19 Chapter 19 A New Threat Has
Arisen.
And it did.
Leonica’s final words to him sank in the deepest,
striking Gabriel’s heart that was already occupied by the conflicted feelings, seeing Leonica after five years, had brought.
But one thing was clear, her transformation in the past five years, precisely, how indifferent she had began acting towards him, angered him. Yet, as he turned and watched her ascend the stage to give her speech, spot light shinning all around her. Gabriel couldn’t help but
feel mesmerized.
The Leonica he knew five years ago, would have never dared to talk back to him. She would have been so afraid, so broken, she wouldn’t have the courage to stand up for herself, yet, here she was.
Her aura had completely changed and she wasn’t the same woman he had married and divorced.
No, the woman who stood on stage, holding a
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microphone in her hand with a billion dollar smile, was a confident and strong individual.
She had changed so much in five years.
During his trans like stare towards Leonica, Gabriel had failed to notice Angelina beside him, who had noticed his gaze on Leonica.
Seeing the way he stared at her, clearly affected by her glow up, like the other, Angelina felt irritated and clenched her fist, manicured nails nearly digging into the flesh of her palm.
‘Never. She thought, directing her stare towards
unaware of
Leonica who was now starting her speech, un the tremors in both their hearts.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen,” She began, soft voice washing over the crowd and hushing the
whispers. “My name’s Leonica Romero, the President of the business chambers and tonight’s speaker. I hope you all are having a pleasant evening, ‘cause I sure as hell am.”
****
The rest of the Banquet had gone by in a blur in Angelina’s mind, the only thing she had been focusing
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on was Leonica who was clearly not bothered by her
stare.
After some time, she had grown tired of the banquet and bade her prospective acquaintances goodbye before leaving the banquet. Immediately she was gone, Gabriel announced that they were also leaving.
Angelina tried not to think too much of it, but each time she recalled the way Gabriel had stared at Leonica’s throughout the female’s time on stage, the more she became aware of the situation.
A threat had arisen.
They arrived at Angelina’s manor ten minutes past ten, however, as the chauffeur was about to drive away, she noticed Gabriel was still inside the car.
“Aren’t you coming?” She questioned.
“I’m tired. I’ll head home for now.” Gabriel replied, his dull grey eyes, which were fixed outside the window, not even bothering to glance at her.
Angelina’s eyes twitched, clearly sensing the sudden change in his attitude tonight.
‘It is all because of that woman.’ She thought.
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“Are you sure? Why not stay the night. It’s pretty late.” She reasoned.
Gabriel glanced at her and flashed a clearly forced smile. “No, I think it would be better for me to rest at
home. Thanks for the invitation though, i’ll talk with
you once I’ve rested.”
And just like that, he was gone.
As the chauffeur drove away, Angelina felt a knot form
in her stomach.
‘Just what is this feeling?‘ She thought, her eyes staring down at the diamond ring on her finger.
Threat? Fear? Intimidation?
All because of the same woman?
No.
Angelina shook her head, her long brown locks.
dancing at the action. “I have no reason to be afraid. Leonica’s just a nobody who can’t hold a candle to me.”
Turning around, she marched towards the entrance of her house, all the while fishing her phone out of her
purse.
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She scrolled through her contact list and once she spotted the number she was looking for, she dialed.
The line rang for only a few seconds before it was
answered.
“Detective Langer, Evening.” She greeted.
“Ms. Fernandez, hello. How many I help you.” The man on the other end sounded more than happy to hear
from her.
“I have a favor to ask.” Angelina stated, passing the coat Gabriel had lent her to her butler who was waiting. “I need you to trail someone for me.”
“Alright. Who’s the target?”
“The name’s Leonica Romero, she just recently
returned to Norway, I want her movements,
traced and all her activities to be monitored.”
“What kind of activities are we talking about?” Detective Langer inquired.
be
“All of them. I need a detailed report, I want to know the type of food she eats, the clothes she wears, the places she visits, even the men and women she meets.
Am I clear?”
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“Yes ma’am, you are crystal clear. But may I know the reason behind all this?”
“The reason?” Angelina’s lips twisted into a sneer, her eyes darkening as a feeling of satisfaction washed over
her.
The reason for her current action was simple. She wanted the upper hand.
She is going to monitor Leonica’s activities and look for the best time to strike, tarnishing her reputation, no, her existence entirely in Gabriel’s eyes.
By the time she is done, those eyes that stared at her this evening would be filled with nothing but disdain
and malice towards her.
And she was going to enjoy every single second of it.
“The reason detective, is for me and me alone to
know.”
It was dark.
That was the first thought that crossed Gabriel’s mind as he opened his eyes after having drank a
considerable amount of whiskey to forget Leonica’s
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claims about his grandmother and then having fallen asleep in his room.
He looked around, his head dizzy, eyes adjusting to the
darkness.
‘When did it get so dark?‘ He wondered.
