Chapter 56

Gabriel took the bags out of Mia’s hands and took off ahead of her, leading the way to their rooms. She’d been struggling to carry them all herself until he stoically intervened. He had instantly decided that the burden should fall to him, a shocking revelation to Mia, since he never seemed to have problems letting her do those sorts of things before. It wasn’t until that very moment that the issue of accommodation popped into her head.
Did they have to sleep in the same room? She’d paused in her steps, her mind overthinking. How could she have forgotten to clarify these arrangements with Gabriel? Mia was beginning to panic. Gabriel was no longer in sight, he’d disappeared, and she’d spun around in the heat of the moment wondering if to run away.

She’d lived in the same house with the man but it had been years since sharing a room and she couldn’t stomach the idea of it. Being alone with Gabriel in such an intimate space terrified her and she didn’t understand why.
All thoughts of shared rooms, beds and Gabriel were wiped away by the clicking of heels and shoes against stone. Mia fixed her eyes upon the source of the sound, a couple making their way towards her. Her eyes first resting on the female, she was wearing a yellow sundress with sandals paired with dark shades and a hat. She was beautiful, her voluptuous curves attaching an automatic sensual air to her movements.
Mia switched her gaze, openly gawking at the woman’s companion. Fuck! Should she run away? Hide? Mia glanced around for a structure, a bench even a bush…but nope, her luck was non-existence. Presumptuous of her to even think she possessed any when the state of her life was such a mess.

*Oh, fuck me!* Lady Evil-Hour was cringing hard. Not only was Harvey making his way towards her, he was also doing so with another woman by his side. The pair seeming awfully comfortable in each other’s presence by Mia’s viewpoint. Her mouth was salivating, her knees growing weak and her chest—she didn’t want to count the number of flips her heart was doing was doing just to keep the adrenaline pumping through her veins.
Mia averted her eyes and spread a small smile on her face, focusing on the female. She couldn’t ignore them altogether, she was standing in the middle of the pathway, and it would be rude and disrespectful to disregard them. A simple greeting would suffice.

Anyway, it was easier to be polite to the person that wasn’t him, that way she wouldn’t offend him. He did say he wanted them to be strangers if they ever met and for the sake of not raising any questions for his female companion, Mia had to comply. The last thing she wanted to do was cause trouble for him.
No matter how hard it was to accept that he’d already moved on from her. She told herself to learn from this. There was no need for her to be sulking about anymore, not a single reason…

The female beside Harvey removed her shades as they were inches away from Mia, her steps slowing down. Harvey naturally slowed his steps in response to Raya. He’d thought his eyes were deceiving him while he and Raya was walking up the pathway, but he should have known, his eyes could never mistake someone else for her. She was so uniquely her own. Her image etched into his brain for all eternity— although he was hoping that eternity didn’t last very long, but how do you give up the idea of being with someone when that was the one person you saw a future with?
Before he could allow himself to breathe at the sight of her, he instantly recalled the reason she’d be here…or rather with whom. He immediately steadied himself. He was content with walking past her, he knew it would save her and him the embarrassment. Her entire body was screaming for help at the sight of him. However, Raya had stopped and he couldn’t just walk past her, it would draw attention to their past situation more than either of them wanted.

“Good afternoon,” Raya glowed, her cheeks sun-kissed, her skin a lovely olive shade that glistened exotically in the sun. Mia found herself being mesmerised by her perfect smile and husky voice.

“Good evening.” Mia responded warmly. She really wanted to dislike the female he’d picked to accompany him but her blood instantly warmed to her. She was friendly and polite, attributes Mia always appreciated in people. Not much of them had the courtesy.

“Mrs. Evans.” Harvey nodded his acknowledgment of her. Mia had gazed at him demurely through her lashes but his eyes were not on her, but far off into the distance.

“Mr. Regal, I hope all is well with your family.” She gave a mechanical response and he nodded inattentively. Mia felt out of place standing there in front of them. It was strange to see this man who’d touched and kissed every part of her body regard her as little more than gum on the bottom of his shoes. She inhaled sharply; the best way was always to breathe through the discomfort…right?

