Chapter 25

©S A F I E

CHAPTER 25

GABE

"Everything's being monitored, sir. We expect that within 24 hours, the plan will work. Victoria should just take the bait and we got her," I squinted my eyes at Ryan as I listen to his report, raising an eyebrow at his words, "Are you certain?"

"Yes, sir. Considering the possibilities, Victoria shall need assistance to carry on with her plan and with this system, we can easily track her down as soon as she uses her card."

"Feasible, I guess. You may now retire the rest of the night, Ryan." I hear him shuffle through the door and wait for his footsteps to fade out of the room and back to the hall. I put the files down and take the picture Joe has brought for me from his last visit to Elle's place.

I stared, scrutinizing the picture. My chin, my eyes, my hair, my nose...everything. No one will doubt it that he's really my son.

My boy has grown so much in just two months since I saw him. I never got the chance to hold him or speak to him since we had some disagreement because I refuse to visit them, still hurt about how Elle has treated me. I know it was her right to do that to me and I accept her punishment, choosing to stay far and look at them from a distance away. I caress the picture and smiled, my heart mournful of the son I wanted to hold. I miss his gurgle and hiccups, his laugh and his giggles. Even his cries and snorts make me tear up a little every time I remember him.

I miss him so much...

I turn my attention to my phone as it buzzed with a message from Joe. It was a picture, taken at this hour. It was Elle, holding Jacob closer to her chest while she covers his face.

'She just finished arguing with Luke, he stayed true his words,' I frown, scrolling down so that the next picture loads.

The next picture shows her walking down the street carrying a bag with a small bundle strapped on her chest. 'She's out of her apartment. Keeping tabs on her - she might run away.'

I tighten my grip to the sides of my desk, rising from my seat. Oh no, it seems like Luke has said the wrong things. She is going away with my son and I will have no more chance to be with them. I bowed my head and counted to ten as I tried to ease myself back on my chair.

I really want her back.

I tried so hard but she refused to be pleased. I've stooped so low and ask Luke to convince her to go back but it isn’t enough.

I turn and faced the blinking lights of New York. It is past ten in the evening and I haven't slept a wink since yesterday, my mind refusing to rest because Elle is not with me. I need her to be in my arms to calm me to sleep. I rested back and lean my head against the chair, as I ran my hands through my hair, confused. How shall I take her back?

Will she let me take her back?

I am not even sure if she will allow me to hold her once she finds out that I and Luke conspired against her for Jacob's sake. Luke does love her dearly to allow me to convince her back. He is a good guy and I owed him again for doing this.

I stand from my seat and stretch my arms. I turn off the lights on my office, taking my phone out of my pocket as I checked for Joe's update about Elle's whereabouts. I march down the hall and wait for the lift. It brought me up to my penthouse, and I sigh, resigning back to my room. I stared at our wedding picture, the one I have brought from the mansion, whispering, "Oh, Elle. What am I gonna do with you?"

*

ELLE

I wanted to call Gabe.

I wanted to apologize to him for being such a bitch.

I wanted him beside me, to comfort me, to tell me that he'll never leave me again, that we'll work through it and everything will be alright…

But I choose to be stubborn.

I inhaled Jacob's scent as I look out of the window of this yellow cab. I can't help but be angry at myself for all that is happening around me. It's my fault that Gabe and I didn't work. I've been too insensitive that I focus on Gabe's flaws and not his efforts of getting me back. I am also at fault why our marriage did not work out.

I caress Jacob's cheek and he stirred in his sleep, his eyes swiftly moving from under his eyelid. I kiss his cheeks, wishing that Gabriel will soon arrive to take me back in his arms and ask me to stop this nonsense. I would like to retire in his arms and gaze up to his face, rejoicing that we are in each other's presence.

Jacob opens his eyes and I smiled woefully, rocking him in my arms as the slight drizzle poured. I turn my head down, thankful for my hood that keeps my face from the driver of the cab. I couldn't have him or the paparazzi to see my distraught expression. It will cause such a ruckus and I am afraid that my parents and Gabriel will not appreciate it.

I wonder if Gabriel had me followed.

Joe is surely hiding in the shadows, checking how or what I am doing. He will know when I am in need and I hope that he informs Gabriel about my situation right now.

