Leonica shifted in her stance, pushing her weight onto her non dominant leg and crossing her hand across her chest as she made up her mind.

She was going to tell him. To hell with whatever happens afterwards. All she cares about is knowing that she had gotten it off her chest, told him the truth and not lied to him. Not that it really mattered to her if she lies to him or nOL "He's my son...Our son." She confessed after a heartbeat, somewhat surprised when Gabriel didn't show any real emotion.

"Bill," He turned towards his assistant, watching as he became alert at the sound of his name. "Wait outside for a minute, would you?"

"O-of course." Bill stuttered, as usual, not used to Gabriel's less mean way of speaking. He wasn't exactly polite, but compared to the Gabriel Bryce of a few weeks back, a month at tops, this Gabriel was far way more polite, more Tolerable. But Bill really didn't have the time to think all that over. Bowing at his employer's instruction, he exited the room, giving them the privacy that had been demanded of him.

Once alone, Gabriel turned his gaze back on Leonica, but much like the angered or frustrated gaze she had expected, Gabriel had a calm xpression on his face and for the briefest second, she was reminded of how calm he used to be when Lila had first introduced them. So, we have a son?" Gabriel's question sounded more like a speech directed towards himself, rather than the female in front of him." How old is he?"

"Five." Leonica answered after swallowing her saliva.

She watched as he went silent after her worse, gaze casted towards the picture on the table while he played with the tips of his finger, something she knew he did each time he was trying to concentrate on one too many things. After a while, he asked the question on his mind. "How how long were we married?"

And Leonica was not expecting that. Heck! She hadn't expected all that had happened here today, Gabriel tinding the picture, his almost lifeless reaction, like he had long knew and accepted the fact before she sprung in and dropped the bomb, and lastly, this damn question

And all of his behavior today, in such a short time span, made Leonica wonder, who really was the man in front of her. He was different to be her Gabriel.

star too

No, he wasn't far too different from her Gabriel. He was her Gabriel, the Gabriel she had tallen for close to a decade ago, not the monster he had become during their marriage. Perhaps she had gotten too used to that him, the Gabriel she hated, that she couldn't even recognize the man whom she had actually fallen for

er has

Perhaps that's it, Leonica thought as she moved and settled in the chair across from Gabriel, surprising him as she placed her down and arranged her hands on her laps.

"Two years, you and I were married for two years." She honestly answered his question, waiting for the ones that were to come.

Two years? Gabriel pondered. If they were married for two years, how come Ashley was Five?

"We got married seven years ago, divorced five years ago." Leonica confidently answered his question as if she was able to read it off

his face

Ah, that made more sense, Gabriel thought.

Another few seconds passed before he asked. "And why did we get a divorce?"

Now that, Leonica couldn't answer confidently.

Because you were an asshole. Because she fell in love with a witch and neglected your family, or perhaps you were just too stupid

She wanted to say all those words, but kept her mouth shut and instead, stared blankly at him.

Gabriel more than got the memo. It was his fault.

Nodding his head, he moved onto the next question, not bothering to press for answers on the previous one.

"Do we live together? You me and... Ashley?" He asked.

When Leonica shook her head, get felt a weird sense of disappointment wash over him. "No, we don't. Ashley stays at mine, sometimes at my parents." She informed. When she said nothing about the child staying with him, Gabriel narrowed his eyes. "Your place wasn't the best. Fancy and all, but not suitable for a growing child." She said and gave a nonchalant shrug to cover up the shivers that had washed over her body at the thought of the numerous chances Angelina would have had to hurt Ashley had he actually stayed at Gabriel's place.

Gabriel wondered how his place wasn't suitable for Ashley, Was it because the child would be living far away from his mother?

Despite the thoughts in his mind, disapproving of the fact that Ashley didn't for once stay with him, a sense of fatherly instinct causing a sudden spike of anger towards rise in his chest, Gabriel calmly asked. "Where is he, now?"

Leonica was quiet for a few seconds before she gave the best answer her mind could conjure. "He's safe." She has unlanowingly smiles when answering aa thoughts of Gabriel's sacrifice flashed in her mind. However, the smile disappeared as soon as it had come, but as fleeting and short lived as the smile had been, it had caused weird heart palpitations in his chest the moment Gabriel spotted it.

Seconds later, he was left with a new feeling of emptiness in his chest after her smile disappeared.

