Visiting Hours

The redhead nurse looked at the older man sitting on an armchair, reading a big tome. "She's here again, Monsieur Agreste."

"She?" asked the man, his grey eyes training to the face of the young woman, a cold smile curling his lips.

"Yes, sir. The girl with pigtails who keeps asking about you. She asked today, too. What should I tell her?" Her frown showed her hopefulness, and so did the light blush that dusted her cheeks.

"No."

The nurse's eyes widened. "But, sir. She's been coming for a long time and you keep refusing to see her."

"I have my reasons. You're dismissed."

The young nurse sighed and went out of the room. Gabriel stared at the emptiness in front of him. He was in a small room with walls covered in shiny birch wood. There was only a double bed, a bedside table, a desk and desk chair, a small bookshelf with just a few books resting on it, a coffee table and the armchair he was sitting on. The floor was tiled with shiny bright marble, a brown rug protecting the floor under the coffee table and armchair. A big triple window adorned one of the walls of the room, filling it with bright light coming from outside. It was comfortable and had everything that he needed, but it certainly was nothing compared with what he had at the Manor.

Eventually, Gabriel stood up, put the book he was reading on the coffee table in front of the armchair and moved across the room, stopping behind the door that separated him from the waiting room, adorned with big glass squares that allowed him to see through into the corridor outside.

She was still there, sitting down on a hard seat out of his room. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. What did she want? Why did she keep on coming, stubbornly wanting to see him? Hadn't she done enough to ruin his life?

The sudden sound of the bell signaling the end of visiting time tore the silence of the room like a wound. He looked at Marinette sighing, getting up and starting to walk towards the Reception. She was holding an envelope in her hand and Gabriel wondered what it could contain. He looked at the young woman talking to the receptionist, giving her the envelope, then turning towards the door he was standing next to, sighing and walking out.

It didn't take long before the nurse came back. But by then, Gabriel was again sitting at his armchair, his cold gaze contemplating thoughtfully on the birchwood wall in front of him, his chin resting on the back of his hands, his elbows perched on his thighs.

"I thought I said that you were dismissed."

The nurse paled, but she walked towards him and put the envelope on the coffee table. "I'm sorry, sir. The girl with pigtails left this for you at the Reception. She asked me to give it to you."

"I don't want it. Burn it." He looked almost amused at the horror in the nurse's eyes.

"I couldn't possibly do that, sir. I'll leave it there. If you don't want it, you can dispose of it yourself." That said, she bowed her head slightly and rushed out of the room.

A hard smile curled the lips of the designer. He rested his back to the armchair and opened his book once more, ignoring the envelope on the coffee table. It was only when he had finished reading the book that Gabriel stood up from his armchair and picked up the envelope that Marinette had sent. He walked decisively towards the bin underneath his desk and made to throw it in there. Yet, he eventually refrained from doing it and his fingers moved to the top of the envelope, lifting up the top fold. He had a look inside and frowned. It was a letter.

He sighed. Before dumping it, he may as well see what the girl wanted. He picked up the paper inside the envelope and started to read.

"Monsieur Agreste,