Chapter 7
Of course. Serena remembered what he taught her that night.
Every word he’d said that night was burned into her mind, a haunting whisper she couldn’t shake.
“No.” She resisted, every part of her screaming to escape. “It doesn’t have to be me. Go find someone else. I’ll pay you back, I
swear.
The image of Carina stepping out of Gabriel’s car flashed in her mind, and her resolve strengthened.
“I broke my promise to you this time,” she continued, “but I swear, if I ever see you again. I’ll stay as far away from you as possible.”
Gabriel’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Someone else?”
Serena was sure he was toying with her. “Yeah, can you let me go now?”
Gabriel’s lips curled into a slight smirk. “I don’t like being owed anything. What’s mine, I want it now.”
Before Serena could react, his lips crashed against hers in a fiery kiss, his hand pressing hard into her waist,
Serena’s heart pounded, and in a burst of resolve, she pushed him away.
Gabriel released her, watching her warily.
She noticed the slight cut on his lip and her mind raced with worry. Am I too rough? Is he going to retaliate?‘
“I said no…” she said, her voice trembling as she looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Gabriel’s gaze softened slightly as he saw her red–rimmed eyes, and to her surprise, the tension in his expression eased just a
bit
He casually wiped his mouth with a tissue before coldly saying, “Wait for me.”
With that, the room fell into a heavy silence.
Serena tried to calm her racing heart, the metallic taste of blood still lingering in her mouth
Darren, who had just entered, noticed the cut on Gabriel’s lip and stared at it in shock. “Mr. Harrington, your lip–The shouted.
Gabriel gave him a cold glance, and Darren quickly looked away
It didn’t take long for him to put it together–Serena had likely caused the injury.
“The stock in Haroy Casino is almost entirely in our hands now. Camron came to Pashew specifically to discuss the casino’s profit–sharing, Darren reported.
Gabriel’s face darkened, turning dangerous as he mocked, “Profit sharing with me? Let’s see what makes him so bold.”
At that moment, Camron was sitting in a booth, drinking with a pretty woman.
When he saw Gabriel enter, be immediately ushered the woman away and stood up to greet him.
“Mr. Harrington, it’s good to see you!” Camron said, all smiles,
Gabriel didn’t bother sluaking his hand. He walked straight to the leather couch and sat down, his long fingers pressing
144
|||
25 Tue, Dec
Chapter 7
against his temple.
69%
“You mentioned wanting to clean up the illegal dealings in the casino. After several months of restructuring, we have made some progress,” Camron said.
“But you also know, Camron added with a sly smile, “without these dealings, the profits will drop significantly.”
He pulled out a financial statement.
Gabriel didn’t even glance at the paper. “That’s all? You can leave now.”
“But… there is something. Camron stammered, his eyes flickering nervously. “I have been managing the casino, but I don’t have actual authority. The staff don’t listen to me, especially since the profits have dropped recently… So, I was wondering. could I get a share of the stocks?”
The majority of the casino’s stock had originally been his, but after Gabriel intervened and took control, it had shifted to
him.
Now, almost a year later, Gabriel hadn’t even stepped foot in the casino once.
So, despite Gabriel technically owning it, Camron still ran the place, but without stock rights.
He was just another employee, getting a salary–one that some of the staff didn’t even respect
Gabriel kept his eyes closed, silent.
Camron, undeterred, pressed on, “How about this? The equity is all yours, but what about a revenue split? Seven for you, three for me?”
Silence.
Camron summoned his courage and tried again, “Eight for you, wo for me?”
Camron glanced at Darren.
Then, he gritted his teeth, and added. “Nine for you, one for me? Plus, I’ll throw in the Haroy vineyard. 1-1 can also give you the information on the casino in the country of Faliden!”
He presented what he thought were the perfect bargaining chips, trying to ensure everything went smoothly
Gabriel let out a cold laugh. “A profit dropping, huh? And they wouldn’t listen to you? So why am I still hiring you?”
The room fell in silence again.
Camron was left speechless. Gabriel wasn’t even considering his offer.
“Mr. Brock, you’re a smart man,” Darren interjected, attempting to smooth things over. “Even if you’re just managing the casino and taking a salary, your annual income would still be 300,000 dollars or so.”
Darren knew about the shady dealings at the casino, and Cabriel knew them even better. Camron wasn’t exactly clean when it came to money.
“You’re right, Mr. Nash Camron quickly added, lowering his tone. “Forget what I said, Mr. Harrington.”
It was clear to him that Gabriel was in a bad mood today, and Cairon wisely chose not to press further, sensing the danger in doing so.
