Chapter 101 - 101: Give her an explanation

Avery swears she saw someone she knew, but the woman disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"What are you looking for?" Evan asks.

"Nothing," Avery answers distractedly.

She continues to scan the restaurant, looking for the woman. The large, luxury buffet in the middle of the room blocks Avery's view of part of the restaurant. With a sigh of disappointment she stops looking, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she sees something. She gets up, slowly and nervously.

"What do you want?" she asks Evan, "I'll get it for you."

"Servants can do that," Evan says casually.

"I want to see if there's anything I like," Avery says.

Evan doesn't want to refuse her rare kindness to him. He grabs her hands and kisses them. Then he reluctantly let her go and sends two guards to follow her.

Avery picks up a tray and food tongs while looking around. There are not many people in this part of the restaurant and she quickly spotted the figure she's looking for. The woman is bending to get something and she doesn't see Avery looking at her. When she straightens up, she looks right at Avery and freezes in surprise and terror. Avery puts down the tray to approach and the woman does the same before breaking into a run.

"Gabby! Stop!" Avery shouts.

Gabrielle doesn't stop running, but Avery's guards quickly grab her. She's still struggling when Avery walks up to her. She orders the men to let Gabrielle go and carefully examines her sister.

"She should be at school now," Avery thinks, "What is she doing here at a hotel in Paradise City?"

"It's you," Avery says in wonderment, "What are you doing here?"

"Avery," Gabrielle keeps her head down out of guilt and refuses to meet Avery's gaze, "I—"

Nervous and anxious, Gabrielle wrings her dress and steps back quietly after seeing Evan approach behind Avery.

"Are you the woman from Andrew's room last night?" Evan asks.

He recognizes Gabrielle as the woman taking a shower in Andrew's room.

"No wonder her face seemed so familiar last night," he thinks.

Evan remembers seeing Gabrielle at the Howel house when Avery invited her family over for the announcement of their divorce. He remembers thinking she was a quiet girl without much presence, a lot like the old Avery.

"Andrew's room?" Avery asks, giving Gabrielle a confused look, "What's going on?"

"Evan is wrong," Gabrielle says, her voice becoming weaker and weaker with each word, "I wasn't there."

Casual onlookers begin to look at the finely dressed group standing in the corner. Avery takes a look at Gabrielle's outfit. Although she's the youngest of Peters girls, she was never the favorite and always dressed plainly. Now she's wearing a limited edition dress from Chanel. The white dress with black hemlines adds some elegance and poise to her otherwise obedient look, but it's not an outfit she'd normally wear.

The hotel is known for hosting stars and the rich and famous throw money around as if it's nothing. The hotel also has a reputation for being the place where rich men and politicians bring their girlfriends and mistresses. Avery's face turns cold.

"Do you want to tell me why you're here?" she asks again, "And what's that Evan said about you being in Andrew's room last night?"

"So I guess you know each other?" a laconic voice drifts to them from across the room.

Andrew approaches with his hands casually in his pockets followed by a few bodyguards. Gabrielle keeps her head down like a child who's been caught in a lie. Avery grabs Gabrielle and pulls her behind her back.

"Mr. Clifford," Avery greets him coldly.

"Are you friends or sisters?" Andrew asks.

He casts a casual look at Evan, but he doesn't greet him. He focuses on Avery instead.

Avery frowns, "Cut the crap. What are you doing with my sister?"

"You have to ask her," Andrew says with a smirk.

Avery turns around and looks at Gabrielle, "What is going on?"

Gabrielle slowly lifts her head and reveals tear-filled eyes. She doesn't start talking until Andrew sits down and Evan walks away to take a call.

"Mr. Clifford had a big operation the other day and was in want of a nurse," Gabrielle says, "I came to look after him."

She's studying to be a nurse so that part of her story makes sense.

"Had a big operation?" Avery asks skeptically.

She hasn't seen any trace of that but Andrew does have the gauze on his chest. She assumed it was from a knife wound because his shirt was torn.

Avery stares at Gabrielle, "What about your studies?"

"I—" Gabrielle trails off nervously.

"I think father put you in a hospital as an intern," Avery says, "Does he know you're here?"

"He doesn't, no," Gabrielle admits weakly, "But the Cliffords did me a favor and Andrew needed a nurse so how could I say no? Avery, please, don't tell father."

"I can't do that," Avery says determinedly, "I'll take you home as soon as it stops raining."

"No, Avery, I don't want to go back," Gabrielle protests, "Why do I have to?"

"Do you know what sort of a man he is?" Avery asks, "You're not safe with him."

Then she looks at Andrew sitting lazily in the chair and sees that he's staring at them. He squints slightly as if he knows what they're talking about.

"He helped me and he seems like a nice guy," Gabrielle says, "And, he hasn't ever touched me."

Gabrielle blushes and the redness spreads to her ears.

"What a naive girl!" Avery thinks.

Avery recalls how Andrew teased her in the bathroom stall. Gabrielle is like an innocent rabbit that Andrew can devour at any time. More than that, she's simple enough to bathe herself in butter and herbs before jumping into the wolf's mouth.

"Just because he doesn't touch you now doesn't mean he won't later," Avery snaps, "Be a good girl and follow me back."

Avery grabs the 18 year-old girl's tender hands.

"Avery, I don't want to go back," Gabrielle pouts, "And I already signed a contract with Mr. Clifford. I can't just walk away."

"I'll take care of that for you," Avery assures her.

"Avery—" Gabrielle stops herself before she can say the first words that spring to her lips.

She and Avery were always picked on by the Peters girls because they had different mothers. Every time she was bullied, Avery stood up for her and protected her. However, the more fight they put up, the worse they got bullied. They always stuck together before Avery left and married Evan. In spite of everything that has happened, Gabrielle still has a soft spot for Avery.

Avery won't take no for an answer. She holds Gabrielle's hands and walks up to Andrew. Andrew lifts his eyebrows as if he was expecting this all along.

"I told you that you'd eventually come to me voluntarily when you hit my head with a gun and ran away last night," he says with a smirk, "I just don't know you'd be so quick."

"Shut up!" Avery hisses.

She holds Gabrielle's hands and tries to control her anger before, forcing a pleasant smile onto her face.

"Gabby said that you need a nurse," Avery says calmly, "I'll hire the best one from the best hospital."

"Avery," Gabrielle interrupts.

She pulls Avery by her sleeve. Avery silences her with a look.

"Please sit down," Andrew says with a glance at the seat across from him.

Avery gives Andrew a warning look, but she and Gabrielle sit down. One of Andrew's bodyguards brings over a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Andrew changes his position; instead of reclining, he suddenly leans forward, forcing Avery to lean back.

"Is there something I can get you?" he asks politely, "Matter of fact is, I'm very pleased with Miss Peters service."

"What if I have to take Gabrielle away with me?" Avery asks.