Chapter 110

GABRIEL'S POV

We eventually returned to Seattle. And after the quiet and privacy of the island, that place seemed like a savage dog pound. The noises and the countless population seemed foreign. And I was immediately reminded of why I had wanted to leave in the first place. It didn't please me knowing that I had to leave in two weeks, New York was even worse. And my schedule would be even tighter. Especially because I had postponed a number of urgent meetings so that I could get the quality time with Layla. The first thing my sweet Layla wanted to do when we got back was sleep. I understood her, I hadn't really let her sleep that much the previous night, and we had been a bit occupied on the flight as well. She must have been exhausted. 

I had felt this untold joy and satisfaction when she casually went to my bedroom instead of hers. And she did the action so absentmindedly that I was convinced she didn't even really know what she was doing. Not long after getting into the bed she had fallen fast asleep. And she was in the same state currently. 

I had already informed Arden of our return to the state and he had said he'd make sure he came by within the next three or four days. After ensuring that Layla was comfortable, I kissed her forehead and walked out. I decided to get a headstart on all the work that awaited me. I had only been in my office for about ten minutes when the telephone rang. It was odd since I never used the thing. Placing down my pen, I answered the phone. It turned out to be the building's front desk. And according to them, there was a couple that insisted on seeing me. I frowned, asking her to be more exact, wondering who it could be since I wasn't expecting anyone. And I always preferred it if people stayed out of my home. Unless it was people I was uniquely close to, I liked the space to be kept private. 

" They won't say Sir, they just insist on me letting them up to see you, "

Well that didn't sound safe. They could have been thieves or maybe even hired killers. I had way too many haters, all those poor souls who wished they were nearly as good as me. All those weaklings who dreamed of being me but knew they never could. And why did they refuse to disclose their identity? It was even more strange. I asked the receptionist to ignore them, unless they said who they were, I wasn't letting them into my house. I hang up before she replied and went back to my work. But then the phone rang again and I was about to tell the lady to quit bothering me with such petty issues when someone else spoke. That voice wasn't one I was used to but I knew quite well who it belonged to. And just hearing it gave me the bloody chills. 

" Boy my bloody feet hurt! How much longer are you planning on keeping us down here?" 

I abruptly stood up from my seat, my eyes wide and my mind in jumbled pieces. I thought I was trapped in some horrific nightmare that I couldn't escape from. 

I immediately placed the phone on the desk's surface and stared at it in utter disbelief, then I walked out of my office and headed for that elevator. The ride to the ground floor seemed longer than usual but I didn't mind because I needed some time to try and gather my thoughts. I dreaded it when the doors finally opened up. Stepping out, I glanced directly towards the front desk, and my fears were confirmed. They were standing there in the fucking flesh. The two human beings I was certain had forgotten my existence because they were too busy taking pictures of their food to post on social media. 

I took in a deep breath, fixed my cufflinks and started walking over to them, tucking my right hand into my pocket as I did so. Sonia saw me approach and turned towards me completely. 

Mr and Mrs Germaine were two very unimportant people in my life, which made me wonder why they were suddenly there. I got to where they were and watched as they took me in,then my adoptive mother, clasped her hands together on her chest and smiled this broad smile. 

" Goodness Gaby! Those magazines don't do you justice!" she excitedly muttered, then she clapped her hands cheerfully and stepped forward. I didn't know what she was planning on doing so I watched her with keen eyes and a frown on my face. The frown intensified when she wrapped her arms around me in a tight and very unwelcomed embrace. Never before had I been so dumbfounded. I stood still, not returning the gesture because it would have just felt strange and forced. She finally drew back, then she fixed the strands of her brown hair and ensured they were still perfectly in place. 

" I almost didn't recognize you!" Ezra stated, then I watched him as he took a step towards me and I immediately stepped back and put up my hand to stop him. Silently asking him not to dare do what I suspected he wanted to do. 

" What are you doing here?" I asked. Ezra turned to look at his wife over his shoulder. And as he did I noticed the large suitcases the two had brought along with them. 

" Visiting you of course!" Sonia stated as if it was the most obvious thing. I couldn't even recall the last time I had seen those two. It had been a very long while and that was all I was sure about. 

" Why?!" 

It might have sounded like a silly question considering that they had literally adopted and tried to raise me for a few years, but I was being very serious. And I wasn't going to let them into the penthouse until they told me whatever was going on.

" Why? Do we need a reason to visit our own son?" Ezra asked and I shot him a bored look which signified that I didn't believe that for one second.

" Goodness! We can we talk about this some other time? These shoes are killing me, " Sonia complained. I glanced down at the too high heels she had decided to wear. That couple only had one child and its name was ' Pride' . I glanced at the elevator, then at their suitcases, then I returned my attention to the wonderful couple that clearly knew nothing about communication. You didn't just turn up at someone's house unannounced and demand to be let in. That wasn't how the world worked. You'd think they'd know that after all their travels. 

They started to walk towards it and I was at a loss for words. The fact that they were acting as if we were close didn't sit well with me. They got into the elevator and Sonia arched a brow at me, silently asking me why I was still standing there. 

