Sunday


    11:37 AM


    Gabriel and Ba are on their way to the property that belongs to the Long family.


    Gabriel is behind the wheel of his silver Bentley Continental GT, his left hand rests on the steering wheel, while his right one is holding onto Ba''s hand and their fingers are inteced.


    "Everything OK?", Gabriel asked.


    Ba usually enjoys the ride. She would smile and sing along with songs from the radio and lift her arms asionally as if she is trying to catch the wind, but now she is silent and unmoving.


    "I''m nervous.", she admitted.


    Gabriel was not sure what to say. He already told her many times that it does not matter what his parents think because this is him giving them a chance to ept Ba as part of his life. If they don''t, it will be their loss, because it will only make him reduce already scarce interactions between Gabriel and his parents.


    He lifted her hand and kissed the back of her palm.


    "It will be OK.", he said, making her smile a little.


    Ba observed changing scenery and the tall buildings got reced by single-family homes before open space took over, and asional mansions could be seen peeking between the trees in the distance.


    They passed a gate with the sign "The Long Family" and drove between massive trees.


    Ba noticed that the road they were on was met with smaller side-roads from the side, and she guessed that there are houses hidden behind the foliage.


    "This looks like a neighborhood.", Ba said to what Gabriel hummed. "How many houses are here?"


    "It''s a big property that belongs to the Longs. Every family member has the right to a home here.", he responded without giving her a specific number and he left her wondering how big the family is.


    "Wow…", Ba said under her breath when they approached a massive vi that reminded her of a castle with all the extensive work on the gray fa?ade. In Ba''s opinion, the only things missing were the drawbridge, a moat with crocodiles, and stone gargoyles at the top… and maybe lion statues guarding the main entrance.


    The circr driveway had a four-tier fountain in the middle and colorful flower beds around it.


    "Is this where you lived?", Ba asked.


    "I grew up here. When Steve took over, my parents moved into one of the smaller vis."


    Ba understood that this is the vi where the head of the family lives, and that means that Steve and Bridgette are here. "I thought we are going to visit your parents first."


    "Biddy invited us for a lunch, and it''s lunchtime. We don''t want to bete.", Gabriel responded as he opened the door for Ba and offered her his hand.


    Ba thought how that makes sense. They can visit his parents next. But she was nervous, and she was not sure if she will be able to eat. She wished that they finish the visit-the-parents part first, and to be done with that stressful task, but she thought that asking for that will be unreasonable.


    "Master Gabriel…", a servant greeted Gabriel to what Gabriel responded with a small nod and a smile before he gave the man his car keys.


    "Miss…", the man greeted Ba with a bow before driving Gabriel''s car to the garage.


    Gabriel tilted his head toward the main entrance, silently telling Ba to move that way before he tugged her hand.


    Ba inhaled a shaky breath. Other than Steve and Bridgette living here with Denise, this is where Gabriel resided with Victoria. Gabriel does not talk about her, but Ba is aware that Victoria manipted Gabriel and that Victoria didn''t like when Bridgette took her spot as the Madam of the Long family.


    Ba''s eyes were open wide as she took in the decorations which were more luxurious than what she imagined from the outside. The marble floors, tall columns, walls covered in paintings, massive crystal chandelier, and posh looking sofas under the elegant staircase that stretched from left and right to meet at the top and provide gallery view to the main floor… It was big and extravagant.


    Ben and Penny have a luxurious vi, but that looks like a in cottagepared to this. Ba thought about how their whole vi can fit into this enormous entryway. She didn''t realize that it''s this big from the outside.


    Ba bit the inside of her cheek while thinking how Gabriel used to live in this luxury… with Victoria. It''s not that Ba wants to live in a ce like this, but this looks like something from the movies, and she felt like the ghost of Victoria is filling this space and it made Ba insecure. Victoria was a ssy girl from a prominent family, and she could (almost) match Gabriel in status and not embarrass him when she stood next to him… and Ba does not even know which fork to use when there are more than two on the table next to her te.


    Suddenly, Ba felt a lump in her chest, and it was difficult to breathe. She wanted to go back home, to her apartment. This was too much, and she was confident that she does not belong in this world but how can she say that to Gabriel? They are already here.


    <em>''How could I be this stupid?''</em>, Ba berated herself. They are here to see Steve and Bridgette and she is already freaking out. What would she do if this was to meet Gabriel''s parents?


    Ba was confident howing here was the right thing to do and it would be a piece of cake, but now she realized that she was wrong. First, she is terrified. Second, how could she ever think that she and Gabriel are a match? She will never fit in a ce like this.


    Ba remembered the real estate agent and women from the horse riding club, and she understood the reason behind all those women coveting Gabriel because living here is better than winning a lottery. But it alsoes with a lot of burden and responsibility which Ba does not want. Ba prefers her two-bedroom apartment and modest life, without drama, and this… is too much.


    "Sweets? Are you OK?", she heard Gabriel call to her and she forced a smile.


    She didn''t say anything, but he noticed that Ba was following him robotically with every step heavier than the previous one, and he realized that her insecurities kicked in.


    "Hey…", Gabriel said when he stopped moving, and his hand snaked around Ba''s waist, bringing her closer to him. "Rx, it will all be fine…", he chanted into her hair while tightening his hold on her.


    "You don''t know that.", Ba spoke into his chest.


    Gabriel touched her chin, to lift her head up, and then his lips met hers. He kissed her slowly and thoroughly, silently telling her that it will be OK and that he is there for her.


    Ba''s arms snaked around his neck and she returned his kisses, each taking away a piece of her anxiousness and recing it with a sense of belonging.


    ---


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