Cards, Secrets, and Family Ties
The modern, sleek kitchen of Felix's villa was thick with a romantic tension that felt like it was about to snap. Gabriella was still pinned against the marble counter, her heart racing as Felix leaned in, his gaze fixed on her lips.
Suddenly, the heavy click of the front door echoed through the house.
Gabriella gasped and shoved Felix's chest. "Someone's here!" she whispered, her face turning a bright shade of crimson. Felix just smirked, unfazed, his eyes dancing with mischief as he finally let her go.
A Surprise Reunion
Before Gabriella could even fix her hair, the door swung open by Roselette. Otherside Nancy is standing, Felix's vibrant sister, clutching the hand of a bubbly 4-year-old girl named Scarlet.
Nancy stopped dead, her eyes widening as she saw the familiar faces in the room. "Wait... you're all here?"
Frederick walked in from the living room, holding a deck of playing cards and a massive grin. "Nancy! It's been far too long since we sat down for a game."
Felix walked into the hallway, looking baffled. "Nancy? I thought I told you—"
"You ran off before I could finish telling you I was already in town!" Nancy laughed, waving him off.
Within minutes, the tension of the "almost-kiss" was replaced by the chaotic energy of a family reunion. They gathered around the large oak dining table, the sound of shuffling cards filling the air. Nancy, Frederick, and Roselette sat together, looking like they had stepped back in time.
The Hidden Past
"I think the last time I saw you, you were still in high school," Roselette said, looking fondly at Nancy.
"Yeah," Nancy replied with a wink. "I used to always come over to play with Fiona. And I remember a certain someone..." She leaned in and whispered loudly into Roselette's ear, "Coming over to 'see' Brother Frederick while making up excuses about needing help with homework!"
Roselette blushed and playfully pinched Nancy's ear. "You little troublemaker!"
Gabriella and Felix stood on the sidelines, exchange confused glances. Old friends? Since when? Felix was currently occupied with Scarlet, who was perched on his lap, pulling at his bandaged arm. "We're old friends," Frederick explained, laying down an Ace.
"More like family," Nancy added, her eyes sparkling as she glanced toward Gabriella. "And if my brother finally marries Gabriella, we'll be even closer."
Gabriella stunned into silence, her face heating up again. Felix let out a loud, awkward cough, desperately trying to focus on the toddler in his arms.
"So, Gabriella," Nancy pressed, her voice teasing as she played her hand. "Do you actually like my brother, or is he just annoying you?"
Gabriella looked at Felix, who was suddenly very interested in his sister's cards. She felt a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe a little of both," she whispered.
"Nancy! Look at your cards!" Felix groaned, trying to change the subject, sending the whole table into a fit of laughter.
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The afternoon sun began to dip, casting long, orange shadows across the polished marble floors of the villa. Gabriella stepped out onto the balcony to take a call, her oversized white hoodie fluttering in the breeze. It was her Aunt Fiona.
The Weight of the Past
"Gabriella! Did Nancy arrive?" Fiona's voice was energetic over the phone.
"Yes, she's here with Scarlet," Gabriella replied, her voice soft.
"That girl! She didn't even tell me she was coming yet," Fiona laughed. "Don't tell her I'm on my way—I want to surprise her! But tell me... how is Felix?"
Gabriella glanced through the glass door at Felix, who was sitting with the family. "He's okay, Auntie. Recovering."
Fiona's tone shifted, becoming hesitant and serious. "Gabriella... I'm not pushing you, but you need to decide. Felix is a good match for you. I wouldn't have set up that blind date if I didn't believe he was the one."
Gabriella leaned against the railing, her heart heavy. "I know he's good, Auntie. But... I already believed in someone once. I gave my heart away and it was shattered. How can I trust again? How can I believe that everyone isn't just wearing a mask?"
She didn't notice a shadow moving near the door. Felix had come to find her, but he stopped just behind the curtain. He heard her words—the fear, the trauma, the lingering pain of her ex's betrayal. His expression darkened with a quiet understanding. He didn't want to intrude on her vulnerability, so he silently turned and walked away.
"You have to come out of that fear, Gabby," Fiona insisted gently. "Not everyone is the same. Some people protect you without ever asking for credit."
Gabriella wiped a stray hair from her face. "What do you mean?"
"Do you remember 2 years ago ?" Fiona asked. "When Robert Emilda almost succeeded in taking over the majority shares of Gabriella Enterprises? If I hadn't shown up at the exact right second. We would have lost everything."
Gabriella's breath hitched. She remembered that day—her father went to prison and their bank accounts are froze. "How did you get there so fast? You were supposed to be in Europe."
"I was," Fiona whispered. "But Felix called me. He tracked the illegal transfers Robert was making. He's the one who told me to fly back. He's the reason your family still has a name, Gabriella. He didn't want you to know because he didn't want you to feel like you owed him anything."
A single, hot tear escaped Gabriella's eye and rolled down her cheek. "What...?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and overwhelming emotion.
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The neon lights of Dona's gaming room flickered, casting a purple glow over her face. She was in her element, fingers flying across the controller, her casual oversized graphic tee and messy bun showing she was settled in for the night. Suddenly, a notification popped up on the screen.
A player had just logged in. The ID: HotJas.
Dona's heart skipped a beat. A slow smile spread across her face as she whispered, "Ajax..."
