Chapter 3 Chapitre 3

Chapter 3

Léna found herself at the café chosen by Gabriel, a small, discreet address, far from the places she was used to going. He had specified that it would be a quiet place, where they could talk without attracting prying eyes. But when she arrived, Léna wondered if she had not made a mistake in agreeing to come. She didn't know what Gabriel really wanted from her, and her father's warnings still echoed in her mind.

The waiter brought her a black coffee which she sipped, struggling to contain her apprehension. She looked out the window, observing the people passing by, trying to convince herself that she had the situation under control. However, the idea of seeing Gabriel again disturbed her more than she wanted to admit.

Finally, she saw him enter the café. An imposing, almost magnetic aura emanated from him. Gabriel looked around the room, spotting her instantly. As he approached her, he gave a smile that seemed to want to put her at ease, but Léna couldn't help but remain on her guard. She felt that with this man, every gesture and every word was carefully calculated.

He sat down across from her, adjusting his dark jacket slightly. "Thank you for coming, Lena," he said softly, his low voice ringing with a certain warmth.

She nodded, trying to hide her confusion. "I don't have much time, Gabriel. So what did you want to talk about? »

He looked at her for a long time, as if trying to decipher her every thought. "I know this all seems strange to you. But I wanted to talk to you without the weight of your family's gaze. I would like you to have a more... complete vision of the situation. »

She narrowed her eyes, intrigued but wary. "The situation? What are you talking about, exactly? »

Gabriel placed his hands on the table, observing her with unsettling intensity. "Lena, you grew up in a world where everything seemed perfectly ordered. But there are aspects of this universe that your father never showed you. Things he prefers to keep hidden, even from you. »

She felt her heart beat faster. "My father doesn't have to hide anything from me," she replied, a hint of irritation piercing her voice.

Gabriel smiled. " Maybe. But that doesn't stop certain secrets from existing, Léna. You are more involved in all of this than you think. »

She frowned, a mixture of anger and confusion washing over her. "Why are you here, Gabriel? Why this sudden interest in me? »

He was silent for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully. "Because I find you...fascinating." You are different from anything I have ever known. And, in a way, you are connected to matters that concern me. »

Lena felt a blush rise to her cheeks, surprised by the compliment, but she didn't want to be distracted. "Any matters that concern you? Be clearer. »

Gabriel leaned towards her slightly, closing the distance between them. "Your family and mine have a common history, a history marked by rivalries and alliances. I think you have the right to know what is going on around you, but it is not easy to explain. »

She crossed her arms, fixing him with a determined look. "Are you talking about rivalries? And what alliances are you talking about? »

He smiled, an enigmatic smile which accentuated the element of mystery around him. "Everything is not good to know at once. I just wanted to start to shed some light on some things, give you some context. »

Léna looked at him, torn between frustration and intrigue. She felt that he was manipulating her, that he only said what suited him to arouse her curiosity. And yet, despite herself, she felt captivated, attracted by this man whom she did not understand.

She took a deep breath, trying to gain composure. "Listen, Gabriel. My father asked me to stay away from you. And I know there's a reason behind it. So if you want me to stay, you're going to have to be honest with me. »

He laughed lightly, almost imperceptibly, and an amused glint shone in his eyes. "You are definitely much more direct than I had imagined. Very well, I will tell you more. But first, I'd like to know something... How much do you actually know about your family's history? »

Lena narrowed her eyes. "Which anyone knows, I suppose. My father built an empire, he is respected and... maybe feared, sometimes. But this is business, and I had nothing to do with any of it. »

Gabriel shook his head gently. "That's where you're wrong, Lena. You have a lot more to do with all of this than you think. You are a Moreau, and that has meaning, whether you like it or not. »

She remained silent, trying to understand where he was going with this. There seemed to be something deeper, more personal in what he was saying, and she wondered for a moment if she hadn't been too quick to dismiss her father's warnings.

"I'm not here to scare you," he said calmly. "But I think you deserve to know the truths behind the world you grew up in. And I would love to be the one to help you discover them. »

She felt her defenses shake under the weight of his words, but she kept an impassive face, refusing to show him that he was getting to her.

"Why me? » she finally whispered, almost in spite of herself. "Why does this matter to you so much? »

Gabriel looked down for a moment, before raising them to look into hers. "Because I recognize myself in you, Léna. You grew up in the shadow of a powerful man, just like me. And just like you, I sought to understand the complex world in which I operate. We may have more in common than you think. »

She stood frozen, absorbing these words. Part of her refused to believe that they could be so similar, but another, quieter part, recognized the truth. She had often felt this weight, that of her father's expectations, of the responsibilities that he seemed to want to pass on to her without ever saying more.

She looked away, as if to protect herself from the intensity of their exchanges. "You know, Gabriel...maybe you're right. Maybe I should learn more. But I'm not sure I can trust you. »

He smiled, a gentle, almost reassuring smile. "It's normal. I'm not asking you to trust me right away. I just ask you to keep an open mind. »

She nodded, her heart beating even faster. Despite herself, she was seduced by this man, by his confidence, by the mystery he represented. He aroused contradictory emotions in her, a mixture of attraction and distrust.

They spent a few more minutes talking about everything and nothing, the tone of the conversation softening little by little. Gabriel was charming, funny, and Léna found herself smiling, almost forgetting her father's warnings. But she remained vigilant, aware that this man, charismatic as he was, represented a dangerous enigma.

When it was time to part ways, Gabriel stood up, bowing slightly to say goodbye. "I hope we can see each other again soon, Lena. Maybe next time you'll be ready to learn even more. »

She nodded, her heart heavy with unresolved questions. She knew she had crossed a point of no return by agreeing to this appointment. As she left the cafe, she couldn't help but take one last look back, seeing him looking at her, a slight smile on his lips.

Deep in her heart, Léna felt that this meeting had just changed something in her. She didn't yet know if she had made the right choice, but she was ready to go further, to seek the answers he had promised her.