Chapter Found Dead.
The person he was talking to, groaned, but managed to pull himself into a seating position, burying his face into the palm of his hand.
"Why in God's name would you even get so drunk?" Lloyd asked as he walked over to the mini bar and grabbed a bottle of water, tossing it to Gabriel who happened to catch it, once he had gotten close. "Did you happen to fight with Leonica?" Gabriel didn't answer immediately, instead, he chugged half of the water down, hoping to sober himself up.
It worked to some extent.
"She found out that I put Billy up to watching her." He simply said, but that was enough to give Lloyd the full picture.
"Bloody hell Gabriel," He hissed. "I warned you not to do that. Leonica isn't your average chick, she's smarter than them and can easily spot Billy."
Gabriel silently looked at the water bottle in his hand, trying to crack his brain for a way to make up with Leonica.
What could he do that's get her to really forgive him? He pondered, but Alas, came up with nothing but a blank board.
He wanted to blame it on the alcohol in his blood, but knew better than that. He had always been horrible with handling emotions ever since he was a kid and if you compare the current him to his younger self, on the basis of handling emotions, then it was safe to say that he had grown in that department.
"What do I do, Lloyd?" He spoke after a while, earning a scoff from his best friend.
"No, you don't get to ask me that. Especially when I kicked against this idea of yours. Christian and I warned you, didn't we."
They did. Gabriel recalled them hitting hard on the matter and trying to get him go about it.
He should have listened to them back then.
"Look," Lloyd began, gaining his best friend's attention enough for the male to look up. "The only good advice I can give you right now, is to go back to the drawing board. If you want to fix this, you have to make up some really big plans, and that's not an easy thing to do." Gabriel didn't respond, instead, his eyes shifted from Lloyd to the water bottle in his hands.
How the hell was he meant to go back to the drawing board if even that had been totally destroyed?
"Well, I've said all I wanted to say." Lloyd dusted his hands, as he prepared to leave the Gabriel's house. "If you want to save your relationship with Leonica, the next move is yours. Good luck."
And then he was gone, leaving Gabriel all alone with his thoughts for the rest of dawn.
181
Leonica woke up feeling like she had a bit of a sour throat and the sniffles. She blamed it on the weather when in reality, it was because she had soaked in the bath for far too long, but that didn't change the fact that she was sick.
Thankfully it was Sunday and she didn't need to do anything. Just as she was contemplating rooting in the folds of her duvet, the door to her room opened and Ashley, along with Owen who was carrying a small tray, walked into her room. "Mommy, you're awake." Ashley exclaimed, a big smile on his face as he jumped on the bed.
Leonica forced herself up into a sitting position. "Yeah," She said, smiling back at her son and giving him a Pat on the head, careful as not to spread the cold.
Turning to face Owen, she scanned the tray in his hand. "And what is that?"
"Breakfast," Owen smiled, walking towards her. "Ashley insisted that he come help me prepare breakfast for you since we both noticed you were running a fever.
"He did?" Leonica asked, raising her eyebrow as she turned her head back towards her son, earning a nod. "That's so sweet of you, both of you." She opened her arms and beckoned them in. "Both my boys get a hug for this." Owen placed the tray on her bed side and allowed her to pull both him and Ashley in a tight hug.
"Thanks for taking care of me, boys." She said, à bright smile on her lips as she
kissed
d them both on their
cheeks.
“Anything for you, luce mia." Owen whispered, pulling away and handing her the tray.
"Yeah, we'd do anything for you mommy." Ashley said, mimicking Owen's actions and climbing out of bed.
Leonica smiled and turned her attention to the tray, opening it to see the content.
A bowl of porridge with a cup of tea, a glass of juice and two tablets.
"I didn't know you could cook," She commented, taking a spoonful of the porridge and eating it.
It tastes more delicious than anything Leonica had ever tasted.
The power of love, she told herself, but later cringed.
"This is delicious, Owen and Ashley." She compliment and both of them grinned at her.
A few minutes later she was done with the porridge and had taken the drug.
"Let's leave mommy to rest now," Owen suggested as he picked the tray and headed for the door.
Leonica bade them goodbye for the
time being and laid back down, closing her eyes to sleep, but no less than a minute later, she felt
someone peck her lips and opened her eyes to see Owen grinning down at her.
"You could get catch a cold." Leonica gently scolded.
"I know, but that's something I'm willing to risk."
"Owen," She called out in a warning tone and he raised his hand and stepped away.
〃
"You're right, I should let you rest. Stealing one last peck, Owen raced out of the room, leaving Leonica chuckling.
t
He really was growing on her and she was surprisingly getting used to him being around.
Perhaps they should move in together-?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing.
She flayed around the side table for a while, eventually finding the device.
"Yes hello?” She presses it to her ear after answering.
"Ms. Romero," It was Kennedy.
"Kennedy, do you have a talent for calling on Sundays or what?"
"I apologize, Ms. Romero, but you know I wouldn't have called if it wasn't important."
She sighed, true. "Okay, what is it?"
"Please turn on you television,"
She glanced at the remote. It was too far away.
"I'm not around one," She lied. "What's the matter?"
"It's Mr. Vanadas, he was found dead in his office two days ago."