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Chapter 4: Gabriel Bello

***"Why did you leave me, Xander?" A woman's voice softly whispered as tears flowed down from her cheeks. Her look was weary, with her eyes dropping.

***Oh, don't cry, please. I didn't mean to leave." Xander pleaded with pain in his heart. He tries to get close to her, but for every step he takes forward, she steps back.

***She was five meters away from him, standing outside the bakery that sells her favorite pastries. She's facing in his direction, her lips trembling from the words she couldn't tell him.

***Please, Rian, listen to me, Xander begged while trying to get close to her.

***"Don't come close. I hate you. I loathe you, Xander!" Rian blurted as her tears gushed from her eyes. She turned her back on him, running away. Xander was still. Her words cut deep into his soul. She hadn't gone far when he heard a loud bang. In an instant, he saw her slowly fall to the ground. She laid on her belly, and from under her flowed a crimson-red color of hot blood.

"Rian!" Xander blurted after waking up from a nightmare. His face was dripping with sweat as he caught his breath. He turned pale from nervousness. After a moment of realization, he massaged his forehead, combed his hair with his hand, and laid back again. He looked at the clock in his room and saw that it was only 3 hours before the party. He fell asleep as soon as he arrived home from the meeting. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. He heard footsteps from the stairs, and after a couple of seconds, he saw a man's shadow standing in front of his bedroom door.

"How the fuck did you come in?" Xander abruptly got up from the bed. He switched the lights on and saw a familiar face. It was Gabriel, his best friend.

"I know your password, you idiot, Gabriel replied, looking straight into Xander's eyes. "So you're still dreaming about her," he remarked.

Xander sat on the edge of the bed, facing his friend. "How'd you say so?"

Gabriel scoffed. "I heard you call her name.

With brows furrowed, Xander asked, "Just how long have you been inside my house?"

Gabriel smiled naughtily as he crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame. "Long enough to be able to see you having a nightmare."

"Don't you know that what you're doing is called trespassing?" Xander remarked, changing the topic.

C'mon, bro, how can you call me a trespasser? I'm your friend." Gabriel pouted. "I'm the one who took you home six years ago when you were completely wasted inside a club after drinking so much because of some woman, Gabriel said teasingly. Tsk, you hurt my feelings, Alex."

Ugh, shut up, will you? Don't be up to that shameful past." Xander groaned.

"Your only friend whom you haven't seen for three years has come to visit you right after his plane landed, and you even called him a trespasser. Hmph, you really hurt my feelings, Alex." Gabriel whimpered.

Gabriel Mendozais Xander's one and only friend, whom he met in a bar he frequented. Both were broken-hearted when they met each other. Knowing each other's circumstances, they kind of sympathized with one another and became fast friends. Gabriel called him Alex after knowing that almost everyone around him calls him Xander. He said he wanted to be the only person in his life to call him differently. Xander cringed when he heard that, but let him do it anyway.

Besides being best friends, they're also business partners. Gabriel owns the Metarise Co., which is responsible for supplying steel for Xander's company. The reason for Gabriel's return from abroad was the party that is going to be held tonight. Conglomerates related to the construction field, not only from Spain but from around the world, are invited. This is a great chance to make possible partnerships and draw in investors. Of course he came to help Xander because he knew how poor his communication skills are. He might end up fighting with one of the guests for not signing a contract.

"I heard you invited Mr. Clements for tonight's party." Gabriel sipped from the wine offered by Xander.

"Yeah, I've sent him an invitation, but I don't expect him to come," Xander replied.

"Why not?"

"The company's condition isn't the same as before. It wasn't as thriving when Pops was still in charge. He might not find it worthy of checking out or investing in it."

"That's why you should strive to restore it and not make it end in your generation, Gabriel encouraged.

"From the moment I took the position of CEO, investors who are close to my stepbrother pulled out one by one. I was about to get that Valenciano man to sign a contract, but he pissed me off, so the signing was cancelled bitterly."

Oh, I heard that incident from Diego, Gabriel recalled. "But even so, how could you choke him till he passed out, man?

"Haa, I don't know anymore. I get to have the company and everything I desired, but something's lacking." Xander looked away.

Gabriel sighed. He knew what Xander meant by those words. He just can't say any words to comfort him now, for he has said them countless times to him before.

Oh, before I forget, Liliana called me when I was at the airport. She might be coming to tonight's party."

"That's right. I completely forgot."

"Alex, I know you don't love her, but you should treat her right."

"I'm being nice to her, but not nice enough for her to get funny ideas. We entered this relationship purely contractually. You know that I...

Okay, okay, I know, Gabriel interrupted.

Xander's POV

I dreamed of her again—a nightmare, to be precise. I always get to dream of her being shot or killed. The guilt of not being able to fulfill my promise to protect her has been eating me alive for six years. Back then, I was young and immature. I have my own priorities and goals, and I would seize any chance given to me to accomplish them. It was a tough choice for me to leave her behind, but I had to choose that time. I long to see her and explain everything that happened and why I left her. I searched for her after reaching my goal and becoming the owner and chairman of G&G, Inc., but I could no longer find her. I know she hates me. Knowing the person she is, I won't get her forgiveness in this life. Regardless of it, I still want to see her and tell her I'm sorry. These thoughts circulated in my mind when I saw someone standing at the entrance of the door. Shit, it was Gab. It's been three years without his corniness and cringiness. He must have come back for tonight's party. Yeah, that's right; he should be there since I'm not good at human communication. Also, I will be appearing with Liliana; Gab must be there so that she won't stick too much to me. She gets clingy to me in other people's presence, which I don't enjoy. In my life, I only allow two woman to come very close to me. It is my mom and the woman I miss the most, Rian.

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