The Price of Gold | Fortune's Fool #1

11 | grief and guilt

• [ g r i e f a n d g u i l t ] •

♥ louisa ♥

WHEN THE DOOR to the upper lounge swung open, I'd honestly thought I'd gone crazy. Because although three people were there, only two pairs of legs entered the room. My jaw dropped ever so slightly when I saw Gabriel standing at the door, with Talisa carried bridal style in his tensed arms. Beside him walked a severely pissed off Lexi, with her arms folded tightly across her chest.

Talisa mouthed I'm sorry at me as I stared at her. "Guess who was an idiot and fell down the stairs," she called out making me scoff quietly. I hardly believed it was accidental for her to fall down the stairs when only her crush was around to carry her.

A crush that was the epitome of danger.

Five minutes earlier, I'd kicked off my heels and was sitting on the couches with Ashlei, Logan, Prince and Arlo. Talisa has filled them all in on the plan and we were waiting for her and Lexi's arrival. I'd chosen not to bring up the fact that Gabriel may end up tagging along to Logan, worried of what his reaction would be.

Arlo whistled lowly at the sight of Lexi's face and tried to hide a chuckle whilst Gabriel threw Talisa on the sofa. "Damn, I should have brought some popcorn up with us."

Lexi craved attention and seemed to hate the fact that she wasn't getting any from Gabriel.

At his remark, Ashlei let out a giggle, yet immediately straightened her face and changed the topic.

"We couldn't get hold off any powder at such short notice but we got these new pills that are supposed to be pretty good." I was too focused on the scowl that Logan was giving to Gabriel to listen to what Ashlei was saying.

They'd already been rumours that Gabriel was going to be the new king of Forteaux Academy, and Logan was certainly not happy at the prospect of being dethroned.

A good reputation at the prestigious Forteaux Academy almost guaranteed a good reputation after Forteaux. A good reputation after Forteaux guaranteed a whole lot of money, and more importantly, fame.

"Who cares? Just give us the damn thing already," Prince muttered, taking off his cuff links so that he could roll up his sleeves and reveal his tan skin. He was still in a sour mood after I'd kicked him awake from a nap ten minutes ago.

Talisa readjusted herself on the sofa, with her foot still stretched out so that she could reach into a chest of drawers. "Hold your horses, this doesn't come cheap, you know."

"Yeah, I'm sure somebody here wouldn't even be able to afford this in their dreams," Logan snakily added in, as he swirled the whiskey in his glass. His feet were kicked up on the centre table and he took a moment to look straight at Gabriel and smirk.

Instead of arguing back to Logan, Gabriel threw his back at laughed. "And you can? I don't think somebody knows how to differentiate between daddy's money and their own," he mocked in a similar tone, before eying the only spare seat available. It was next to me.

I felt his gaze on my face, considering the fact I'd refused to make contact with his stormy grey eyes ever since he stepped in the room.

I hoped he hadn't remembered anything from the day at the rooftop as I pressed my lips together praying that he wouldn't sit beside me.

He, of course, sat down.

I sipped my drink in an attempt to pacify my unsteadily beating heart, that seemed to be having a little party in the chest. God, at least it was having fun, dancing wildly in my chest, in comparison to me who was frozen stiff.