Chapter 13

The next day at Bryce Empire, all the major employees of the Media team had been gathered in Gabriel’s office. The man himself was in front of the small crowd, leaning against his table. With a darken atmosphere behind him, it made all the employees present cower all the more. What had they done wrong this time around?! “I’ll only ask this once, who amongst you is responsible for the engagement post released by the media department?” Gabriel asked and soon, all heads turned to face an impish looking brunette. The male flinched under all the eyes and slowly raised his hand, announcing. “It…it was me S-sir.” Gabriel’s brows twitched at the answer. This man, what was his name? Ah, yes, Kelvin. He was the manager of the media department, but more importantly, the one responsible for the engagement announcement that had caused him so much trouble. Gabriel sighed, running his fingers through his hair. What had made him think that hiring Kelvin was a good idea? “So,” he began, taking a deep breath and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Tell me, who gave you the orders to make that announcement?” Kelvin hesitated, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “It…it was madam Fernandez.” He admitted. As if on cue, the small crowd parted to reveal the said brunette who had leisurely been seating on the couch, not expecting her entire plan to blow up so easily in her face. “Angelina,” Gabriel called, his voice firm and commanding. Said female bit on the inside of her cheeks, cursing her choice of having picked the media team manager that had no backbone. She should have picked some other person who could handle the pressure. “Angelina.” Gabriel repeated, his voice slightly louder, causing Angelina to snap out of her thoughts and rise to her feet, smiling innocently. “Is this true?” “Gabe, I can explain,” Angelina began, taking a step towards him. Seeing the look of displeasure on Gabriel face, Angelina knew that she quickly had to fix the Manager’s blunder, else it would be detrimental to the way Gabriel viewed her. “Gabe I’m sorry.” She quickly apologized, tears finding their way to her eyes and soon running down her cheeks. The feeling of displeasure Gabriel had been feeling began to disappear as he saw Angelina crying. Quickly he dismissed the employees in his office, who gladly scurried away. With them out of the way, Angelina took another step forward, allowing her waterworks fall all the more. “I’m sorry Gabe, it was a small mistake. I got too excited and got ahead of myself.” She sobbed. Gabriel didn’t say anything, he merely stood silently and watched her cry, his expression unreadable. He wanted to be angry at her and at least scold the brunette, however, he recalled the doctor’s words. Ever since Angelina had fainted five years ago, her health had deteriorated and the doctor had advised she remain in food moods, takes things slow and avoids stress. He had agreed, so why was he about to scold her? Angelina took another step closer and started. “Gabe, you’re not mad, are you-ah!” Her words were cut off half way as she pretended to lose strength in her legs and collapsed into Gabriel’s arms. Gabriel, having seen the action coming a mile away, managed to catch her and help her regain balance. “I’m fine, just a bit weak.” She whispered, her face close to his chest, her breathing uneven. “Do you need a glass of water?” Gabriel offered. She quickly shook her head. “No, I’m fine. But Gabe, you know I’ll never do anything that would hurt you right. I did what I did for our.. your benefit.” Gabriel’s eyes narrowed, his hold on her loosening. “Mine?” "Yes," she confirmed, pulling away from him and looking into his eyes. "For the past year, you've been complaining about how the company's board has constantly been on your neck regarding an heir," she explained. "Now, you have a fiancée, an heir would follow along and the board can stop pestering you." Her explanation sounded valid. Indeed, for the past year, the board has been pestering him about an heir. And it wasn't as if he didn't want one. In fact, the idea of having a family had always been appealing to him, but after his divorce with Leonica, he hadn't been in a good enough mood to consider a new relationship. His love life and sex life were on a standby, so the idea of a serious relationship like his marriage with Leonica, hadn't really appealed to him. Gabriel's straying thoughts were intruded as he felt Angelina's fingers travel across his chest. "Gabe, can you please forgive me." She whispered, her finger trailing down his shirt. "Please." She whispered, looking up into his grey eyes and batting her lashes in a seductive manner. "Or, would you like me to appease you...in another way?" Her last words were husky, and the look in her eyes and her body language gave Gabriel an idea of the 'appeasement' she had in mind. He immediately tensed, his hand reaching up to grasp her wandering ones and pulling them away from him. "Stop Angelina," he said. Angelina looked up at him, her eyes showing confusion. "Your health still isn't at its best. You should take it easy." He reasoned. "I'm fine," she reassured him, trying to move closer, but Gabriel's hold on her wrists kept her from getting close. "Gabe." She called his name. "Go home and rest," he commanded, his voice final and left no room for arguments. