A Second Chance

Chapter 17

Gabriel's POV

I stood staring at the beautiful painting that was on the wall, waiting for its winner to take home.

I came to the city yesterday due to an urgent deal that I had been working on before Sarah's death. I had been stalling it ever since, because I didn't want to leave the girls so soon.

Unfortunately, they had started looking for other options since they were on a deadline. So I left my girl's with my mother, as the nanny was still new, I didn't want to leave them with hired help.

I had been swamped with work ever since I arrived here. Having back to back meetings and trying to convince the clients to close the deal with us.

But I had to make myself free for tonight. For this gala.

Last year, Sarah had been very persistent about this very particular gala. She said she liked its cause. But she hadn't attended personally. Instead, she sent someone and won herself a very beautiful painting by a kerry B.

I loved the painting, which was of a young girl with long blond hair standing in the middle of a meadow wearing a sunhat and staring off to a distance. The girl was painted from the back, but she still reminded me of Sarah.

Oddly, the painting's theme was love. It hung on our bedroom wall. And it's one of Sarah's most priced possessions.

So here I am tonight to donate for the cause that Sarah supported. I plan on supporting it every year in her name to keep her passions alive even if she was now gone.

But of all the paintings in this museum, I had again found myself mesmerised by this year's painting by kerry B.

It was a painting of a beautiful forest with a view of a lake. And the theme was memories.

I had already put down my price for the bidding, but I was drawn to it, so I came back to see it once more before I left. My assistant would stay back for the bid closing and will deal with the administrative formalities. I had to leave as I needed to get back to work.

So, with that thought, I gave the painting one last glance and made my way towards the exit. But I soon halted seeing two familiar faces in the crowd. I saw them briefly at the funeral, but its been a while since we caught up, as they had moved to the city after they got married. So I decided to go say hi to them before I left.

As I walked up to them, I noticed that Jessica seemed upset, and Ryan seemed to be trying to calm her down.

I went up to them, placing my hand on Ryan's shoulder. As soon as he turned and saw me, his face split into a smile, grabbing me and giving me a big hug.

Ryan and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, and he was the only one who had ever been close with me other than Nicola. I loved him like a brother. But ever since he had married my cousin Jessica and moved here, we have become quite distant.

"Gabriel, bro, can't believe it's you. Didn't know you were in the city. You should have called to meet up." He said it all in one go, pouting at the end, that made him look ridiculous, so I laughed, saying,"I got here yesterday, and I have been swamped with work since. I want to finish everything and leave tomorrow at the latest. Don't want to leave the girls for too long."

"Yea, I understand. Maybe another time then." He said.

"Hi cousin," Jessica said, giving me a hug. "Is it a coincidence that your best friend is here, while you are here?" She asked, rolling her eyes when Ryan sent her a warning look and air quoting the word best friend.

I look at Ryan, confused, not understanding why she was annoyed. We were both here. But he shook his head, pointing at the dance floor at a couple who were laughing and dancing together.

It took me a while to recognise her, but as I did, I stood rooted to my place staring at her.

I had never seen her dressed in anything other than baggy clothes, let alone a dress! She looked beautiful in a sleeveless, long dress, which revealed her arms, which had always been covered in her baggy clothes, and long legs,which peeked out through a slit in her dress as she moved around on the dance floor, with a man I have never met before, quiet comfortable in his arms.

My awe at the way she looked quickly turned to annoyance as I had never seen her look this radient, confident, and happy.

My annoyance was due to the fact that she was happy talking and dancing with another man. Which was stupid because who she hung out with was none of my business.

"I seriously can't understand why you were ever friends with her," I heard Jessica say. "I mean, she is so mannerless! Do you know what she called me? A desperate slut! Calling my outfit inappropriate! I mean who does she think she is anyway. She thinks changing the way she dresses has made her the queen of fashion or something? I am so offended." Jessica said sniffling.

I felt anger inside me boiling, more for the fact that I was bothered about how I am feeling, seeing how the guy was making her laugh, with his arms on her waist so casually..

I clenched my fist trying to control my anger. "I mean look at her, calling me a slut." Jessica commented which made me excuse myself through clenched teeth and walk onto the dance floor straight towards the happily dancing couple infront of me.

As I made my way to them, I saw him lean down and whisper something in her ear, which made her throw her head back and laugh. The site made something in my heart stir and I didn't like it.

I have known her my entire life and I have never seen her so at ease with anyone else.

Except for me. I thought, looking at them through narrowed eyes. Were they together? Had she really met someone special for her?

I didn't know how I felt about that and I had no time to reflect on it as I had reached them and was tapping the guy on the shoulder.

"If I'm not disturbing, may I have this dance with the lady," I asked.

I looked at Nicola over the man's shoulder, as he turned towards me.

I watched as all the happiness that was on Nicola's face a second ago disappear as soon as she saw me, and it felt like someone had reached inside my chest and ripped my heart out and threw it on the floor and stomped all over it. I suddenly knew why seeing her happy with him bothered me.

It was because I no longer held that special place in her heart. He did..

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