AUTHOR’S POV
SYDNEY COULD FEEL her heart in her mouth when the taxi pulled to a stop in front of Montana Hotel. The only time Gavin had gone to Montana Hotel was when he needed time alone with Sydney.
She paid the driver and walked into the hotel. When the receptionist saw her approaching, he pretended like he was talking over the telephone.
” Oh, Mr. Rodney… Uh… Yes.”
Sydney wasn’t a fool. She could tell he was pretending. ” Clinton, Mr. Rodney is over there.” She said and gestured towards Rodney who talking with some men in tuxedos.
He chuckled nervously and dropped the telephone. Like he knew what Sydney came for, he said, ” Mr. Reed is in room… 15 VVIP. ”
Her face became paler. She thanked Clinton and headed for the stairs giving herself enough time to pull herself together. Gavin was certainly with someone since he booked an erotic suite.
When she reached the VVIP floor. Her head ached from the vermilion-lighted hallway. She stopped by the 15th door and slipped the key card she had stolen from a roomkeeper into the card slot.
Without a second thought, she pushed the door open.
Sensual music filled the bedroom but no one was inside. The duvet was on the floor alongside Gavin’s brown suit he had worn for their fifth Anniversary. Sydney recognized Avery’s red panties and bra on the floor.
She dragged her feet into the room. Adrenaline ran through her like wildfire when she heard faint sounds of moaning coming from the bathroom.
She stood in front of the bathroom door. She was tired of getting surprised. Drawing in a breath, she knocked.
She heard Avery mumbling something. Sydney still hoped. She prayed it was Aaron in there with her.
” Who the hell is that?!” Gavin growled. There was a slap sound and he hissed loudly. ” Av… Avery- I said, who the f**k is at the door!” Gavin groaned loudly.
Two tears fell off Sydney’s eyes. In a hoarse voice, she answered, ” It’s me, Sydney, your wife.”
There was the sound of commotion before it ceased, and the bathroom door opened.
Gavin stood by the door, his body wet and a towel wrapped around his waist. He was panting softly with a horrified look on his face.
” Sy… Sydney. What are you doing here?” He stuttered and moved into the room, closing the bathroom door.
Sydney stared up at him with blurred eyes. ” You are cheating on me with my best friend.”
” I… I- Sydney you pushed me to do it.”
Sydney snapped. ” I pushed you to have s*x with my best friend?! I tried Gavin, I gave you every part of me for eight years, and when I just wanted a life on my own terms, you decided to blame it on me by sleeping with my only friend.” She cleaned the tears flowing down her cheeks. ” No! I’m tired, I’m tired of crying every damn time because of you.”
Avery came out of the bathroom naked with a smile on her face. She sighed and wrapped her hand around Gavin’s waist.
” That was beautiful. I just wish this bitch didn’t distract us.” She stood on her toes and kissed Gavin’s neck.
Sydney tilted her head, her jaw loosened as she tried to see if it was Avery or someone else.
Gavin looked at Avery, his eyes was filled with mixed emotions. In a weary voice, he instructed. ” Put on some clothes Avery.”
Avery looked puzzled. ” Why? You’ve seen me undressed countless times or are you feeling shy?”
Sydney spoke now. ” Avery, how could you do this to me? You don’t even look like you feel bad about it. I thought we were best friends.”
Avery burst into laughter. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.
Turning to Sydney, her smile fell. ” Am I meant to feel bad sweetie? Tell me, how heavy is the crown now that you are wearing it?”
” Avery that’s enough,” Gavin warned. She puckered her lips and hugged him again.
“I’m sorry, Gavin, but you know all the things Sydney has done to you; I can’t just stand it.”
Sydney stared at them. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing or seeing. If she’d stay in this place any second longer, she’ll lose her mind.
She looked at Avery and said, ” I won’t sign the divorce papers if that’s what you want. Make love to him as much as you want-” her voice broke. She sucked a breath and continued. ” but I will never allow you to win.”
She left the room, and Gavin didn’t bother following her. She decided to take the elevator this time, luckily, no one was in it. She held the walls for support and held herself from crying.
Had Avery been deceiving her all this time? Did Avery use her broken home to hoodwink her into destroying her marriage? Realization poured down on her. She’d let her insecurities botch her relationship with Gavin. Avery knew Sydney’s demons and used them for her selfish benefit.
It was clear. How didn’t she notice it all this time? Was Gavin right all along? Even Sofia who barely knew Avery for up to a week, knew she was up to no good.