“You two know each other?” The woman at his side was staring at him now. Raya noticed Harvey’s entire mood shifting, he’d become tense at her side. Harvey turned his attention to her, gazing directly into her face, they seemed too familiar for Mia to handle.

“She’s one of Eva’s teachers.” Harvey responded lightly. Raya glanced back at Mia to find her shifting her weight from one leg to the other as if she was contemplating whether or not to run away from this conversation.

“It’s nice to meet you, I am Raya.” She extended her hand and Mia took it. They shook briefly. “Please call me Mia.” Mia responded.
No further conversation was to be hand, Harvey took hold of Raya’s arm and hooked it through his elbow, tugging her away as they both surpassed Mia’s stance up the pathway.
Mia observed them as they walked upwards, their backs facing her. At the same moment Gabriel was making his way back down, his eyes set on her, the lines on his face more prominent. It was clear that something was on his mind.

“So that’s the bird that has you all sad and mopey?” Raya smirked. She knew he was seeing someone before and the relationship ended faster than it took for it to start. No one was oblivious, Harvey had been happy, genuinely happy and ready to introduce his friends to her all of a sudden, the relationship was no more and he was no longer happy. “I mean, “ Raya twisted around to look at Mia, their eyes connecting. Mia gave her a weak smile and Raya returned it with a heartfelt and energetic disposition. She continued staring as Mia spoke to Gabriel Evans, he’d passed them on their way up, heading directly to Mia. The situation was beginning to make a bit of sense now. “She is pretty cute, though” Raya turned her attention back to Harvey, waiting for a response but his jaw was set and his eyes blank.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Harvey played dumb. They were strangers now and either way he had no intention of spreading any talk about Mia, not even to his closest friends. What else was he supposed to say? Any slip on his part could result in trouble for Mia with her husband.
Raya snickered, not buying his avoidance as truth. “Pretty bold of you to fall for Gabriel Evans wife, though.” She teased him, that tiny muscle bulging on his jaw as he bit down. He still didn’t answer her.

“But I understand the temptation,” Raya continued nonetheless, “I’d hit that if I had the chance.” Raya licked her lips and smiled at the images concocting in her head.

“Says the woman who hasn’t come out to her friends and family yet.” Harvey scoffed at her. For as long as he could remember, Raya had been queer. She had multiple relationships, none of them with a member of the male species and yet he couldn’t understand why her parents and most other friends hadn’t figured it out yet. How much *friends* did she have to break up with for them to realise they were all *girlfriends*? At this point, Harvey was convinced that it was wilful blindness.

“You are my friend hence the reason I came out to you,” She responded defensively, “Besides, being in the closet doesn’t stop gay panic.” She shrugged, how else was she to act at the sight of a beautiful woman?

“You didn’t tell me, I knew and then you confirmed it after I walked in on you and that chick you hooked up with when we were in the Caribbean.” He corrected her, stopping in front of her room. His was further down somewhere.

“Semantics.” She brushed him off with a wave of her hand.
***
“Was that Regal’s boy you were speaking too?” Gabriel hadn’t time for any nicietes. He’d turned around and found Mia missing, on his way back he’d noticed her slumming it with Harvey Regal. His blood was boiling.

“Mr. Harvey Regal?” Mia muttered carefully and he nodded.

“How do you even know that man?” His voice had deepened. Mia gazed around, caught off-guard by his demeanour, at the same moment Raya was looking back at her smiling. Mia returned the gesture.

“I teach his sister at the school.” Mia responded, eyeing Gabriel carefully.

“I see.” Gabriel was questioning his decision to let her stay on working. “Just stay the hell away from the Regal family, they are nothing but trouble.” Gabriel advised her.

“Don’t even have a connection to them.” She responded lightly, her mind curious as to the Gabriel’s anger.

“By the way, did we get separate rooms or—” she asked.

“Of course, wanted you to be comfortable this weekend,” His mood shifted instantly, “I’ll show you your room.” He led her away.