Chapter 103

Chapter 103
Gabriel POV

He nods stiffly. "Did you know after the accident I was planning to resign?"
I stare at him. "No... you did?"
"Yes, but your granddad rejected my resignation. He knows I feel guilty about the accident. He told me I have to stay with you. For your dad. I think he knows that's the only way to keep me here."
There is a lump in my throat. The accident didn't just haunt me and my family, but it also haunted Jack.
"The day of your father's funeral, I promised him I would protect you with my life. I will help you be the head of The Remington. I did and still do the background check for every employee at The Remington."
My eyes widened. We have thousands of employees...
"I checked on them one by one. Starting from the highest position to the lowest. Including Ben Sanders. I checked him the day after your father's funeral. He hadn't fucked with The Remington at that time, that's why he pass my screening."
"Ben started stealing from Remington because Granddad chose me as his heir instead of him."
"That man doesn't realise his capability."
I chuckle and look at Jack from the rearview mirror. "Stop blaming yourself, Jack. Let it go. Stop punishing yourself by checking on every employee in Remington l. It's crazy. We have thousands. And the employees keep coming and going. They can fuck with us, but I'm sure I can end them and make them regret for even thinking about it."
Jack takes a glance at me.
"Promise me, Jack. You will stop blaming yourself for the accident. It's not your fault. I won't let you do this anymore. Stop blaming yourself.... stop blaming ourselves," I say to him and me.
He sighs and nods, giving me his rare genuine smile. “Izz said the same."
I smile at the mention of Madeline's name. "She did this to us, huh?"
He nods. "She is a good girl, Gabriel. You are so lucky to have her. Don't let her go."
I nod "I won't..." and suddenly it occurred to me.. he knows about our childhood. "Did you realise Isabella and I have a story in the past?"
"Yes. I realised that even before she came to HQ. Consuela and Paulo realised it was her on the day she came to the house."
"That's why all of you are always nice to her?"
"No. Because she makes you happy, Gabriel."
Finally! I ran to Isabella's apartment. Thank God I have access to let myself in. Jack is still looking for a parking spot.
I stop in front of her door. Why is the door ajar? Isabella never does this...
"What do you want, Alex? What else do you want from me?" Isabella's voice is shaky.
I walk slowly to take a peek. Isabella standing near the windows, and Alex standing in front of her... with a gun. Fuck! I don't have my phone with me. My phone has the panic button to go straight to Jack's phone.
I observe around. If I startle him right now, he can pull the trigger on Isabella. No... it's too dangerous.
Wait.. what is that? A stick on the top of a small box on the floor. Isn't that a pregnancy test? Is Isabella pregnant? She... My eyes snap at Isabella's tummy. It's still flat. But.. I can't see the result of the pregnancy test from here. But if Isabella—
"You are so lucky, Izzy. LA treats you well, huh?" Alex says nastily. It brings back my focus on him. "You have a filthy rich boyfriend, you have your job, everyone likes you..." he laughs, but the sound is so nasty. "That should be me! That should be me! I'm just a step away from marrying Cam. And I will be rich! But Cam won't marry me even though she is pregnant with my baby! She prefers to kill the baby."
"What?" Isabella sounds surprised.
"Yes, Izzy. She said she doesn't want to be with me anymore. She kicked me from our apartment, and she killed the baby! Cam went to the fucking clinic for the abortion."
"I'm so sorry, Alex" Isabella's voice is shaky.
"You are sorry? You better be sorry, Izzy! It's all because of you!"
"How come it's my fault, Alex?" Her voice is rising.
"Cam is jealous of you. You have everything now. She doesn't. Your boyfriend kicked her and her father from The Remington. And still asked them to pay for the embezzlement—"
"Are you fucking kidding with me, Alex? That's the least they could do! They should go to jail!"
God, I love this woman...
"Shut up, Izzy! And you know what! Ben filed the report to the police. He said I'm the mastermind of this embezzlement. And now the police are looking for me."
"So, why are you here?" Isabella asks warily. Me too. Why did Alex come here?
"Because I have nowhere else to go. I need money, Izzy! I need money to go from here. I don't want to live in jail." Alex's voice panicked.
"But, I don't have money."
"Don't lie! Your boyfriend has a lot." Now he is back to his anger.
"It's Gabriel's. Not mine. I'm not like you, Alex. I'm with Gabriel because I love him. Not because of his money. I would still love him even though he doesn't have money." My heart swells. I always knew Isabella was never into my money... but hearing her saying this… means a lot to me.
"Fuck! Stop being an angel, Izzy ." He points the gun at Isabella, his hand shaky. "Give me the money, or I'll shoot you."
"Sweetness..." My voice is low. I don't want to startle Alex. I step inside the apartment slowly. Alex turns to me and points his gun at me. Thank God, at least he's not pointing his gun at Isabella anymore.
My eyes glance at the pregnancy test. It's positive. I can't breathe. Isabella is pregnant with our baby. I push myself to focus on Alex and his gun.
"Gabriel..." Isabella's voice is shaky. I can see the tears on her cheeks. I will protect you, Isabella. You and our baby. Even with my life…