Forbidden Secrets

Chapter Two – Misconceptions

Gabe’s POV

The butler stepped to one side, and I walked into the ornately decorated entrance hall. It was stunning, from the gold etching on the framed portraits, the lavish vases delicately placed on plinths and the mahogany rich wood, it was like something out of the renaissance.

I admired my surrounding, this place really was something else, but however beautiful it was, in my opinion, it was completely unliveable. However much money I had, I was and always would be, a man of creature comforts, family, and the cosier things in life.

My life had become a whirlwind of working hard and partying harder. Money talked, I had plenty of it. I had everything you could ever want, I wanted for nothing, I had fast cars, expensive clothes, and a penthouse suite in the most expensive part of the city. But none of that brought you happiness.

I was seen a s a womaniser, and I guess, in a way I was. But in my defence, they threw themselves at me, even if I said no. I never once pretended I was something I was not. It was difficult to say no, even if I knew I would never see them again. I figured once I met ‘the one’, I would just know. My siblings did.

Thia, my sister was a year older than me and had Freddie. They had met when she was just 16 and been together ever since. They had three kids, Hallie who was now 11, and Cody and Cain who were 5. Life was hectic for them, but they had each other, and they were happy.

My older brother Zeke was 29 and was married to Ezra. They had been together for almost 12 years now and last year had adopted siblings Isla and Obi, who were 7 and 5. They were due to go back to work full time in a few weeks and the only thing they had to worry about was finding the perfect Nanny.

I wish that was the only problem I had. I was pulled out of my daydream as Ms Jada Blithe coughed lightly to announce her presence and slowly walked down the central staircase that fanned out at the base, seemingly overtaking the entire hall.

She held out her out her bronzed hand for me to take, as she reached the bottom step. Her red silk dress clung dangerously tight to her curvaceous body and her sleek dark hair was picture perfect. She smiled, her full red lips snaking up at the sides and she did so.

‘You seemed lost in thought Mr. Mathews. Admiring Daddy’s masterpieces’

Oh. She’s one of those girls.

‘It is an exceptionally beautiful entrance hall Ms. Blithe’ I knew how to play the game.

‘Daddy thought so, I think it is a little grandiose myself’

Maybe she wasn’t going to be quite as pretentious as I thought!

‘Your taste differs?’

She smiled discreetly ‘I think it’s elegance and it’s beauty is like no other, but it belongs in a museum, not in a home. You disagree?’

‘Not at all, I agree entirely’ maybe this wasn’t going to be quite as bad as I thought.

‘Shall we make a move?’ she held onto my elbow and the butler opened the door as we left. Archer was waiting for us; he opened the door and Jada and I got comfortable as we made our way to the Dinner.

The dinner was every bit as awful as I thought it would be, ostentatious in every sense. Other than Jad’s company, which was surprisingly refreshing, it was like living in a nightmare.

‘Jada, are you ready to leave?’

‘I thought you would never ask!’

I smiled at her clear and unapologetic response. She was nothing like I had imagined, or like the other woman who I had met in the same way.

‘Then let’s go’

I took her arm and led her to the car.

‘Where to Madame? Ready to head home? Or would you like to do something?’

After a few drinks, Jada seemed to have relaxed a little and we were talking like old friends. The pompous mumblings that started our night a far cry from the conversations we had had since.

‘I’m starving! I know this amazing little place that’s open 24hrs, not far from here… Do you like Caribbean food?’

‘Yes! Let’s go’

We arrived at this little restaurant that looked like it was barely standing on its own.

‘Don’t judge a book Gabe, this place is amazing!’

‘I have no doubt!’ I had learnt that lesson! ‘Archer, come and eat with us’

‘Oh, no sir I couldn’t’

‘Archer, if you call me sir one more time, I will fire you. Now get your ass in here and eat with us’

Jada laughed ‘I have the same problem with Henry, the butler, man that guy is uptight. I think my father may well have been a tyrant!’

‘I can assure you; your father was a tyrant!’ She looked a little taken a back for a moment ‘but he was a lovable rogue. We got on well, we did a lot of business together. I was sad to hear of his passing, and I am sorry I haven’t said it before now, but I’m truly sorry for your loss’

Archer made a dash to the bathroom while we waited to be served.

‘You knew him? I don’t remember you at the funeral’

‘I was the silent brooding one at the back, that left before I had to actually communicate with anyone’

‘Not very sociable, are you?’

‘Not with people I don’t like, no’

‘So, you like me then?’

‘You surprised me! And yes, I like you’

‘I like you too. I was expecting, something’ she pondered her words carefully, ‘different’

‘Everyone always does’ I laughed lightly, but the truth was, I wasn’t usually this friendly with anyone.

‘I know that feeling’

Archer returned and a waitress came over and took our order. While we waited for out food, we all chatted like we were old friends. It was the most fun I had had on a night out in a long time.

‘You were right, this place is incredible’ I managed to speak while taking the last mouthful of rice and chicken.

