Chapter 50

Chapter 50


Leonardo Cooper

It's been a week since everything fell apart. Time hasn't eased the tension pulsing in my shoulders or the mess Gabriel left behind.

I try to call him again. I put the phone to my ear, listen to the short rings. Voicemail. Again.

— Hell, Gabriel… pick up. You still have a contract with me — I mutter through gritted teeth, pressing the tip of my nose, already tired of this cycle of silence.

I uninstall the number from the screen, and the phone almost flies out of my hand when I throw it against the glass table.

The sound echoes through the office. Everything is out of place. The company's internal system has been down for days, suppliers are demanding payment, contracts are poorly organized, and Clara is taking care of it all.

I don't even know how that woman hasn't quit yet.

The knock on the door makes me look up.

— Come in — I order, without moving a muscle.

The doorknob turns slowly. As soon as Adrian's face appears through the crack, my jaw clenches. He enters smiling, the same cynical smile as always, trying to seem helpful.

— What do you need this time, Adrian? — I fire back, not hiding the weariness in my voice. — I'm not in the mood for flattery or small talk.

He approaches, feigning innocence.

— I just wanted to help. I organized some of the documents that were loose on the desk. I know things have been a bit chaotic since… well, since Gabriel left.

— Thank you — I cut him off dryly. — If that's all, you can go.

He doesn't move.

— Are you sure everything is alright? — he asks, with a honeyed tone disguised as concern. — You seem… down.

Down. He actually used that word with me.

I get up from my chair and walk to the drinks table. I pour some bourbon into the crystal glass and stare at my reflection in the mirror at the back of the bar.

My beard has grown too long. My dark circles betray that I haven't slept well. And it all started the moment Gabriel slammed the door and left.

— I'm fine — I reply, drinking it all in one go. — I don't need help. Go take care of your work and leave me alone.

Adrian raises his eyebrows, feigning surprise.

— Wow… alright. I just wanted to help.

I turn slowly, my eyes fixed on his, now without any mask.

— I can take care of myself. Take care of your job and leave me alone. I have important documents to analyze. You can leave.

He understands the message, even reluctantly. He turns around and walks towards the door. The click of the doorknob followed by the sound of the door closing his visit returns me to silence.

I return to my desk, but I don't sit down. I prefer to go to the window. I open the curtain and stare at the city outside. Buildings stretch to the horizon, but none of them have what I'm looking for. I run my hand through my beard, lost in memories and the bitter taste that lingered in the air.

— Dammit, Gabriel… are you really going to force me to go after you? — I mutter, as if the city could give me an answer.

His absence is present in every corner. In the empty closet next to it, in the silence of the meetings that used to have more life, even in the files that he organized better than any other employee.

But what really hurts me is the constant echo of our last conversation. His look, hurt. The evident resentment. And the fact that I believed Adrian.

At that moment, I let myself be carried away by the rush, the stress, the perfectly forged reports. And even with everything inside me screaming that something was wrong, I was blind. I judged too quickly. I cut deep without thinking about the consequences.

Now I'm here, alone, holding the pieces of the chaos, surrounded by documents, ignored messages, and this emptiness that throbs.

Gabriel was always stubborn, but fair. And loyal. He never gave me reason to doubt him. But it only took one well-planted doubt and a moment of vulnerability for me to tear down everything we were building together.

I finally sit down, but my body doesn't relax. I pick up my phone again, think about calling once more. I give up. The same screen, the same silent number. Maybe he changed his chip, threw it away, or simply doesn't want to hear my voice.

Adrian is playing with my instability, using my guilt to get closer. But I know his game. He wants space, he wants the place that was Gabriel's. But it won't be like that with me. Not again.

The drink goes down hot, but it doesn't fill what's missing. What I have left now is to make the decision I've been avoiding since the day Gabriel walked out that door.

I stand up again, determined.

— Alright, Gabriel… you want distance, I understand. But I'm not going to stand here waiting for you to hate me forever.

The city is still out there, immense, indifferent. But I know where to start looking. And I know that, even if he doesn't want to hear me now, I'm going to find a way to make him understand that I made a mistake. A mistake I won't repeat.

Not this time.

When night falls, I gather my belongings with calculated slowness. My head still feels heavy, but my body moves automatically.

In the hallway, as I walk towards the elevator, I hear Adrian's voice behind me. I don't look. I don't answer. It's better to avoid any further wear and tear.

I step into the elevator without hesitation. The door closes and the silence finally returns, muffling any external sound. In the parking lot, the night air envelops me like a relief. I open the car, sit down, and drive to the apartment with my fingers firmly on the steering wheel, my mind already distant.

When I arrive, I go straight to the shower. The hot water runs down my shoulders, and it's at that moment that the memory comes back clearly. Royale Club. That's where he must be.

Among red lights, smoke, and thirsty gazes. Of course. It's exactly the kind of place where Gabriel would seek to hide — or provoke me.

I get out of the shower determined. I put on a black linen shirt, buttoned up to the neck, and dark tailored dress pants. On my wrist, the gold watch shines under the soft light of the room.

I finish with my favorite perfume, spraying it on my neck and wrists. The woody scent blends elegance and presence. Nothing can be out of place tonight.

I grab the car keys and follow the illuminated streets. As I approach the Royale, I realize it's busier than usual. I park with difficulty, take a deep breath before crossing the imposing entrance.

Inside, the sound vibrates in my chest. Lights cross on the ceiling, forming a frenetic spectacle. My eyes scan the room until I find him. There he is. In the center of the stage.

Gabriel spins on the pole with a skill that attracts all eyes. Several men surround him, bills being thrown with enthusiasm, shouts of encouragement, blatant desire. A knot forms in my stomach. The scene affects me in a way I didn't expect.

Jealousy sets in, thick, burning. I clench my fists, holding back the urge to climb that stage and rip him from it. He knows what he's doing. And so do I. This isn't over. Not yet.