Chapter Twenty Five
Antonia's Pov.
Receiving a call from Gabriel's father an hour ago was the last thing I expected. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the unfamiliar number, and my surprise only deepened when I heard his voice and he introduced himself.
Gabriel’s father, a man I had never met, nor did I think I would ever have to meet him, had suddenly requested that he would like to see me and that he wanted to meet with me in his office. His tone had been polite but firm at the same time, leaving little room for me to decline.
Reluctantly, I agreed, and now here I was, sitting in his office, waiting for him to return from a meeting.
The secretary had assured me it would only be a few minutes, but those few minutes had stretched into over thirty, and my anxiety was mounting like never before.
I glanced around the office, taking in the dark wood paneling, the shelves lined with books, and the large desk that dominated the room. Everything screamed wealth and power, reminding me for the umpteenth time that Gabriel was certainly from a much different world than mine.
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, trying to dismiss the nervous fluttering in my stomach. What could Gabriel's father possibly want to talk to me about? Was it about the stalker? Or perhaps about my relationship with his son?
My mind raced with possibilities, and I couldn't help the nervousness I felt, no matter how hard I tried not to think too much.
Just as I felt I couldn't bear the suspense any longer, the office door finally opened, and an elderly man, who seemed to be in his late fifties, walked in.
His presence was commanding, and I immediately guessed that he was Gabriel’s father.
I stood up quickly, almost reflexively bowing my head in respect. I realized how low I was bowing and mentally chided myself, reminding myself that he wasn't my father-in-law, even though to everyone else, including him, I was Gabriel’s girlfriend.
Remembering this, I figured that I needed to act the part and be as respectful as possible so that he wouldn't see any problem with me.
“Miss Flynn,” he greeted me, his voice smooth and authoritative. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wilson,” I replied, straightening up and taking my seat again as he settled behind his desk.
He regarded me with a critical eye, and I felt as though he was assessing every detail of my appearance and demeanor. It was uncomfortable scrutiny, and I did my best to meet his gaze with as much composure as I could muster.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you here,” he began, folding his hands on the desk in front of him.
“Yes, sir,” I admitted. “I was quite surprised to hear from you.”
“I imagine you were,” he said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I wanted to meet you personally, given the current situation.”
I sat there, feeling like a child being scolded, my mind racing to process what he had just said. I nodded, my mind flashing to the recent media frenzy and the ever-present fear of my stalker.
Apologizing for the news about my stalker seemed like the polite thing to do, even if I felt it wasn’t necessary. “I’m sorry if the news about the stalker has caused any problems for you, Mr. Wilson. The situation will be resolved soon,” I tried to assure him confidently.
Mr. Wilson chuckled lightly, shaking his head. “The situation I’m referring to has little to nothing to do with the news of your stalker.”
His words confused me. “Then what situation are you talking about, Mr. Wilson? And why did you specifically ask to see me today?”
He cleared his throat, and the room seemed to grow colder. “After Gabriel announced his relationship with you, I did some research to ensure you were a good fit for my son. Even though you are a model—a profession I already detest—I wanted to be thorough, and you know, give you a chance, just in case.”
I felt a wave of anger rise in me, but I pushed it down, maintaining a respectful expression. “And what did you find?”
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. “After a deep dive, I concluded that you and my son are not compatible, Antonia. I already tried talking sense into Gabriel, but he refused to listen. So, I invited you here today, hoping you would be smart enough to understand your place and know when to leave.”
His words hit me like a slap. I had expected this meeting to be challenging, but I hadn’t anticipated this level of condescension.
I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure. I couldn't afford to let him know that my relationship with Gabriel wasn't real, so I had to make sure I defended our relationship by refusing him. “Mr. Wilson, I understand that you’re concerned for your son. But Gabriel and I care about each other, and we’re trying to make this work.”
He sighed, looking at me with a mix of frustration and pity. “Antonia, you’re a model. Your world is superficial, built on appearances and fleeting moments of fame, and as you can tell, my son is meant for greater things. He needs someone who can support him in his endeavors, not someone who will be a distraction. At the end of the day, you're only a temporary distraction that won't last, so instead of wasting your time, leave now while you can.”
I felt a pang of anger, but I forced myself to stay calm. “With all due respect, Mr. Wilson, I believe Gabriel is capable of making his own decisions. He knows who I am and what I do, and he still chose to be with me. That should count for something,” I said, still trying to remain as polite as possible.
He shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. “Love can blind even the smartest of men. Gabriel is young, and he thinks with his heart, not his head. But you—” he pointed a finger at me, “—you should be wise enough to see the bigger picture.”
I clenched my fists by my side, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to keep calm. I hated how he was talking to me like I was some naive fool, and I could feel my blood boiling with rage. But I forced a smile on my face, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose my composure.
“Mr. Wilson,” I said, my voice steady despite my rage, “the only person who can end my relationship with Gabriel is Gabriel himself, and until he does, I will remain in a loving relationship with him.”
Mr. Wilson scoffed, leaning back in his chair with an air of disbelief. “Is that so?” he said, his tone dripping with skepticism. He regarded me for a moment, then leaned forward, a calculating look in his eyes. “What’s your price?”
For a second, I didn’t understand. “My price?” I repeated, my voice rising slightly in disbelief.
“Yes, your price,” he said, his voice cold and businesslike. “Everyone has a price. So what will it take for you to walk away from my son?”
I could feel my anger bubbling over, unable to hold it back any longer. I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. “With all due respect, Mr. Wilson,” I said, my voice shaking with barely controlled fury. “I hope you never call me for such a disturbing and disrespectful conversation ever again.”
I turned on my heel, ready to leave his office and put as much distance between us as possible. But his voice stopped me in my tracks.
“You’re making a mistake, Antonia,” he said, his tone menacing. “You just lost the golden opportunity to take the easy way out. Don’t blame me for what happens next.”
His words felt like a chilling threat that sent a shiver down my spine, but I didn’t turn back. I walked out of his office, my head held high, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing the fear and anger that churned inside me.