Perfectly Flawed

Nine - Good is not Enough

Chapter Nine

Gabrielle had never been yelled at. She'd been punished and reprimanded, of course, but never yelled at. Not in that way. Not in the way that left her feeling wounded and small, like a misbehaving seven year old.

She hated him. She hated him with every cell in her body. How dare he be able to make her feel like that.

At least she knew he wouldn't tell anyone about the gambling... Well, she assumed he wouldn't. After all, he had more important things to worry about. Arrogant asshole.

Gabrielle spent the rest of the day in a terrible mood. She snapped at Imogen, yelled at a first year who accidentally ran into her and walked out of her english class half way through. Feeling very out of control, which was something Gabrielle despised, she spent the rest of her afternoon running through the trails in the woods.

The rest of the week went relatively quietly, compared to the drama of the days before. Gabrielle calmed down, but began an almost obsessive game of glaring at Jasper and his friends with her coldest, harshest glares. She wanted him to feel the hate pouring out of her. No one spoke to Gabrielle Montgomery like that. She was not a spoilt brat, or at least that's what she told herself. And she was definitely not a child. She was sure of that part.

How fucking dare he.

Gabrielle finished her classes on Friday, and was leaving the main building when a very timid, very anxious first year girl came running up to her. The poor thing looked like she was going to wet her pants, so Gabrielle did her best to make her face look somewhat less murderous.

"Uh Gabrielle Montgomery?" The girl asked nervously.

Gabrielle tried to stretch her face into a smile, but the girl winced so it probably came across as more of a glare.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"I'm sorry I was um, I was just, the principal um she well, she just sent me to, give you, um this." Her shaky hand held out an envelope.

"Oh, thank you." The girl nodded and ran away.

Confused, Gabrielle opened the envelope. Inside was a piece of card, with the words in cursive:

'Your presence is required
Formal Meeting Room (floor 2, main building)
6pm'

That was it. No names, no justification. For a moment, she panicked, thinking that someone had found out about the gambling. But then logic set in - why would someone request to see her in the meeting room about that? It would be straight to the principal's office and straight to the police station.

Since when did the principal go around sending card requests to her students?! Did she have some kind of sick desire to set them on the edge?

If so, it was working.

--

Gabrielle wasn't sure what she was expecting, but seeing her father and a few of his best lawyers sitting in the meeting room was not even close.

Tristan Montgomery looked uncomfortable - his back was too straight, his face was too grey, his eyes were darting too much. Gabrielle was the only one to notice this - to anyone else, he looked his usual intimidating, opulent self.

"Father," Gabrielle inhaled, stepping into the room and immediately straightening her posture and tucking her hair behind her ear. If she'd known it was her father she was going to see, she would have arrived looking much more presentable.

"Gabrielle. Take a seat." Tristan nodded at her, his voice deep and steady. Gabrielle resembled her father a lot - his dark hair, his eyes and his slim build. Not that she would ever agree or admit to it.

The two lawyers nodded at Gabrielle, and returned to their papers. She had met them a few times, in meetings and hallways around the firm. The woman had been one of his best lawyers for about 20 years now, while the man was young and an up and coming big shot.

Gabrielle sat down silently.

"Gabrielle, I raised you to know the value of our family honour, and the sacrifices we all must make to maintain it," her Father began, skipping formalities. Gabrielle's stomach dropped. He knew about the gambling.

"Of course," Gabrielle said, trying to keep her voice steady, but bracing herself for the worst.

"I have built my empire from the ground up. Your brother has already stepped up and given his time to the England branch, and James will study hard. You have been preparing to take over my seat since you were young, and you have done a good job. But a good job is not enough."

Gabrielle's heart was racing, and she couldn't quite make eye contact.

"Father, I-"

"Don't interrupt me, Gabrielle. Good is not enough - you must be great to take over. I have been working hard, so hard, to make us the top firm in the world. We face too many challenges, which is why I need you to make another  sacrifice for me, for us."

Now Gabrielle was confused. Was this not about the gambling?! Could this be him asking her to up her hours or something business related? Gabrielle allowed her heart to lift slightly, to calm down. She looked her father in the eye.

"What is it? I'll do whatever you need."

"That was what I was hoping you would say. Gabrielle, I need you to marry Jasper Thornton."

Finally! Into some of the plot! Thanks for reading, commenting and voting - id love to hear what you think :)