it off. It was like we'd known each other for years instead of having just met. He was the sweetest guy, so thoughtful and so generous. He always knew what to say to make me feel...special."
"Sounds perfect," Claudette commented.
"Oh he was...or at least I thought he was," Monica said. "Turns out I got played."
"What happened?" Claudette asked.
"I caught him kissing his ex-wife."
Claudette's eyebrows shot up, and she waited for Monica to continue.
"Yeah, I know," Monica said. "I couldn't believe it either. We'd spent the previous week practically glued at the hip. He told me how wonderful I was, and how I was so different from all the other women he'd met before. He really had me believing we had something special."
"What did you do when you caught him?" Claudette asked.
"I just stood there and stared. I was so shocked," Monica answered. "But then I came to my senses and left."
"Did he see you?"
"Yeah. He came after me once he saw me."
"What happened next? What did he say?" Claudette asked.
"Oh he just tried to make excuses, like it wasn't what it seemed. That she kissed him, and how he didn't want to do it. As if I'm that stupid," Monica scoffed.
"You didn't believe him?" Claudette asked.
Monica was surprised by the question. It didn't occur to her that Gabe could be telling her the truth. While he did look sincerely miserable after she left, she disregarded it. After everything she heard about Gabe and his ex at the ball, she was certain all the rumors were true--that Gabe never got over his ex-wife and was just using Monica as a way to make her jealous.
"No. I mean, it didn't make any sense," Monica explained. "I'd heard from countless people how Gabe was pining for his ex-wife Carla ever since she walked out on him. When I saw them kissing, it just confirm ed everything I was hearing ."
"And you think he set everything up? Meeting with you, spending all that time with you, all the kind words--you think that was all an act to win his ex back?" Claudette asked, incredulously .
Now that Claudette had put it like that, the seeds of doubt were planted and Monica was starting to regret jumping to conclusions so quickly.
"Uh...yeah, that's what it looked like," Monica answered uncertainly.
"Did he say anything else? Offer any other kind of explanation?" Claudette questioned.
"No, I didn't really let him. I was so angry and upset, I just wanted to get out of there," Monica explained. "I didn't give him a chance to hear his side of it."
"Sounds like there's more to this story than you think," Claudette said. "Have you thought about calling him?"
"Oh no way!" Monica blurted. "I'm sure he's moved on by now anyways."
"Now why would you say that?" Claudette asked.
"Cause he's Gabe Stark," Monica stated, as if that explained everything. Claudette stared at her blankly, waiting for her to continue.
"You know the billionaire Gabe Stark. He's the one who's investing in that solar project at work," Monica explained.
"Ohhh," Claudette said, once she had registered the name. "You were dating the Gabe Stark?" she added incredulously.
"I know," Monica replied. "It's hard to believe, but it's true."
"Oh honey, I hope you're not offended by my reaction. It's not that I don't believe you, it's just surprising to hear about anyone I know dating Gabe Stark. He's like one of the most eligible bachelors in the country," Claudette said .
"It's all right. I don't mind really. I can't believe it myself sometimes," she said. "It's just so crazy that someone like him was into someone like me. I mean when you compare his ex-wife to me, I almost can't blame him for wanting to get back with her. She's so gorgeous."
"You ’ve got to stop that," Claudette admonished. "Y ou're just as gorgeous and kind; you shouldn't be so hard on yourself."
Monica knew Claudette was right, and she should have a little more self esteem . It was something Gabe was always telling her too; it was just a hard pattern to break. All her life, she'd been
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