Chapter 3

Jeneviv immediately saw the old man who entered after Gabrylle opened the door. It was Senator Luiz Villaranda. He looked at her. He didn't know whether to smile and greet her or just let it go. He rubbed her with a scrutinizing look. he remembered that he was only wearing a pajama shirt. But he has underwear again. "Have a seat, senator." Gabrylle gestured the visitor to the overstuffed sofa. The senator looked away and approached the sofa. sat down "Did I interrupt you and your girl?" here. Interesting! he thought she was Gabrylle's girlfriend. "It's alright, sir. We're just having a healthy argument." He approached the young man and tenderly held his arm before he denied the senator's delusion. He shot her a disgusting look. But she smiled sweetly at him. die of boredom! "Did you go for a walk, senator?" Gabrielle spoke. Headed to the single sofa and threw himself down there. He sat on the armrest and put an arm around the young man's shoulders. "Gab, you must return. Everyone is waiting for you. the Villaranda Monarch needs you now more than ever." It was more like a plea than just a simple request. Villaranda Monarch? She heard of it. The powerful clan who rules Puerto Luiza Province. But what is Gabrylle's relationship with that clan? He is an Andromeda. "Isn't it too late for that kind of talk, senator? Your family disowned me a long time ago. It would be a disgrace to the Andromeda if I'll go back and serve your clan now that I'm carrying their precious name." "But you are a true Villaranda." He looked at the young man. he is a Villaranda? But how can that be? According to her research, he came from the clan of the Andromeda. Did he make a mistake? "Not anymore." "Even if you deny it over and over, you can't change the truth. You came from us." "I'm sorry, senator. but you and the Villaranda haven't had the power over me. I choose. I decide. I call the shot." The senator could only sigh seeing the uncanny disposition of his nephew. But Jeneviv saw right through him. He won't give up on Gabrylle's eccentric behavior. he is willing to risk everything in order to sway him. Gabrylle quietly picked up the champagne glass and stood up. The young man approached the floor to ceiling window. Observed the various buildings outside. he leaned against the thick glass and shot a glance at the overstuffed sofa in the living room of his unit. He still seems to see the image of Senator Luiz sitting there. The conversation they had was going back and forth in his brain. his repeated pleas for him to return to the Villaranda Mainhouse. He stopped in deep thought and looked at the door when Raxiine entered. "Athrun wants to talk to you," he said handing him the cellphone he was carrying. He immediately took it. "Chairman?" "Gab, how are you doing?" "I'm fine, no need to worry." "Alex told me you went to the funeral." "Yeah," his father, Julio Villaranda, the head of Villaranda Monarch, died just two months ago. To honor Athrun's request he went to the funeral and paid his respect. "Your family must be very delighted to see you. It has been a while since they've asked you to return. By the way, I've heard from Alex that you had a closed-door meeting with one of your immediate relatives. Senator Luiz Villaranda, is it?" "That's true." he glanced at Raxiine who was at the bar drinking. "Don't you think it's a high time for you to return and regain your position in Villaranda Mainhouse? I'm not saying you will abandon me and the Nephilims, it's not about avenging the death of your brother either. but getting the score even with your real family is something that you need to do or else you can't move forward with your life without looking back at the past." "Chairman..." "I'll have this as your special mission, Gab. Come back to me after a year, of course, with victory in hand." "Alright, can I see you before I leave?" "I will be most glad." "Thank you, Athrun." He approached Raxiine and returned her cellphone. "I can go with you. I don't have any special mission right now," he said. "Thank you, but I'm fine. Vladimir might need you at the command center." it nodded. "Yeah. Well then, I have to go back." It drained the wine inside the crystal glass. "Thanks for dropping by, Rax." He tapped his brother on the shoulder and led him to the door. *** Jeneviv left the room when she noticed that Gabrylle's guest was gone. the young man was sitting on the single set and staring blankly at the closed door. "Will you be okay?" He came here. It didn't move. But he tossed a quick glance at her. He grinned. "It's one o'clock. We haven't had lunch yet. I'm hungry. Aren't you going to cook?" it just shook its head. I guess he's not in the mood for a ride. He moved closer to the telephone table and picked up the receiver from the cradle. Dialed. He ordered a meal good for four people from the nearby restaurant. "There," he looked at her. "You will have your lunch soon. hope you enjoy it," he said standing up. He traced the room. He chased after it. "You ordered for four. Am I the only one eating there?" "Why, is there not enough?" "Are you picking a fight with me?" he snorted. "I'm greedy but I can't eat the serving for four." He ignored her until they entered the room. "I'm leaving tomorrow for Puerto Luiza. You should go home," it said. "I don't want to. I'll go with you." He declared. "You're crazy. why should I take you with me?" "Because you will marry me." "Will you stop that nonsense? I'm not going to do that. Not ever." "It's up to me to decide." He squealed before turning away. He left the room to wait for his ordered lunch. Frowning, he sat down on the long sofa. Is a girl who eats a lot a turn-off for Gabrylle? I think he needs to reduce his greed if he wants to win her heart. *** Vladimir noticed that Raxiine was not herself and was sighing constantly. this opened light beer doesn't even move. He was just staring at the computer monitor while sitting on a large swivel chair. The man left what he was doing on his desk and approached his brother. "You're spacing out again, what's wrong?" he was curious about it and took the drink he was holding. He drank. Raxiine tried to look at him and took a deep breath again. "Will the chairman's decision not change?" "Is it about Gabrielle?" "I'm worried about him, Vlad. he's all alone outside our territory." "Sending Gab out is a tough decision for the chairman. He knew the risks are enormous. But he trusts Gabrylle, so are we. Believe in him, Rax. It's time he'll show off his worth to his real family and prove them all wrong." "Can't I go with him? Make me his bodyguard. We can't risk his safety there. He needs someone to watch his back." Laughing, Vladimir put his arms around his brother. "If you weren't so mean, I'd think you were in love with Gabrylle." He teased him. "Ever since when we're in college, you're stuck with him like a possessive lover." "I'm just worried. Can't help it." It did not justify his cheating. "The fact is, Athrun ordered me to assign you as Gabrylle's close-in," he said. Returned to the job he left. "I will talk to Gab again about this. When I talked to him over the phone a while ago, he declined about having a bodyguard. But if it's you, he might reconsider." He looked at Raxiine for a moment. His face cleared up. "That's great!" He laughed. "You are in love with him." but it's just a rumor.