“Gabe,”
The familiar voice reached his ears, the voice sounding distant and faint, as if he was being called from somewhere far away.
“Gabriel.” The voice came yet again, and this time, he recognized it.
It belonged to Leonica.
Standing up from the Stoll he wasn’t even aware he had been sitting on, Gabriel surveyed his surroundings, trying to see through the darkness. Suddenly, one part of the darkness gave way, opening up the path to a field filled with purple irises and in the center of it, was Leonica.
She was dressed in a simple white gown, her long wavy white hair dancing softly in the breeze as she faced the other way, humming a calming tone to the
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sleeping child in her arms.
Her hums stopped once she sensed his presence. Turning around to see him, she smiled and extended one of her free hand.
“Gabriel.” She called out to him once again, and as if on autopilot, Gabriel moved, taking a step forward
towards her.
He glanced down at the sleeping child in her arms as he approached and although he couldn’t see the child’s face, Gabriel felt a strong connection to the child.
Almost…almost as if it was his.
“Come on Gabe, we’re waiting.” Leonica encouraged and his feet began to move faster, but just before he could reach where she was standing, darkness engulfed her entire being.
“Leonica,” Gabriel called out to her, however, his call
remained unanswered.
And then, behind him, another scene opened up. This time around it was just a white bulb hanging above a white door. Gabriel slowly approached the door, hearing the quiet sobs of a woman from inside.
As soon as he opened the door he gulped upon seeing
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a pale looking Leonica seating on a hospital bed. The sobs ceased as soon as his presence was spotted.
Slowly, her head turned in his direction, blood shot eyes glaring at him. “Look what you’ve done.” She muttered.
Gabriel shook his head, slowly approaching the bed she sat on. Instead of responding to her accusations, he asked. “The baby, where is it? Where’s my child?”
“You’re asking that now?” She scoffed faintly. “It’s gone, just like
wanted.”
you
Hearing her words and remembering the exact same way she had said it at the banquet, Gabriel felt a tremendous amount of anger towards Leonica’s
actions.
How could she?
Why did she? She had no right to take away his chance at fatherhood!
“No, that is not what I wanted. You had no right to do that Leonica!” Gabriel scolded. “You had no fucking right to decide the fate of my child!”
“Gabe,” Another familiar voice called out.
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Gabriel looked around trying to find the source of this new voice, when it came yet again.
“Gabe. Gabriel wake up.”
And just like that, he opened his eyes, finding Lloyd standing beside his bed with folded arms and a concerned look plastered on his face.
“You okay Man?” He asked.
Gabriel rubbed his eyes and looked around, seeing the daylight shining through his window.
“It was a dream?” He questioned, his mind still a bit dizzy from the whiskey and sleep.
“Preferably caused by too much whiskey indigestion.” Christian chipped, holding up the bottle of said
alcoholic drink.
Lloyd sighed and shook his head. He was aware of how Gabriel took things like sleeping pills and sometimes alcohol to put himself to sleep, after all, he suffered from chronic insomnia, but it still was concernin the young man.
for
“Hey, can’t you cut down on the amount of alcohol you take.” Lloyd said, his tone sounding stern. “You’re
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gonna kick the bucket younger than any of us if you keep this up.” He scolded. “And what’s got you down in the dump?”
“I’m fine.” Gabriel muttered, running a hand through
his hair.
However, Christian yet again chipped in. “He’s not. Leonica’s back in Norway.” He informed Lloyd who’s
eyes went wide.
He cursed inside his mind for having had tremendous work to attend to during the day of the banquet yesterday.
“Short story, they met yesterday, and I guess you can image how it turned out.”
“Sore I can predict.” Lloyd muttered, sighing afterwards. “Why…what is she even doing back in Norway after all these years?”
At his question, Christian handed him the newspaper he had been reading. The headline, in bold letters, read; Eldest daughter of Romero family, Leonica Romero, returns as Romero Empire’s newest president!
“No shit.” Lloyd gasped, Gabriel on the other hand,
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groaned and buried his face In the palm of his hands.
Now it made sense why Romero Empire wanted to cancel their partnership. It was all Leonica’s doing.
First of all she cancels their partnership and then springs up news of abortion in him?
No, as a matter of fact, Gabriel didn’t believe her
words.
He wasn’t sure why, but Gabriel felt like Leonica had lied about the baby’s fate.
+59
After all, she had seemed a little too confident when she had uttered the words and he could tell, the woman standing on that stage, despite how indifferent she seemed, was not a baby killer.
It was either that, or his soul for some reason, couldn’t accept the fact that she was indeed heartless enough to drag an innocent unborn child into their squabble.
Either one, he need to clear his conscience.
“Christian,” He called out, cutting through the conversation that had been going on between him and Lloyd.
“Yes?”
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57
“Leonica’s medical records from five years ago, up until now…I don’t care how you do it, but bring them to me,
today.”
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