Chapter 4: Gael’s Place

Megan's POV

"Megan!" Gael called out when we got inside the hotel lobby, and I didn't expect he was already waiting for us. He looked so handsome even though he was only wearing walking shorts and a navy blue sweatshirt.

"Hi, Gael!" I greeted him, and I was staring at his face the entire time since everything seemed surreal; who could have thought the person I admire on television and the internet would be talking to me and would become my savior.

"It is nice to meet you. Again, Megan, you still look the same, gorgeous, and it seems your pregnancy doesn't affect your figure yet." He said, and he was towering over me, and I realized he was tall as Ashton, and I shook my head and reprimanded myself, and I knew I had to stop thinking about him. And I couldn't stop myself from blushing from hating myself and upon hearing Gael's compliments. Then, I heard Alice clear her throat as she nudged me on my side, and I realized I hadn't introduced her to Gael yet.

"Gael, this is Alice, my best friend, and I don't need to introduce you to her because, like me, she was also crazy about you," I said, and he chuckled. I realized even if he is a celebrity and very popular all over the country and abroad, he still blushed.

"It is nice to meet you, Alice," Gael said, and my eyes widened in disbelief, and I became speechless when my best friend moved closer to him and hugged Gael without warning, and Alice gestures took him off-guard, but he acted so cool about it, and I had to pull Megan's blouse so she would let go of Gael.

"I am sorry, Gael, I have been dying to do that ever since I can remember. I am one of your super fans, " My best friend said, and I could tell she felt ashamed of what she had done.

"It is okay, Alice, and thank you for being one of my fans, " Gael replied, and my best friend giggled while Gael took my hand, and he pulled me towards the elevator while Alice was following behind us, and I was shocked when he told me he had added room accommodation.

"Gael, this is too much," I said in disbelief.

"Meg, you are my friend now, and I take good care of my friends. I can't leave Astikoz yet, and I don't want you to go to Megalopre alone. I want to introduce you to the caretaker myself. Besides, I haven't visited my place for a while now, and it is a good thing that I am free this weekend." He said, and I couldn't believe I was lucky. I have nowhere to go, and here he is, Gael. He is among the most popular celebrities in our country, offering me his help, and I know life may be unfair sometimes. Still, there are also moments in our lives that an angel in disguise will appear, and all we have to do is accept their presence and be grateful.

"Wow! You have a suite room, Meg. He could have booked you into a standard room, but he chose this spacious room, and can you see the view?" Alice asked, and I could feel the excitement on my best friend's voice the moment Gael left us since he needed to talk with Celeste and his team

I screamed since my family hadn't checked into any four or five-star hotel in the country. We seldom have family vacations, and I was only a little girl during those trips, and usually, we ended up getting the cheapest room in a hotel or pension house.

"Hey, I thought it didn't affect you at all. You seemed like you were not excited to see this room, and now you are shrieking your heart out." Alice said while she covered her ear.

"Of course, I am so excited to be in this room, Alice, but I don't want Gael to think I am overreacting," I said as I walked closer to her by the window, and together we looked down on the busy metropolis, and I could see the moving cars that looked so tiny from our point of view.

And when my eyes darted a glance at the harbor, I couldn't stop myself from feeling sad as I could see the vessels dock on the port that belonged to Ashton's family, and I felt Megan's hand take my hand, and she squeezed it, then she put her other hand on my shoulder, and she turned me around to face her.

"Meg, when are you going to let go of your pain? Cry it out, Meg." She said as I could see the sadness on her face, and I remember how many times my best friend cried on my behalf, and I could tell right now she was about to cry as she looked at me in the eyes.

"Alice, it is not yet my time to cry," I said as I let go from her hold, and I walked towards the bed.

"I want to ask you a favor, Al, please. I don't want to talk about him. I want to have a fresh start, and Ashton will not be part of it." I said.

"Okay, but I want to remind you, you have to deal with it, Meg. He will always be a part of you because he is the father of your child, and you can't deny it to me that you still love him." She said, and I couldn't disagree with Alice, so I didn't answer her, and I lay on the bed for a long while, and I got up when I realized something.

