As Fredrick held the door knob, a sinister thought crossed his mind. He turned back and approached Gabriel’s desk, a new resolve in his eyes. "I will sell the company to you," he said, his voice steady. "But the price is $150 million."Gabriel didn't flinch. "I will give you $10 million," he responded coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.Fredrick was astounded. "But $10 million is a fraction of its value!" he protested.Gabriel leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Well, your company is in ruins, Fredrick. You have no leverage here. Take the $10 million or leave with nothing."Fredrick knew deep down that Gabriel was right. He couldn't make the decision alone, though. "I... I need to discuss this with my father," he stammered, feeling defeated."Do what you must," Gabriel replied, dismissing him with a wave. "But remember, this offer won't stand forever."Silently reprimanding himself for ever messing with Gabriel, Fredrick left the office, his mind in turmoil. As the door closed be
Kiara and her boyfriend, Francis, stood in a corner of the hall, their expressions sour as they watched Gabriel and Camella make their grand entrance. The couple drew the room's attention, their presence radiating confidence and elegance. Kiara couldn't hide her bitterness."Look at them," she seethed. "Gabriel and his perfect wife, stealing the spotlight."Francis, however, barely listened. His gaze was fixed on Camella, who looked absolutely stunning in her emerald green gown. He was mesmerized by her elegance and poise."Francis, are you even listening to me?" Kiara snapped, noticing his distraction."Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm listening," he replied, quickly tearing his eyes away from Camella. "I was just...checking out how different Gabriel looks."Kiara followed his gaze, tracing it back to Camella. Her eyes narrowed. "You're not looking at Camella, are you?" she accused.Francis shook his head, feigning innocence. "No, really, I was just noticing how much Gabriel changed. That suit, it
Gabriel met with Mike, his old college deskmate, exchanging warm pleasantries. "Gabriel! Long time no see," Mike greeted with a genuine smile."Mike, it's been ages. How have you been?" Gabriel asked, his tone sincere. "And what's your current situation like?”Mike sighed, attempting a smile. "Just been around. Things are... okay."Before Mike could elaborate, a female classmate interjected. "Okay? More like a disaster." She was ready to rub his reputation in the mud and eager to reduce him to nothing because she had issues with him. Mike's expression darkened. "Shut up, Carla."Carla ignored him, directing her words to Gabriel. "Mike’s father used to run a successful mine, you know. Everything was great until Mike started chasing after this girl who later became his girlfriend. But Brock, a real rich kid, took her away. When Mike confronted him, Brock had his legs broken."Gabriel's eyes widened in shock. "Mike, is this true?"Mike looked away, shame evident on his face. "Yes," he m
Gabriel noticed Mike's downcast look and decided to ask, "Mike, are you working anywhere right now?"Mike shook his head, sighing. "No, Gabriel. After everything that happened, it's been impossible to find a stable job."Gabriel reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Let's exchange contacts. I might have an opportunity for you soon."Mike’s eyes widened with a glimmer of hope. "Really? That would be amazing, Gabriel."As they exchanged numbers, Gabriel continued, "I’m in the process of acquiring a company, and I will need someone I trust to help manage it."Mike stared at Gabriel in disbelief. "You’d trust me with that, after everything?"Gabriel nodded firmly. "Absolutely. I know your capabilities, Mike. Despite what you've been through, you’re resilient and dedicated."A mixture of gratitude and determination flashed across Mike's face. "Thank you, Gabriel. I won’t let you down."Gabriel smiled reassuringly. "I know you won’t. We’ll talk more about this after the reunion
Later at the reunion, the organizer of the banquet invited Benson to take his seat, and as he did, everyone else automatically sat down, grouping themselves according to how well they were enjoying the evening. The room buzzed with conversations and laughter, the atmosphere charged with excitement and a hint of rivalry.When Gabriel and Mike emerged from the bathroom, they quickly noticed that all the seats were taken. Gabriel, unfazed, guided Mike toward the main table where Benson was seated. They sat down confidently beside him, an unexpected move that drew all eyes to them.A wave of murmurs spread through the room. People exchanged incredulous glances, clearly dissatisfied with Gabriel's boldness. Whispers of disdain and mockery filled the air."Who does he think he is?" someone muttered."He's got some nerve," another added.Benson, noticing the tension, glanced at Gabriel and Mike, curious about the audacity that brought them to his table. Gabriel met his gaze with calm composu
Meanwhile, across the room, Camella continued to watch Gabriel, pride evident in her eyes. She had always admired his dauntless spirit. Part of her wanted to go over and give him an appreciation kiss, but she held herself back, simply smiling.But Gabriel remained calm, his presence commanding respect. Camella’s smile grew as she watched him handle the situation with grace. Gabriel’s confidence and humility were reshaping the atmosphere, turning skepticism into reluctant admiration. Though it was what it seemed like for, in no time, the classmates sitting at the common table began to murmur among themselves, their earlier mockery giving way to grudging respect. However, Kiara, still feeling bothered, decided to approach Camella and seized the moment. "Camella," she said, her voice dripping with false concern, "why don’t you call Gabriel back here? He doesn’t belong at the main table, and it's embarrassing."Camella's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "
Gabriel's calm dismantling of their ridicule left an indelible mark, turning their intended humiliation into their own disgrace.Benson's face flushed with anger, but he couldn't muster a response. Gabriel had not only defended himself and Mike with grace but had also exposed the shallowness of their taunts. The room, once filled with disdainful laughter, was now cloaked in an awkward silence, the balance of power unmistakably shifted.Kiara, watching the scene unfold, felt her blood boil. She clutched Francis' hand tightly, her nails digging into his skin as she tried to contain her growing fury. Francis, noticing the intensity of her grip, freed his hand and turned to her, concern etched on his face."What's wrong?" he asked, trying to understand her agitation.Kiara, unable to contain her anger, interjected, her voice rising, "I came to this party to see Gabriel taunted and disgraced! But instead, he's soaring above everyone else! And Benson isn't doing anything while he's being di
As they left, Kiara's anger bubbled over. She had come to this reunion to see Gabriel humiliated, but instead, he had walked out with his head held high, leaving the others to ponder their own pettiness. Her plan had backfired spectacularly.In the hallway, Camella squeezed Gabriel's arm. "You handled that perfectly," she said softly.Gabriel smiled down at her. "Thank you. It's important to remember that the opinions of others don't define us."Mike, inspired by Gabriel's words and actions, felt a newfound resolve. "I don't know what I would have done without your support tonight," he admitted.Gabriel clapped him on the shoulder. "That's what friends are for, Mike. Now, let's focus on moving forward and building something better.”As Gabriel, Camella, and Mike left the hotel premises, they encountered Mr. Rhinold, a reputable senior official in the government and Benson's boss. Mr. Rhinold, who had dined with Gabriel a few days prior, spotted Gabriel from a distance and approached w