Desserts & Dramas

Chapter 32

"Ali gave me the code." Gabriel replied.

"She could have warned me."

"She forgot." Gabriel explained "If it makes you feel any better, she didn't want to give me the key to protect your privacy. So, here I am in your presence."

Sofia just huffed.

It was taking longer than she thought to find the document, if there was such a document. She couldn't keep her composure for much longer. Her eyes were tearing up again. With anger, of course. Anger at being humiliated. She wasn't heartbroken for a guy she barely knew. She was smarter than that. But she might as well have a date that night to rub it in his face that she wasn't the type to throw away. What low self"esteem doesn't do to people, right?

As if someone heard her thoughts, her prayers were answered and the doorbell rang again. She went to the door and there was Mr. Elton needing help with his grandson.

"Excuse me, I'm going to check the gate downstairs. Make yourself at home." With some luck Gabriel would not have overheard her conversation with the neighbor. Then she could bring the element of surprise into the apartment and make Gabriel as uncomfortable as he was making her feel.

"Okay." Gabriel replied backwards, concentrating on the objects he was searching through.

Sofia quickly went downstairs to open the gate for Octavio.

"Hi Octavio, your grandfather is waiting for you upstairs."

"Hi Sofia, thank you for opening." Octavio got into the building. "Is your intercom not working? You never come down."

"I have an unwelcome guest."

"I see," Octavio laughed, "do you need help?"

"Since you are offering... would you like a piece of lasagna and a glass of wine?"

"You know I love it when you bring my grandfather goodies. How can I refuse?" He replied. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just pretend that you canceled a dinner date with me and managed to show up."

"Yes, ma'am, at your service."

The two of them went up the elevator and entered Sofia's apartment, already chatting about amenities as if they were intimate. Which in a way they were, if considered from the point of view of friendship. Gabriel looked at the door when he heard voices. Sofia made the introductions.

"Octavio, this is Gabriel, my brother-in-law's friend. Gabriel, this is Octavio." The two murmured greetings.

"What a wonderful smell, as always Sofia." Octavio complimented, getting into character.

"Thank you, I made one of your favorites."

"You didn't have to go to all that trouble," Octavio replied, smiling.

Gabriel just watched their interaction out of the corner of his eye. If he knew women, which he thought he did, and if he had understood Sofia correctly, which he also thought he had done well, these two were not a couple. She was not the type to kiss one guy one day and go out with another the next. And for sure, absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, Sofia would welcome a man in pajamas. Unless they were already in a long-term, intimate relationship. But then again, she would not have returned his kiss at the wedding while she had another boyfriend at home who was not present at the event.

While the two were chatting and exchanging pleasantries, Gabriel found the document he was looking for and decided to leave to put the supposed lovebirds more at ease. He said goodbye to Octavio and to Sofia, who took him to the door. As he was leaving, he could not resist the teasing and whispered in her ear:

"Very original to host date in pajamas." And he left smiling.

Sofia looked at her clothes in surprise and when she looked at him again, flushed like the red sauce from her lasagna on the counter, she had no way to answer. She had already been unmasked, and the pretense only made her situation worse. Humiliated once again, all she could do was close the door.

"What did he say? " Octavio asked.

"He said I was original for hosting date in my pajamas." Sofia shrugged, defeated.

"Gee, we didn't think of that. If it's any consolation, you look beautiful in any outfit."

"You are very kind," Sofia smiled, "Come, I will serve you a huge piece of lasagna to take to your grandfather too. A reward for all your effort, as promised. That way you can keep him company and I can suffer my humiliation in solitude.

"Sorry the plan didn't work out as you had hoped."

"No problem, it wasn't your fault. Thanks for helping me any way."

"Are you sure you don't want any company?" Octavio asked.

"It's okay, I'll get over it."

"See you then."

"See you."

Sofia walked Octavio to the door and closed it. She was alone to get on with the program she had planned. She hoped there would be no more interruptions, she had had enough excitement for one night.

Two more weeks and Alice would be back, she just needed to keep her mind busy until then and not think about Gabriel. After that, he would go to Alice and Tomas' house and would not see her anymore.