Hell's Smitten (Gordon Ramsay x Reader)

Chapter 130- Protégé

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

My blood runs cold. Abel notices the drastic shift in my demeanor and follows my gaze to his parents, then Kalyani. His body tenses against mine.

"Gordon, is filming over?" Abel asks quietly as the crowd mills around us, not taking his attention from the unfolding scene. Kalyani glances over, notices us, and turns back to Abel's parents, hurriedly finishing her tale.

"It is," Gordon responds, having seen Kalyani as well. His eyes narrow and he pulls off his mic, with Abel and I following suit.

"Do you need me for anything else?" Abel asks as we hand our mics to Gordon.

"Don't worry about me, young man," Gordon says, nodding him toward his family as another bustling group approach Gordon through the crowd for pictures.

I'm not sure which is worse–following Abel toward his family that must hate me or staying with Gordon and further proving Kalyani's gossip. After a moment of thought, I decide I need to stick with Abel when handling his family, especially if I hope for them to accept me eventually.

Abel takes long strides with me on his heels and Kalyani gets caught between him and his family before she can make her escape. She doesn't look malicious. If anything, she looks sad and anxious. I resolve to stay quiet unless spoken to, offering my silent support to Abel.

"What are you telling my family?" Abel asks harshly, his eyes dropping to the mic still clipped on her jacket. She notices his look, and her face drains of color.

"She told us enough. Abel, they have played you a fool," Atlan says, his posture intimidating and his voice tinged with simmering fury.

"Darling, this isn't the place-" Evelyn starts, placing a hand on her husband's arm. He jerks it away, his nostrils flaring.

"Is it true?" Jane asks quietly, her eyes flitting between Abel and me. She is the only one of his family who can stand to see me.

"Let's talk outside," Abel says. A hand on Kalyani's shoulder stops her from taking this as a cue to leave. She looks up at him like a rabbit caught in a trap.

"She respects you and doesn't want your reputation ruined, Abel," Evelyn whispers, trying to keep from drawing attention, though I feel many pairs of eyes on us already.

"If she respected me, she would have never gossiped about me to my family. Now come with me, all of you. And Kalyani, lose the mic," he commands.

As soon as Kalyani sets her mic aside, Abel leads the group through the kitchen and toward the side door that accesses the outside of the building.

"Wait here," Abel instructs his family.

Atlan looks further enraged by being asked to stay inside.

"There better be an explanation for this," Atlan says gravely, while Abel's mother and sister are at a loss for words.

"I want to talk to Kalyani and (Y/N), then I promise to answer your questions," Abel says before opening the door and stepping outside.

We follow Abel out into the alleyway beside the building. I take my place beside him, and Kalyani stands across from us.

"Abel, listen-" Kalyani starts as soon as the door closes, looking anxious.

"You listen, Kalyani. Have I ever come across as oblivious?" He asks, his light blue eyes sharp.

She seems frozen at first, then shakes her head.

"Don't you think I would know my fiancée was dating another man?"