FALLING FOR VENGEANCE

6

Bitter regret......

Samantha gazed longingly at Gabriel as he made his way out of the office, and for the first time in a long time, she smiled. Her eyes clouded with little beads of tears hanging at the corners. This was her Gabriel, and for the first time in fifteen years, she had hope. Somehow, the universe had smiled at her.

Gabriel, although angry, had found his way back to her. This was fate, and this time, she would not give up this chance.

"This time, I will fight for us," she muttered. "Not even him, in his stubbornness, will tear us apart."

Samantha, liberated by this thought, smiled. She had decided she would be selfish. For once, she would not prioritize family. Her father could make all the bad decisions he wanted and bear the consequences, but this time, she would live for herself. She would experience love. She would live her fairy tale—although she may have to do the groveling because her knight was angry.

His fury burned hot, but in the mix of his anger was a boy who still loved her. When he lay on the table, his head on her chest, her fingers threading through his thick strands of hair, in that moment, she felt love. Although a lingering echo, it was there. If she nurtured it a little, it might bloom. No! It definitely would.

"I will make it work."

Her resolve in place, she traced her lips with her fingers and blushed. This was it.

"Samantha will have her happily ever after," she squealed.

Jimmy stood at the door of the office, watching the shift in Samantha—her teary smile, her sadness, and now her joy. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Women."

Jimmy sighed, staring at Samantha in surprise. "Even with my graying hair, I still can't understand them. She cries, then laughs, then cries again—ahh! I just can't wrap my head around their emotions."

Shaking his head, he made his way back to his desk.

Gabriel sat silently, observing the scenery as the car maneuvered through traffic, his mind deep in thought. The event in Samantha's office was still fresh in his mind. His skin still bore her perfume. If he searched deeper, he could feel her fingers in his hair.

"After fifteen years," he sighed, "and I am still weak to her charm."

He muttered the words under his breath.

Philip sat still, watching his childhood friend mutter and frown. Sighing, he decided to break the silence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"Uhh, no. It’s nothing. Tell Kyle I will be going back to the office, and when he drops us off, he can take the day off," Gabriel said, closing his eyes and resting his back, leaving no room for further discussion.

Philip sighed. "Okay, just this time, Gabriel. I know something happened in there, and you will tell me. I’ll let you be, but not for long," Philip said.

Philip watched his friend's closed eyes as he immersed himself in thought. This was his childhood friend. He felt powerless. No matter how he tried, he could not spare Gabriel from the hurt that came with revenge.

His mind flashed back to the day Gabriel announced that he was buying Vales Co.

"This is not a good idea. Come on, man, I thought you were done already. Look at us—we are successful. We have proved them wrong." Philip had tried to dissuade Gabriel, but he was dead set.

"Is it all worth the heartache, Gabriel?" Philip asked after much persuasion.

Gabriel's eyes burned with rage as he replied, "Even if it is the last thing I do, I must avenge myself." His eyes were cruel.

Time had not been able to heal this wound.