Chapter 11

Gabriel laid motionless in his bed, eyes glued blankly on his white ceiling. He had just woken up an hour ago, however he hadn't moved from his current spot as his mind recounted the dream that he had. He had been dreaming. A dream of the past and a future that would never happen, one that felt vivid and almost too real. The dream had started off being about the first time he had met Leonica. He remembered her clearly, the young woman with yellow hair, dressed in a beautiful white dress and a warm smile on her face. In the dream, Gabriel was sitting on a sofa with his grandmother when Leonica, along with her father and mother were introduced to him. Their first meeting. However, the dream quickly took a different turn and they were in an open field with beautifully planted irises and Leonica was standing in the center, but she was not alone. Held in her embrace was a small child, who slept peacefully on her chest. He remembered watching her cradle the child in her arms as they slept peacefully, her fingers running through the child's golden locks. Gabriel had silently watched them, a bitter taste filling his mouth the moment he realized this was nothing but a dream. And then Leonica turned towards him and flashed one of her breathtaking smiles. Gabriel felt his heart stop beating. And then, slowly, in an excruciatingly slow manner, He watched, rotted in place as her figure faded away along with the child in her embrace. Gabriel had jolted awake at the very last moment, his body covered in sweat and his mind replaying the scene of Leonica disappearing from his view, a feeling of emptiness following afterwards. Gabriel closed his eyes, trying to forget the dream, but it was futile, he had already seen it and he knew what it was. A reminder. Just like the past five years ever since the divorce and Leonica had disappeared, it was a reminder of what could have been and the path that Gabriel had chosen to follow. A choice he wouldn't regret, because it was what he wanted, he told himself everyday. Palming his face, Gabriel squeezed a sigh out and cursed. "Fuck." Why was he still even thinking about her? They were divorced and the memories were nothing but a fragment of the past. Leonica had moved on, he too also was moving on and he wasn't going to be a person who couldn't let go of the past and continue to live in the present. That was not who he was...was it? His early morning thoughts were cut short as the double door to his bedroom suddenly opened and Lloyd walks. “Rise and shine prince charming.” Lloyd says as he strolls into the room without so much as a knock. Gabriel taking note of this, and although this has been going on for the past few years, he takes this as the right time to point the rather rude behavior out. “Don’t you ever knock?” His raspy morning voice asks as he rises into a seating position and massages his aching neck. “Do I even need to.” Lloyd replied as he goes for the windows and drags the big curtains apart, allowing sun light into the room. Gabriel winces and tries to block the light out using the back of his palm. Lloyd Snickers at the sight but wastes no time in approaching Gabriel’s bed, handing him the brown envelope he had collected from Bill, Gabriel’s assistant. “What is this?” Gabriel questions, brows furrowing at the envelope as he reaches for it. “A contract of cancelation.” Lloyd replied, recalling the words Bill had told him at the front gate before continuing. “Romero Empire no longer wishes to work with Bryce Empire, they’ve requested a cancelation of cooperation.” The news was surprising to Gabriel who hadn’t had any contact with Leonica’s family after their divorce. He had tried contacting and talking to them several times in the past hoping to get information on where Leonica may be, however neither of them had bothered to contact him back, so he eventually gave up on trying to contact them and went for the closest alternative. Her uncle, Rodrigo. The cooperation between Bryce Empire and Romero Empire had stemmed from the deal made by Rodrigo, promising to give him information on Leonica. Alas, the blonde had never been close with Rodrigo. This resulted in Gabriel earning no information and as time passes by, he foregone the path of that deal. But now, after all that time, Romero Empire was suddenly demanding for a cancellation? Flipping the envelope’s contents open, Gabriel began reading through it, his action abruptly stopping when something on the lower corner of the letter caught his eyes. Signed by Leon Romero, it read. ‘Leo? Leonardo Romero?’ He thought. Wasn’t Leonardo Romero Leonica’s brother, her adoptive brother? Was he the one who ordered this action? If so, then why? Was this his way of getting back at him after all these years for what he did to Leonica? If that was the case, then he understood, but found the action rather childish. Although He had not truly put his mind on the deal, both his and the Romero family company had benefited greatly from their cooperation and if they were to suddenly cancel the cooperation, both company would suffer losses. No business man In his right senses would incur heavy loss and put his company at risk over petty revenge. And from what Gabriel knew about Leonardo, he was a very intelligent young man who knew better than to act on impulse. Which is why his current actions were not making sense. For some reason, Gabriel felt like he needed to have a conversation with the eldest son of the Romero family. Sort things out, like people would say. And who knows, he might miraculous gain information on Leonica’s whereabouts after all these years. Placing the letter back in the brown envelope, Gabriel placed it on his bedside table and finally rose up from his bed, his night robe flowing down to his ankles as he stood and headed to the bathroom. “Lloyd, the business banquet this year, when is it taking place?” He asked after stepping out of the bathroom. “Next week, I believe.” Lloyd answered, tilting his head. “Why’d you ask? You planning on coming?” “I am,” Gabriel responded, grabbing the clothes Bill had previously laid out for him on the dresser. “I’ve got a couple of things to attend to at the banquet. And…it’s been a while since I last attended.” Lloyd was caught off guard by Gabriel’s answer. “Really?” He questioned, finding it hard to believe that the same friend who had withdrawn from social activities a few years ago was now planning on going to THE biggest Social activity in the entire of Norway. “Yeah.” Gabriel confirmed. “Wow.” Lloyd’s jaw dropped. “And here I thought you’ve become a recluse.” Gabriel didn’t say anything, he simply sent a glare Lloyd’s way, which the latter quickly played off as he stepped forward, a teasing smirk on his lips. “Ah, I can see you’re finally man enough to take yours and Angelina’s relationship to the next level.” He teased. Gabriel paused, the shirt he had been buttoning falling slightly open. “What the hell are you saying?” He asked, raising a brow. Lloyd snickered. “Don’t pretend to be oblivious,” He playfully smacked Gabriel’s shoulder. “Isn’t that why your Media team made that public post.” Gabriel’s brows creased. “Post? What post?” Sensing the confusion in his friend’s voice, the teasing smirk on Lloyd’s lips faded. “You don’t know?” He asked and when Gabriel didn’t say anything, his eyes widening and his mouth opening and closing, trying to find the right words, Lloyd spoke. “What post are you talking about, Lloyd?” The questioned male opened his mouth to talk again, but after a few seconds, he decided it was best to show Gabriel the post rather than trying too hard to explain. “Here.” Lloyd pulled out his phone, scrolling through his media app and showing Gabriel the post his company’s media team had made. “See.” He pointed at the post and Gabriel’s eyes widened in surprise upon reading the caption. ‘After a long five years of courtship, our gracious president, Mr. Gabriel Bryce has officially asked Ms. Angelina Fernandez to be his fiancée, and the female had gladly accepted his proposal.’ Gabriel couldn’t believe what he was seeing. A post announcing his engagement with Angelina? Made from his very own company media? How could that be possible?!