A Voice from the Shadows
Before she could even type a greeting, her phone buzzed. It was him. She answered immediately, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and frustration.
"Ajax? Where have you been this long? No calls, no visits... I was so worried!"
On the other end, Ajax's voice was like velvet, deep and calm. "I told you before I left, Dona. Secret agent training isn't exactly a vacation. We weren't allowed to contact anyone."
"How are you doing?" she asked, her voice softening with genuine concern.
"I'm good," he replied, his tone turning tender. "And you?"
"Good," she whispered.
"Let's meet, Dona. Tomorrow, 8:00 PM at the park."
Dona sat up straight, her eyes widening. "When did you get back?"
"Today," he said.
"What if we meet now?" Dona blurted out, immediately biting her tongue in embarrassment.
Ajax chuckled, a low, melodic sound. "I just arrived. I need time to... prepare."
"Prepare what?" she asked, but he was already changing the subject.
"I have to go now. Bye, Dona."
As the line went dead, Dona scrambled to text Gabriella: Ajax is back.
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The Airport Confession
Across the city at the airport, the air was cold and smelled of jet fuel. Ajax stood at the terminal, looking sharp in a black tactical jacket that showed off how much he'd filled out during training. His friend and fellow trainee leaned against a luggage cart beside him.
"Finished talking to your girl?" his friend teased.
Ajax smiled and shut down his laptop.
"You already failed the confession once, bro," his friend continued. "You have to make it count this time."
Ajax's smile faded as a memory hit him. Two years ago, the night he was leaving for training. He had arranged everything—a beautiful goodbye, a perfect confession. He had told his friend to switch the lights on at the exact right moment.
But the lights failed. The park stayed dark. Dona was crying, furious that he had kept his departure a secret until the last second.
"You don't even know how to say a proper goodbye!" she had screamed. "Why hide it? Why tell me at the last moment?"
"Dona, they informed me late, I—"
She had turned and walked away before he could finish. Then, the lights finally flickered on, illuminating an empty park. Ajax had sighed, the confession ruined.
Back in the present, Ajax smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "This time, I won't fail."
"Wait," his friend asked, dragging his trolley as they walked toward the exit. "Who fell in love first?"
Ajax stopped, his face becoming devoid of emotion. "She did. And she was the one who confessed to me first."
His friend stopped, totally confused. "What? Then you guys are already lovers, right? Why do you need to confess again?"
Ajax gripped the handle of his suitcase, his voice a chilling whisper.
"Because I rejected her back then."
His friend gasped. "What? Then when did you fall for her?"
Ajax paused at the sliding glass doors, looking out at the city lights. "Two years ago," he whispered. "When we were in the middle of a mission."
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The Shower Gaze & The Bitter Truth
The evening air at Felix's mansion was cool, but inside, the atmosphere was thick with unspoken feelings. The mansion was a masterpiece of glass and steel, with marble floors that echoed every heartbeat.
Gabriella's parents were standing at the grand entrance, ready to head home. Nancy smiled at Gabriella, patting her shoulder. "Now that I'm here, I'll take care of my brother. You can go home and rest, Gabriella."
Gabriella nodded, her mind a bit foggy. "Okay... let me just grab my phone first."
She searched the living room and the kitchen, but it was nowhere to be found. Finally, she remembered—she had left it in Felix's bedroom earlier. She hurried upstairs and pushed the door open.
She froze.
Felix had just stepped out of the ensuite shower. He wasn't wearing his usual sharp suits; he was only wearing a low-slung white towel around his waist. Droplets of water glistened on his skin, trailing down his perfectly defined abs and toned chest. His damp hair fell over his forehead, making him look dangerously handsome.
Gabriella's heart did a triple flip. She slammed her eyes shut, her face turning a deep shade of scarlet.
"Are you here to peek at me, Gabriella?" Felix's voice was a low, playful rumble.
"I—I came for my phone!" she stammered, holding it up like a shield. "I left it here earlier."
She slightly parted her fingers to peek through her hands, trying to see his expression. He was walking toward her. She quickly looked away again. "Can't you wear... anything?"
Felix narrowed his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "Excuse me? This is my room, and I just got out of the shower. You're the one who barged in to peek."
Gabriella bit her lip, annoyed and embarrassed. "I am not peeking!"
But Felix didn't stop. He moved so close she could feel the damp heat radiating from his body. Gabriella swallowed hard, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor. Felix leaned in, his shadow towering over her. She squeezed her eyes shut again, her breath hitching as she waited for... something.
Creak. The sound of a wardrobe door opening behind her made her eyes snap open. Felix was reaching past her, calmly grabbing a pair of black silk pajamas. He leaned into her ear, his breath warm against her skin.
"What were you thinking, Gabriella? Something... interesting?"
She turned bright red, shoved his chest with all her might, and bolted out of the room like her life depended on it. Felix watched her go, a triumphant smile lighting up his face.
The smile didn't last long.
A minute later, Felix's phone buzzed on the nightstand. He picked it up, his expression instantly turning serious as he saw his assistant's ID.
"Talk to me," Felix commanded.
"Sir, I finally got the decrypted files from the precinct," the assistant's voice sounded shaken. "The car accident four years ago... the one that killed your parents. It wasn't an accident. The brakes were tampered with. Someone did it on purpose."
Felix's world stopped. His hand tightened on the phone until his knuckles turned white. "What?"
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To be Continued.....
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