Chapter 37
And the game had continued, neither backing down. And in a matter of days, it had become a menace to society as each move their company caused, resulted in the sky rise of the market. But either of them cared.
"You don't look worried," Lloyd stated, walking around Gabriel's desk and seating on the
edge. "You're not worried?"
"I'm not," Gabriel confirmed, pushing the papers in front of him away. He stood up, taking a glance at his watch, and then the window. The sky outside was dark and rain was pelting against the windows, not hard enough to cause a storm, but hard enough to keep someone like Gabriel, who had an important meeting to attend, stuck inside the building.
"Of course you're not. The two of you don't seem worried in the least bit because it's either of who'
suffering the consequences of your actions." Pushing him off the table, Lloyd faced his friend. "Tell me, what's this all about, again?"
Gabriel's gaze fell to the floor before it slowly rose to stick in the falling rain again. "Nothing that you need to concern yourself with. This is between I and that woman." He dismissed.
Lloyd, having heard this same answer for the past few days, sighed in resignation.
"Uh, Mr. Bryce," Bill returned into the office, phone held close to his ear. "I think we have a problem."
"The Senator wants to have a meeting with that Bastard and I?" Leonica questioned her assistant who had just gotten off the phone half an hour ago with, Chloe, the assistant of Norway's Senator.
"That is what Ms. Chloe said, Ms. Romero." He affirmed. "They say you should come alone since you and Mr. Bryce are the two major heads of the business chambers and that it's only reasonable for the two of you to discuss this issue and reach a solution." Leonica scoffed loudly, but still asked. "Can I refuse?"
Kennedy shot her a look that clearly spelt; are you even listening to yourself. This is the Senator requesting your audience
for fuck's sake!
Sighing, she leaned back into her chair. "When's the meeting set for?"
Kennedy glanced at his watch. "8pm."
Tomorrow?
It was the assistant's turn to smile wickedly as he shakes his head. "No, today." Leonica's eyes. widened slightly. "That leaves you with approximately five hours to get ready, Ms. Leonica Romero."
Meandering through the hallway of Celca-Lodge dressed in a black jumpsuit, outer suit of matching color and red heels, that she had only put together a few hours ago, Leonica cursed her assistant from underneath her breath.
She was almost certain that he had delayed as much time before informing her of the arranged
time.
One way or another, she'd have to punish him for that stunt he pulled.
Replacing the menacing smile that had crept to her lips with a more serene one, Leonica approached the woman standing in front of the designated room they conference between she, Gabriel and the Senator was meant to be held in. "Good evening, Ms. Romero," The assistant, Chloe, bowed as soon as she recognized the approaching figure.
Leonica acknowledge with a nod.
"Mr. Bryce and Mr. Richardson are already waiting inside." Chloe said and gestured towards
the door.
Ignoring the fact that she was arriving late, Leonica tried to recall where she had heard the latter name out of the two called.
Her moment of digging didn't last long enough as the double doors slowly pulled open, and aside from Gabriel's aloof face, she spotted another familiar looking male.
Seeing her enter, he rose from his seat, a warm smile enrapturing his features. "Ms. Leonical Romero, welcome." He gestured towards a free seat, which she sank into speechless and confused. "Now that everyone is present, allow me to reintroduce myself." Giving a brief bow, he finished off. "My name's Arvan Richardson, Senator Of Norway. It's my pleasure to make your acquaintances.
The 16 Between Two Big Companies
The War Between Two Big Companies.
Half an hour had passed and all three of them had settled down with the meeting beginning most of it process, if not already approaching it's closing ends, yet Leonica couldn't stop the occasion squinted eye glances she gave in Arvan's direction.
This of course, did not go unnoticed by Gabriel, causing his grip to tighten around the edge of
his chair's handle.
"...so for peace to rain and everything to return to as it was before, in both the business. industry and society alike, I've decided to step in and suggest a rather... tricky proposal. Arvan's eyes scanned the figures of both serious looking CEO, only this time lingering more on Leonica's part before turning away.
"And, what may this proposal be?" Leonica asked the question for both CEOS.
Turning behind, Arvan beckoned his assistant over from the corner she stood in. Halfway there, he made a hand gesture that only the two of them understood and instead of walking straight towards him, she made a beeline for Gabriel and Leonica's seat, passing black leaflets
to each of them.
"The..." He paused, thinking his choice of words over before continuing. "War, if you can call it that, that has been going on between, Bryce and Romero Empire, has left a major dent on not only the business industry, but society as a whole." Sighing, he allowed his gaze sweep between both presidents who cared for nothing but their winnings. "And as a way of... fixing this mess, we at the government sectors have come up with a simple proposal." Making a gesture for them to open the leaflet with his hands, he continued. "It's simple, really. For the next six months, Bryce and Romero Empire, are requested to work together in order for peacefulness to return to Norway. That's the proposal, so," Looking between the two again, his gaze once again lingered on Leonica longer than it should have. Gabriel caught this, resulting in his fingers tapping rapidly against the handle of his chair.
"No offense Mr. Richardson, but I don't see that happening." He rebuked the idea.
"Yeah, I agree with him." Leonica admitted even though saying those words meant she and Gabriel were going to be on the same page for the first time in...seven year?
"Of course," Arvan laughed, and even his laugh was somehow...attractive? "We have considered the fact that the two of you might have some disagreement, hence why the decision we are proposing is the perfect solution for all parties." He smiled, eyes twinkling under the light despite their dark shades. "But of course, we don't expect you to accept immediately. Surely some time would be needed to think things over and we understand. 1, understand. So, how about we end things here today and pick things up over the weekend? But if by any chance, you change your mind," gesturing to Chloe once more, the assistant passed around his business card. "Don't hesitate to call and inform me.
