Standing in the corner of the elevator with Amy was suffocating Lena, she tried so hard to keep her cool, avoid Amy's contemptuous looks and just pretend she wasn't in the elevator with her.
She prayed the elevator got to the floor they were headed to in time. After about one minute, the elevator halted, she sighed in relief as she hurried out.
"Boss's wife," Amy snickered, her heels clinking against the floor with loud thuds.
Lena said nothing, she walked away, pretending not to hear her.
They got to the dressing room, Amy strolled over to her corner while Lena did the same. They changed into their hostess’s uniform at about the same time. After they were done, Lena brought out her phone to check missed calls from Darian, none had come.
She had been calling but he didn't pick up her calls, she rubbed her palm against her chest and sighed.
"Your husband didn't drop you off today, did something happen?" Amy asked, discreetly disparaging Lena.
"You're kind enough to monitor things that happen in my life, I appreciate that." Lena closed the small door to her locker and turned to face Amy. "You do have Darian's phone number, don't you?" She deadpanned, "You can as well call him to ask him why he didn't drop me off today."
"Nice bars you've thrown." Amy clapped her hands sarcastically.
"You are welcome," Lena smirked at her.
Amy smiled. "Sometimes, I wonder, what makes Darian think a woman like you is the best for him."
"The same reason he thinks a woman like you isn't the best for him." Lena retorted very sharply. "You know, I heard your history and I understand that you are just bitter. If I were Darian, I wouldn't have settled for a woman as toxic as you either."
"Toxic?" Amy laughed, clapping her hands. "You don't know shit about me."
"Yes, I don't. I am judging from how you treat me and every other hostess around here. Your bad character might be the reason Darian didn't choose you to be his wife." Lena scoffed at her.
"And you think he chose you because you are the saint?" Amy laughed again. "My hands are crossed, I am patiently waiting for how long your relationship with Darian will last. I promise not to laugh at you when he eventually kicks you out of his house." She winked at Lena and walked out of the room.
Lena's shoulders drooped low. She detested meeting one on one with Amy. Her words always instilled fears in her.
She wanted to act like those words were just mere words uttered out of jealousy, but deep down they scared her so much. Not after the fight she had with Darian. What if he threw her out of his house? What if he just ended everything with her?
Lena was still pondering on the words Amy said to her when she saw a figure coming toward her.
She looked familiar, she had seen her just once but they didn't even say a word to each other that day. She stepped closer and they met each other in the middle of the room.
"Hi. I am Gaby, Gaius' daughter." She stretched out her palm to Lena.
"Hi." She took her fist and bumped it. “Lena.”
"I know, Darian's wife," Gaby said. "Amy told me you were here." She squinted her beautiful blue orbs as she talked to Lena.
Lena shook her head, smiling at Gaby who had a stern expression on. She wondered if she ever smiled. She was looking so serious the first time she ever saw her too. She admired Gaby's petite and curvy frame; she looked just like her mother. Everything about them was similar aside from the age difference between them. Gaby passed for the mini version of Talia.
"Yes, we've met before," Lena said.
"How are you?" Gaby asked her. "Did she say something horrible to you?" She pointed towards the direction of the exit that Amy passed out through.
"No, I am good."
"I know Amy too well and how hurtful her words could be, but you just have to let go of her bullshit. She's probably jealous that Darian didn't choose her. They used to be lovers and we all thought they were going to end up together, but I guess my uncle found someone better. Though, I am not convinced." She paced the room, her eyes not leaving Lena.
"That what?" Lena asked.
"That you are better."
"And why is that?"
"I don't know you yet, so I can't judge. But I kind of have this instinct that you have an aura that's different from that of Amy, something I would get to like if I know you well."
Lena chuckled, "I don't have words to say."
"Never mind, you don't have to say anything." Gaby flipped her long hair sideways. "Darian was and is still the favorite of all my uncles. He took care of me while I was little, protected me when I was in trouble. He’s so sweet, you know?"
Lena shook her head faintly.
"I don't care about the terrible things everyone says about him, he's good. A very good man with flaws, of course. He's been wounded so many times, and sometimes I don't blame him if he acts irrationally."
Lena just watched Gaby as she talked about Darian. She liked how she and her mother always spoke highly of Darian. And she was certain Gaby and Darian were close to an extent, she must know him well.
"I have always looked forward to knowing the lucky woman he'd choose to be his wife. Back then he always talked about having no plans of getting married and there was something he told me many years ago. Do you want to know?" She asked Lena.
"If you're willing to tell me, why not?" Lena's lips curled into a small smile.
"He said that he would never get married, but if he ever considered getting married or if the family forces him into marriage, he'd settle for a woman he's attracted to. He told me this, years after he left Amy."
"He did?" Lena shut her eyes briefly, regretting the words she said to him.
Their friendship was blossoming before she ruined it. She opened her eyes and met with Gaby's blue ones, carefully studying her.
"Yes, he did. Darian and I share a similar belief that love doesn't exist in this world. Well, attraction can be real though. I don't know how that shit works. I don't believe in both love and attraction." Gaby grimaced, moving her eyes to something in the room. "When he brought you to the family house that day, I was surprised and glad he finally found someone he's attracted to but was a little bit mad he didn't invite me to the wedding." She smiled.
Lena caught a glimpse of her contagious smile. Gaby's smile was so beautiful it made her smile too, she wished she could smile more often. A smiling face was perfect for her features to look even better.
"I am very certain that he'd be a good husband to you and trust me when I say the best father to your children, he's very good with children."
"I didn't know that," Lena said, not that she knew something about Darian. But she was getting to know a few things about him.
She liked Gaby's company already, but she had to work. Amy didn't care if Lena was the boss's wife, she treated her the same way she treated every other lady working under her at the casino. She glanced at her wristwatch to check the time, to be sure she wasn't late to resume work.
"Oh, I get that you have to work. Don't worry, we will catch up some other time. I am back in New York and won't be leaving for a long time." She told Lena. "I will be in my mom's office, you can come to see me if you miss me too much." She smirked at her.
"Oh," Lena giggled.
"Get to work, we will talk later." Gaby nodded her head and left for Talia's office.
Lena smiled, her eyes fixated on Gaby as she walked towards the elevator.
She was glad she found someone who could tell her more about Darian and she was willing to form an acquaintance with her—she needed to know who her husband was.
She checked her phone again and there was still no call from Darian.