After a few minutes, the cab stops in front of my flat. I quickly paid the driver, not taking the chance for him to catch a glance of my face. I nodded at the lobby guard and headed for the lift. It soon opens at my floor and with my tired feet, I marched westward and open the door with my keys. The darkroom welcomes me in and I felt suffocated by it. I look down to see Jacob, gazing up at me with his beautiful cerulean eyes, reminding me once again about his father. I smooth his hair down and adjusted him so that he is sitting on my hips. Jacob's head rested on my shoulder as I walk us down the hall and entered my room opening the door adjacent to mine. I settled Jacob down on his cot before lying down on my bed- thinking of how I will ask for Gabriel's forgiveness.

I am in a very sticky situation where I have turned the problem on me instead of providing a solution for it. I did not expect that I will still end up as the victim after all those things I have asked from Gabriel. I have set a standard even he cannot surpass, all because of my pride and indifference of his actions. I am so stupid to ignore such a humble act from a billionaire.

I turn on the bed. My eyes felt heavy as I ran my hands on the sheets, wishing that he is lying next to me. I tried to shake off my thoughts and lie on my back, slowly drifting off to sleep.

*

I saw a man struggling on top of a floating deck. The waves crashing as he tried to pull both him and me. I am back in the past, a little girl that is naive and scared. I was dressed in red with a black ribbon on my hair. I look around at the rising water and couldn't help but tremble as I hold tightly on the coat of the man.

"Ela, grab my hand!" The man says as I pulled at his coat and tried so hard to rise from the water.

"Papa!" I was shocked when the words escaped my mouth, realising that this is not a dream, it was a memory.

And I am back to being a seven-year-old that's scared of the water.

I look behind me to see a boy with that blonde hair and vivid blue eyes glowing on a dark night, his voice quivering as he tried to hold unto the side, "Pa, I cannot find mama, it's so deep.."

"Hush, my children. You both will be safe." I was surprised when my Papa lift me up and pulled at the wreckage of our ship, putting me on top as the boy followed, his vivid blue eyes focused at me. I felt like I am going to slip so I held unto him and he caressed my cheeks, assuring me, "Hush Ela, it's just water. Nothing is wrong with it.

"I'll guide you both, but promise me, Ela, you won't cry, no matter what would happen to us, you'll be a good girl, oui?" "

"Oui papa..." I am tempted to brush my hands on my face to dry the tears falling, trying to stay as tough as my Papa want me to. The boy looks at me before he focused his gaze at Papa, a frown on his face, "Papa, what do you mean? Are you leaving us?" he asked. I stared at them as they look at each other. The waves suddenly get bigger and it is knocking our raft to the side, My papa holding unto it as he desperately tried to make it afloat.

"Hold on, Ella!" I turn my head my eyes widening as I see the huge wave that is coming in our way.

"Papa,"

"Ela!"

*

"PAPA!" I bolt up and sat up on my bed, grasping my chest heaving. I look around and felt the sheets, trying to assure myself that it was a dream and that I am safe inside my flat and not in the ocean. I stared at the clock beside my table and shivered, not really realising the time as I fell asleep again

*

"Lu,"

The boy glared at me and pulled me on his side, "Little Ela. What did I tell you, earlier? You shouldn't call me that."

"But Lu,"

"Frere. That's what you shall call me, alright?" I nodded my head and watched him as he fixes my dress, brushing crumbs of biscuit on my skirt and adjusting the ribbon on my hair, "You shan't stray far, we are not safe here. We need to keep looking for our home..." His eyes are hard as he insists to carry me on his back, looking down the busy street of London.

"But our home's not here, Lu. Papa's dead, Mama too. We won't find our home here. We need them but they are gone!" I tried to go down from his back yet he tightens his hand around me and continued our march down the deserted streets of London.

The smell of cinnamon filled my nose as my brother entered a dark alleyway, "Lu?!" I gasp as I registered where'd he had led us - The Manor.

White, crimson and gold stones, soft music played from the porch as we proceed further. The gates open to receive us and he puts me down on the bench, staring at me with his guilty blue eyes. I can feel the tears brimming in my eyes as sweat trickled down my brother's face and he wiped it away, annoyed. HE takes a piece of cloth from his pocket and licks his finger, wiping a smudge of dirt on my face and scrubbing it away with the cloth. I was about to speak when an old woman pulled me and I scream, "Shush, Little Ela, I'm so glad to meet you again..."

I look at my brother as he winced; unable to stand my glare as I continue to scream bloody murder. The old woman chuckled as she tucked me in her arm and I am unable to trash, my chest constricting as I tried not to cry. Once I am calm, the old woman let me stand on my own and I ran to my brother, making him stagger as I capture him in my arms. I hide my face in his shoulders while he remained on his knees. I hold him tight, "Bow down to the duchess, Ela. Mama and Papa taught you better than that." My brother stated in his stern voice but I glared at him, stepping back. I turn my gaze at the old woman and kneeled " 'Dame Rilley." I acknowledge her though I still have this sudden urge to barf on her clothes and just run out of here.