He managed to push the weird feeling aside and asked. "Can I see him?"

Now she felt a small sense of guilt having to watch a father ask to see his own son. However, in this case, there was nothing she could do. It was either she bend to Gabriel's whims and see Ashley get hurt or she kept him away from Gabriel, hopefully he couldn't feel pain towards someone he couldn't even recall.

...No."

*Her answer has Gabriel furrowing his brow and demanding for an answer seconds later. "Because you'll only end up hurting him. Ashley's a very sensitive child, he takes the simplest of things to heart, now imagine how he'd feel if his own father doesn't even remember him?" Came her answer as she glanced at her watch and proceeded to stand up. "As much as I hate to admit it; that boy loves you far too much, something like that would only break his heart. And I'm not ready to see my son cry over someone who isn't worth it." Gabriel's eyes darkened at her words. "I'd watch my mouth if I were you. He warned.

"Or what?" Leonica challenged, taking a step towards him. "Huh?"

It seems like when she had advanced towards Gabriel, she hasn't phantom that he'd instantly stand up from the chair he had been seating in.

"If I were you, I'd watch my mouth, Leonica." He warned again, taking each word slower than the previous and dragging their syllables

Now, perhaps it had been because of the way he spoke, or the way he called out her name, or maybe both, but Leonica telt her confidence steamer downs a bit, along with waves of shivers that made her very much aware of the fact that they were now standing really close in each other.

Instinctively, she took a step back Gabriel followed her, taking one of his own forward and staring down at her. "Now, give me a damn good reason why I shouldn't see my son, or best believe me when I say I will find him..." He allowed the rest of his words trail off and Leonica hoped that they weren't what she thought he was going to say.

"So don't test my patience, Leo and tell me where I can find my son." He cooed.

The shivering has increased now, but Leonica was more than certain it wasn't fear. She had known Gabriel long enough to know when his words were actually threats. He was using a trick she had been so very accustomed to, a trick she had used multiple times in her own life, and one she could easily spot in someone else.

Her lips formed a straight line and she tilted her head up to meet Gabriel face.

With a smile, she spoke.

"I preferred you so much better when you were an asshole." She whispered and stepped back, allowing their closeness to end and her smile to disappear, a frown in its place as she finally got tired of playing the game of cat and mouse, before it even began. "I love my son, enough to make sure nothing makes him sad. I'll have a talk with Ashley after school, explain the situation to him as best as I can, the rest is up to his reaction. If he's ready, fine. If not, you're not seeing him." Gabriel's eyes were on her the entire time she had spoken. His jaw was clenching and unclenching, the same way it did every time he was angered, something that she had become familiar with.

"I have a meeting to attend to, so I'd be taking my leave if that's all." She said and turned around, about to leave when the feeling of the keychain in her pocket stopped her. She reached into her pocket and pulled it out. She stared at it for a moment, and then, turned around, catching Gabriel's attention, who had been staring at her as she moved. "You might want to take this. Ashley got it for you." She held it out for him.

Gabriel took a glance at the object and felt his lips pull into a smile. "He did?"

Leonica nodded and grabbed his hand, putting it in.

"I'll let him know you like it." She said as she stepped back, Then, without another word, she turned and headed for the door.

Act Fast Free Borus me is Running Out!

Clalm

Owen's Predicament.

The moment Leonica had left, Bill stuck his head through the door, testing the water whether or not it was okay for him to step in

"Sir?" He called out, snapping Gabriel out of whatever he had been thinking about at that moment. "May I step in?"

Gabriel waved his hand at his assistant's question, indicating that he could do whatever he pleased. Tentatively, he stepped in while Gabriel returned back to the chair he had been seating in, grabbing the photo he has found in the process.

again staring at the photo, Ashley in particular, Gabriel found his mind replaying Leonica's words, something that had somewhat become like a daily routine to him, since he had woken up a few

been that much of

marriage ended? The reason why Ashley was forced to

of his own action, weighted heavily on Gabriel's chest. But not

he was forced to learn things

dropped the picture "Mr. Bryce, is everything alright? Do I need to call the doctor?" Bill questioned after he

something. "That wouldn't be necessary," He said. "But if

head. "I'll do that right away." He

raised the key chain

admiring his favorite flower which had

across his lips when remembering that it was

with

the male looked towards his window, watching as the sun descended on the city

mind; he wanted his

intend on stopping until his memories

saw

the hot head she put up for him from time to time, seemed like a nice person. He had no doubts that she was a good mother and

him, well, he couldn't even tell how many mistakes he has made or how many people he has hurt in the past, so who was he to judge his

him from hoping, perhaps the next time they meet, he'd know the full truth and would be able to apologize properly, for whatever it is he seemed to have

be on his way to fixing things, regaining his memories and having the right to see his

determination rush through him. He didn't

And then, he'll know

Everything

to meet Owen and his manager, but had arrived way earlier than their planned meeting

third of the way here, the rest she had spent in silence, listening to music and thinking about what he had