"I only brought one suitcase, Al, since I want to travel light, and how come there are two suitcases now?" I asked in disbelief as my eyes zeroed on the luggage on the cabinet since she forgot to close the cabinet doors, and when I looked at her, I could tell she looked so guilty.

"I am sorry, Meg, I know you will not agree with what I will tell you, but I am coming with you." She said in more than a whisper, and I shook my head.

"Alice, you don't have to do it, " I replied.

"Meg, I will not feel at ease if I don't know where you are going, and this is the least I can do for you as your best friend; besides, it is summer, and I have savings, Megan. I will pay for my transportation, and I will work a part-time job there. Please, Meg, don't push me away; I know you will do the same for me." She declared, and I became speechless since I knew she had a point.

"How about your parents, Al?" I asked, and she grinned at me.

"I told them we got an offer for a part-time job, and it is out of the country, and they couldn't be happier, well, it was part of the truth since I was planning to have a part-time job over there, and I promise to send them the salary that I will earn. I don't need to feel guilty since I only omitted some truth, so I wasn't lying to my parents at all." She explained, and I shook my head as I released a soft sigh, and I nodded my head, and she screamed and tightly hugged me, and I could no longer hold back my tears since I felt so touched with what Alice had done for me.

I know I only have two real friends; she was the only female friend I have, and in the male department, it was Oscar, and I felt guilty that I hadn't informed him about my plan since he was out of town after our graduation. He will spend his summer vacation at his grandparents' place.

"Thank you, Al, for doing all this for me," I said, and she hugged me more.

"Of course, that is what best friends do for each other, and I want to make you feel you are not alone in this battle you are facing, Meg. I will be here for you." She replied as she dried my tears with her fingers, and I smiled at my best friend.

Gael came back before lunchtime, and he invited us to have a meal with him in one of the hotel's restaurants, and I felt so excited to be dining with a celebrity.

"Meg, I have good news for you." He said as he looked at me.

"What is it, Gael?" I asked as I could feel my nervousness.

"We are leaving tomorrow morning since I informed my manager that I needed to go to Megalopre, and she said that I can go since I have my free time and she will handle the rest of my appointments," Gael said, and I smiled at him, but no words came out of my mouth since I didn't know what to say. I was so overwhelmed with so much happiness.

"And one more thing, she was excited about your songs, and I can't wait to read the rest of your compositions." He added, and we ate our lunch, and I realized Gael was down to earth, and I realized God sent me an angel. I told him about Alice, and he was excited about us.

"You are so lucky to have a real friend, Meg. It is now so hard to find a loyal friend." He said, and I could feel there was a hidden meaning in his words. He is a celebrity, and I know Gael is dealing with trust issues since he can't tell who is real or not anymore because of his status in life and the type of career he has. I am sure he was also dealing with privacy issues, and I want to be his loyal friend if he will let me.

The following morning Alice's father came to the hotel to get the car key, and I could see the shock on his face when he looked at our room. I told him our new employer booked us the room, and we told him not to tell anyone that our new boss is a billionaire. He was so happy and excited for us, and I felt guilty for lying to Alice's dad since he treated me like his own daughter ever since I became Alice's best friend. But I don't want to tell him about Gael because I am sure my parents will ask him about Alice and me when they realize I have left home.

We were surprised the moment we learned we would be riding a chopper, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so excited and scared at the same time. But we had a smooth ride, and I enjoyed the entire trip since Gael is fun to be with, and he made our ride more enjoyable and memorable for Alice and me.

"Welcome to Megalopre, Megan, and Alice. I hope you will love my place." Gael said the moment we landed on his property, I realized it was an estate with a beautiful mansion with a vast garden surrounding it, and I realized everything he told me about his place was understated. 

I became speechless as I looked at the magnificent mansion before us, and I couldn't believe I would be living in this place; I only wanted to run away from my father because I wanted to take good

care of my child, but I never expected I would be here in this paradise.