The spacious three-bedroom apartment came with four bathrooms and mandatory breathtaking views that a top-floor unit of the 37 stories high building can provide. Also included are three bonus rooms, arge half-covered terrace, and an open-concept space that allows a free-view from the kitchen through the dining area all the way to the family room that is framed with huge windows on two sides.


    They were in the kitchen that features marble and metallic details, and Monique was showing an in-built vacuum system when Gabriel''s phone rang.


    "It''s Steve…", Gabriel told Ba. "It should not take long. Please continue without me…"


    Gabriel stepped on the side so that he can talk while keeping an eye on Ba and Monique.


    Monique used this opportunity to speak to Ba in a hushed voice: "I''m sorry for earlier. I didn''t mean it. I''m sure this happens often."


    Ba arched her eyebrow in disapproval. "I am sure that the only thing you are sorry for is that you didn''t know who I am. You meant it. Every word. And no, this does not happen often. I can assure you that this is the first time I heard a woman openly talk with a stranger about her ns to sleep with a man in exchange for some crumbs."


    Monique pressed her lips into a line. "You hate me."


    "No, I don''t. I feel sorry for you. You are young and beautiful, and you could do so much for yourself, yet you chose to be someone''s doormat. And you are not even picky who that someone will be."


    Monique frowned. "Easy for you to say, since you found yourself a thick thigh to hug."


    Ba''s eyes shed in outrage. "I''m not hugging anyone''s leg. I have my own life."


    "Yeah, right…"


    "You don''t know anything about me, Miss Birack.", Ba cut her off angrily. "Why are you assuming that I am a poor girl who needs a rich boyfriend to pay my bills? Or do you have my extensive file as well? Gabriel can have any woman, yet he chose me while ignores you. That should tell you I have some things going in my favor. No matter what the truth is, you should keep in mind that this apartment sale depends on me. So, you either resume the tour or we are done."


    Monique swallowed her grievances and continued talking about the features thate with the apartment. She already messed up getting her hands on Gabriel, and if she blows this sale, it will be aplete disaster.


    Gabriel ended his talk with Steve and looked at Ba with admiration while his heart was beating wildly. He didn''t hear the exchange between Ba and Monique, but based on their expressions, he knows that Ba verbally pped Monique. Gabriel was impressed. Ba is amazing.


    He joined them and asked Ba: "What did I miss?"


    "Nothing much. I think we are done here.", Ba responded.


    Monique''s eyes shifted nervously. "Do you want a few minutes to discuss this apartment in private? I can wait outside. Feel free to see the rooms."


    "That will be great. Thank you.", Gabriel said with a forced smile.


    "Is the tour really done, or are you done with her?", Gabriel asked when Monique left the apartment.


    "Is there a difference?"


    Gabriel nodded in response. "Woman like that is not worth discussing. What do you think about this ce?"


    Ba was confident that Gabriel said how she is in charge only to make it difficult for Monique and she was surprised that he is looking at her expectantly.


    "Do you really want to hear my opinion?"


    "Of course. It''s my first time to get an apartment, and I never lived in one. Considering that you have one, I''m assuming that you have some useful tips to share. Like… Is the built-in vacuum important? Is a hot tub on the balcony a must-have? Do I care if I have a CAT6work outlet in the bathroom? I never used myptop in the shower… is that a thing? Or is that intended to be used while I sit on the toilet?"


    Ba burst into giggles.


    Gabriel smiled. "I am d your mood improved. Don''t let that woman or any other spoil your day."


    Ba exhaled while remembering her talk with Monique from before Gabriel arrived. "She said that you are buying a love nest and that she won''t mind sleeping with you asionally for some benefits."


    Gabriel was surprised that Ba told him that without a filter. And he was upset that Monique ran her mouth like that in front of Ba. They only started dating, and he is d that Ba didn''t run away when she heard Monique''s words.


    "Oh… that was direct. Usually they have a more subtle approach and wait to catch me in private before they make their move."


    Ba noticed that Gabriel spoke about it like it''s an everyday thing. "How can you live like that?"


    "Ites included with myst name, so I don''t have a choice." Gabriel paused when he saw that Ba is looking at him with concern. "Don''t worry about me. I learned a long time ago that when a woman approaches me, she probably knows my name, where I work, my address, and my sign in the horoscope. Women like Miss Birack are not umon and as my girlfriend, you will need to either ignore them or help me keep them at bay. But no matter what you chose, I hope that you will be confident in the fact: I will not fool around behind your back."


    Ba''s eyes shed. He said the <em>''girlfriend''</em> word again! And he said that he will be faithful!


    "Did I say something you don''t approve of?", Gabriel asked when he noticed that Ba is dazed. "Am I going too fast with my assumption that you want us to date?"


    "No, no…", Ba said swiftly. "It''s just… I didn''t expect that you will say something like that."


    Gabriel exhaled in relief. "Now… back to the apartment. What do you think?"


    "Do you need three bonus rooms?"


    Gabriel didn''t see a problem with that. "Extra space can''t hurt. One bonus room can be used as an entertainment room, with a big screen for watching movies with somefy seating and I would like a pool table. The second one can be used as a study. It will be a space for me to work from home when I don''t go to the office, and you can study there…"


    Ba was surprised that he included her in his ns. "Me?"


    "You called it a love nest. It can be ours. I can''t think of anyone else with whom I would share this space."


    Ba''s face was on fire. Did he say the <em>''love''</em> word? Oh, gosh!


    Monique called it a love nest, but Ba didn''t want to correct Gabriel. Their <em>''love nest''</em>… sounds nice. And just like that, Ba started daydreaming while smiling goofily.


    ---


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