Which was reasonable as it wasn't everyday one would expect to have to explain to her child that his

against

about everything was making

complaining over the matter wasn't going

her eyes after the thought and

tapped on the call log and looked for the

she had gotten the little one a phone, nothing fancy, just something she

minutes to spare before the meeting and Owen's company car didn't seem to

Ashley's voice filled the

happily greeted, and even though Leonica couldn't see

back.

she could hear the sound of him moving, followed by a few muffled words before he spoke again." I'm waiting at the play ground, so are you gonna pick me

again?" He guessed and his

10

time. After today, no more cancelling, no more

could almost see the pout forming on his lips.

that, hit close

started, sighing "We've talked about this. Your dad is in no condition

argued. "I'm not asking to stay with

"I know, but..."

""Please mom?" He pleaded.

about whether or not he'd get to see his father, but she couldn't

before taking him to see Gabriel, she needed to seat down and talk things

a little chat after I pick you up.

of

...Fine." He hesitantly answered.

her eyes caught a familiar vehicle pulling into the parking lot and she instantly recognized it as the one

It wasn't long be

his manager, Alistair, stepped out and rushed to open the back

don't be too hard on your Aunty. And no playing with strangers "Olcay mom." He

She called again, and be

you too, mommy" He replied and Leonica

purse and exited the car, locking the door as she

attention, who stopped and waited

with a hug that she eased

next greeting was by Alistair, who offered her his hand, all the while scolding Owen about

an idol.

what type of scandals would break out if someone were to take a picture of you two hugging?"

asked, almost

a sigh, the manager pinched the bridge of his nose, mumbling underneath his breath. "I'm already dealing

say something, manager?" Owen

Ms. Romero, shall we head in?" Alistair asked as he turned

in, Owen settled beside Leonica, standing as close to her as possible and gently hooking his

are you doing,

replied, allowing the small physical

wasn't satisfied by her

She answered again, offering him

talk about

head. "Not now, perhaps another

alright. If you're sure." Owen said, and gave

at the male beside her, and for a split second, she wondered how he could act so carefree like they hadn't ended things on a bad note the last time he called her out to

bring himself to feel angry or awkward around her because they had know each other

into the comfortable feeling that the male was bringing They didn't talk much, just a few comments here and there about the decor as they stepped into the restaurant and had the waitress take them to their reserved suite. Once they were inside, seated

requested this meeting be set up is because of Owen's recent

beside her. He had a nonchalant smile on his face, which only grew when she started at

"Which is?" Leonica asked.

usual, it didn't take the media long to make a scandal out of the whole thing. However, the company took care of it

"Oh,

pee gaze downwards. She hadn't

Owen spoke up, trying to reassure her as he gently places his hand over

one you've built for so many years, the one I've spent the last three years building is at risk, all because of that." He pointed at

and withdrew his hand. "Don't tell me you're still salty

You went ahead and released the speech I warned you against releasing. And now," He paused and turned towards Leonica. "No offense Ms. Homero "When she slowly nodded her head, he continued.

Owens Medicament

calm down." Owen ordered, and for once, his

a bit

tell me to calm down!" Alistair hissed and slammed his palm against the table. "I'm only worried for you, and now I've got the board breathing down my neck. All because you couldn't curtail your feelings right. Do you really have no respect for the job you do?" "Okay, hold on," Leonica finally spoke up, raising her hand to gain the attention she needed. "This is looking more like an argument than a meeting to me," She pointed out. "If this is what is going to be happening, then tell me, I'll gladly take my leave, if not, let's

agreed and took a deep breath. "I apologize for

hands on the table. "Now, can you explain what

said, letting a moment pass,

at SG entertainment have demanded that Owen set things right and off all contact with you, else

terminated instantly."

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255