Chapter 3 CRAZY LITTLE SECRET

The woman wore a short fuschia dress with spaghetti straps. She looked sexy, but she was not slutty. She wrapped herself in an expensive, untouchable elegance. A simple gold watch circled her wrist along with a white gold bracelet full of beads. There was no ring on her finger. Her wavy auburn hair was like flames that framed her stern face. Gabrielle admitted that Belle was beautiful. But, Belle had a fierce mouth. She did not hesitate to yell at anyone who openly bothered her.

"I wouldn't say that I'm happy to meet you here."

"Me neither. But you are free to sit wherever you are, I will not kick you out."

"Well, this club isn't yours. You can't kick me out while I'm here and pay for my own drinks."

"I could buy this place right now if I really wanted to kick you out."

"Tsk, you arrogant rich guy."

Gabrielle shrugged his shoulders indifferently. He sipped his bourbon slowly. His elbows propped on the table. He tried to enjoy this evening as best as possible even though his mood had fallen to the bottom of the abyss.

"Your drink, Milady. Enjoy."

"Thank you...."

"Joshua. Pleased to meet you."

The bartender went to serve other guests after placing Belle's order. His friendliness relaxed Belle's tension a little. All men should be like Josh. He was friendly, but he was not lewd.

"Where are your other friends?"

"Over there."

"Why don't you join them?"

"I'm lazy. I just want to enjoy my bourbon in peace."

Hearing the sarcasm, Belle automatically stopped moving her lips to ask Gabrielle more questions. Besides, she was clear enough about Gabrielle's profile and she didn't need any more information.

For half an hour Gabrielle and Belle were just silent, ignoring each other and trying to enjoy the boring atmosphere around them. But Belle found their nonchalance repulsive. She couldn't stand pretending to be nonchalant for too long, so she decided to finish her drink and go home.

"Give up, eh?"

"Sorry? Are you talking to me?"

"Do you see anyone else here?"

Shit! Belle cursed her own stupidity.

"Tsk, what do you want? You keep skeptical of me. Are you angry because I wet your expensive shirt? Okay, I'll change your shirt tomorrow."

"No need. I have a pile of expensive shirts at home. You'd better go home and go to bed. You look tired, miss."

Belle's anger rose to the top of her head. She really wanted to scratch this man's annoying face and shower him with the rudest curses she had ever known.

Belle exhaled roughly. She wasn't going to escalate the ridiculous argument. She'd better go home and go to sleep like that damn man suggested to her.

"Alright. Good night, Mr. Rolland."

Belle tossed her hair before walking away. Gabrielle grinned as he took a sip of his bourbon. He thought Belle was quite funny and sweet. He found solace in Belle, and he hoped to meet the fierce woman again.

"Nite too, Belle," Gabrielle mumbled into the air.

-00-

"I am ready. Let's get out of the car."

"You look amazing. Happy birthday, darling."

Gabrielle took Fleura's right hand and kissed the back of it gently. The corner of Gabrielle's eye accidentally caught the diamond ring on Fleura's finger. It was their wedding ring. He noticed that Fleura didn't wear it in Milan because her fingers were too full of designer rings. However, this time Fleura wore her ring again to perfect her role as Gabrielle Rolland's wife.

"I have a gift for you."

"Now? I thought you'd surprise me at the end of the day."

"There are some gifts. This is the first gift," Gabrielle smiled broadly at his enthusiastic wife.

"I love gifts. Oh, thank you my darling."

Fleura grabbed Gabrielle's nape and kissed him passionately. They crushed each other, and Gabrielle hugged her back tightly. It had been a long time since they kissed like that. And Gabrielle didn't want to miss a single sweet moment with her on her birthday.

"When are you going to give me a gift?"

"After one more kiss."'

Gabrielle kissed her wife's lips greedily, like a hungry man. He didn't need to worry about journalists around the lobby because he protected his car with frosted glass.

"OK, that is enough. You messed up my lipstick."

Fleura pushed Gabrielle's shoulder. She pursed her lips when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

"My lip is swollen, gosh. You kissed me greedily."

"We haven't done that in a long time," Gabrielle shrugged nonchalantly.

"I hope that tonight we can celebrate your birthday more intimately in bed."

"Hmm, I have a party with my friends at the club. They have prepared a surprise for me."

"Oh shit! Can you cancel the party?"

Applying lipstick to her lips, Fleura shook her head with a fake sad expression.

"I can't let them down, Gabe. Everyone will attend. Including my producer and director."

"Are they more important than me? Your husband?"

"Of course, you are more important than them. Never compare yourself with them. Come on, I don't want to start an argument with you. Are you going to give me my gift now?"

Gabrielle reached into his pocket excitedly. He took out a red velvet box and handed it to Fleura without opening it.

"It's a very rare ruby necklace. I managed to get it at last month's auction."

Fleura clapped her hands excitedly and opened the velvet box impatiently.

"Oh, honey, it's so pretty. You know that I really want it!"

Fleura lifted the necklace and screamed with joy in front of the mirror while holding the necklace to her neck. The red ruby on the pendant shone beautifully under the lamplight. Fleura couldn't wait to wear it, so she could show off the rare necklace to her friends.

"Can you help me, honey?"

"Turn around. I'll put the necklace around your neck."

Gabrielle took the necklace from Fleura's hand then put it around her neck. He was a bit annoyed that Fleura chose to party with her friends instead of spending time with him. Watson's words flashed through his mind. He said he could use his money to buy the happiness he wanted. Fleura was not the only woman in the world. There were lots of women who were willing to replace Fleura in his bed.

"Come on, Gabe, smile for the camera."

Fleura put her arm around Gabrelle's shoulder as they walked through the hospital lobby. The flash slightly blinded Gabrielle's eyes, who was not yet used to the presence of paparazzi. Meanwhile, Fleura looked so relaxed when facing the paparazzi. She posed very elegantly while showing off her affection for Gabrielle. That's what Fleura always did. Pose and pose. Her ruby necklace shone beautifully under the flash. Fleura looked perfect in front of all those paparazzi.

"Hello friends, thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday as well as to visit the children here."

"Happy birthday Ms. Fleura. Your heart is so noble. You choose to celebrate your birthday in the hospital with children with cancer. While other actresses, who may not be more famous than you, choose to party in clubs or in private villas."

Fleura smiled gently as she glanced at Gabrielle, who was looking at her with loving eyes.

"My wife wants to share her happiness with them, right sweetheart?"

Gabrielle kissed her wife's cheek tenderly. A group of nurses cheered wildly behind the pillar, biting their nails with envy at Gabrielle and Fleura.

"And today you are allowed to record my activities inside, but I hope you can be calmer when you do it because we are currently in the hospital."

The reporters muttered noisily, then nodded in understanding. One of them raised a finger to ask Fleura a question.

"Yes?"

"I see you are wearing a very beautiful necklace."

Fleura's eyes twinkled. She excitedly touched the ruby against her neck and pulled Gabrielle closer to her.

"My beloved husband gave it to me as a birthday present. Thank you very much, baby."

"The pleasure is mine. I always have to ensure my wife's happiness."

They kissed passionately. The hospital staff buzzed around excitedly amidst the clicking sounds of cameras. Rollands would be a hot topic in all the magazines.

"Come on guys, it's time for us to meet these cute children," Gabrielle exclaimed excitedly then took his wife's hand into the hospital.