Chapter Three

GABRIEL 'S P. O. V

Elena sat to my right, her red dress which barely covered her thighs hugging her body. She was in her element.  Smiling,  her eyes curved into a crescent shape, her hand resting lightly on my forearm.  I could feel her wandering leg in between my legs,  her smile promising more than I cared for. 

The private dining room at Le Noir cast its glittery lights on the table.  I swirled my Scotch in my hands absently.  My mind felt occupied by the events of two days ago.  

I had chosen this,  so why did I feel so miserable.  It was like a hero feeling guilty for the damages he had caused while saving a damsel in distress. 

I felt her move closer to my ears. 

"Why are you so quiet?  Still thinking about her? " she purred. 

My hands clenched unconsciously. Of course I was still thinking about her.  Her trembling hands as she signed the papers.  Her soulful eyes showing the hurt I had put her through as she stared at me.  They all still haunted me,  even when I closed my eyes to sleep. 

I displayed a robotic smile to dispel her suspicions. 

"No,  I just don't feel like talking. "

"Hmmm. How about we go home and I can make you feel better.  Huh? " her hands caressed my chest.  A wave of disgust crashed through me.  It took all I could not to push her away from me.  

This.  

This is what I have to go through just to protect her.  

I let out a chuckle as I pulled her hands away. 

"I'm fine."  

She pouted,  curling her long,  red nails around a cup of champagne. 

"One day you will come to me. And I'll be waiting."

I was about to prepare an answer when I suddenly felt the shift in the air.  My head shot up and my eyes immediately narrowed. 

It's her.  

My Liana. 

What's she doing here?  With a man dressed in charcoal suit, his brown hair styled perfectly.  My hand clenched my glass tightly as my eyes followed her.  She was dressed in a knee-length flowing pink gown.  Her long auburn hair styled to drape down her back in flowy waves. She was beautiful.  So beautiful that I swallowed my saliva. Her hand was looped round the strange man.  Why was he staring at her like she was the very sun. 

I felt the Scotch in my hand go warm.  I had no idea I had been gritting my teeth until Elena called my name. 

"Gabriel? " 

Her shrill voice jarred me from my staring. 

"Yeah? " my voice sounded husky and unfamiliar. 

"What were you looking at? "

I swallowed my drink in one go. 

"Nothing. " 

I couldn't resist glancing one more time.  They were sitting across each other,  smiling at each other.  How could she?  We just divorced.  Who was he?  Where did she meet him?  When?  Who is he to her?  A friend or...something else. 

Elena followed my line of sight,  her eyes immediately darkened.  She shot me a glare and growled low in her throat. 

"You have to stop staring at her.  To you she is dead and forgotten." Her nails dug into my sleeve. 

“Stop. You’re burning me.” I looked down. The contract mark on my inner wrist glowed faint red. 

After more than a century of not using it,  it just had to be me that activated it.  But it had to be done. 

I tore my gaze away. Damn the pain. I just need to talk to her. Hear her voice.  I stayed silent,  my fingers drumming on the table.  I could still see them from my peripheral vision. Finally,  she stood up to head to the bathroom.  This was my chance. 

"I'll be back. " I tossed out before rushing after her, ignoring Elena's frosty gaze. 

The sound of the restaurant faded as I went deeper into the hallway. 

"Liana! " I caught up to her before she opened the women's bathroom. 

She spun to face me,  her eyes wide open and lips parted.  Shock faded replaced by a frosty glare. She glanced at her hand,  then took two steps back. 

"What do you want Gabriel? " Her tone was guarded. 

I should calm down before I reply,  or I sound weird. 

"Who is he? " I blurted out instead,  wincing at the silly question. 

Her eyes narrowed,  she crossed her arms.

"That's none of your business. "

"It is when my ex-wife suddenly appears with a man,  two days after our divorce. "

A cold smile graced her lips. 

"It's good you said it.  Ex-wife.  Which means I have no obligation to explain my actions to you. I am not going against your damn rules, am I?"

"Liana... " The pain on my wrist throbbed harder. 

"When you brought that Elena six months ago and introduced her as your cousin instead of your mistress, did you think that you couldn't bother yourself to explain? 

"I didn't mean..."

"You already made me sigh your bloody divorce papers with that ink of yours that's threatening to take my life if I try to even be in the same room with you.  Do you want me dead? Stay away from me, Gabriel. At least, give me that last respect. And let me keep my life."

I took a step closer, not caring about the burning pain on my wrist. My heart bleeding at her words. 

"Liana,  please believe me... I never wanted...shit. Not everything is the way it seems,  okay?  You have to trust me on that. "

"Trust you? " she scoffed and took a step closer,  jabbing a finger in my chest.  "I trusted you. I gave you everything... " her voice broke.  "...and what...what did you give me?  Betrayal.  Heartbreak.  I am so done with trusting you.  Ever. You see this..." She showed me her hand,  still red.  "...will forever be that reminder."

She turned away,  about to leave but I pulled her back.  The both of us winced at the same time but I didn't let go,  neither did she pull away.  She faced me silently, her eyes shaky and misty. My chest hurt just seeing her face. 

"Liana,  look...everything is..." 

What do I say?  I don't know.  How do I assure her without them knowing? I wish she could feel my sincerity.

 "...I'm sorry. " I could only whisper helplessly as my hand left her.  

Disappointment flashed in her eyes,  she moved back,  her eyes colder than ever. 

"Sorry is not going to heal the hole you left in my heart. For my sake and yours,  stay away from me. " 

I closed my eyes and inhaled her rosy scent as she passed me.  I longed to just follow her and pull her into my arms. But I can't,  so I could only close my hands into fists while leaning against the wall. After getting myself back together,  I straightened up to leave,  that's when I felt it.  I was being watched again. I wondered what they'd heard. Hopefully they wouldn't do anything. With a cold expression,  I walked back into the restaurant.  My eyes flicked to Liana's table.  It was empty.  Seems like she must have left because of me.  It's for the best.  That way I don't lose focus. 

"Everything alright? "Elena dug her nails into my hand through my suit.  I calmly stared at her. 

"Yes. "

She smirked. 

"Don't lie to me.  I know you sent to speak with her." 

I grinded my teeth tightly. 

"Elena, you think I don’t know why you choose me? Because I inherited my company from my father. You lost yours at 12 when that takeover hit and that's when you felt powerless for the first time." Her eyes widened, her smile froze.   I sipped my drink quietly. "I also have my own sources. Just stick to the plan and I'll stick to mine."

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” But her hand shook on the champagne glass.  Then she placed her lips directly on my ears, a shiver ran through my spine at the contact.  "You have more to lose.  I don't care if she dies as long as I get what I want. "