Entering One Lincoln Plaza through the revolving doors, the doorman, Jerry, greeted them, but Gael and Angela were in a hurry, they flew past him. A reception desk could be found to the left, and across it was a lounge set where Giovanni had been waiting for their return. He could have gone up by himself, but the receptionist told him Gael and Angela left in the afternoon.

Usually, Gael's security detail was just nearby in case he needed them. And Giovanni contacted one of the men to track Gael down. By six in the evening, he knew the couple was on their way back to the apartment, so he decided to wait in the lobby.

"Let's go up," said Gael, and the three of them headed towards the elevators.

While waiting for the car to arrive, Gael and Giovanni were talking in low voices. Gael kept Angela to his side, his hand holding hers tightly. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the swell between her legs that's been throbbing since his promise just a few minutes ago. The disappointment was hidden on her face at the thought of Giovanni interrupting what could've happened as soon as they reached the apartment. It didn't help that Gael's thumb stroked the back of her hand as if he was trying to soothe her—only it did the opposite. Now, all she could think of was his fingers up between her thighs, soothing something else that needed appeasement.

The two men were busy conversing that Angela saw who came out of the elevator first before they did. Yasmin Turner, crowned Miss USA a few years ago, flanked by two other females who Angela thought were also in the beauty pageant industry. They wore trench coats and heeled boots, and they strutted out of the car giggling about whatever they were discussing. Upon seeing Miss USA, Angela immediately noticed how the woman's eyes dilated when she saw the two men before her, a broad smile growing on her face.

"Well, well… Fancy bumping into you two. Must be my lucky night," said Miss USA.

Gael and Giovanni turned their heads, and it wasn't lost on Angela that Gael recognized the woman right away, but he kept his face impassive while Giovanni quirked his lips into a smile as they called her name. "Yasmin," greeted the two simultaneously.

First name basis, huh? Something already bubbled within Angela.

"Hey, boys," Miss USA responded, but she kept her eyes focused on Gael. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting a friend," Gael quickly lied.

"What a coincidence. Me too." Her gaze was laced with lust as she looked at him. And then her eyes shifted to Angela, dipped to her hands linked with Gael's, back to Angela's face, and then Gael's. She didn't ask, but it was pretty evident that she was curious who Angela was.

Gael released Angela's hand, and for a second, she was ready to get mad at him, but then he placed his hand on her waist and pulled her closer to him. The bubbling emotion settled just a little. "This is my girlfriend, Angela Su."

Angela only offered a forced smile, not liking the atmosphere at the moment. She had a gut feeling that the two had a history together.

Giovanni, oblivious to the growing jealousy of Angela, openly checked out the two women with Miss USA. "Who are your friends?"

Miss USA then introduced her friends, said their names, and the state they represented.

"Giovanni." He extended his hand for a shake, which the two women gladly took. "Ah, Texas and Oklahoma." A sly smile ghosted his face. "Now I have two more reasons to live in the south." He winked, and the two women giggled.

"We're running late for dinner. But it's nice bumping into you two." Miss USA turned to face Gael and said, "I'm in town for a few more days. I'd love to 'catch up' over coffee, Gael." The way she said "catch up" certainly implied something else that didn't involve coffee at all. Her smile never left her face, and she gave Angela a finger wave before the three of them headed out the door.

Gael, Angela, and Giovanni entered the elevator car, and thankfully, they were the only passengers. Gael's hand was still on her waist, but at the moment, his touch only made her mad because she couldn't brush off the face of Miss USA lusting over Gael openly—even with his hand on her waist.

Angela could have said something to put the woman in her place. Actually, she was ready to say her boyfriend was busy. But friggin' Miss USA and her minions left hurriedly before Angela could do so. And that pissed her off. But it pissed her off more that Gael didn't reject the invitation.

Unknown to Angela, Gael could see her furrowed brows as she stared at the floor through their reflection on the car's door. "What's wrong?"

Everything. She relaxed her expression and shook her head, not willing to say a word since they weren't alone in the car. She tried to hold it in, but the seconds that ticked away felt like forever. So before she could stop herself, she blurted, "What's your history with her?"

Ding.

Giovanni cleared his throat and stepped out of the elevator first. He was smart to walk ahead without waiting for them.

Gael attempted to walk her out of the car, but she stood in place, refusing to move an inch. He looked at her, realizing that she wouldn't budge unless he answered her. "We used to date. Didn't last long. A week. Haven't seen her in years."

Great. Gael and Miss USA. Even if their history was short-lived and had ended, the way the woman checked him out certainly didn't look like it ended for her. Angela shouldn't be affected by his past, but meeting one unexpectedly and seeing how Miss USA acted even with Angela by his side ruined her mood. Why do some women have no respect?

She shouldn't have asked, but the bitter part of her needed to know. "How long ago?"

The door began to close, and Gael stopped it with his arm. "I don't know. Four years. She's unimportant and irrelevant."

If it was four years ago, then it was before she met Gael on the island. It only tampered her annoyance a little. She couldn't help her feelings. And Gael was one to talk, considering he was all jealous over a vibrator and Ian, and she didn't even personally know the guy.

With his arm still stopping the door from closing, he pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her lips. "You can continue to be mad inside the apartment. We're holding up the elevator."

Angela didn't respond, but she got out of the car with him, and they walked towards Gael's apartment where Giovanni waited by the door with a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"You alright, homeslice?" Giovanni winked at Angela as Gael opened the apartment, and the three of them entered.

At first, she knitted her brows at how he greeted her, sounding so gangsta out of nowhere. But then he chuckled and said something else.

"Don't worry. Your 'bae' only has eyes for you."

She paused at the entryway, watching the backs of the two big men who were now laughing at some inside joke that only they understood.

And just like the harsh, cold wind outside, the memory slapped her on the face.

'…gotta say bye to my homegirls~'

'My bae's here. I gots to go. Bye bitches~'

Angela's face couldn't be any redder than a tomato. Never again.