The 6 Between Twi Big Companies
Saying that as a conclusion, he got up and bowed. However, he had not walked past Leonica's seat when she stood up.
"Senator Richardson, huh?" Leonica spoke, eyes never leaving the figure.
Just like how he had sensed the confusion on her face during the start of their meeting and wanted to laugh, Arvan now felt another wave hit him.
This time too, he successfully avoided laughing, opting for a broad smile instead. "I apologize for not properly introducing myself during our previous encounter." He subtly bowed his head. When he looked up again, he asked. "How's Ashely doing?"
At the mention of the young bow, Gabriel's ears practically perked up from where he sat watching the two interact.
"He's well," Leonica nodded, a smile forming on her lips as she recalled how Ashely had nagged her in the previous days to allow him and Daisy go on a play date. Chuckling, she informed. "Daisy certainly left an impression on him."
"The good type, I hope." Arvan laughed.
"Most definitely." She offered him a smile of her own.
From The other end of the room, where Gabriel sat, he closed his eyes, not only stopping himself before he could roll his eyes at the irritating scene, but also to control the sudden anger that had surges up upon hearing Arvan and Leonica discuss so freely about Ashely. So what were they now, best buddies? He nearly scoffed at the thought, too engrossed in his thoughts to notice how Arvan and Leonica had glanced at him when he shifted uncomfortably at the thought of how much influence an outside might possibly have on HIS son. Or worse,
what if he took him away? Gabriel obviously hadn't been blind to all the glances and googly eyes exchanged between the two during their meeting.
"I should be leaving," Leonica spoke, glancing at her watch before returning her attention to Arvan. "It's late, I wouldn't want to be a bother to you any longer. Thank you for your time today, Mr. Richardson."
"Just call me Arvan." He extended his hand to which Leonica took with a smile.
"Alright, Arvan. Today was a pleasure." She let go after bidding him goodbye one last time and began walking towards the door, but before she could exit, she called back. "However, do expect to get any calls from me."
And like that, without once acknowledging Gabriel's existence during the meeting, she walked
out.
As Kennedy had parked in the underground lot of the hotel and conference center, Leonical stood outside, finger swiping through her phone as she waited for her assistant to arrive with
the car.
The Mor Between Two Big Companies.
"Out of all the things I knew you to be, a cheap woman who flirts with every man she sees, definitely wasn't one of them."
A voice spoke, the sound coming from directly behind her. Leonica didn't even bother to turn around. She knew exactly who that was.
Despite the urge to snap back at Gabriel, She remained silent, fingers scrolling faster on. whatever it was she was doing. Standing beside her with his hand stuffed into his pocket, awaiting the arrival of his car just like her, Gabriel pushed on. "What, you're choosing to remain silent because you finally became ashamed of flirting with man while having a son for another?"
That was enough to crack the white-ette's Shell.
Turning towards Gabriel, she glared at him and warned. "Now you watch your mouth, Gabriel Bryce. I've said this once, but I'll gladly repeat myself." Taking a daring step forward. Whatever goes on in my personal life, is none of your business, so, it'd be in your best interest to stop poking your nose, except Bryce Empire is willing to lose more than half of it's remaining clienteles."
Scoffing, Gabriel did indeed roll his eyes this time around. "How vain."
"Classic coming from a man like you. And you know, for someone who's about to start his very own family with his mistress, you sure do poke around a lot." Smiling, this time around one that reached her eyes, she questioned. "For a child that isn't yours, you take an awful amount of interest to, what do you think Your child would say to this action of his father, huh?"Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed, anger and confusion flashing in the shades of his dark eyes.
The reminder that Ashely wasn't his, stung in some ways, but not painful enough to have him not register the side comment she had added.
His baby? What did she mean by that?
Opening his mouth to ask, his words were drowned in the loud horning sound of a car... that seemed to be driving recklessly and straight for the spot Leonicà was standing!
Wide eyes, with less than a minute to react, Gabriel reaches forward and hastily pulled Leonica out of the way and towards him.
A miscalculation in his force of pull caused his to stumble backwards and Leonica a tad bit forward, resulting in them both to fall flat.
But when there was meant to be groans of pains both parties stayed silent, eyes wide as they stared into each other's eyes, lips pressed against one another..
Nothip But The Truth
Nothing But The Truth.
The feeling was soft, possibly the softest thing Leonica had ever felt pressed against her lips. It felt familiar and warm.
In all her 28 years of living, she had never experienced a feeling quite like it.
Her body tingled, the hair at the back of her neck stood, and her stomach turned, in a she definitely disliked.
Without giving either herself or body any chance to settle into the feeling, she quickly pushed her off Gabriel's chest, resulting in a flat fall on her butt and a wound in her palm that had paid not attention to thanks to the events that had just happened.
On the inside, she cursed at her pounding heart, berating herself for allowing Gabriel's touch to still have some sort of effect on her after five years.
Gabriel on the other hand, having the weight that had pinned him down disappearing, gently sat up, finger tips brushing against his lips.
The soft feeling was still there, lingering. It was not the first time he had kissed Leonica, however, the previous times, they had all happened in a rush or during his intoxicated state, so, getting the chance to actually feel her lips against his while normal, felt...different. It took him a minute to come to his senses, and when he did, he turned to Leonica, who was currently fuming with anger, red to the top of her head.
Obviously the accidental kiss was more important than the fact that he had just saved from an incoming car.