Chapter 8.
During the next weeks, work and Gabriel occupied the most of Lena’s time. However, Gabriel was the bigger workaholic those days and she had some time for herself, doing the things she did before him. Reading, exploring the town, watching TV… She even went out with her colleagues for a drink a few times after work.
After a while, she convinced herself she was in control of her emotions, being able to do the whole friends with benefits thing.
The company worked on acquiring a new client, one of the largest oil services firm and every staff member worked hard to achieve it. Charlotte asked Lena to join her, among others, at a meeting with their representatives. Lena worked closely with them during past weeks and they appeared to be satisfied with her work.
As they all sat at the conference table, waiting for the clients to arrive, Gabriel secretly winked at Lena and she blushed hoping no one will notice.
The clients came in a minute later, and the Gabriel she knew was gone. In front of her was once again, cold, calculated businessman, ready to answer any question without hesitation. It was almost frightening how different he seemed.
The meeting was more than successful for Seaborne Consulting as clients were forced to accept all Gabriel’s terms to their dislike. They were about to leave when a member of their board, Louis Morgan approached Lena who was standing by the refreshments table.
“Miss Rylan, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“Mr. Morgan, I can say the same thing.” Lena smiled accepting his hand.
“I realize it might be the wrong time but I have a business proposition for you.”
“Really?” She seemed intrigued.
“We are currently looking for someone with your analytic skills in Texas. I am ready to offer you an increase in earnings, more benefits... anything you ask.”
Gabriel was reaching for a file on the conference table when he heard their conversation. The man was offering Lena a job. He tried to hear her answer but Marc came with a question about their next meeting.
“It sounds very tempting sir, but I am not interested,” Lena replied.
“Everyone can be bought Miss Rylan. Just name your price.”
“I’m sorry sir. But I can give you some contacts, people I studied with and who would appreciate an opportunity. They are a lot like me, if not better.” She was in touch with some colleagues, top of their class, who were unemployed and knew they would appreciate the chance.
“Hmm... if I have to satisfy with the second best… Send me their contacts. I hope I won’t regret it.”
“I promise you won’t be sorry. Thank you so much.” Lena was all smiles as she shook the man’s hand.
A few feet away, Gabriel managed to hear her last two sentences and he clenched his fists. Of course. They all follow the smell of money, he thought bitterly.
Morgan noticed Gabriel and offered him his hand.
“You have remarkable employees Seaborne.” He gazed in Lena’s direction and she blushed.
Gabriel’s eyes darkened in rage and betrayal. She was about to desert him and she looked so damn happy.
“You work is impeccable Seaborne. Or should I say Sullivan?” Louis Morgan mysteriously smiled.
“Your father would be proud. Your performance today… well, it was just the way he used to do it.”
“You knew my father.” Gabriel replied coldly but his body stiffened.
“Well, I...”
“It wasn’t a question.”
“As I said… The same.” The man laughed in entertainment.
“I am nothing like my father, sir. Now excuse me.” Gabriel turned away and left the room, ignoring Lena.
Louis Morgan was left baffled by his behavior. He worked with his father on several occasions and they really had the same professional and ruthless attitude. All the rumors about their fallout must be true, he recalled. He heard many versions but the one including Sullivan’s criminal actions and Gabriel’s disagreement suddenly felt the most likely. He had just hoped he didn’t inadvertently insult the man.
*
The storm inside Gabriel reached cataclysmic proportions by the time he shut the door of his office.
He felt as his past and his present were crashing on him.
For over a decade, he did everything not to be like his father. Like a man who taught him how to ride a bike, tucked him in at night and then manipulated him, threatened to ruin him and disowned him, as he was nothing. And his mother... the kind, gentle woman who would scare the monsters away, refused to see her own son after he tried to do the right thing. His girlfriend who told him she would stand by him, left when he couldn’t afford to buy her jewelry anymore. They were all telling him they love him while plotting against him at the same time. That’s what family meant to him. So-called love ruined him and Gabriel despised it more than anything.
And now Lena, his Lena, was about to abandon him as well. For more money. He would have given it to her, if she only asked.
The office air suffocated him so he maniacally ran out of the building and sat in his car. He drove for hours, thinking, shutting down his mind, and then thinking again… it was a never-ending process that brought him no relief.
It was late when he came to his apartment and found Lena leaning against the wall.
“Gabriel!” She straightened up.
Seeing her there was all he wanted and all he dreaded at the same time.
“What are you doing here Lena?” he asked, opening the door and not even looking at her.
She followed him inside.
“I was worried. You seemed upset.”
“It’s not your job to look after me.”
“How can you say that?” Lena reached for his hand trying to force him to look at her.
“Why are you here?” he tiredly asked brushing off her hand.
Lena took a deep breath. Visibly frightened, she cleared her throat.
“Because I saw you upset.”
Gabriel turned away from her and came to the window, but she attempted again,
“Tell me what happened there. Talk to me. I’m here for you.”
“Really? You are here? Look, I don’t confide in you Lena. I fuck you. Did you forget?” Gabriel cruelly muttered and turned to her.
Lena’s face disfigured in a painful grimace, yet the vulnerability in it made her look so fragile and beautiful he barely resisted the need to grab her.
“How could I? You never let me.” Her voice was cracking.
Regaining her control, she came to him,
“You see… You and your father have one thing in common, something you are both good at- deceiving the world. He faked love so everybody would think he is a decent man. You fake cruelty so everyone would think you are a ruthless one. But your task is much harder Gabriel. ” Lena came closer.
“And now I see you will never stop. Until you become the person you are playing.”
Gabriel stood there, listening to her, with no expression on his face. Lena waited for him to say something but he looked right past her to the New York skyline. It was ominously dark that night. Like storm was about to descent upon.
As she was about to leave she heard him saying,
“You think you’ve read right through me, huh? What makes you think I’m just playing it?”
“Because I have seen you. With me. That was the man I grew to love,” she replied facing the door.
“Oh Lena, you and your love… Stop it. You are just like all the others. When given the opportunity, you would sell yourself for money. You realized my relationships don’t last long so you went for a guaranteed long-term thing. I can’t blame you.” Gabriel looked at her direction and made her turn to him as well.
“What are you talking about?” His words made no sense to Lena and for a minute she wanted to ask an explanation but she changed her mind.
“You know what? It doesn’t matter.” Whatever he was thinking, she was done.
“You see, I do love you, although it’s hard for you to process. But I won’t lose myself doing it.”
It was tearing her apart but she had no choice.
“So let me guess… you’re ending it right now?” he coldly muttered.
“The truth is you ended it before we even started.” She stated something that they both knew.
In one second, Gabriel heard the door shut, and in the next, he was staring at his hand, covered in blood and shattered glass of a hallway mirror. He felt no pain; just panic abruptly taking over his entire being. And indescribable loneliness. As if someone suddenly ripped a part of him.
And there was nothing he could do.