Emotionallyshe was too unsettled and addled to even be able to begin to convey what wasgoing on in her world at the time. To be honest, Salene felt a little disgustedby the whole lunch.
"Ohumm well, it is nothing really now," the look on Amber's face told Saleneshe was not buying that vague excuse, so she continued. "I was justpanicking because I got my identity stolen online and I had a bunch of moneystolen." She lied.
"Oh,no that is horrible."
"Butit is all handled now, the bank took care of it." Buying the lie, Ambersmiled. Getting up Salene grabbed her purse off the back of her chair."But I really must go, but I will talk to you later."
Sayingtheir goodbyes Salene got back into her car and drove away. It was just toomuch to process. Not once during their conversation did Amber ask her how wasshe doing, it was not until Salene was about to leave did she even botherasking anything. Driving back Salene tried to remember all of Amber'scomplaints she had about Gabriel towards the end of their relationship. Howevery complaint about him Salene initially believed, but now she knew the otherside of the story Salene could see the truth. The truth was Amber was a selfishmanipulating user. The realization of that conclusion hurt. It hurt to thinkthat about someone who she shared a dorm with for about two years, someone sheshared all of her secrets with. And though there were so many good memorieswith Amber, Salene realized there were a lot of ugly truths she had beenignoring the whole time.
ForAmber, Salene had suspected but never wanted to admit that their friendship waspurely based on convenience. In college, she was Amber's only friend, sincethey both moved there to attend university. However, the moment Amber found aguy, went back home, or pretty much found something better Salene was always placedon the back burner. It hurt to go from doing everything together to all of asudden spending weeks in their college apartment alone, to get a job in Amber'shometown but Amber be too "busy" to really celebrate. A part of herfelt like a fool for putting so much trust and love into their friendship thatobviously did not mean as much to the other party.
Stoppingat the red light that led back to the house Salene realized exactly how Gabrielfelt.
Chapter 11
Sittingin the company meeting room Gabriel was half listening to the clientpresentation. They had been in there listening to the same three guysbasically, repeat the same thing for nearly half an hour. The vibration of hisphone was a welcomed distraction.
Discreetlyturning in his chair, away from the front Gabriel saw the message was from Tobias.Reading the text, Gabriel felt his body go cold at the words.
"Isaw Salene having lunch with Amber. They were both smiling. They seemed happy.What is up? Is Salene moving out?"
Chapter 12
Normally when Salene got off in the afternoon,she would come home and sleep since she had been up since four a.m. But afterthat fiasco lunch with Amber, there was no way she could sleep. All she coulddo was fume over her supposed friend's selfishness. Trying to take her mind offof it she decided to tackle the remaining boxes in her room. There were aboutfive boxes that she had moved against the wall a couple of weeks back. Thecontents were so random she honestly wasn't sure what to do with them.
Remembering she saw an empty picture frame inone she searched the boxes until she found it. Finding her prize Salenesnatched up the picture frame and walked across to one of the spare rooms tograb the photo album. Pulling the photo out of the protective plastic Salenesmiled.
"Look, Bishop," turning the photo toBishop, who looked mildly interested. "It's your puppy picture."
The picture was just of an adorable baby Bishopbeing held by a pair of hands. Though it did bother her to know that sheimmediately recognized the pair of hands. The familiar blunt fingernails andlong thick fingers held up the happy puppy in a sure grip.
Inserting the photo into the simple woodenframe she left the spare bedroom and walked into the living room. The doorslamming behind her in the kitchen nearly gave her a heart attack.
"Oh hey you're early," she calledback to the kitchen, and she turned around. "Where do you think thisadorable…"
Stepping from the kitchen shadows Salene'swords caught in her throat at the sight of Gabriel. Something was wrong,visibly so, his usual casual air was gone. Walking towards her his wideshoulders were tense while the muscle in his jaw twitched angrily.
"What is the mat…"
"Pack your things and get out of myhouse." His words were spoken with such malice that Salene had neverexperienced before.
A pit of fear formed in her stomach,unintentionally she gripped the picture frame tighter.
"What?"
His eyes narrowed darkly as he stepped closerto her standing partially in the hall entryway and the living room.
"I found out about your little lunch todaySalene." The accusation was thrown out before her like a gauntlet."Did you have fun? Did you compare notes?" With each word his angerand voice rose.
Pushing back the escalating fear she held outher hand to try and explain "No, I did not… actually she…"
"It doesn't matter Salene," he gaveher a mean smile. "Now that Amber has decided to grace you with herfriendship again you should have everything you need." Pointing to thedoor. "So get the hell out."
Dear God this could not be happening, on theverge of tears, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep them from falling.
"Wait, please let me just explain,"by now her grip on the picture frame was so tight she could feel the edges diginto her palm. "We did not…"
"Explain?!" His eyes went wide withrage. "Why the fuck should I listen to you try and lie your way out ofthis," he roared taking another menacing step forward. "The fact ofthe matter is that it was me," pointing his thumb at his chest. "Thattook you in when you had nothing. But you went behind my back anyways evenafter I told you how I felt about even her name being brought up." Shakinghis head, he gave an empty laugh. "I am done with women like you andAmber. I will not be played the fool twice. Get out."
