56

AUDREY
After getting warmed up, Bryan Jameson and I went back to the arena, saving energy while the volleyball teams were on their last set. Unfortunately, Chelsea seemed to be on the losing side, with the opposing team having five points ahead, and everyone seemed exhausted.
At the side where Gabriel and Redhead were seated, I realized I never saw him smile and laugh like he did whenever he was with her. It was making me damned too jealous. On the other hand, I couldn’t wait to know about her either, so I guess I would come to the dinner after all. Then I spotted Coulson on the ground, who had just finished his soccer game earlier, greeting the woman as well.
The referee blew the last whistle and gave the last point to another team, and Chelsea’s team lost. The team who won came from the financing department.
“Come on, Audrey!” Bryan stood up, and I walked after him for the next game. Both men greeted each other at the field, and Bryan shook hands with the redhead, then she turned to me.
“Hello, Audrey.” She grinned so sweetly and offered another handshake. I didn’t want to appear like a bitch, so I shook her hand.
“Hi,” I replied briefly, then we moved to the other side of the net. I felt abruptly overwhelmed when I glanced up at the hundreds of people watching us in the middle of a four-corner field.
The first one to serve as our team, and I positioned myself on his left and hit the ball to the other side of the net, and the rally continued between the two men until the ball landed at my side, and I successfully hit it back but failed after the redhead almost smashed the ball and threw in a quick, I didn’t manage to catch it.
The audience was cheering for the CEO and her long-legged tennis player friend, who never missed, and the scores kept going on their side. Who the hell would bring a tennis star to a sports fest match? I was ultimately getting pissed at myself whenever I couldn’t hit the ball.
“Don’t mind.” Bryan patted my back, and he went to his position and jumped, then hit the ball in the air, but though, as usual, Gabriel would hit back, deliberately pointing across me, whenever he shot towards me, he’d make sure I’d receive the ball, and then he would grin at me.
The rally continued up to the last set of the game. Bryan and I miraculously won the second set, so we could still play the third, but it seemed he was carrying the weight of two players because I couldn’t play well, so we lost the game.
But Stark Apparel’s general manager seemed pretty cool about it. He knew from the very start we wouldn’t win against the six-footer redhead on the other side of the next. He pulled me into a brief hug. “Good game, Audrey. You did great.”
I nodded and smiled back. “Thanks. You too. Nice jumps,” I said, catching my breath.
He messed up my hair, and we both laughed as if we were the winner. Gabriel then approached us to shake hands once more and leaned to me to whisper something in my ear.
“You keep letting him touch you, and I’ll break his fingers,” he warned in a dangerous voice, and both he and the redhead walked to the other side of the court.
What the hell! Could I at least say the same on his face? The woman was touching him all over too, but never did I complained about it. I was about to slap his face. What was his problem?
I told Bryan I’d head out first and marched in the opposite direction.
***
The entire day went freaking exhausting for everyone, and Chelsea, who had just stepped out of the bathroom, scowled at the sight of me applying makeup in the mirror.
“What are you doing?” she asked, only wearing a bathrobe.
“Stark asked me to see him and the redhead for dinner,” I said as I was applying mascara.
“Where?”
“I’m not sure yet. He said he’ll come by to fetch me.” I checked the time on my phone. “He should be here by now.”
She sighed. “And you agreed? Why?”
“I want to know what he has to say.” I faced her. “I’m curious as well.”
“Maybe, he’ll tell you that the redhead is his new girlfriend. You’re only going to hurt yourself, Audrey. Come on.”
“Then he’ll have to tell me that instead of just guessing here.” I spun around to the mirror again and finished my makeup. I picked up my purse. “I’m waiting for him outside.”
“Whatever you say.”
I turned the doorknob, and as soon as I swung the door open, Gabriel was standing by the door, and immediately, I stepped out of the door, or he’d catch sight of my best friend in a wardrobe.
Surprisingly, he was alone.
“Ready?” he asked softly. All I could answer was a nod.
After the entire week, this was probably the first time we’d been together alone, but I was still not myself. All the truth about him still did not sink in, though I had come up with questions to ask about him being Liam.
I wanted to speak, but until we reached our destination, the questions in my head remained unsaid.
The restaurant where he brought me was just inside The Valley, and the entrance, the sight of the redhead, was who I first saw as she was waving her hand.
“Come.” Gabriel grabbed my wrist and pulled me with him toward the woman. “France.”
“Gabriel. Hello again, Audrey.” She grinned at both of us. I forced a smile.
“Have you been waiting?”
“No, I just arrived.”
Gabriel nodded. “You first,” he said, referring to the entrance, so she stepped inside the restaurant that seemed to be casual dining. We settled at a four-seater table while Gabriel sat next to her across from me, and I was all alone on the other side. I rolled my eyes.
What the hell was I doing here?
A waiter came to take our orders, but I had no appetite for eating anything with the redhead at our table, so I asked for only a glass of water.
“Are you sure? We played a full set earlier. You must be exhausted,” Gabriel pressed.
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I won’t be long as well since Chelsea might be waiting for me.”
He caught my hand. “Don’t be like that,” he said softly, but I pulled my hand away.
“Let’s just get this over with.” I slipped a glance at the redhead watching us curiously, then a half-smile curved on her lips.
Seriously?
“I was only worried you might be hungry—”
“My stomach is fine, Gabriel,” I snapped. “Why did you want me here anyway? Is this work-related?” Gabriel nodded at the waiter, and then he set his eyes back on me.
“What are you so angry about?”
“I’m not angry…” I lowered my voice, slightly embarrassed by the tone I used.
He sighed. “You’re here because I want you to be here. I want you to meet Francesca,” he started. “She’s the artist I was telling you about.”
I raised my head up. “What are you talking about?”
“Yes, she will paint your portrait,” he said.
Oh, the artist! Of course, she had to be gorgeous and a woman.