Gabriel nodded his head and sighed, sinking into his chair when Lloyd and Christian sat down. "Pretty much, yeah." He answered. "What about your career?" Christian questioned.
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing has changed. I'm still the owner of the company and still the sCEO." He told them, earning a hum from the two "Alright, I guess that's a good start. I'll try and get a few people from your company to help you out a bit, you know, catch you up with what's been happening. We'll also need to get a statement released to the public. You lonow how the media is and whatnot." "Yeah, about that..." Gabriel sighed. "Can't we just, you know, keep this under wraps until I recover my memories. I'd hate to be the talk of the town for a while, you know." Lloyd and Christian shared a look, not missing the fact that their friend had stated that he wanted to recover memories.
"Alright," Lloyd said, nodding his head. "But, only because I can relate to the pain of being the hot topic." "Thanks," Gabriel smiled, but his smile was quick to fade seconds later as he asked. "Do you... Mind telling me?" "Huh?" Both his friends hummed.
"What lead to Leonica and I's divorce?" He asked.
Lloyd and Christian exchanged looks once again, both knowing the truth, but wondering if it was a good idea to tell Gabriel all about Angelina Thankfully, before they could debate any longer on the issue, there was a knock on the door and it soon slid open.
All three of them watched as Leonica stepped in. She looked surprised to see Lloyd and Christian at first but she soon placed a smile on her lips, waving gently at them. y." She greeted.
"Hi," They all said in unison and noticed that instead of moving further into the room, she stayed by the door, hand behind her. "What you got behind you?" Lloyd was the first to ask." At his question, Leonica gently tugged on the person behind her and Ashley stepped out from behind her.
Gabriel's eyes widened at the sight of the kid. He looked so much prettier and loveable in person.
"Oh wow. He muttered.
"Hello," Ashley greeted both his uncles and walked further into the room, approaching the man in question that is his father, only when standing directly in front of him did he gently wave. "Hi, Gabriel said.
"Hi Daddy, My nis Ashley." He introduced nicely with a bright and friendly smile. "Mommy toldall about what happened. 1 am going to try and make new memories with you." Gabriel's heart skipped a beat at his words. His smile was so contagious that he felt his own lips curving upwards. "Sounds like a plan" He agreed, and reached forward, at first he hesitated, but after seeing Ashley's expectant gaze, he ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. "Alright, this is getting a little too sentimental for me," Lloyd said as he rose from his seat and grabbed Christian's wrist. "Let's leave the three of them alone, shall we?" Christian rolled his eyes. "Don't pull me, I'm going." He grumbled and pulled his wrist free from Lloyd's grasp. Lloyd pouted at the action, but his pout was soon replaced by a smile. "We'll check up on you later, Gabe." He said and followed Christian out of the room, leaving the three of them.
Once they were alone, Gabriel glanced at Leonica and asked. "Did you have lunch yet?" Leonica besitated, but after a few seconds of silence, she shook her head and watched as Gabriel smiled.
"You're in luck, the hospital prepares meals unlike any other." Saying this, he stood up from the chair, taking Ashley's hand in his. The child giggled fondly at the action. "Con, let's have a meal and talk over a few things." Act Fast Free Bonus Tis Running Outf Recovering His Memories.
Between the constant glances that were being thrown their way as other hospital patients walked by and the sound of Ashley chattering away with Gabriel, informing him of all the things that had happened both in Denver and here, Oslo, Leonica found it hard to focus on the meal which they had actually chere to have and then, mommy gotBetty," Ashley said, showing his father the doll he always carried around. Gabriel bummed in an understanding tone, nodding his head as he took a bite from his burger.
Strange, Leonica thought as she had glanced at him in the middle of taking said bite from his beef burger. The Gabriel she knew was far too stuck up to even have a bite from a veggie burger, talk less a beef burger.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThen again, she shook her head, briefly reminding herself that the Gabriel seating in front of her wasn't the stuck up stole man he had been a leve weeks ago.
"Everything okay?" Gabriel asked after noticing her somewhat weird behavior.
and a breath in rather harshly when she saw him staring intently at her, dark eyes scanning her face. "Y-yes." She somehow uttered, Closing her eyes, she briefly cursed herself, then forced a smile on her lips. "I'm fine." Whether or not she was lying, Gabriel didn't have enough tto figure that out as the hospital's residential waiter in the cafeteria approached them.
"Hello Mr. Bryce." He greeted with a bow, then turned towards Leonica, flashing her a smile that went perfectly with his attractive walter looks, one that Gabriel quickly realized he wasn't too tond of "Milady, hope you enjoyed the meal?" "I did." Leonica answered honestly, because as a matter of fact, she had indeed enjoyed the meal, safe for the occasional and choking state's people gave the family of three, the taste had been delightful. Almost as good as her cooking, if she must say.
