CHAPTER 50. Reconciliation Plan
1721 Words
Gabriel sat beside Crystal and held her hand. Even though the lady refused to, he still gripped her.
"Could you please stop holding my hand!?" Crystal whispered irritatedly.
"Would you stop resisting instead?" Gabriel countered.
Gabriel and Crystal are staring at each other like they are going to burst out with fire any minute while Camila was only watching the two arguing until she can't stand anymore and ask.
"So? What's the story behind you guys? I know Gabriel will not do such a thing as to buy a woman from a club. So, care to explain what it is all about?"
Gabriel smirked and abruptly pulled the lady beside him.
“Mom, do you remember when I told you I met someone during my adventure?"
"Yes? The island girl that gave you the pearl bracelet?"
"Exactly! It's Crystal!" Gabriel excitedly told his mother while Crystal was only looking down, twisting her fingers.
"Really? Then what is she doing in a club? Can't she find a decent job aside from that?"
Crystal crumbles at the hem of her hoodie after hearing her words, and a set of tears starts welling up in the corner of her eyes.
"Gabriel, you know I don't like Rachel's attitude, but I agree with her. Get Crystal out of your house," Camila added.
"What? Mom, I can't do that." Gabriel declined.
"Why not? You have a fiancee, and keeping this lady inside your premises will destroy your reputation, including your future! So how will you be able to save our company, huh?"
"I can't believe that I'll be hearing those words from you." Gabriel shook his head in disbelief.
"You sounded exactly like dad." He added.
"I'm only telling you the truth and consequences, Gabriel. Get her out of here tonight before Rachel calls off the wedding." Camila warned her son.
"No." His brief answer.
"What do you mean, no? Do what is right before Austin gets to know about it, or else the situation will get worse."
"I love Crystal, and I want her beside me wherever I am, even in hell." Gabriel firmly argued and grabbed Crystal's hand, dragging her away from his mother.
They ride the lift while Gabriel never lets go of her hand.
"I'm sorry about that," suddenly Gabriel muttered, gripping her hand even tighter.
But instead of uttering a word, Crystal got closer to him and encircled her arms around his waist as she tried hard not to burst her emotions.
"I love you," Gabriel whispered above her head as he also caged her in his arms.
Later on, the elevator door opens up, and they step out, still holding the lady's hand as they stride along the hall.
Gabriel gestured to Crystal to sit on the bed while he walked ahead to the walk-in closet, and when he returned, he changed his shorts to jeans. Also, he took some of Crystal's clothes from the cabinet and put them inside the luggage.
"Gabriel? Wha-what are you doing?" Crystal inquired, feeling anxious as she watched the man's every move.
'I thought you said that you always wanted me beside you?' She sadly thought to herself as she wiped the tears that escaped from her eyes.
"My mother would stay here for days, for sure. So, I need to take you somewhere else where it is safe." He explained as he continued putting her things inside the bag while texting someone.
"So, this is where you were keeping her. Such a lucky lady," Suddenly, Camila burst into the room with no warning. Strolling her eyes around, then looks down at the pool.
But Gabriel just ignored her and picked up the luggage already while, on his other hand, he was holding Crystal. They walked past Camila, stepping out of the luxurious quarter without looking back. Crystal didn't ask any further as she entrusted her safety to the man.
Gabriel opened the passenger side of the door and helped Crystal settle in before turning to the driver’s side and quickly started the engine.
No one speaks as they travel along with the city, and the silence suddenly breaks when Gabriel's phone rings. It was his uncle Leo.
"Uncle," he said the moment he picked up.
"Everything's ready. Just get the key from Wally.”
“Alright, uncle. Thank you so much for your help.” Gabriel answered with so much gratitude and then ended the call.
“Gabriel, what is it?” his reaction bewildered Crystal after his conversation.
“It’s a surprise, love.” He told her with a winked and wide grin.
Suddenly, he reaches for her hand and squeezes it gently while he focuses his eyes on the road. Crystal looks down at their intertwined hands, and the memories they have shared on the island flashes back, including the incredible feelings and how Gabriel made her love him.
