Gabriel received the notification on his phone. A peculiar chime which he hadn't heard in a very long time. His eyes widened and his mouth fell ajar when he saw the big bold letters displayed on his screen.

*You are matched with Rose Matthew.*

He knew Rose from the accidental shoot which were widely circulated. Everyone fell for the olive skinned girl the instance they saw her unadulterated laughter in the sea photos. She was dubbed the 'Nation's Bride' and rightly so. The pristine beauty was tucked away in a small town away from all the worldly commotions. Everyone wanted a piece of her.

Gabriel too yearned.

He fell on his couch waiting and strumming his fingers on knees. He knows how it all works on the app. He was a valued customer. But privileged or not, he too had to wait for the numbers to churn his destiny.

A relief spread through his face when the notification rounded up from revealing Rose's face with a click button.

*Your destiny's awaits. You are matched to meet her up. Press [YES] if you can travel today and [NO] to reschedule.*

Gabriel careful and after triple check, gently tapped on Yes. The screen did it's somersault again as he groaned into a pillow. Patience was a virtue he didn't possess. He had to wait for the information and location of Rose's being.

The app had stringent privacy features, mainly provided for female customer's safely. If Rose was willing to accept meeting him, she would have to accept the same from her end and then the rest would be done from his. Travel and meet.

He was in another country altogether and knew she would be in the States. He walked around constantly keeping an eye on the loading and 'please wait' display which annoyed the hell out of him.

As seconds turned to minutes, he started worrying if Rose wasn't interested in a meeting altogether.

He has heard about people who weren't into meeting others organically, face to face. He hated Skype calls. Being an old school, he would have preferred meeting the way his parents met, at a mall, accidentally. But with his busy schedule and the fame that came with his life, meetings were limited to the boardroom and offices for projects.

The countless parade of woman only had him for his name or fame. He was yet to find 'The One'. And it seemed like his search was over, nearly. The phone vibrated off the table before he could catch it.

Picking it, his heart and nerves settled.

*Rose has accepted your invitation to meet.Please travel today*

There were a bunch of instructions too all of which faded in the background. The only words that remained highlighted in his sight were 'Rose has accepted'.

His secretary was quick to arrange for a chartered flight and his assistant was obliged to help with his packing. He was determined to meet her today and come hell or high water, he would achieve his goal.

The drive was nerve wrecking and his mind constantly replayed the times he saw her at award shows but never mustered the courage to talk to her. She was always at few feet away from him whenever he saw her. But he never realized the impact an app could make in his life. He would have never found her to be his soulmate or worst, talked to her if not for this small cute app of his phone.

Inside the flight, his fingers traced the photo of hers. He couldn't touch her yet but he could ogle and so he did. Every memory of the times he saw her or their eyes met, ran through him. He thought she didn't notice him. But the quick reaction of hers on the app suggested otherwise.

The craft landed, sliding over tarmac and jolting Gabriel out of his trance. His destination had arrived. A limo parked outside was waiting to take him to her. He hopped in and looked around with the enthusiasm of a five year old.

It took another hour and a half for him to reach the destination where the shoot was taking place. He knew Angel and his weird fetish with outdoor rugged terrain shooting. Gabriel must have cursed him some million time for keeping the place so far away from any civilization.

His patience was already running thin and on top of that, Rose hadn't replied to him message. He only send a 'Hi, how are you' to begin with. Assuming it was common courtesy to talk to the person at least in some sense before dropping the news of being their soulmate.

With her ignoring, his mouth turned sour feeling dejected. The driver announced the arrival. Gabriel almost jumped out of the moving car. His now dead on tracks patience wouldn't wait any longer. He had to see her, meet her.

Walking towards an array of trailers, he stopped when a tall handsome man stood in front of him. Next to him was Angel. The demon who made his journey far longer that it should have been.

The tall one showed no fanboy expressions. His face was nonchalant. Forwarding his arm, he greeted Gabriel. Quickly Angel threw in introductions.

"Hugh meet Gabriel. Your future brother in law" he squealed. "Gabriel meet Hugh."

Gabriel shook hands with Hugh and Angel was quick to tell him the entire narration. Rose only clicked on the 'Join' part. Everything else was from the two men in front of him who never bothered telling him or Rose anything.

All the excitement inside of Gabriel died down and his shoulders slumped. He had never felt more betrayed than today. Before his steps could retract Hugh held his hand, literally forcing him to walk ahead.

"Guys, I think that won't be necessary.. She won't even know I was here.." he was letting the devil minions know his escape plan. "And I would never bring it up, if we ever talk"

His heart must have paced at an even slower rate for those words resonated inside of him a couple of time before dying out. He didn't want to be the one to know that she was the one and then go back to his usual ways. He wanted her to know.

Hugh still hugged his hand and made him walk ahead. As they approached civilization, people stopped on their tracks watching Gabriel entering the arena. He smiled at each and every open mouth and greeted every wave of hand directed at him.

Before he was thrown in front of a trailer, Angel assured a surprise for him while Hugh knocked the door. The ran away afterwards. Two naughty kids who landed him in trouble.

He was standing in front of Rose's trailer. It was written in bold. The door creaked open and a soft voice exited.

"Angel just two minutes, this gown isn't particularly made for humid areas"

Her voice had a pull to it. She was determined to get something done. Once he stepped inside, he saw her struggle. With her back facing him, she was trying to pull her zipper. Usually that was the job of the assistants but knowing Angel, he might have dismissed them for devious reasons.

Gabriel stepped forward, pulling up the zipper. This was the closest he has ever been to her. Her citrus scent wafted into his nose. It was intoxicating and salivating. Gulping down, his finger ran softly through her ruffles. He ensured there were no creases.

"Thanks Angel" she uttered before picking up the hem and turning around. The second her eyes fell on him, she dropped the hem and herself along.

The knight in shining armour was quick to rescue her. She saw him at such proximity for the first time. Her eyes scanned every inch of his face. The blue eyed chocolate boy was more handsome up close. His cologne reminded her of the times she ogled at his cologne shoot photos.

Her eyes widen upon the realization that her trailer was filled with his semi naked photos. He was a model and an actor. She could have saved his fully clothed photos; it would still have been embarrassing but lesser as compared to now. This looked like a pervert's trailer.

Straightening her, he ensured his hands leave her the same way they coiled. His eyes never left her and she prayed it would. She was sweating with embarrassment.

Gabriel has left the door open, letting the cool air to escape. Assuming that being the reason for her palpitated breath along with the heavy gown, he shut the door before turned around. This time, his eyes viewed the entire place.

Watching his eye movements, Rose barricaded in front of the little photo shrine that she had for him but the damage was already done. He had seen her trailer and his photos, some of which had a couple of lipstick marks too.

He couldn't believe the crush he had on her was silently reciprocated. Had it not been for the app, he would have never known. She would have never shown.

A step forward, Gabriel looked deep into her doe eyes. She was melting at his sight and he wanted nothing more than to hold her. He even envied the photo of his which was bestowed with her kiss.

Bending forward, he took her scent again. His eyes closed involuntarily as he whispered back to her.

"You are my...Apptraction..the..match" words refused to come.

She understood. A smile enveloped her face when she said, "Soulmate!"

***

Author's Notes

Awesome pawsomes

Hope you liked this chapter.

Do let me know in the comments. I would love to hear from you all.

What do you think will happen next?

Happy reading

Love

S