Chapter5
1157 Words
Gabriella's pov
The next morning I woke up in a silk sheet that felt too soft, too foreign. For a few seconds, I forgot where I was. Then I remembered
The mansion
The debt
Him
I sat up slowly, wrapping my arms around myself, Alejandro hadn't come back after dinner, I didn't know whether to feel relieved or worried. There was a stillness in this room, like the house was holding its breath. I stood and walked towards the balcony, tugging the curtains aside. Morning light poured in, painting everything in gold . The garden outside looked like something from the dream, the roses, trimmed edges, fountains. It didn't feel real. But this was real, my reality now. A knock sounded, disrupting my thought. Before I could respond, the door creaked open, and a young woman with short dark hair entered, holding a neatly folded dress and a pair of low heels. She gave me a polite nod.
“ Good morning miss. Mr Delgado said you should be ready in thirty minutes”. “ For what”, I asked, she hesitated “ He didn't say”, of course he didn't.
The dress was pale blue, simple but elegant, it fitted perfectly, Someone under his command had guessed my size, before I even stepped into this house. The heels weren't too high,but I wobbled slightly. I hadn't worn anything this nice in…ever. I followed the same maid down the stairs. She didn't speak, until we reached a set of glass double doors. I heard voices,men talking, faint laughter and the click of silver against glasses.
“ He's in the garden”, she said before disappearing like a shadow. I stepped outside slowly. The sun warmed my fkin, but it didn't reach the cold inside me. Alejandro stood near the center of the courtyard, dressed in drak suit, speaking to three men who looked like they stepped out of a mafia movie. One of them turned to me as I approached, smirking like he already knew everything about me. Alejandro's eye met mine, his gaze was unreadable. “ You're late”, he said,
I…
“I don't like repeating myself”, I'm sorry, I said. He turned to the others, “ This is Gabriella. She belongs to me now”, they nodded ,not surprised. “She'll be accompanying me to Morales' home this evening, I'll be expecting her to act accordingly”. My eyes widened, the Morales home? back there?
Why?
“You're taking me back?”, I asked quietly, panic rising. His eyes flickered with something, maybe warning. “ I said you'll repay the debt. That includes you, playing your part when I need you to”. I didn't ask further. I didn't want to see what he liked when he was truly angry.
The day passed in a blur, I wasn't allowed to leave the room except under supervision. Another woman came to do my hair, her finger brushing my skin gently, as she twisted and pinned it into an elegant bun. I stared at my reflection. The girl in the mirror looked too polished, too calm, but her eyes held fear. By the time the sun had gone down and the car was ready,I felt like I was walking to my own execution. Alejandro waited for me at the entrance, dressed in a black tailored suit,no tie, but enough power in his posture to silence armies. He didn't speak as I got into the car, neither did I.
As the car moved, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. His jaw was clenched,brows drawn, was he angry?, focused?, regretted taking me?. “ What do I need to do?”I asked quietly, he didn't look at me, “ Stay quiet. Stay close. And whatever happens, don't run”. “ Why are we going back there?”, I asked a bit bolder. His gaze snapped towards me, “ Because power is a game,Gabriella. And you're about to be my most valuable piece”.
We arrived just after sunset, The Morales estate was lit up like nothing happened. Same gate, same guard. Same house that suffocated me for years. But this time,I wasn't walking in as their property, but as his.
Alejandro stepped out first, adjusting the cuff of his shirt, like he had all the time in this world. Then he reached out to me. The moment I took his hand, my body betrayed me, I trembled. He didn't acknowledge it, he just placed a firm palm on my lower back and led me forward. We were ushered inside quickly. Mr Morales greeted Alejandro with a fake greeting, he looked at me and looked away quickly.
“You didn't say,you were bringing her”, he said carefully, “I didn't have to?”Alejandro questioned.
They led us to the dining room. I hadn't eaten with the family before, only served. The tension in the room was visible,I just kept my head low and my eye on the plate without tasting anything.
Alejandro leaned in my ear and said, “smile”,I looked at him confused, then I followed his gaze.
A girl entered the room. Not just any girl but my Step sister. She walked towards us with a smug on her face. “ Well, Well, look who's dressed in royalty”, she purred. Clara Alexander called, “You remember Gabriella, don't you?”. She sat down straight,” of course who would forget our little house made”. I didn't respond, but I felt Alejandro hand curl slightly on the chair.
“ She belongs to me now, and I'll advise you to speak with more respect “, he said. Clara mouth flutterd opened, she closed them immediately.
Minutes passed,until Mr Morales poured himself another glass of wine and leaned back. “ You've made quite the statement, Delgado. Taking her in, isn't going to draw attention?”.
“ I don't mind attention”, Alejandro responded curly. Their gazes locked, then I realized this wasn't a dinner, it was a warning. Alejandro stood up, “We're done”, I rose too, nearly tripping over my feet. As we turned to leave, I heard it.
“…She looks just like her mother”, Mr Morales muttered. I froze, Alejandro turned back, “ What do you just say”, “ I said she looks like her mother. Didn't you ever wonder who her real family was?”. I turned slowly,
“ What do you mean?”, I whispered. Mr Morales leaned forward, “ Didn't anyone tell you, little dove?, you weren't abandoned by chance, you were hidden. And if Alejandro diggs to dip, he might not like what he finds”. Alejandro's fist clenched.
I stepped back, my entire world crashing beneath my feet. Wh
at the hell was going on?.
- Writer
