The Billion Dollar Contract novel Chapter 22

Gabriel went downstairs and saw his parents seated in the living room

"Hi Mom. Hi Dad" he greeted as he walked into the room

"Hi son" his dad replied

"Oh honey, how are you? My God! Gabriel you've lost weight" his mom exclaimed

"Mom. I'm fine" Gabriel replied giving his mom a hug

"Why didn't you tell me about Nicole? I felt hurt finding out from Charles" his mom scolded

Wow! She already remembers her name. That was fast, Gabriel thought to himself

"I planned on bringing her over but I was too busy, I couldn't make out time for that. I'm sorry" Gabriel lied

"You're always busy, don't you get tired?" His mom replied

"So where is she?" She asked looking around for her son's fiancee

"She's out in the garden, she should be here soon" he replied

They were sat in the living room discussing about different things when Nicole walked in

"Oh my God! Is that her?" Mrs Harrison asked as she excitedly stood up from her place and walked towards Nicole

"She is beautiful and quite young" his mom continued with a bright smile, admiring the female before her

"How did you do it Gabe?" She asked now looking at her son, waiting for his reply

"Nevermind" she immediately dismissed the question turning back to Nicole

"It's nice to meet you ma'am" Nicole shyly greeted

"Aww, don't be shy with me and I don't want you addressing me in that manner. I'm Helen to you, okay?"

"Okay" Nicole replied with a smile. Helen guided Nicole to the couch she was sitting on with her husband

"Isn't she beautiful?" Helen asked her husband making Nicole to smile shyly

"She is really beautiful, congratulations son" Gabriel's dad said

Helen was really excited to see that her son had finally found someone in his life. She has been waiting for this day to come, she didn't think that he was ever going to get over his breakup with Ashley

"So. How did you two meet?" She excitedly asked Nicole

"Mom you're already throwing questions at her, I don't think that's necessary" Gabriel said trying to prevent his mom from asking any questions

"What? I think I have the right to know those informations, don't you think?" She questioned

"No it's fine. We met at a bar" Nicole began

Nicole couldn't help but feel touched by Helen's gesture, she wished in her heart that everything were true but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Gabriel had lovely parents, Nicole thought to herself. She has only been with them for maybe half an hour but she already felt loved and accepted. Looking at Gabriel's dad, she already knows where he got his good looks from, the brown eyes and hair certainly came from his mom.

Gabriel mouthed a "thank you" to Nicole when his parents weren't looking and she smiled in reply.

After they all chatted for some time in the living room, Helen excused herself and Nicole leaving Gabriel alone with his dad in the living room. She took Nicole to the bedroom they will be sleeping in throughout their stay in their son's home

Helen told Nicole how she had instantly fallen in love with the room the very first time she visited Gabriel when he just got the place. It wasn't a room not to fall in love with, it was similar to hers and Gabriel's but theirs was predominantly decorated in red, cream and bronze. The room suits his parents quite well. While Gabriel and his dad were probably talking about business in the living room, Helen was telling Nicole about their journey and how she had forced her husband to accompany her on the visit, so he would as well take a break from work.

"You know, Gabriel is a lot like his father" Helen began

"But they care in their own way even though they may seem tough and all... And I'm happy he is with a girl like you" she continued, wiping a tear from her eye

"I don't know why I'm so emotional right now, I'm just so excited about this. I've had to wait for five years to see my baby happy again"

This conversation was making Nicole really uncomfortable because she was feeling guilty about this contract of a thing. Why didn't things happen differently between them, if only his parents knew this was all a sham. Helen took Nicole's hands in hers, Nicole was so scared to look into Helen's eyes because she didn't deserve this sort of lie, she was a really sweet woman

"Nicole, please promise me that no matter how cold Gabriel acts towards you, you'd always be with him. Please don't leave him like Ashley did" she pleaded

Nicole didn't know what her reply should be to this promise, this was only a relationship based on contract but at the same time she had feelings for Gabriel, she couldn't disappoint Helen

"I promise" Nicole replied with a sincere smile which gladdened Helen. She clapped her hands together in excitement and went back to opening the luggage she had placed on the bed

"I got these for you" she said to Nicole, showing her the clothes and jewelleries she bought for her

"Here, try them on" she said shooing Nicole to go change in the bathroom.