The Bennet Scandal

Shadows of Choice

"Bring me the files on Jefferson's project," Gabriel said curtly, tightening his grip on the landline receiver.

"I'm waiting," he added, before hanging up the phone and turning his gaze out the office window.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange glow over everything. Gabriel was deep in thought when his manager, Luke, walked in and stood in front of him.

"Luke..." Gabriel acknowledged him in a low voice.

"I came to check on you," Luke said, taking a seat across from him.

"I'm fine," Gabriel responded flatly.

"Did you try talking to Natasha?" Luke asked.

"No. I don't want to talk to her... she walked out on me when I needed her the most," Gabriel said, his face hardening.

"You should reach out, and try to work things out before the divorce is finalized," Luke suggested.

"I'm not doing that," Gabriel replied firmly. "Natasha made her choice."

Luke sighed, glancing at Gabriel's serious expression, and then leaned forward.

"Where's Sophia?"

Gabriel looked up, his face guarded. "I left her at a friend's apartment. She's staying there alone for now."

"Alone?" Luke repeated, incredulous. "You should've brought her here, Gabriel. You need to keep her at your villa. This isn't just about you; it's about her safety!"

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, irritation flickering across his face. "I can't stand her, Luke. I hate her."

"Hate her?" Luke leaned in, his tone sharp. "Use that hatred to your advantage. Keep hating her, but use her as a shield. Show the world you're a gentleman—someone who wouldn't let a young girl be left on the streets. Make it clear that Marshal's the one who leaked the video and manipulated his daughter to damage your reputation."

Gabriel's brow furrowed in skepticism. "It doesn't feel right. I don't want her around."

"It doesn't matter what you want!" Luke snapped, his frustration rising. "This is bigger than your feelings. You can't let your emotions cloud your judgment. If you take her in, it changes the narrative. You can turn this whole thing around and use it against her father."

"But Luke..." Gabriel started to argue, but Luke cut him off.

"Trust me. This will benefit you. Bring her to your house and control the story. Don't let Marshal play the victim card anymore," Luke insisted, his tone firm.

Gabriel fell silent, considering Luke's words. His gut told him Luke was right, but the thought of having Sophia around permanently made him uneasy. Still, Luke's logic gnawed at him. After a tense moment, Gabriel finally sighed.

"Fine. I'll go get her."

"Good," Luke said, watching as Gabriel left the office.

The ride to the apartment was thick with unspoken tension. Gabriel gripped the steering wheel tightly, his mind racing. As he pulled up, the darkness of the building loomed before him, filling him with a mix of dread and anticipation.

He entered the apartment, the silence, and darkness pressing in on him.

"Why didn't she turn on the lights?" Gabriel muttered under his breath. He pulled out his phone, and switching on the flashlight, its beam cutting through the shadowed living room.

As he moved through the apartment, shadows danced on the walls. He looked around but didn't see Sophia. Raising his voice, he called out,

"Sophia?"

After a brief search, he found her sitting on the bed in the bedroom, her posture rigid. She looked up when he entered, fear flashing across her face before it was replaced by anger.

"You left me in this hell!" she shouted, her voice loud in the silence.

"There's no electricity! I can't believe you just dumped me here!"

Gabriel stepped farther into the room, tension crackling between them. His voice was cold when he replied,

"You deserve this. This is what you wanted."

"Wanted?" she spat, standing up, her eyes blazing.

"I wanted a chance! A way out of this mess! Not to be abandoned in a dark, filthy apartment!"

In her fury, she stepped forward, but her foot caught on the edge of the bed. She stumbled, and before she could hit the ground, Gabriel instinctively caught her in his arms. Their bodies collided, and for a moment, everything shifted.

Time seemed to slow as their heartbeats synced, the intimacy of the moment wrapping around them like a warm blanket. Sophia's breath hitched, and Gabriel's expression softened, momentarily thrown by the flood of emotions.

But reality slammed back into place. Gabriel quickly pushed her away, creating space between them as he tried to regain control.

"Come with me," he ordered, his voice steady, despite the confusion brewing inside him.

"I'm taking you to my villa."

Sophia blinked, still processing the mix of anger and vulnerability that had passed between them.

"Why are you taking me to your villa?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

"You don't want to stay here, and I can't leave you on the streets. It's not safe."

She crossed her arms defiantly, but the fire in her eyes wavered just a bit.

"And you think taking me to your villa will fix everything?"

"It's the best option right now," Gabriel insisted, frustration creeping into his voice.

"It's either that or you stay here in the dark."

Sophia hesitated, the blend of fear and anger still clear in her gaze.

"And what about your feelings? You say you hate me, but now you're swooping in to save me?"

Gabriel's jaw tightened.

"This isn't about feelings. It's about responsibility. I'm not like your father, who tossed you out without a second thought about what could happen to you. I just want to keep you safe."

"Don't you dare say my father's name," Sophia snapped, her voice rising.

"You have no right to blame him."

His words had cut deep, but she refused to show any weakness in front of him.

"You coming or not?" Gabriel asked, his tone final.

"Fine. I'll go with you. But don't think for a second this changes anything or that I'll forget how you've treated me."

"Good," Gabriel replied, his voice sharper than he intended.

As they walked back into the darkness of the apartment, the weight of their shared history hung heavily in the air. Gabriel felt a storm of emotions—anger, resentment, and a pull toward her that he fought to ignore.