Gabriel ignored Camron’s pleading and took a slow drag from his cigarette.
2/4
14:25 Tue, Dec 24 TG G.
Chapter 7
He said. his tone calm but icy, “Pashew isn’t Haroy. Keep your cheap tricks in check. If I catch you trying your dirty tricks again, I’ll have you thrown behind bars for a few days”
Camron replied, trembling. “Mr. Harrington… 1-1 won’t do it again.”
“I want all the casino profits. The wine estate, the Faliden casino info–those are mine too.” Gabriel gave a cold smirk before rising to leave.
Camron got the message loud and clear: That waitress he wanted was with Gabriel Now.
He had no reason to fight over a woman with him–someone as powerless as her would eventually be discarded by Gabriel, and Camron would have his chance then.
He never expected that Gabriel would dig this type.
Now Camron knew why the hot woman he had sent before had failed to impress Gabriel.
As for Serena–someone who saw money but still refused to obey–Gabriel didn’t care about her
Camron was sure there were plenty of other women who would be happy to open their wallets for him. He could always find Gabriel a few more like that.
Camron figured that, if he could get on Gabriel’s good side, maybe he’d get a cut of those profits, too,
Just as Gabriel reached the door, he stopped,
“Make sure you deal with the manager who brought Serena here to play the piano,” he said coldly. “Trash like that is just wasting my investment.”
Darren was a little surprised. He’d overheard Serena talking earlier and figured Gabriel wouldn’t care much.
But now, it was clear Gabriel wasn’t as indifferent as he’d thought
“Yes, Mr. Harrington, Darren said.
The car Gabriel was driving today wasn’t the usual Bentley–it was a sleek Maybach.
Serena raised an eyebrow.
Darren quickly explained, “Mr. Harrington doesn’t like the smell of perfume lingering. The Bentley picked up the scent, so he sent it in for cleaning.”
He added, “He’s a bit of a neat freak, honestly.”
Serena hadn’t pegged him as the type to care about stuff like that, but it made sense, especially with how he’d mentioned wanting a “clean and pure college girl.”
When she slid into the car, her eyes caught a blue velvet box tossed carelessly on the back seal
It looked just like the one Carina had been flaunting on X, but Serena couldn’t tell what was inside.
She glanced at Gabriel. He was resting against the seat, eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought.
Serena settled into her seat, not wanting to disturb him.
The ride from Eternal Club to Ashport University was about eight miles, but with traffic and all the lights, it was going to take at least an hour.
3/4
14:25 Tue, Dec 24 TG G.
Chapter 7
Earlier, when Serena said she’d just head back on her own, Gabriel didn’t say anything
It was Darren who kept talking, convincing her to get in the car
He kindly mentioned how expensive a taxi would be, how there were no buses at this hour, and how they were already- headed in the same direction
The mood in the car was heavy, the kind of quiet that made Sera feel like every breath she took was too loud
Guilt weighed on her. If Gabriel hadn’t stepped in, she didn’t even want to think about what Camron might have done to her.
Gabriel had helped her, yet shed repaid him by biting him.
“Mr. Harrington, thank you for helping me today. And… I’m sorry about that bite, Serena said softly, her voice heavy with
Temont.
Gabriel didn’t respond, and she quickly took the hint, falling silent.
Her gaze wandered, almost absentmindedly, until it landed on the blue velvet box again.
A faint scoff broke the silence. “You want it?”
A
Serena blinked, startled. It took her a second to realize he was referring to the box.
“No, I don’t, she replied hurriedly.
Gabriel still hadn’t opened his eyes. “You have looked at it more than once since getting in the car.
Serena frowned, caught off guard. He hadn’t even looked her way–how could he know where her eyes had been?
Gabriel’s cold gaze flicked toward her, making her tense up. His tone was as detached as ever. “Good, because even if you liked it, you can’t have it.”
Serena silently rolled her eyes in her mind.
She wasn’t some gold–digger obsessed with whatever was in one Carina had shown off online.
that box. She was just curious because it looked exactly like the,
Thinking of Carina, Serena hesitated. Then she decided to ask a question that had been nagging at her..
Gathering an unusual burst of courage, she spoke up, “Mr. Harrington, do you get regular checkups?” Gabriel didn’t answer, but Darren, sitting in the front, quickly filled the silence.
“Every six months,” he said smoothly, as if this were just another routine question. “But this year, Mr. Harrington’s been very busy, so the checkup’s been delayed.”
Encouraged by Darren’s response, Serena nodded slightly and added, “It’s important to go regularly. In our campus, some people… have had abortions. Some got sick.”
4/4