'Dame Rilley waved her hands on the air and in an instant, my brother is being pulled out of the lawn by the guards and out the mighty gates, past the dark alley and probably, out of my life.

"LU!" I screamed and tried to run.

"No! LU..." I struggle as 'Dame Rilley's hand gripped me like a claw, holding me in place as I tried to wriggle out of her bonny structure, "Lu!" I pulled my feet and stepped on her shoes. She screamed like a banshee and tumbled on the ground, struggling with her fluffy white dress as I knocked her over.

If it were only in different instances, maybe I was now rolling on the floor laughing at her for she looks like a giant stork.

I ran, passing the guards that yelled at me. I went off the sidewalk past the dark alley. I ran the opposite side of the street, leading down on the port, my legs felt like they are burning as I exerted more effort, looking up at the ships.

"LU?" I look around and was surprised to see that I'm surrounded by 'Dame Rilley guards.

No.

I stared at the water, silently crying as I watch my reflection down on it, remembering my parents and the tragedy that fell upon our family, taking their lives. I don't know what has gotten unto me but I felt the water engulfed me, making me struggle for air, trying to resurface.

"Help!" I scream, but the water choked me and I spluttered, flaying my hands around.

"LU?"

"Help..." My voice came out in a gasp, my body struggling, hands splashing furiously as I wait for my brother to save me. The water is engulfing me fast and my lungs burn of the seawater I have swallowed

"LU!"

*

"Lu!"

I bolt up awake, for the second time again. I raised from the bed and quickly dash off to the room connected to mine, breathing harshly. The feeling of water clawing at my throat made me shiver in fear and I stopped. I stared at my son, waving his arms on the air as a soft melody played on the background, coming from his cot.

"Oh, my bambino." I felt the tears fall down my cheeks before I even reached him. I take Jacob from his cot and smelled him, finding comfort with his presence on my arms.

I can't believe that I'm having the dreams again, those dreams that I can't seem to understand how they happened. My past is a mystery and most of it I have forgotten.

My mama, papa...and - and--

I stared on the wall, trying to remember my brother's name. Why did I call him Lu? Is it a nickname for Lucio? Luca? Or maybe his name is Louis?

No. Not that one.

Jacob?

But it's my son's name! And my Father, my real Papa...yet it's not the one.

I sigh, exasperated. I cannot help but wish that my past would stay there and won't disturb me anymore.

I've lost so much, everything I had in my life...my family and now my Husband.

I was brought back to the present as my baby coos, flinging his hands on my face, giving me an adorable smile. He looks at me with his father's blue eyes, so deep in colour that I can see my reflection in them, swallowing me like the ocean, doing the same thing like what his father does.

I carefully gaze at my little Gabriel. His stubborn chin, quirky nose, dimpled right cheek and his lips, a miniature of his father's. He is such his father's son. I kissed his forehead and hug him closer to me, crying silently. The pain in my heart is unbearable, the feeling of lost spiralling in me, swallowing me.

I can still remember those nights I tried to sleep wishing that I will forget this tragedy. I try to make myself comfortable with the new family I've got, the Greene's for I am their only child. They had adopted me three years after the tragedy, only then did I find hope.

I tried to look for my brother, but I can't remember his name...and now I almost had Luke.

With a determined look on my eyes, I put Jacob back on his cot and entered the closet, preparing to pack his and my clothes. I need some time, away. Mom will be delighted to have me and Jacob for the weekend. I need her advice, she will clear my mind and help me to make my decision.

As much as I want to go to Gabe right now, my past is clawing me back. I need my parents to make things clear for me, to comfort me. I have to go.

With a sigh, I grab my stack of canvas papers on the shelf and was taken by surprise when a book slip, a tattered picture floating down before it ended up on the carpet. I pick it up and squinted trying to recognize the face...

I can't believe this! It was my brother. Though as far as I am concern, I don't have any pictures of him so how come I got this?

I turned the picture on it's back only to see faded handwriting.

March 7, 1996

Gone fishing, North of London together with the City Mayor and his family, still missing my little sister. Mia Ella...you'll always be in my heart.

Lucas (Hansel) Stevens

The words are written on a dark ink, blurred due to exposure but I can still see the Hansel crossed beside the Stevens and the eager line which tried to erase it.

Lucas Hansel?

I mean Stevens,

Stevens?

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