Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Gabe's Parents

Right after Leo told them that big news, Larisa immediately went back to her room to report what she just heard. That was definitely true because it came from Leo. He knows a lot about Gabe because he is his assistant in everything.

"Candice, are you there?" Larisa asked on her watch. When no one is answering, she now uses her phone to call them. But before that, she froze for a moment as her eyes began to wander in every corner of the room.

"I should check," she uttered and now started to check every part of the room. Even the small lamp that was there was examined by her. She was looking around to see if there was a recorder inside or a hidden camera. Well, it's not pathetic. She's just making sure of everything.

"Okay, there's nothing here." She mumbled and took a deep sigh before she proceeded to call Candice.

"Hello? I'm fvcking asleep why are you still call—"

"I have big news. Are you still in our house?" She asked while walking repeatedly.

"No, I left. Noah is there though," she answered in her sleepiest voice. Larisa rolled her eyes as she shook her head.

"Whatever, I heard some news about Gabe Clyborne."

"Okay. Just spill it out," she said on the phone with annoyance just because her sleep was interrupted.

"He's getting married,"

"What?" That made her awake after hearing the sudden news from Larisa.

"See? It's an arranged marriage though,"

"What about me? Is he dumpin—"

"Oh, cut the crap. He doesn't even know you yet. Besides, he's our enemy." Larisa explained and cut her daydream about him.

"I'm not surprised though. It's normal in this hellish life, Larisa. Just be thankful that your parents chose to send you on a mission instead of finding you a groom to marry with," she even yawned over the phone and closed her eyes again. Larisa became silent after what she said. She has a point. All of them are destined to marry someone and have their own family. Because that will continue the bloodline of their clans.

"My Mom promised me something if I successfully accomplish this mission," she mentioned with a weak smile.

"Is she gonna buy you an expensive car? Choose the Ferrari, it's cool."

She simply smirked at her. "No," she replied.

"She promised to introduce me to the whole Mafia world that I am their heiress," she added to her words and smiled the smallest.

It's not so much, but it means a lot to her. All her life, she was never introduced by them as their daughter. At parties, she was never there. She was always told by them not to come and just stay at home. It hurts her, it pains her like an embedded knife.

"Even if they do not introduce you, you're still a Valestine, Larisa. You proved yourself so much," Candice uttered over the phone. Larisa didn't even notice her tears falling down from her eyes. She chuckled to break their dramatic conversation.

"I have to go. Just inform them about what I told you," she said and held her teats before she could even hear her sobbing.

"Take care, Larisa." Those were her last words before she hung up the call. Larisa brought down her phone on the bed and threw herself there. Her eyes were glued on the ceiling above her. She is not formally introduced to the Mafia world as a Valestine. Not all the people know of her existence.

She shed tears from her eyes while staring at the ceiling.

"I will be introduced right after this mission," she told herself firmly.

The next morning, Larisa woke up so early to prepare herself. Today is her first day as Gabe Clyborne's personal bodyguard. She would be with him all day, guarding him and driving him.

"Is it true that you're getting married?" She stopped immediately when she heard Leo's voice coming from the living area.

Gabe took a heavy breath and brought down the coffee he was drinking.

"I won't allow it," Gabe said with his sturdy voice.

"We'll see about that. Your parents would probably force you," Leo replied and chuckled.

"Oh, I have my own life. I do what I want and I will marry if I want to. I don't care about this Mafia world," he discussed with Leo. That only means that he is also trusting Leo in all his Mafia businesses.

"She's a Leondale. You met her twice at parties," Leo mentioned.

"Yeah, I know her. She likes me, I saw that from her eyes the first time we met." Gabe said and shook his head unbelievably.

Larisa couldn't help but to smirk. He probably hates her or maybe he despises her.

"Leondale is influential. Maybe that's the reason why Mrs. Clyborne wants you to marry her," Leo commented.

"Where's Annalise? I will just take a bath and then leave. I have a lot to do," he said and stood up.

"I'll check on her," Leo said.

When Larisa heard some footsteps coming on the stairs she quickly showed up and pretended like she was just on her way downstairs.

"Speaking of," Leo mumbled with his lips separated after seeing her. How can't he? She was just wearing fashionable clothes. No one would ever think of her as his personal bodyguard looking like that. She was wearing a leather jacket with her black top inside it and leather pants that she paired with her shiny boots.

"Good morning, sir." She greeted and bowed her head.

"D*mn," Leo murmured.

"Ready the car. I will just take a bath," Gabe ordered and looked away from him. He tilted his head as he passed by her. Larisa was about to continue walking and do what he said when he spoke again.

"Wait," he uttered, which made her stop. Her heart beated aloud for a second the moment he made her stop.

"Yes, sir?"

"Didn't I tell you to drop the formality?" He asked.

"Huh?" She pulled herself back to her senses and nodded quickly.

"Uhm, yeah. You did," she replied. Gaje simply nodded and continued to march out of there.

"These are expensive," Leo said and examined her from head to toe.

"Oh. It was given to me. My last boss loves shopping so she always gives me clothes like these," she said and smiled tenderly at him.

"I see," he commented. "Anyways, Gabe doesn't want his personal employees like me and you to talk with him with formality. So just speak casually to him like he's your friend," Leo explained.

"Okay," she replied. After a short word from Leo she began to ready the car and made sure that it was immaculate.

"I'm gonna drive him," she said on her phone when her mother called her.