"Glad to here that," The waiter said, flashing another smile, one which Gabriel couldn't help but roll his eyes at. Leonica didn't miss the gesture and shoot him a questioning look to which he ignored. "How about you, little one?" When Ashley was asked, his demeanor seemed to steamer down temporarily and the energetic boy from once before suddenly disappeared. "It was good, but I didn't like the veggies. They were overcooked," he admitted cautiously. "Momany lanows how to cook better." He added in, of course not missing a moment to show his mother off.
The waiter clearly didn't expect his answer and Gabriel quietly chuckled at his stunned expression. "My apologies, I'll be sure to lecture the cook a handful." "Really?" Ashley perked up after knowing his honest opinion hadn't offended the waiter.
"Of course, As an apology, how about drinks on the house?" He asked and glanced at Leonica. "That's only if you allow it " "Of course WE as his parents would allow it," Gabriel interjected before Leonica could speak, making sure to put great emphasis on the word 'WE'.
This in turn, earned yet another questioning look from Leonica. This taround however, he flashed her a smile and said nothing Well, what else was he going to do? It's not like he was going to cright out and say that he didn't like the fact that this handswaiter, not that he'd ever openly admit it, was obviously ignoring his presence and trying to get a hit on the mother of his child He might have lost his memory, but Gabriel was still the sperson, prideful but only a little bit more polite.
"Uh, one glass of orange juice for the kid, a glass of water forand uh..." He paused, blinked a few times while remaining silent before he continued. "a glass of chilled ljuice for her." "Of course, Sir." While the waiter smiled and walked away, Leonica stared at Gabriel with wide eyes. "What?" He questioned. "Did I place the wrong order for you? "No." Leonica admitted and he sighed out in relief but it was short lived as she added. "That's exactly what's wrong. Like Juice, it's... it's my favorite juice." She explained upon seeing his confused face.
"Oh, Gabriel muttered finally understanding what she meant.
"Do you... do you remember anything else?" Leonica dared to ask, her hope somewhat flattering when Gabriel shook his head.
"I don't think that even counts." He admitted with a sigh, catching Ashley's sad expression from the side. "Hey b buddy, what's wrong?" "Daddy daddy still doesn't remember." He answered, lowering his head to hide the tears that were gathering in eyes. Gabriel felt sad seeing this, "Ash, hey Ash, listen to me." He gently raised his son's chin up, smiling warmly. "What did we talk about?" He asked. "Daddy said I shouldn't worry even if he can't remember us now, because soon he will." Ashley said and Gabriel nodded his head in agreement.
"That's right. And I promise to keep my word. I'll even throw in a sweet deal to make things better." Leonica watched as her son's frown suddenly turned into a huge smile at the mention of a sweet deal, well, sweet to be precise. ""Really?!" He exclaimed.
Gabriel nodded. "Yeah, and here's the deal; as long as you promise promise to take you anywhere you want." comise to remain happy a and wait for daddy daddy to recover his memories, I'll "Anywhere?" "Yup, got anywhere in mind? Ashley glanced at his mother at this before beckoning his father closer. He whispered a words in his ears before pulling back and chiling Gabriel asked with creased brow and glanced at Leonica. Ashley nods furiously at his fathers question. "Alright, that's a promise, I guess." He said and held out his pinky to which Ashley gladly took it and recites.
"Pinky swear, whoever lies will be made to swallow a thousand needles." "That's it, now go find out what's the hold up with those drinks." Gabriel patted the child on his head and watched as he hopped off the chair and rushed towards the cafeteria counter.
"Mister, my daddy said I should ask about our drinks!" Gabriel chuckled before turning to face Leonica who had been staring at him "How do you intend to make that happen?" She asked.
"Make what happen?" "Recovering your memories." Leonica dead panned. "You were serious with that, right? "Of course I was " "So how?" she asked again, folding her arms across her chest and giving him a pointed look. In the back of her mind, she ignored the voice that was screaming at ber, telling her that if this was THE Gabriel, she wouldn't d question him this way.
Not because she didn't have the balls to; but rather because she was never this... comfortable? Was she comfortable with him? The passing thought had Leonica tensing up as she realized that she had indeed been quite comfortable around Gabriel.
Two months ago, she couldn't have ever imagined herself seating here, having supposed lunch with him, yet here she was, even boldly questioning him at that.
While she was lost in her little dilemma, Gabriel had one of his own, tr truly pondering her question over, that is until his gaze landed on her and a sudden idea entered his mind. "You, of course." His answer was so sudden and even when his voice wasn't lood, it had caused Leonica to flinch, a sudden pull back from her mind to the matter at her. "Pardon?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, something that Gabriel couldn't help but think of as being cute.
