The Debt That Changed Everything

Chapter 6

It had been a few days since the mysterious pocket watch arrived, it now rested safely inside the drawer beside Gabby's bed.

Every morning, she opened the drawer just to reassure herself that it was still there.

It was the only tangible piece of her father she had left.

Gabby sighed as she walked through another quiet hallway.

For someone who had spent most of her life painting in a lively environment, life inside the mansion felt unbearably quiet and boring.

Even the birds outside were more free than she was.

She wandered into the sunroom, curling up on a sofa with a sketchbook balanced on her knees.

She had not painted anything since their wedding.

Every time she picked up her pencil, her mind drifted to her father.

"Where are you, dad? Are you safe? Have you abandoned me?."

She questioned under her breath but the room gave no answer.

She tried to draw anyway.

The pencil had barely touched the sheet of paper before she erased the lines.

There was no inspiration.

She was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.

It was Ms. Bennett.

"Mrs. Reyes."

Gabby looked up.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Reyes asked that you be ready in thirty minutes."

"Ready?"

"Yes, you're accompanying him to the Reyes Enterprise"

Ms. Bennett said and offered a small smile.

For a moment, Gabby simply stared, trying to process everything.

"Really?"

The excitement escaped from her voice.

Ms. Bennett's smile widened slightly, and she left the room a few minutes later.

"I am finally going outside." Gabby said to herself

It wasn't total freedom, but after days of being confined in the mansion, even accompanying Manuel to work felt like freedom.

Gabby hurried upstairs and within an hour, she descended the grand staircase wearing a simple cream-colored dress with a light beige blazer.

She had tied her chestnut hair into a neat low ponytail, with very minimal makeup on, paired with beautiful, simple earrings.

She looked elegant without trying too hard.

Manuel stood near the entrance, reading something on his tablet.

Without looking up, he spoke.

"You're late."

Gabby's smile immediately faded.

She then glanced at the clock and said

"I thought I was early."

"You thought wrong, then." He replied.

"Sorry."

He finally looked at her but his eyes lingered for only a second, then he said.

"Let's go."

No compliment or acknowledgment.

Gabby silently followed him into the car parked outside.

Neither of them spoke during the drive.

Gabby watched the city through the window.

She had not realized how much she missed ordinary life.

People walking their dogs, musicians performing on the streets, busy cafe's, and children laughing.

The simple sights filled her heart with quiet happiness.

She smiled unconsciously, but didn't know Manuel noticed.

"What?" He asked.

She turned to him.

"Hm?"

"You're smiling."

"Oh..."

She looked back outside.

"I just missed seeing people."

For several seconds, Manuel said nothing.

Then he quietly replied,

"You could have asked."

Gabby looked at him in surprise.

"I didn't think I was allowed." She replied.

His expression remained unreadable.

"You live in a house, not a prison."

She laughed softly and replied

"You make it feel like one sometimes."

She expected another cold response.

Instead, the corner of Manuel's lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

"So I've been told." Gabby blinked.

The car slowed and the towering glass headquarters of Reyes Enterprises came into view.

Gabby gasped slightly.

The magnificent building stood proudly against the Beverly Hills skyline, with its mirrored exterior reflecting the bright morning sun.

"This…. is incredible."

Gabby said as she stared at it.

The moment they entered the lobby, the atmosphere changed.

Employees straightened immediately.

Everyone greeted Manuel with so much respect.

Gabby quietly walked beside him.

She watched as everyone instinctively moved aside to make way for him.

He carried authority without saying a word.

For the first time, she truly understood why people feared him.

He wasn't loud or cruel, he simply commanded respect.

As they approached the executive elevators, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Mr. Reyes."

Gabby turned.

A stunning blonde woman approached confidently.

Her fitted navy suit looked impeccably tailored, and she carried several neatly organized files.

"Your nine o'clock meeting has been moved to ten."

"I've already informed the board."

she said smoothly.

Manuel nodded.

"Good."

Then she turned towards Gabby.

A flawless smile appeared on her lips.

"You must be Mrs. Reyes."

Gabby smiled politely.

"I'm Gabby."

The woman extended her hand.

"Mara Steve."

Her grip was gentle and professional, yet something about her smile felt fake.

"It's nice to finally meet you," Mara said.

"You too."

For a brief second, the two women simply looked at each other.

Neither of them spoke a word or looked away either.

Then Manuel broke the silence.

"Mara, prepare the conference room."

"Of course."

Mara answered and walked away.

Gabby couldn't explain why a strange feeling settled in her chest.

Mara had been perfectly polite and professional, but it felt as though she had just been quietly measured?

Hours passed inside the Reyes Enterprises.

Gabby remained in Manuel's office while he attended meetings.

She wandered around the spacious room, careful not to touch anything.

The walls displayed awards from around the world, photographs with world leaders, and even business magazines featuring Manuel on their covers.

Everything reflected success.

Yet his office lacked warmth.

It felt exactly like him.

Beautiful, impressive, but lonely.

"No wonder he spent so much time at work." She thought.

She had already glanced at the clock twice when faint voices drifted through the slightly open door of the office across the corridor.

At first, she paid no attention.

Then she heard her name.

"...Gabriella."

With so much curiosity, she stood up from the chair she was sitting, and moved towards Manuel's office door.

She stopped just beside it, careful not to step into the corridor.

"She's only been here for a short while," a woman's voice said quietly. "And already people are talking about her."

Another voice answered.

"That's what happens when someone suddenly becomes Mrs. Reyes."

Gabby's fingers tightened around the edge of the door.

They were talking about her.

She should have walked away.

Instead, she remained still.

"I don't think Manuel actually wanted this marriage?"

A pause followed.

Gabby's heart beat faster.

Before she could hear anything else, footsteps sounded from the far end of the corridor.

She turned, only to see Manuel walking towards his office.

He had just returned from his meeting.

His eyes immediately found her standing beside the door.

He stopped.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then his gaze shifted toward the half-open office across the corridor.

When he looked back at Gabby, his expression had become unreadable.

"Gabriella."

Her stomach tightened.

"Yes?"

He took one slow step toward her.

"What are you doing here?"

Gabby opened her mouth, but before she could answer, the door across the corridor suddenly opened.

The two voices she had been listening to fell completely silent, and someone stepped into the hallway.

Gabby turned toward them.

The person stared directly at her, then at Manuel.

The silence that followed was unmistakably tense.