" Don't mind the luggage sweetie, I'm sure Tina over there will take care of it, " she said. I heard the receptionist mutter something like " It's Tasha, " But I wasn't sure, I was busy being horrified. I finally headed to the elevator and joined them. Then I pressed the appropriate button and simply waited. Not wanting to ask them anything because I just really didn't wanna hear them talk. I felt like I was trapped in that little space with two strangers who only filled me with discomfort. Sonia and Ezra, to everyone else who followed up on their lives , were well known for their love of extravagance. Which now that I think of it, is the one and only thing that we had in common. 

We got to the penthouse and they immediately made themselves at home. Walking around and inspecting the place as if they had plans of buying it. 

" We're you going somewhere?" Ezra asked on noticing the suitcases I was yet to take to the bedroom. I actually felt tempted to lie and say yes, to just come up with a story about how I had a conference on another continent and would b away for several months. But I didn't see the point in doing so, I shook my head and briefly explained that I had just returned from a trip. 

" Always working, aren't you son,?" Ezra remarked. That son he had placed at the end of his statement really bothered me, it just didn't sound right. 

" My apologies if this comes off as rude, but why the hell are you really here?" I asked. Those two were the very last people I ever expected to visit me, even if it was to drop by for a few minutes. They were shitty parents and we all knew it. They had both come from wealthy families, which explained why they had so much money in their names to randomly waste. Sonia most likely didn't know what the term 'work' actually meant. Ezra had in the other hand out his wealth into good use, investing it into promising businesses and building an enterprise of his own. They were well off, that was for certain, but if there was one thing that couple lacked it was compassion. Bloody hell! Why do I feel like I have more in common with them than I was aware of? 

I awaited my response but it never came. All they did was ignore me, then Ezra asked me where my hospitality skills were since I hadn't even offered them a drink. 

" There's a tap in the kitchen...you have legs...are you catching on Ezra?" I told him and he shook his head. 

" Same as always I see, " Sonia commented. 

I had never been able to call them anything other than their names. I never attempted to refer to them as my parents because it had never felt quite right. They had never brought it up so I had figured they didn't care. 

" The decor in this place needs work!" Sonia commented and I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from saying something very inappropriate to her. The house was just fine, or at least it had been. Now there was dark energy floating around the entire space and they were the source. Ezra was comfortably seated in the living room with his legs crossed while his wife casually walked around the house. I went and sat on a couch opposite Ezra's, his suit looked pristine, almost as good as mine. And I wondered how many surgeries it had taken both of them to look how they did. They seemed to be afraid of being referred to or seeming old. And I was shocked to realize that Ezra seemed fit, as if he had actually been exercising. The surprises just kept on coming. He crossed one leg over the other and placed his palm on his thigh. The silence was heavy and uncomfortable, and I had other more urgent matters to tend to. 

" For the last time, what are you two doing here?" I asked. Sonia stopped her exploration of the house and I watched as she walked over to us, her red form fitting dress was actually not that bad either. She stood behind Ezra, her hands on his shoulders and a serious look on her face. 

I glanced at my watch then at them, my way of telling them that they were actually wasting my time and I didn't appreciate it. 

" Well? Are you planning on talking or did you come all the way here to admire my looks?" 

" Will you relax? Goodness, these children have utterly no appreciation!"

" Oh, I know you're definitely not talking about me dear Sony, "

Because it she was then that was by far the most hypocritical thing I had ever heard. I had absolutely no reason to be appreciative of them. They had done nothing to warrant my appreciation and the sooner they told me why they were there the sooner I could show them the way out and go back to my work. Ezra cleared his throat and decided to just get to the truth. I had actually come to realize a few years back that it was Sonia wore the pants in that relationship. They were bold designer pants but that wasn't the point. My point was that between the two of them, she held more authority in the relationship. I had hardly spent anytime with them but from the little time I had been together with them, I had realized that whatever Sonia said went. Which was why I had always went for the headstrong women, the ones who appeared completely unfazed by anything but we're more than willing to follow my every command. 

" Well, son--"

" Don't call me that, " 

He glanced at his wife and she rolled her eyes. At first I had tried to be respectful to them, but over the years that respect had disappeared completely. It was a wonder we could be in the same room and act civilized.

" Well the thing is, " he began again but didn't know how to go on. I arched a brow, getting frustrated. He attempted to tell me three more times, and I had just about lost my patience before Sonia spoke. 

" We're broke!" She blurted out, then afterwards she went and settled down next to her husband. I watched in utter shock as she fanned her face with her hand, then she leaned her head against the couch, looking speechless and ruined. I was confused, they couldn't be broke. Broke implied a state where one lacked financial stability, those two were literally known because they had always been financially stable. I stared at the devastation in their eyes and I realized that they weren't joking. So they really didn't have any money?.And I'd that was really the case then why were they at my house. What did they expect from me? 

It finally made sense, the reason they had just popped up after being absent from my life for all those years. The second their resources came to an end they seemed to have recalled that I existed. I didn't want them in my life, and all I needed was for them to leave so that I could go back to work. 

" Is that all?" I asked them and sonia seemed shaken but not surprised. If they thought I was the type to get easily swayed then they really didn't know me at all. I wasn't their back up option for when things went bad for them. 

" Excuse me?" Sonia asked and I shrugged, then I told them I had to get back to work and they looked at each other as if wondering where they had gone wrong. She complained that I wasn't even listening to them but I assured her I had heard what she had said loud and clear. 

" Now bye, " I added afterwards. It felt so good to tell them that.