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The front door clicked shut behind Gabriella. She'd barely taken a step inside her comfortable home when a soft, warm disc was pressed against her lips.
"Here, honey! How is it?" Roselette, her mother, smiled, her hands dusted with flour.
Gabriella took a bite, the buttery sweetness melting on her tongue. She swallowed, beaming. "Nice, Mom! How many trials did it take this time?"
Roselette laughed, a bright, melodic sound. "Third trial's the charm, it seems. Go on, get freshened up. I'll give you more when you come down."
Gabriella grinned and headed upstairs.
Fifteen minutes later, Gabriella was seated at the dining table, happily munching on the perfect cookies. Roselette walked over and placed a small, velvet-covered box in front of her.
"What's this?" Gabriella asked, grabbing the box.
"Open it," Roselette instructed.
Gabriella flipped the lid and gasped. Inside lay a sleek platinum ring. Embedded on its front were two letters: 'A' and 'A'. She smiled.
Roselette watched her, anticipation in her eyes. "Do you remember asking me to buy you a ring with your name on it? Do you like it?"
"I love it, Mom, but…" Gabriella paused, turning the ring over in her fingers. "There's no my full name on it."
"Turn it around," Roselette advised. "Look behind it."
Gabriella rotated the ring to see 'ndri' etched subtly on the underside. "It's a new design," Roselette explained. "The first 'A' and the last 'A' show in the front, and the middle letters are hidden in the back. But your full name, Andria, is embedded in it."
Gabriella's smile widened as Roselette took the ring and gently slipped it onto her finger.
"Mom, Dona is coming home today," Gabriella said, admiring the platinum shine.
"Really? What time?"
"Around 7:30, I think. And one more thing, she's staying here tonight. Her parents went out of the city for a meeting."
"Perfect!" Roselette said, already heading toward the kitchen. "Then I'll arrange dinner for her too."
Jake's House: The Infiltration
It was around 8:10 PM. Dona quietly entered Gabriella's room.
"Are you hungry? Did you eat dinner?" Gabriella asked from where she was standing in front of the full-length mirror, securing a utility belt around her waist.
Dona nodded, then took a proper look at her friend. She was wearing a slim, black outfit with multiple pockets. Dona's eyes widened in shock.
"Hey! Why are you wearing a dress like a spy?"
Gabriella smiled coolly, checking her reflection. "For spying."
"What? I thought you called me to play games!"
"Of course, but not with me," Gabriella said, tightening the belt. "Only you."
"What? Where are you going?"
"Wait," Gabriella turned to her. "What exactly did you tell my mother? That you came because your parents went to a meeting in an out-of-town city, right?"
"Yes! Wait a minute, so you planned this!" Dona exclaimed as Gabriella moved toward her window.
"You have to act like I'm here with you," Gabriella instructed, sliding the window open. "Don't let Mom find out I'm not in the house, okay?"
Dona's face paled. "Wait! Don't tell me you are going to take back the evidence from Jake's house!"
Gabriella gave her a tight smile. "Exactly. I'm going there." She pulled a simple black mask over her face. She then climbed out and smoothly jumped out of the window. Dona leaned out, watching her friend expertly jump from one ledge to another, rapidly descending to the floor below.
How am I supposed to handle this? Dona thought frantically.
Suddenly, a gentle knock sounded on the door. Dona panicked. She sprinted to the washroom, turned on the tap, and shut the door with a click. Then, she opened Gabriella's room door.
It was Roselette. "Where is Gabriella?"
"She's in the bathroom, Auntie!" Dona said, forcing a smile.
"Oh. Then take this juice. Give her some, too. Call me if you want anything."
"Sure, Auntie," Dona said, taking the tray.
Roselette left. Dona quickly closed the door, took a deep breath, and sighed with relief.
Gabriella slipped into Jake's backyard and entered the house through the kitchen's back door. She immediately froze. She heard voices and hid inside a storage pantry near the kitchen. Peeking through the crack, she saw a woman similar in age to her mother preparing food. Jake stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Mom," he said softly, "What are you making?"
His mother laughed, giving him a spoonful of food. Jake ate it and his eyes lit up. "Wow!"
"Do you want more?"
"No, I'll take this and place it in the dining area," he replied.
Gabriella watched Jake and the maids move the food to the dining area. She smirked. What duality in his character! In school, he's a mastermind, but at home, he's a mama's boy.