When we had finished, Archer went to get his wallet to pay.

‘I don’t think so Archer’

‘I’ll pay for what I ate Gabe’ at least he called me Gabe.

‘No. I made you eat with us, I’ll pay’ I smiled warmly, ‘but I appreciate your offer’

I didn’t want him to feel bad, but there was no way I was allowing him to pay for his food, it was pennies to me.

‘Thank you. I’ll go wait at the car then’

‘Thank you, Archer’

As Archer walked out the door Jada turned to me ‘He seems like a great guy’

‘Yeah. I was pissed off when Greyson retired’ I laughed ‘I trusted him, and then he went and left me. But he recommended Archer, and so far, I think it’s a good fit! I like him’

She laughed too ‘Do you ‘Like’ him?’

‘What?’

‘He’s gay Gabe, you didn’t know?’

‘NO!’

‘Does it matter?’

I laughed ‘of course not. I just didn’t know!’

‘hmmmmm’

‘hmmmmmm what?’

‘Are you gay Gabe?’

I furrowed my brows; did I give off the gay vibe? If that was even a thing!

‘No. Not remotely. Do I give you that impression?’

She pursed her lips ‘No, actually. Not now I know you. You totally do in the magazines and that ridiculous fake persona you pull off though’

‘Oh. Really? Jeez’ I sneered my lip in contemplation ‘Well that sucks!’

‘I have a confession to make’

‘Oh God’

‘I’m a lesbian’

‘WHAT!’ maybe that was a slight over reaction.

‘s**t, I shouldn’t have said anything’ she grabbed her bag and left the restaurant.

‘Wait! Jada, please don’t go. I’m sorry! It was a shock!’

‘Whatever, I should never have said anything, why would you understand!’

‘What the f**k is that meant to mean?’

‘Nothing, I, just please don’t sack Archer because of what I said, and I would really appreciate if you said nothing about this to anyone’ she kept storming down the street.

‘Why the f**k would I sack Archer, and who the hell do I speak to enough to tell them, Jada, why are you being like this?’

She broke down and, in that moment, the only thing I could do was hold her as the rain started to fall and she sobbed in my arms. 

‘I’m sorry Gabe, maybe I overreacted a little, it’s just, I have never told anyone before and I don’t know why, but I thought you would understand. It was so hard when Daddy was alive, I could never tell him, but now I am free to be who I want, I am finding it all a little overwhelming. You would think people would be more accepting, but in our social circles, it’s still so taboo’

‘Listen, Jada, I do understand’ I wanted to reassure her, I was pretty sure she had never had anyone close enough she could ever confide in, and even though I was as equally as f****d up as her in my own way, at least I had my siblings.

‘I’m lonely, rattling around in that big house I can’t bear to get rid of, is driving me crazy. I have no real friends and since Daddy died, no one ever contacts me unless they want something’

‘Stay with me tonight?’

She shot me an awkward look ‘Gabe, I’m not going to sleep with you!’

I laughed ‘No you i***t, I meant in my spare room’

‘Oh. No, honestly it’s okay, I should go home, but thanks for the offer’

We walked back to the car where Archer was waiting for us ‘Homeward bound please Archer, via Jada’s place’

We spent the entire journey back to her place chatting. As I walked Jada to the door, I had an Idea ‘What are you doing on Sunday?’

‘Nothing much, why?’

‘Fancy coming for Sunday Dinner?’

‘At yours?’ she looked a little taken a back.

‘Oh No, don’t worry, I don’t cook! I’ll pick you up at 8.30, wear something smart causal’

‘8.30 in the morning?’

‘Yes! I am not taking no for an answer’

She looked a little confused, but I didn’t give her a chance to back out or ask any more questions as I turned on my heels and headed back to the car. Giving her a wave and a winning grin, I got into the back of the car and Archer drove me home.

I won’t mention that we are going to Oxford and would be attending Church first, and then going to Thia’s place for Sunday dinner, she could back out of church, it wasn’t for everyone, but she wasn’t backing out of dinner, it would do her good to be around people.

It was Thia’s turn to host, and it was always a little chaotic there, but Jada would have fun and I knew she could use the company. Hopefully it would cheer her up and she wouldn’t hate me for it!

Archer pulled into the underground parking lot of my apartment building and got out of the car and opened the door for me to step out. We made our way to the lift, I owned the building, and of course, lived in the penthouse but Archer lived here too, in one of the smaller apartments.

As a sweetener for the driving job, I threw in the accommodation, the pay was average, but with the apartment, it was a good offer. The hours I required him to work were obscure sometimes and I needed him on call a lot, so it made sense and we were both happy.

The lift stopped at his floor ‘Goodnight, Archer. I’ll be ready to leave for the office at 8’

‘No problem. See you tomorrow, Goodnight’ he left, and I was on my own.

I think this is the first Friday night I have been home alone in months, it seemed odd, but in a way, although I was disappointed Jada was not ‘the one’, I was glad I had met her, I had a feeling we were going to be good for each other.