Aliyah watched with a frown as her father sent the $100,000 to Gabriel's account. Confirming it, Gabriel thanked him and was about to leave when Aliyah blocked his way. "And how are you going to get the other $100,000 to buy the painting?" she demanded, skepticism lacing her voice."Don't worry about it," Gabriel said calmly. He actually had the money but didn't want to draw suspicion, which was why he had asked his father-in-law for $100,000.Aliyah snorted in disbelief. "You're going to make a mockery of our family by telling them you want to buy the painting for $100,000 because I know you don't have any more money."Mikelson, sensing the tension, gestured for Gabriel to proceed. "Let it be, Aliyah. Gabriel knows what he's doing."The crowd watched in anticipation as Gabriel confidently approached Walter and Benson, completing the payment with a few taps on his phone. Walter's and Benson's smug expressions turned into shock as the transaction went through.Aliyah stood there, bewil
As Mr. Norberg and the other experts continued to scrutinize Gabriel with unreadable expressions, the tension in the room grew thicker. Sensing an opportunity to undermine Gabriel, Benson raised his voice, his words dripping with scorn."Looks like Gabriel's little charade isn't fooling anyone," Benson sneered, casting a knowing glance around the room. "Trying to pull off some grand scheme to make himself look like a hero. Pathetic."The murmurs of agreement spread like wildfire among the onlookers, each voice adding to the chorus of doubt and skepticism directed at Gabriel. Faces twisted with contempt turned towards him, their eyes alight with mockery."He thinks he can outsmart us all," one person scoffed, shaking their head in disbelief. "But we see right through him."Gabriel stood his ground, his expression unwavering despite the onslaught of ridicule. He knew he had to stay strong in the face of adversity, even as doubts threatened to consume him."Come on, Gabriel, admit it," an
As the realization of the painting's value sank in, the room fell silent, the air thick with disbelief. Gabriel's father-in-law stood frozen, his eyes wide with astonishment. Aliyah and the others stared at the painting, their jaws hanging open in shock."$50 million... I can't believe it," Aliyah whispered, her voice barely audible.Gabriel remained composed, his confidence unwavering despite the chaos around him. "I told you there was more to this painting than met the eye," he said, his tone calm but firm. "What can you all say now, doubting Thomas?” He chuckled, glancing at each of them that had said something bad about him earlier. The experts continued their examination, their excitement palpable as they uncovered new details and insights about the painting. Gabriel watched with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that his intuition had been proven right.As the room buzzed with excitement, Gabriel's detractors began to realize the gravity of their mistake. The bald middle-aged man
Gabriel turned to his father-in-law with a smile. "Thank you for believing in me, father-in-law."Mikelson clapped him on the back. "You’ve made us all proud today, Gabriel."As the room buzzed with congratulations and excitement, Aliyah approached Gabriel, her earlier skepticism completely gone. "I misjudged you, Gabriel. You truly have an incredible eye for art."Gabriel smiled warmly at her. "Thank you, Aliyah. I just wanted to do right by our family."Mr. Rhinold shook Gabriel's hand. "If you ever find another hidden gem like this, Gabriel, you know where to find me."Gabriel nodded, his confidence bolstered by the day's events. "I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Rhinold."As the crowd slowly began to disperse, Gabriel's father-in-law, Mikelson, approached him with a grateful smile. "Gabriel, once I receive the payment from Mr. Rhinold, I will transfer half of it to you. You deserve it."Gabriel shook his head, a humble smile on his face. "No need for that, father-in-law. Keep it. Consid
Mikelson, watching nervously, finally spoke. "Gabriel, maybe hear him out."Aliyah added, "It could be important." She forced a smile at Brock, who returned it in a sly manner.Gabriel glanced at them, then back at Brock. "Make it quick."Brock's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Let's discuss this in private."The crowd's murmurs grew louder, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. Gabriel's decision now hung in the balance, leaving everyone on edge, wondering what Brock's offer could be and how Gabriel would respond.With a cold stare, Gabriel responded, "I'm not stepping away from my family for this."Brock's smile faded. "This isn't a negotiation, Gabriel. You might want to reconsider."Gabriel's jaw tightened. "And you might want to learn some respect."As the two men stood locked in a silent battle of wills, Mikelson and Aliyah exchanged worried glances. Then Brock, deciding to act nice for a minute, proudly said, "I will overlook your bluntness, man." He glanced at Mikelson, who g
The room remained silent, the tension palpable. Gabriel's defiance against Brock's arrogance left a mark on everyone present, his resolute stance resonating deeply even amidst the worry and uncertainty.Finally, Mikelson sighed, a mixture of admiration and concern in his eyes. "I hope you're right, Gabriel. For all our sakes, I hope you're right."Just then, Brock's bodyguards came to invite Gabriel. As Gabriel left with them, the room remained heavy with tension. Mikelson sighed deeply, his worry etched into every line of his face. "I hope Gabriel knows what he's doing," he muttered under his breath.Aliyah, her voice trembling slightly, added, "I can't help but feel like this is going to end badly."Benson and Walter, emboldened by Gabriel's departure, exchanged smug glances. "Looks like Gabriel's in for a rough ride," Benson remarked with a smirk.Walter chuckled darkly. "He thought he could stand up to Brock? Foolish move. He's going to regret crossing him."Aliyah shot them a dis
As Gabriel stood with his family, some onlookers began to murmur amongst themselves, their disbelief palpable."There's no way he took down Brock's bodyguards alone," one man scoffed, shaking his head."He's just asking for trouble," another chimed in. "Brock won't let this slide. He will come back and break Gabriel's wings for sure."Aliyah heard their whispers and glared at them, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "We all don't know Gabriel like we think we do. I think he is stronger and smarter than we think."One of the skeptics, a man with a sneer on his face, replied, "Words are cheap. Brock is a powerhouse in this city. Gabriel won't last long against him."Mikelson stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Gabriel has shown time and again that he's capable of handling himself. Doubt him if you wish, but don't underestimate him."Gabriel, hearing the commotion, turned to address the crowd directly. "If Brock wants to come after me, let him. I'm not afraid. I've dealt wit
Brock stared at Gabriel, hatred oozing from every pore as he watched Gabriel approach. He muttered to himself, "Those bodyguards must have taught him a severe lesson. That's why he's coming to apologize."When Gabriel reached him, he stood silently, meeting Brock’s gaze without a hint of apology. Infuriated by Gabriel’s boldness, Brock's lips twisted into a scornful expression. "Do the needful before I turn into a beast," he ordered.Gabriel lifted his brows, feigning confusion. "And what, exactly, is the needful?""Apologize to me, fool," Brock yelled. "Isn't that why you came here?"Gabriel's face morphed into a mocking expression that took Brock aback. "Actually," he said, "I was thinking of apologizing for taking down your bodyguards, but now I realize that was a stupid thought."Brock's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "You’re a joker. You couldn’t have taken my men down."Gabriel leaned forward, his voice calm but piercing. "So where are they then?"Brock laughed, his amusement tinge