Once the kitchen was clear, Gabriella sneaked out, climbed the staircase, and reached the upper floor. She found a vantage point where she could observe the dining room below. Jake, his mother, two middle-aged men, and a grandfather were having dinner. Jake's mother called one of the men "honey," confirming he must be Jake's father.
"Do you like her ?" Jake's father asked the other man.
"No, brother. I don't want to marry," the man replied.
"Are you still thinking about your first love?"
The man stiffened. The grandfather intervened. "Leave it. Don't talk while eating. Give him time."
Jake's uncle still isn't married, Gabriella thought. He looks about 34 or 35. Wait, this is the right time. I have to find Jake's room before he comes back up.
She moved swiftly, and after a few minutes, she found his room. Taking a deep breath, she closed the door behind her, zipped down her jacket, and began her search for her pendrive and his smartphone.
She searched the drawers near his PC and found two pendrives. She plugged the first one into his computer. Yes, the first one is my pendrive, she thought, quickly removing it. She searched for another copy on his PC, but there was nothing. It's impossible. He didn't take any copy of this evidence. Maybe he sent it to someone in an email. She searched his email, finding no outgoing messages. Fool, she whispered.
She plugged in the second pendrive—it was a movie. She removed it, but then she heard the distinct sound of the door opening. Thinking fast, she grabbed a decorative chain box, put her pendrive inside it, and slid the box into her jacket pocket.
Her first instinct was the wardrobe, but she decided against it. Instead, she dove behind the thick curtains of the large window.
Jake entered his room and headed straight for the bathroom.
Gabriella peered out from the curtains. Should I go now? she thought. No, I have to erase my video from his phone, too. She crept out from behind the curtains to search for his phone again, but it wasn't there. As she searched, she accidentally knocked a perfume bottle. She snatched it out of the air before it could hit the floor, letting out a silent, shaky breath.
The bathroom door opened.
Gabriella immediately went back behind the curtains. She peeked out. Jake had emerged from the bathroom. His abs were well-built. He is so hot, Gabriella thought, a blush creeping up her neck. She quickly turned her head as he began to change out of his bathrobe and into casual clothes.
Before he could finish, Jake's mother called him. Gabriella heard the door open and close. She smiled and started to step out of the curtains, but a strong hand clamped onto her arm and pulled her into the room.
It was Jake.
Her eyes widened in surprise. Jake, who could only see her eyes because of the mask, glared at her.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
Gabriella forced a smile. She reached into her pocket, pulled out the chain box, and showed him the chain inside.
Jake narrowed his eyes. "My chain," he whispered.
"Actually, I've madly fallen for you," Gabriella said, trying the stalker angle.
Jake looked at her with suspicion. "Actually, you're acting like a stalker."
"Of course, that's what I am," she whispered. "Your stalker."
He didn't flinch. She leaned in closer to his ear. "Shall I prove it?" She moved her finger lightly across his chest.
Jake spun her around, his hand covering her shoulder, the other tightening on her waist. She struggled slightly. Jake leaned into her ear. "Then prove it."
His lips moved to her neck. He suddenly ripped the jacket off one of her shoulders. Her thin crop top was exposed. He leaned in as if to kiss her shoulder.
Suddenly, his mother called again. His attention broke.
This was Gabriella's chance. She stomped down hard on his foot and shoved him away, then bolted toward the balcony. Jake followed close behind.
"Don't come closer to me!" she warned, moving backward.
He kept coming. She reached the edge and, with a smooth movement, jumped onto the balcony's low wall. She looked back at him, but her steps suddenly trembled. She began to fall.
Jake was shocked. He instantly jumped forward and grabbed her wrist, his body perched on the ledge as he held her dangling.
"Tell me who you are!" he laughed, teasing her by loosening his grip.
Gabriella reacted instantly. With her free hand, she grabbed his shirt. He was pulled down slightly and had to grab a pillar with his other hand to steady himself.
Gabriella smirked. "If I fall, I will pull you down too."
Jake laughed again, the thrill evident in his eyes, and with a powerful heave, he pulled her back up.
They stood face to face on the balcony. Gabriella was about to leave .
"Aren't you stopping me?" she asked.
Jake just smiled, not replying.
Gabriella nodded, then moved to the window side and jumped out of his room. Jake walked to the window and watched her descent. He smiled slightly. He raised his hand, looking down at the platinum ring he had taken from her. He looked at it closely, noticing the letters 'A' and 'A' embedded in the front. He looked back out the window as she disappeared into the night.
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