She could hear her father’s mocking voice as he continuously whispered in her ear. ‘ You are a disgrace. A disgrace. A disgrace!’
Sydney cried loudly. She clutched her chest and collapsed on the ground. “Please stop. I’m sorry. Daddy, I’m sorry.”
‘No, you are a disgrace! Disgrace. Disgrace.’ The voice was louder, echoing in her head.
She sulked. Screamed. Prayed. She didn’t want to hear any more bad news, or she was going to run insane.
But then, her phone rang. Shrill in silence.
She paused and looked at the phone like it was a horror movie. Ashley was calling. Her mother was calling.
When she reached to pick it up, the elevator door opened, and a wide-eyed Gabriel was staring at her.
” Sydney?” He stepped in and pressed the top button so no one could get in. He squatted in front of her.
His spoke quickly, “What are you doing here? Are you okay? Clearly, you are not. Sydney…” He trailed off, his gaze lingered on the scared-looking woman in front of him.
Jacob Martin had informed him, after driving Sydney to the hotel, that the woman he’d been obsessing over had a call inquiring about her husband. Gabriel knew it wasn’t going to end well, so he ran to the Hotel immediately after he got the news.
Gabriel’s voice became more calm. ” What did he do now?” He held her shoulder and brought her to him.
She wrapped her hand firmly around his neck and cried on his shoulder, soaking his shirt with tears.
In a trembling voice, she answered. ” He’s cheating on me with my best friend. The only person I could count on.”
” Let him go Sydney. He doesn’t deserve you.” Gabriel comforted. He wanted to do way more to give her comfort but now isn’t the right time.
” I can’t. I just can’t.” She shoke her head repeatedly and held him tighter as if the thought of leaving Gavin would kill her.
Gabriel fist clenched. A bitter feeling engulfed him. A wicked desire grew within him. He knew the feeling all to well and he immediately discarded it.
After a while, Sydney felt a little better, she pulled away and wiped her tears away then looked at Gabriel.
” I’m sorry I wet your shirt.” She said earnestly.
” It’s fine. I’ll be there if you need a shoulder to cry on.” He held her shoulder and squeezed it. ” Trust me.”
She looked at his hand on her shoulder and back at him. She couldn’t decipher the look in his hard brown eyes or the way he held her.
Sydney’s phone rang again. Gabriel regained his senses and took his hand off Sydney’s shoulder. He smiled at her and picked up the phone from the ground. ” We should stand before the elevator opens and someone thinks we are performing a ritual.”
Sydney smiled flatly and collected the phone. ” Thanks. For everything.” She stood and answered the call.
” He… Hello mum.”
” It isn’t Madam Ashley, this is Amaya.” Amaya talked quickly.
Sydney raises a brow. “Oh, why are you with my mother’s phone Maya?”
“Madam isn’t well. She says she needs to see you now. She wants you in Arizona today.” Amaya explained in a shaky tone.
Sydney panicked. ” How, what happened to her? Give my mother-”
” I have to go now. Please come quick.” The call ended.
Sydney furrowed her brow in confusion. Why would Ashley want her in Arizona today? Her passport was expired, she couldn’t get another one in a day.
Asking Gavin for help wasn’t an option. He could get her out of California today but she couldn’t emotionally stand talking to him.
” What’s wrong Sydney?” Gabriel called her out of her thoughts.
She looked at him. Could he do anything to help if she told him? He was a middle-class man who lived in the woods. He couldn’t possibly help her.
The elevator opened and Gabriel pressed the last button.
” It’s nothing. I need to leave now.” She pressed the last button rapidly and he grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
He looked deeply into her brown eyes. In a somewhat overly serious voice, he asked, ” You are panicking again. What’s wrong?”
” It’s nothing, Gabriel. Please let go of me.”
He lingered but let her go. He slid his hand into his pocket and released a breath. ” You can talk to me Sydney.” He assured
She sighed and revealed, ” It’s nothing important Gabriel, I just have to be in Arizona today.”
” Today?”
” Yes, today. I know it’s impossible and I know you can’t help that’s why-”
” I’ll take you there Sydney.” He cut in sharply. He was frowning now.
She looked at him like he didn’t have any idea what he was saying. ” How is that possible Gabriel? You can’t ride a bike to Arizona and get there today.”
” I know-” He contemplated in his head for a while before he looked at her and said. ” I’ll fly you to Arizona.”