"You're going to helprecover my memories. What better way to do that than have my ex wife help me." He said nonchalantly, almost as it he was state the obvious. Leonica blinked in confusion before scoffing "Are you kidding me?" "Not at all." Gabriel said, holding her gaze with an amount of seriousness that had her swallowing thickly. "I mean, that's a rather reasonable way to tackle this situation, don't you think?" When Leonica looked like she was clearly second guessing his words, he added in. "I mean, that is if you're up for the task. I'm not gonna force you if you don't wanna help," Leonica frowned. The last thing she wanted was for him to get the wrong impression, thinking she didn't Wait, why did it matter to her if he thought she didn't care? It's not like she actually did. Right? Sighing, Leonica pinched the bridge of her nose before speaking care.
"No, it's fine. I just... didn't think it would be that simple." "I mean, it's worth a shot, don't you think?" Gabriel asked, then smiled. "Unless, you have something to hide, something you don't wantto remember." Leonica gave him a dead panned expression at his attempt to tease her. Realizing it wasn't working, Gabriel held his hand up in a surrendering motion.
"Alright," With that he looked away, watching a Ashley watched the waiter add the finishing touches to what he assumed would be Leonica's drink.
While he watched his son, Leonica watched him, taking the first tsince he had woken up, to actually examine him and realize that bis expression was different than the Gabriel she had spent two years married to, her ex husband.
Sure, he was still the sperson, but he gaze off a different vibe. His expression, way of speaking and mannerisms all seemed rather different than the person she knew.
If kind of reminded her of how Gabriel was when Lila first introduced them. Despite the obvious fact that he was against their marriage, Gabriel had smiled warmly at her when introducing himself.
It was only after they got married that he began acting distant and cold.
Thinking about this had her heart aching in pain. It wasn't a physical pain, but rather a mental one, the one where you remember a tof pain.
But she was quick to pull her mind away from the disturbing thoughts. There was no point in remembering all of that.
It would be better. To create new memories and change her way... With or without Gabriel. And the first thing she could do to start that was obviously to help Gabriel regain his memories, close the bridge that could grow between her son and his father. ""I'll help you." Her voice was quiet, almost as a whisper. But it was enough for Gabriel to hear.
"Really?" He asked and Leonica nodded her head, "Yup. I mean, it's the least I could do." She said, not wanting to cout and say she was doing it for Ashley.
"But under one condition" "What is it?" Gabriel eagerly asked.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLeonica glanced at her son and back at h before asking "What was it that Ash told you?"
At her question, a smile bloomed on Gabriel's lips and Leonica could have sworn that for a second, her heart did weird palpitations before stopping all at once, as he showed her the very sfamiliar yet distant warm smile he had shown when they were first introduced, "That's a secret." The Place She Called Home.
It was fifteen minutes past their meeting time, and Anastasia, who was had been the first to arrive, sat in one of the restaurant chairs, grumbling underneath her breath.
"Where the heck is he?" Anastasia mumbled underneath her breath and reached for her phone, unlocking it when a text message miered.
d to see a message from Lloyd, but it wasn't.
Opening the text message, she had expected to see a [Anastasia?) The first message read (This is your number, right? I know this is your number.] The second one read and at this point, after reading those two messages alone, Anastasia doubted this number belonged to Lloyd o's this?] She typed, hesitating for a few seconds before sending it ot more than a few seconds had gone by before both bars turned blue, indicating that the sender has read her message.
A minute passed and she was growing impatient, and as though they sensed her impatience, her phone beeped, another text message entering [You responded. I didn't think you'd even read my messages.] "Freak show alert." She mumbled and was about to block the user without even bother to find out who they were anymore, when another message entered.
[Please don't block me.] Anastasia stared at the screen. Something about this message had her curious.
Who was this and what the hell did they want? Taking a moment to ponder whether or not she should block this user, Anastasia finally decided to type and send a message, only because she was curious.
It couldn't hurt to try and find out. Right? And besides, what the hell was she meant to do while waiting for that Damn Riley b bastard to show up? It wasn't that bad of a thing to do. And, she could just block the number once the conversation was over, so really, there was nothing to Jose.
After much thinking. Anastasia finally made a decision.
[I won't, if you tellwho you are and how you got my number. She typed and sent it, watching the status change to delivered and then, after a few seconds, the status changed to read. The bubbles showing that the sender was typing cand went, and then they stopped
Anastasia waited for a minute or two, but the sender didn't send a message, so, with a heavy sigh, she leaned back in her eyes, to her chair and closed her eyes, taking in the cool air of the restaurant's AC She didn't even notice when the waitress approached her, carrying a glass of water. The sound of it being placed on the table had her eyes snapping open.
"Oh, thank you." She greeted and flashed the young waitress a smile "You're welcome." The girl replied before walling away.
As Anastasia watched her go, she heard her phone vibrate on the table once more and picked it up, eyes scanning the message.
It was from the sunknown number, only this taround, for sreason- a gut feeling as one would call it- she hesitated to open the message.
After staring at her phone for a good solid five seconds, she finally decided to open it and see what the sender wanted.
Upon opening the message, her eyes landed on the one word, or rather, ngive, and her entire expression crumbled. [Derek.]