Chapter Thirty-Eight

Gabriel watches as Athena turns around and walks out the door, not hesitating to slam the door behind her and make her anger known. He doesn't even know what he can do in this situation. Chase after her and tell her it's all a huge misunderstanding? She has already made it clear that there isn't anything between the, and she isn't expecting anything.

But he is. Gabriel has already made the decision to pursue her in any way possible, and he might've just tossed all possibilities of that out the window in this very second. There is no way he can redeem himself if he even tries to explain the situation, she saw it all for herself – the half-dressed Verona, the messy desk and him walking out of the bathroom with a wet spot on his shirt, which with that scene in your mind, it could be anything to the naked eye.

"Sir, would you like me to…" Julian whispers, motioning towards the door.

Gabriel chuckles. "What would you even say?"

He turns and looks at Verona, still standing half-dressed next to his desk, and innocent look on her face. But he can see right through it; this was all her plan. Maybe she didn't plan for Athena herself to see, but she came here today with the intention of making her presence known to everyone, to force everyone to see how close she is with Gabriel Monroe and will soon be the new mistress of Monroe Company.

'How laughable,' he thinks, wondering if this is part of a greater scheme set-up by his mother. But even she knows how valuable and important the company is to the family, and herself. She won't jeopardize her cushy life just for some bimbo marriage, even if it means sacrificing her connections to exclusive fashion wears and grand openings.

It's one company out of the many Gabriel can buy her, she won't miss her fake friendship with the Dynes family either, he's sure.

"I hope you've accomplished what you came here to do, Miss Dynes," Gabriel says, emphasizing the end. He knows he hit his mark when her fake façade falls, and he looks genuinely taken back.

"I-I'm not sure what you mean, Gabriel. Why are you being so formal with me now? I really didn't mean anything by this, I just wanted to bring you lunch, I had no idea Miss Rose would be your lunch client and that this would happen. If it would make it better, I'll go and explain everything to her-"

Gabriel raises his hand to stop her and can't help but laugh at himself. He should've saw this situation coming the moment she walked in, knowing Athena was arriving shortly after. He shouldn't have allowed Verona to walk into his office, double-checking with his receptionist on who the sudden arrival was.

He was just so excited to see Athena, he assumed it was her right away, not having expected any other female guests today. Verona has made it clear of her intentions towards Gabriel, and he has been avoiding her ever since she arrived. Why didn't he think to see this coming? If she wasn't going to go to him, of course she would naturally seek him out, until he made it completely clear there will never be anything between them.

'But I thought I already did. Now she is using the connection of old friends between us to her advantage, to pull tricks like this.'

His only option now, it seems, is to cut ties with the Dynes family all together, exposing Athena to his mother and the world that he has interests in her and only her.

But Gabriel knows Athena won't allow this. She has her own plans and ambitions at the moment, exposing their connection would ruin all of that. He wants to help her take down her own family and expose her father for the cheating businessman that he is, giving her everything that she deserves from him. But he can't do that if he reveals that he is her major backer.

Her father will do everything he can to separate them, turning his anger towards Gabriel and his company. On the other hand, he will have his mother constantly berating him for trying to marry someone like Athena, never having liked the entertainment business, she will see her as nothing but a gold-digger, trying to rise the ranks as a failing model and actress, although Athena was at the height of her career when she was active.

His mother won't care for any of that.

"Julian, please take Miss Dynes home, and don't hesitate to remind her of her mistake today, so she may never attempt it again," Gabriel says, not bothering to even glance at Verona as he drops his head into his hands and slumps into his office chair.

"As you wish, Mr. Monroe." Julian walks over and picks up Verona's bag and jacket, handing it to her before gesturing her towards the door.

"Gabriel, I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Don't you believe me?" she tries begging him, but he waves her off. She continues to try and cry out to him as Julian drags her away, but Gabriel blocks her out with thoughts of how he is going to resolve this.

He knows the best thing to do right now is give Athena space, but he is also afraid the more space he gives her, the more time he is giving for her mind to run wild and come to a terrible conclusion – pushing him away for good.

Things between them have already become unstable ever since he confessed his feelings towards her, messing up their relationship together and destabilizing everything between them. She has been on high alert around him, and this probably just collapsed everything before it could even begin.

Making up his mind, he grabs his jacket and runs out the door, calling Athena on the way out the door to hail a cab. He isn't going to just let this go like this, he has to at least try.

~*~

Walking through a small park located not far from Monroe Towers, the walkway littered with brightly colored flowers, they aren't enough to lift the heavy feeling from Athena's chest, the serene sight doing nothing to wipe away the sight haunting her mind currently.

It was obvious what they were doing in there, and the fact that Gabriel didn't chase after her to try and explain more than proves it. She saw the messy desk and appearance of both Verona and Gabriel, she saw the wet stain on his shirt from god knows what, and the way Verona was scantily dressed.

Other than either of them admitting she just caught them finishing the deed, that was all the verification she needed. What she can't get over right now, is how two-faced Gabriel really is.

One night he is kissing her and whispering sweet nothings about being the only one in his eyes, but the next day he is screwing his supposed childhood best friend in broad daylight in his office.

Is it because she turned him down? He said he was still going to try, but it seems he couldn't hold out for that long. She feels her phone go off in her pocket, reaching in to see it's a call from Gabriel, she instantly ignores it without thinking, putting it on silent and throwing it into her purse.

"Hey, excuse me! Can you help me?"

A petite girl with bright green hair that resembles the color of mint ice cream comes running towards her. She is dressed rather childishly, but Athena can tell she looks around the same age as her.

"What do you need help with?" she asks.

The girl stops and leans over to catch her breathe, holding up a finger to Athena. After panting for a few seconds, she stands up and nearly knocks Athena over with how strikingly similar she is to Gabriel, minus the colorful hair.

'Who the hell is this girl?'

"I'm looking for Monroe Towers, it's been a while since I've been to Luxe City, I don't remember which way they are," she says.

Could this girl somehow be related to Gabriel? With how similar the look and the fact that she is looking for his company, Athena would assume she could be his sister or cousin.

"Are you related to Gabriel Monroe, by any chance?" Athena asks.

The girls bright blue eyes light up, a large grin on her face.

"Yeah! You know him?"

Athena isn't sure how to describe their relationship, especially since she is related to him.

"Yes, I work for him in the casino."

The girl gives her a confused look, making Athena think she said the wrong thing.

"He has females working in the casino? Are you a hostess?" she asks.

"Oh, uhm, not a chance. I just do bookkeep and finance stuff in the offices."

The girl frowns and looks as if deep in thought.

"That doesn't make any sense, Gabriel has never liked to employ females in his offices, especially not the casino. All his servers are male from what he told me, it's the only reason our mother would ever set foot in there, otherwise the place would be overrun with sleazy horn dogs all the time."

Athena doesn't miss when the girl says 'our mother' in the middle of her rant.

"Are you Gabriel's sister?"

The girl nods, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"My name is Saskia, and you must be the infamous Athena Rose, am I right?"