask in a wary tone.

“Obviously, she has now become a major part of the news story that’s happening. Everyone thinks her name is Ariel. Would she be willing to do an interview with you? Do you want that? What are your thoughts on how to proceed?” he asks in a surprisingly gentle tone.

I’d expected to be told exactly what would happen, and that I wouldn’t have a choice in the matter. I do know that it’s highly unlikely that Ariana would be willing to address this publicly with me, though.

“I doubt Ariana will want to do any interviews. I think she’ll be hoping this will blow over and we can go back to the way things were.” I purse my lips and shrug my shoulders at him.

Cooper snorts. “Yeah, because that was working outsowell for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My nostrils flare and I narrow my eyes at him.

“I mean that she’s made itveryclear that she’s not committed to being your girlfriend. She doesn’t want to be with you, Gabriel. If she did, then she would have been on the red carpet last night, having her photograph taken with you.”

I hate that a huge part of me agrees with what he’s saying. That he’s putting a voice to the thoughts that have been percolating at the back of my mind for a while now.

“That’s not true,” I disagree.

“And anyway, if she did that, then you’d be calling her a gold digger,” Harrison points out. “I don’t think you’d be satisfied with anything she did.”

“I’m not talking about what she might have done, though, but what shehasdone. She has repeatedly made it very clear to me that she does not see this relationship that they have as a long-term thing. Gabriel needs to come to terms with that.”

The executives from Sierra and even Tristan are shifting uncomfortably in their seats while Cooper and I glare at each other. I can feel rage coursing throughout my body, an anger more intense than I’ve ever felt before hitting me with a powerful force.

“There is a line, Cooper, and you’re fucking crossing it. My relationship with Ariana is between her and me. She loves me, and she wants to be with me. She has her reasons for not wanting to be in the public eye, and I accepted thosemonthsago.

“It is not, nor will iteverbe, your place to decide who I date or when I date them. All I need to know is how Ariana is going to be kept safe and out of the public eye. Your commentary on the state of our relationship is neither wanted nor needed.”

“Fine.” Cooper throws his hands up in defeat before dropping them again and turning back to Tristan. “So, I think we can safely assume that Ariana won’t be interested in doing interviews. What’s your plan in that case?”

He details his preferred course of action, giving me another list of answers to use to deflect possible questions about Ariana. They’re well thought out and very noncommittal. I’m to memorize them before we have our first interview.

By the time we’re leaving the building, I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted. I just can’t wait to be back at the hotel and with Ariana again. I pull out my phone and send her a text.

On my way back. See you soon. Love you.

About twenty minutes later, I’m opening the door to our hotel room and I call out, “Ari? The meeting went well. Where are you?”

“I’m—I’m in here,” she replies, sounding choked up.

I walk into the bedroom and see Ariana sitting on the end of the bed. She’s spinning her hotel room key card around in her hands. Her eyes are puffy and red, but she looks as beautiful as ever.

“What are you doing?” I ask her, confused about why she’s sitting randomly at the end of the bed.

“I’m sorry, Gabriel,” she croaks out before starting to cry.

I take a step toward her, intending to comfort her, but she puts her head in her hands and shakes her head to tell me no.

“What’s going on?”

My heart races in my chest, and the familiar feeling of ice running through my veins is back. It’s colder and more painful than when I was waiting to see if she would walk the red carpet with me yesterday.

“I can’t do this,” she tells me.

“Can’t do what, Ari?” I can’t keep the fear out of my voice as I ask the question.

“Any of this. I’m going home, Gabe. I’m sorry.” She finally raises her face to look at me.

---