𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡)

chapter 5

Rain poured down against the windows in rhythmic taps while the sun set in the distance.

Nathalie dug through her closet looking for the perfect outfit to wear for the night. She had a temporary room at the Agreste's and stayed there now more than her apartment. There weren't many of her nicer outfits in the closet, but what she had there would suffice for the night.

This red dress is too shiny for the event...this pantsuit isn't formal enough.

Nathalie was searching for something to wear to a party that the infamous Audrey Bourgeois was hosting in a fancy nearby hotel. Apparently, she had the whole building rented out for the night.

Gabriel could care less about going to Audrey's foolishly extravagant parties, but Audrey would have a fit if he didn't show up, and it was also a good opportunity to reach out to clients and investors, hence why he brought Nathalie along with him to such events. Nathalie didn't particularly like the events either because they were boring, and on top of that, she despised Audrey. The conceited and snobbish woman always had something to say to Nathalie, and she often had to put Audrey in her place. Nathalie didn't care for her brat of a daughter much either.

After a bit of indecisive searching, Nathalie decided on a sleek, black dress with thin straps that stopped right above her knees. She threw it on the bed along with some black heels that would match.

It had been a while since Nathalie truly dressed up, and wasn't wearing a turtleneck and pantsuit.

She got changed in the bathroom and decided that she would wear her hair down instead of up in the usual bun. She brushed her hair, then put on makeup and jewelry. She picked out some diamond earrings along with a necklace with a red stone in the middle that would accentuate the red streak in her hair. She exited the bathroom, only to find a tall figure standing in her door frame.

"I was just stopping by to see if you were ready..." Gabriel's words trailed off as Nathalie could tell he was surprised at how she looked.

"Yes, yes I am. Your outfit looks very nice."

Nathalie wanted to say that he looked very nice, but chose to compliment his outfit instead.

The scent of his cologne filled the room with a rich and warm smell that seemed as soothing as the falling rain outside. This was a smell that Nathalie wanted to wake up to every morning and fall asleep with every night. She was captivated by this man's presence but didn't express anything past the simple compliment.

"Let's head to the car then, shall we?"

Nathalie followed Gabriel as he escorted her down the stairs. The car was parked close to the house so that getting wet from the rain wouldn't be an issue. Gorilla stood by the car, ready for their arrival, and opened the back door to let the two in.

Gabriel motioned for Nathalie to get in first, and he followed in behind her. Nathalie reached to put her seatbelt on but was stopped by Gabriel reaching across her.

"Allow me." He said, buckling the seatbelt for her.

"How chivalrous of you," Nathalie responded, a slight grin painting her face.

Gabriel smiled in response as he fastened his own seatbelt while Gorilla got in the car and drove off.

The ride was mostly silent at first, but Nathalie liked it that way. She loved watching the rain fall outside and loved the way the tiny droplets gathered on the windowpane, sliding down the glass until it eventually fell into another drop, and merged with it. The two raindrops would fuse so seamlessly to create a new, bigger raindrop. Something about being in the warm and dry shelter of the car during the midst of a cold and wet storm was soothing to her.

"You know, this was making me think about our little adventure with me driving the car. I was pretty good for someone who hadn't driven in a year, don't you think?" Gabriel said, finally breaking the ice.

Nathalie snapped out of her daydreaming and turned to face Gabriel. "It certainly was an adventure, to say the least."

They finally approached the hotel where the event was being held, and the car was pulled up to the front of the building. "

I seriously don't want to go to this shit-show Audrey's hosting, but we ought to take advantage of it business-wise," Gabriel said as the two exited the car and walked up the stairs to the doors with their umbrellas. There, they were met by staff greeting them at the door and taking their coats.

Gabriel's POV

Almost as soon as the two stepped in the door, a certain woman strutted over to them in heels, wearing a flamboyant, wide-brimmed hat that looked like it came from the crowds of the Kentucky Derby.

"Gabriel! How wonderful it is seeing you here!"

"Hello, Audrey." The two exchanged greetings.

"Hello to you too," Nathalie mumbled under her breath.

"Hello you two," Andrè Bourgeois said as he walked over to where the three of them stood. Gabriel and Nathalie waved in response. "Audrey, we need to address the guests now..." the Mayor said, but was interrupted mid-sentence.

"It's my event, so I'll tell you when I want to start it!" Audrey said in a huff, dramatically walking off with Andrè behind her.

Nathalie sighed, shaking her head at the nut case that just left.

"Typical Audrey," Gabriel said, laughing. "Let's just hope she doesn't come back anytime soon, or then I'll actually be in trouble."

The two walked off to grab some drinks from the butlers, and Gabriel went to sit down alone to avoid small talk while Nathalie went to engage in business endeavors.

Gabriel didn't enjoy events like these. He often found himself having to put on a mask to be sociable so that he could entertain rich investors and wealthy advertisers for the sake of his brand. He had to hold up an image of dignity because he was undoubtedly the most influential man in Paris right now. What the naive partygoers didn't know, though, was that his wildly successful fashion brand wasn't the only place he was influential. Gabriel influenced the actions of those who were emotionally unstable when he took off the mask of his facade and replaced it with a tangible, shiny, silver one. Gabriel Agreste and Hawkmoth were both household names. One, the symbol of success, the other, the symbol of fear. Both personas were mysterious and misunderstood. Nobody truly knew Gabriel or Hawkmoth. All they knew was the impact both figures had on the world, and they praised one while dreading the other.

Word Count: 1,137

A/N: A little less than a month until Psycomedian is set to release in the U.S., the rest of season four is going to be pretty interesting.
Feel free to let me know what you thought about the chapter!