“Gabe, I’m confused.” She suddenly speaks up.
“About what?”
“About your true feelings for me.” Gabriel smiles as he looks ahead of the road while keeping the steering wheel steady.
“Me too. I’m confused about what’s really inside your heart.” Gabriel retorted.
A few minutes later, Gabriel halted the engines as they arrived at the harbor. He stepped out of the car and turned to the other side to support Crystal, then get their luggage.
“Let’s go,” Gabriel invited her as he extended his hand, and Crystal received it with no doubt.
Gabriel leads Crystal to a yacht that is not as big and fancy as the one he owns and helps her cross over and jump to the boat’s deck.
“Thank you,” Crystal said
“Stay here. I’ll just find Wally to get the keys.” the lady just nodded in response.
But before he could jump over again, Axel came with a playful grin.
“Uh, oh. The angel is here.” He said after seeing Crystal on board.
“What are you doing here?” Gabriel irritatedly asked while hiding the lady behind him.
“Uncle Leo called me to follow you here. He told me you might want some company, but I see that you already have one.” He said and winked in Crystal’s direction.
“Stop that if you still want to keep your eyes, pervert!” Gabriel irritatedly said while making sure that he would not have any glimpse of the lady.
But the man only laughed at him hard.
“I still can’t believe that Lotus is your Island girl, bro,” Axel muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Don’t call her by that name ever again, or I’ll drown you in the water, you’ll see,” Gabriel warns as he shoots him with a piercing look.
Suddenly, Gabriel sighed in relief when he finally saw Wally approaching in their direction.
“Sir Gabriel, here’s the key.” Extending forward the key.
“Thank you, Wally.” He said upon receiving the key.
“I will not be staying long, sir. I have to go.” Wally told him.
“No problem,”
“Enjoy your adventure, Sir, Ma’am. Have a safe trip,” he said and finally left.
“Hi, Crystal.” Axel greeted her when Gabriel went to the flybridge to start up the engine.
“H-hi,” she timidly answers.
“So, how is it, living with my friend?” He tries to be friendly, while the lady badly wishes that Gabriel would come down already and hide her again from the man. As she felt embarrassed remembering their first meeting,
“Hey! Stop talking to her!” Gabriel shouted while descending from the stairs.
“What’s the matter with you? I am only making friends with Crystal.” Axel playfully complained.
“No,” He bluntly told his friend, leading her to the entrance of the cabin.
“By the way, Crystal. Have you heard that the authorities have raided Mi Paraiso?” Axel suddenly let out.
Crystal halted. But Gabriel is the one who responded to his friend.
“Go away. And never mention anything about that place again because Crystal has nothing to do about it anymore.” He said and proceeded on getting inside the interior, with Crystal also pulling their luggage.
Gabriel leads Crystal to the only bedroom inside and places the luggage beside the door.
“I’ll just make Axel go away. Then we can go already, okay?” He told her, and Crystal just nodded her head but asked,
“Where are we going?”
“Anywhere, baby. Away from toxic people.” He told her.
“And then? What about your mother? And Rachel?” she muttered, looking down.
“Please, don’t mind them.” he held her chin and made her look up at him.
“Listen. Stop thinking about anyone or anything that has nothing to do with both of us. I want this trip to reconcile what we have for each other with no one’s interruption.” Gabriel held her with both hands.
“Crystal, I know you still love me. I can feel it. And I want that feeling to overpower whatever hatred you have for me. I never love someone else as strong as this, Crystal. However, my obligation to keep our family business keeps on haunting me, and that’s the only reason I am enduring Rachel, but it’s you who owns this.” putting Crystal’s hands in front of his chest.
“But I still don’t understand why you left me and made love to her instead that night,” Crystal said with a shaky voice looking intently into his eyes, trying to find out if the emotion he is telling her at the moment is genuine.
“Can we not talk about it? Get some rest first, okay? I’ll just check outside so that we can start our trip.” he told her and walked out as he left Crystal with a troubled heart.
Crystal only heaved a deep sigh while following Gabriel by eyes.
- Writer