"I heard the news," her mother said.

"Yeah," she replied, looking out.

"Don't let your guards down, La—"

"I have to go," she said and ended the call.

"Don't worry everything's fine," Leo said when they went outside and were ready to go. Gabe's eyes stopped to her as soon as he came out. His hands were inside his pockets, wearing a simple brown polo shirt and off white pants.

"Do you know how to drive?" he asked.

"I do," she replied confidently.

"She has a lot of things she knows to do," Leo commented before he opened the back seats' door for him. Without any single doubt for Larisa, Gabe came inside while Leo sat on the passenger seat beside Larisa.

"I'll tell you the way," Leo said. She already knows where his company is located. She did some research and that includes all the locations of everything he owns. But then, there she was, pretending not to know a thing about it.

"What's my schedule?" Gabe asked.

"Oh, you have a lot of meetings. Meeting with the board members and meeting with three new clients from China, London, and Canada." Leo discussed while reading all his notes. Larisa fixed her eyes on the road while listening well to everything they were talking about.

Gabe remained his eyes to Annalise who was driving silently. She was really fierce. She didn't even smile a bit and was too serious. The first time he saw her fighting and winning against David, Annalise captivated his interest that quick. Those eyes of hers were also captivating that he was prevented from looking at. It feels like it's dangerous to meet those eyes of hers. How can a bodyguard be so beautiful like her?

He sighed and shook his head with that thought.

"Is there a problem?" Leo asked when he heard his sigh.

"Nothing," he replied and looked away from Annalise.

What is he even thinking? Is he losing his d*mn mind?

"Here it is," Leo said as they arrived at his company. She quickly parked the car in the parking lot before they came out of the car.

"Annalise, you must be there wherever I am. Understand?" He said and looked back at her behind him. He almost cursed himself in his mind when he met those captivating eyes of hers again.

"Copy," she replied firmly.

"Let's go," he uttered and clenched his jaw. She is giving her a hard time.

"Good morning, Mr. Clyb—" the employees inside the company cannot even continue to greet Gabe as their eyes were being drawn to Larisa behind him.

"Good morning, Sir!" Some of them greeted but couldn't help but to stare at her.

"Who is she?"

"Is she his girlfriend?"

"No, that's ridiculous."

"But she's beautiful. Look at her, she looks exquisite from head to toe."

Those were what they could all hear from all the people in the company. Larisa can hear everything but pretends not to hear those from them. She didn't even look at them.

"They are talking about you," Leo whispered to her.

"Huh?" she asked like a naive woman.

"Hello, Miss. Are you new here?" The man asked and suddenly went beside her. He was smiling at her from ear to ear.

Leo simply whistled and chuckled.

"May I know your name? I can help you here if you don't know the office," another man offered.

"Huh? No, I'm actually not loo—"

"Is there a problem?" Gabe now asked and meddled up. He eyed them with those cold eyes, which made them step back.

"Not at all, sir!" They exclaimed. When the elevator opened, he grabbed her on her wrist and gently pulled her closer to him. Leo's lips parted while watching Gabe.

"You're in trouble," Leo whispered. Her eyebrows crossed and raised a bit while staring at Gabe's hand on her. When he realized that he was still holding her wrist, he quickly removed his hand and looked away.

He took a heavy sigh after that. It seems like it is not him whom she will protect but her that he will protect.

They headed straight into his huge office and Larisa stayed there as well with Gabe and Leo.

"You can sit and do whatever you want," Gabe said and moved his eyes away from her so fast. She couldn't help but to wonder why he seems distant from her eyes. Does he have a problem with her? They began to work, while she was only there, and had nothing to do. She was only staring at them and watching them work their fingers to the bones. This is the most dull thing she has ever done in her entire life.

"The food just arrived," Leo uttered and was about to leave to pick it up.

"Oh, let me get it." She insisted with a smile. That's the only thing she can do.

"Okay," Leo said while Gabe secretly glanced at her.

She immediately went down to get the food they ordered for lunch. It was suffocating there. She has been silent for three hours.

"Gabe Clyborne," she said to the delivery man.

"Just sign here," the man said and she quickly signed there with a different signature as she was in disguise.

"Thank you, Mam." The man politely said before Larisa headed back to the office.

"I picked up the fo—" she was lost for words after seeing the two people now in front of Gabe who looked upset. Of course, she knows them.

"Who is she? Is she your girl? Is that the reason why you don't want to marry, huh?" The woman asked and went towards her with a delighted smile.

"You should have told us! Who would not accept this woman? She's so beautiful," the man said and went towards her as well. She was in awe as she glanced at him who was also staring at her. Did they just think that she is his girlfriend?

"Mom, stop it." He said with frustration.

"What's your name? Your last name? How long have you been in a relationship with my son?" She asked and showered her with a lot of questions.

"She's not my woman," Gabe said aloud with his baritone voice. They both looked back to their son who was fuming mad.

"What?" His father asked.

She finally met Mr. and Mrs. Clyborne, his parents.

"That's ridiculous. Who is she then?" His mother asked unbelievably.

"I'm his personal bodyguard," she said and ended all their thoughts and questions.

"Personal bodyguard?" she repeated.

She gave them a tiny smile on her lips.

"Yes," she replied.

So this is what his parents look like, huh? He got his mother's eyes but he resembles his father more. She kept that smile at them, fooling them.

Mr. and Mrs. Clyborne…we finally met.

She said in her mind.