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't bring himself to touch her, not like this. Sighing, he let go of her wrist and side stepped. "I have work to take care of, so you go home and rest, Angelina." Angelina, not expecting his reaction, was caught off guard. He didn't want her? But, why? Was she not beautiful enough for him? Grinding her teeth at her once more failed plan, she watched his step out of the office, silently vowing in her heart. If Gabriel didn't want her, then she'll make sure he will, and this time, she was certain, she'll completely capture his heart, bear his child and become the future Mrs. Bryce. A smirk slowly curled up on her lips. And this time, there would be no one to stop her from winning. *~* 4:29 pm, 4:30. Leonica watches the moving hands of the clock on her work table with vacant eyes as she thought back to her conversation with Anastasia after they had seen the news of Gabriel's engagement. "It's none of my business." She had told the Noirette with a nonchalant shrug as she handed her phone back. To Anastasia, her action passed as someone who was unbothered by the news, but the truth was, Ever since seeing the engagement news the day before, Leonica had been feeling uneasy. The mere thought of Gabriel being engaged was enough to give her a headache, but knowing it was to the person who his grandmother had strongly objected against, was simply too much for her to swallow. Leonica's jaw clenched. What was Gabriel thinking, getting engaged to a woman like Angelina after all the talk his grandmother had given! Clicking her tongue in disinterest, Leonica pulled her gaze away from the clock. "Why the hell do I even bother thinking his matter," She muttered. "It's none of my damn business." It was not. Their marriage was over. There was nothing tying them together, nor was there a reason for them to have a single conversation. So she need not worry herself with his matters. Nodding her head at her convincing thoughts, Leonica pulled her computer close, planning to resume her work, when her phone began to ring. "Yes, hello?" She answered, the caller ID showing the number was blocked. "Good afternoon Ms. Romero," a familiar feminine voice spoke from the other side. Leonica paused, pulling the phone back to glance at the number before placing it back on her ear. "Ms. Astrid, is that you?" The questioned woman who was a nurse at Norway's central hospital, answered. "Yes." "Oh, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Leonica asked, a smile curling her lips. However, it faded the moment she heard what Astrid had to say. "Ms. Romero, I'm sorry for bothering you at this time, but you need to come down to the hospital." Astrid began, her voice urgent. "Young master Ashely has suddenly come down with a stomachache." Leonica immediately sat up in her seat, her eyes wide. "What?!" "His stomach, it seems to be hurting him a lot and..." "Alright, alright, calm down. I'm coming." Leonica quickly reassured the distressed nurse and hung up the call. "Ashely," She breathed out and stood from her chair, immediately rushing out of her office and to the hospital. The drive to the hospital was long, and as time passed, Leonica grew restless, her mind conjuring images of her son suffering. The moment she parked her car and stepped out, she was heading for the main entrance. "Ms. Romero," Astrid greeted the moment she reached the emergency ward. "Where's Ashely, is he okay?!" Leonica asked, her heart racing. Astrid nodded her head and lead her to Ashely's ward. "Mommy," Ashely meekly called as she stepped inside. "Oh my baby, what's wrong." Leonica immediately rushed to his side and cradled his face, kissing him and checking him all over. "My stomach hurts." He complained. "What happened?" Leonica questioned Astrid, her voice urgent. "I think his stomach ache is as a result of consuming ice cream, too much of it." Astrid explained. "Too much ice cream?" Leonica glanced questioningly at Ashely. The child shrunk under his mother's gaze and admitted. "I...ate lots and lots of ice cream last night. I'm sorry mommy." Leonica's face softened, she wanted to stay angry at him, but with that cute face of his, she couldn't bring herself too. "It's alright sweetheart, but remember, too much of anything is bad." She kissed his forehead. "From now on, eat only what's good for you, alright?" "Okay." Ashely agreed. "Good." Leonica smiled, her eyes shifting to Astrid. "Thank you. When can I have him discharge." "Anytime you want. It was simply a stomach ache caused from eating too much sugar. I can prescribe some drugs for him and have him discharged right now." "Alright." Leonica spent the next hour taking care of Ashely's discharge papers, after which, the two of them were free to leave. "Is there any food you'd like to have?" Leonica whispered to Ashely who was half asleep in her arms. "I wanna hotdog bun~" The child slurred. Leonica smiled. "Hot dog bun it is." As Leonica carried Ashely properly, about to step out of the hospital, she heard a familiar voice call her name from behind. "Leonica?" Leonica stopped in her tracks, her body stiffening. That voice, she knew it. Turning around, she locked eyes with the person who had called her, the latter looking equally surprised upon spotting a sleeping child in her arms. Christian!