"Almost Like A Family" (Miraculous Gabenath)

Chapter II

Nathalie felt Gabriel pick her up, but immediately fainted. After a while she regained consciousness again. Then the man was already climbing the stairs to the first floor of his residence.
-I'm sorry, sir... - she said in a sad and weak voice. - I ruined everything...
-You didn't break anything. It's my fault. I should come up with a plan where you don't get hurt. Forgive me.
Then the woman lost consciousness again for a moment. She woke up in her bed. Gabriel was sitting next to her, taking her temperature. When he saw that his assistant had opened her eyes, he handed her the cup and said with a slight smile:
-Here, I made you some tea.
Nathalie couldn't believe her eyes. Her boss, who was usually cold and aloof to her, was now smiling at her. Plus he made tea for her. Nathalie felt herself slowly turning red.
-Um...T-T-Thank you...Sir very much.
-You're welcome, Nathalie. And maybe call me by my name. After all, we are a team. You don't have to speak to me so formally.
-O-Okay... Gabriel...
-I'm glad, now rest a bit. Nathalie was very surprised by the boss's behavior. He had never been so kind and caring towards her.
-Maybe something has changed between us? - she thought. - Maybe I have some chance with him?

A few days have passed. Nathalie slowly recovered. One day, when she felt well enough to walk on her own, she went to the kitchen to make coffee for herself and Gabriel, as she usually did. She found the man standing by the window and looking at his son, who was currently sitting in front of his mother's monument. She handed him the cup and smiled at him, and he smiled back. However, he quickly became serious because Adrien turned towards them, and Gabriel didn't want his son to think who knows what. Nathalie waved at Adrien and he did the same.
-Do you think I should tell him? - he asked in a serious voice.
-I think so. The longer you hide it in front of his son, the worse it will be when he will discover it himself.
-You're right. - Gabriel replied, then came out and sat next to the boy.
-Adrien... I... I have to tell you something important.
-I think I already know what it's about.
-Really? - asked the slightly scared man.
-Yes. You and Nathalie are close. If you feel happy with her, then in my humble opinion she is part of our family.
These words angered Gabriel, who shouted:
-How can you think that anyone can replace your mother for me! She lives as long as she is in our hearts! After these words, he returned home nervous.
-What happened? - she asked sadly Nathalie.
-Nothing. - the man replied briefly and slammed the door to his office.

Over the next few days, Gabriel continued to behave as before. Both to Nathalie and in general. He didn't want to talk to anyone, he was dry, cold and unpleasant. Plus he stopped smiling at Nathalie, too. Once upon a time, a woman was sitting at her desk and trying to work. However, her mind was occupied with thoughts about Gabriel's behavior. -He'll probably never love me. The fact that he was nice to me was just a one-time thing. I was naive, I deceived myself. It's time to finally take care of yourself, think about your happiness, and not constantly put yourself second. It's over, I'm done with it. I won't fight for his love anymore. If he doesn't want me, I won't chase him. And since he doesn't even treat me with the respect I deserve, he shouldn't think that I will help him with his plans and sacrifice my health to make him happy. -Nathalie? - Gabriel said suddenly.
-I'm listening?
-I know I wasn't supposed to do this again, but I need your help one last time. This plan has to work. I have to get my wife back. She is the most important thing to me.
After these words, Nathalie's heart fell into pieces. She knew that Gabriel didn't love her, but did he have to stab her in the heart and kill her with those words? She seemed to have come to terms with the fact that the man didn't reciprocate her feelings, but that didn't mean that her feelings had evaporated. In the end, even though she decided to give up on Gabriel, a part of her still loved him. This time, however, Nathalie decided to follow her head, not her heart. Instead of agreeing immediately, she wanted to first hear what this next "great" plan of Gabriel was.
-What would I do with this plan? she asked in the same dry and cold tone that Gabriel had been speaking to her over the past few days.