Chapter 181
With a nod toward a group nearby, Gabriel smiled and then pulled Teresa closer and said, "Come on, let me introduce you to some of the elders over there."
"Oh." Teresa gave Gabriel a mock glare, murmured an acknowledgment, and then turned to Brian with a smile, "Brian, we'll chat in a bit."
"Sure," Brian nodded in happy agreement.
The evening's ambiance was picturesque and harmonious. At one point, Teresa ascended to the second floor to touch up her makeup and change her gown.
Noticing her departure and seeing that Gabriel was preoccupied with some influential figures, Brian followed her upstairs.
Back in her room, with the help of her stylist, Teresa was unzipping the back of her dress to change when she heard faint but unfamiliar footsteps.
Swiftly turning around, she was surprised to see Brian following her into the dressing room.
The house was teeming with guests today, and all the housekeepers were busy downstairs; no one was guarding her door, which explained how Brian had breezed through the corridors, up the stairs, and into her room without hindrance.
"How did you get in here? Get out!" Teresa snapped immediately, turning around and covering her back with her hands.
The stylist and makeup artist, not recognizing Brian and certainly not in a position to speak up, silently stood there, spectators to the unfolding drama.
"Teresa, don't be mad. I just thought it was too noisy downstairs, so I came up to have a word with you in private," Brian said, not backing away but moving closer instead, despite Teresa's evident displeasure.
"Brian, even if we're not relatives, we've known each other for a couple of years as classmates. This is our first encounter since graduation, and I don't want to embarrass you," Teresa said, her expression souring.
Brian's unauthorized ascent to the second floor was taboo enough for the host, but now he had silently intruded into her private space, even her dressing room while she was changing, leaving Teresa with no reason to treat him kindly.
Smirking, Brian looked at her and said in a somewhat taunting tone, "No worries, I just came to have a brief chat with you, and then I'll leave."
"Make it quick and then leave, I need to get changed," Teresa said, barely concealing her annoyance. She didn't want to make a scene on this day, not when it could embarrass everyone involved.
"Look, Teresa, I pursued you for nearly three years in Jena and you never gave me the time of day. Was it all because of Gabriel?" Brian took two steps closer.
Teresa had never had any ill thoughts about Brian; he was just a classmate, a friend at most. But at that moment, his actions were disgusting to her. Without holding back, she retorted, "Yeah, comparing you to Gabriel? Seriously?"
Brian let out a snide chuckle, a curve forming on his lips, "You think I don't know? Gabriel's never been interested in women. Even when we were kids, we would get curious and watch romantic movies, everyone would be excited except him. When he married Unity he never laid a finger on her. During those three years in Jena, he never showed up there, right? You were alone, which is exactly why there were so many guys trying to get your attention."
A surge of irritation gripped Teresa, and she couldn't help but curse under her breath.
"So what?" she shot back, not in the mood for Brian's insinuations or a drawn-out conversation. She needed to finish dressing and head downstairs.
"You're just after the power, status, and money that comes with the Garcia name, not Gabriel himself," Brian concluded, eyeing Teresa as if he had unmasked a hidden truth.
Teresa couldn't help but laugh at his absurdity, "Are you done? Can you leave now?"
"I fell for you the first time I saw you in Jena," Brian confessed, stepping closer with a sly smile. "Gabriel can't satisfy you, but I can. What if I..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Teresa's hand flew up, delivering a resounding slap across his face, "Get out or I'll call for someone. Trust me, you don't want to embarrass the whole Hughes family."
The makeup artist and the stylist stood by, stunned by the forceful slap from the ever so delicate Teresa, who seemed so angry at the moment. It was clear she was no longer the same; she had the assertive presence of a true Garcia.
Clearly, being a part of the Garcia family had changed her; she had power now, and she wasn't afraid to wield it.
Brian paused in his tracks and faced Teresa, his expression unflinching even if he had just been slapped. With a smirk, he said, "Think it over, alright? My offer stands, guaranteed to please you."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Teresa shuddered as she watched his retreating figure, feeling a wave of nausea.
She had never expected Brian to be that sort of guy. Her not-so-frequent encounter with him when they were in Jena made it impossible for her to tell at all.
At this moment, she realized how lucky she had been for not having a closer relationship with him, and all his pursuits in the past never swayed her heart.
Otherwise, she'd be even more disgusted.
But, honestly, why did so many people doubt Gabriel's capability? He was the epitome of a tough guy.
She might have to find the chance to prove Gabriel's capability someday.
"Teresa, shall we continue?" the stylist tentatively reminded from the side.
"Yes, help me out, please."
"Of course," The stylist nodded and quickly proceeded to unzip her dress.
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