CHAPTER 13: HEARTTHROB

"Mummy granddaddy wants to speak with you," Emily shouted from the living room.

Sydney ran out of the kitchen and into the living room. She took the telephone from Emily and placed her hand over the microphone. "Go play with Ethan and Kelly."

Emily nodded and ran to the back porch. Sydney gathered her wits and placed the telephone on her ear. "Hello, Daddy."

"Who the f**k are you calling daddy Sydney? You lost every right to be called my daughter several years ago."

She leaned on the wall and waited for him to continue. "I started to consider you as a daughter, Sydney, but you succeeded in proving you are nothing but a mistake like your mother."

He continued, madly. "How dare you have an affair Sydney! Don't you know it would affect my business? I kept telling them you mean absolutely nothing to me but they won't listen. I have lost billions' worth of contracts because of your infidelity.

"People are saying you purposely killed your child because you didn't want that bastard you call a husband to find out you weren't carrying his child. They said it's all my fault! I wish I had sent your mother away the day she became pregnant with you."

"Because of your carelessness, Ethan almost lost a match. If you hadn't driven your husband to the edge, he would have shown up."

"Fix whatever shit you started and convince Gavin to fabricate something that would clear your name, unless Ashley would pay for it." He slammed the telephone on the table.

Sydney got off the wall, walked to the kitchen, and continued cooking. She had cried so much recently that she couldn't bring herself to cry again.

If Ethan hadn't entered the kitchen in a nick of time, she would have spilled boiling pasta over herself.

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CHAINSAW SAWED THROUGH A LOG; Gabriel panted softly and took off his safety glasses. He threw the chainsaw to the ground and wiped out the sweat off his forehead.

He sat down on the bench and drank a bottle of water then poured what was left over his head. Staring at the trees that surrounded him, he leaned back and sighed.

His eyes gazed at the sheets of paper on the ground. He stared at the woman he had sketched, he remembered how her short red hair bounced over her shoulder when she walked. Her sleepy brown eyes, her dimples when she smiled fakely. She was nothing like he'd ever seen. He had never ached to have someone like he wanted to have her.

His phone buzzed, shrill in silence, waking him from his reverie. Gabriel took out his Caviar Snowflake from his overall tied around his waist.

"Hello, father."

"When would you get your senses back and return home?" His father's voice, dripped with exhaustion, yet, still sounded professional.

"As soon as I find what I'm looking for." He gazed at Sydney's drawing.

"Another victim like Sharon? Tell me, is she red-haired and down to earth?"

Gabriel ignored his father's critics. "Why do you want me back? Can't handle a large company by yourself?"

"Far off it. You seem to forget I've been ' The Alfred Patel ' even before you were born."

"Then what's the sudden longing for me about?"

"Well, I've missed playing tennis with my son. What do you think, a game this Saturday?"

Gabriel gave a cursory reply. " Fat chance. I'll play a game with you but not on Saturday."

"Whenever you are ready, I'm ready, son."

"Of course, father."

"And Gabriel, don't make another stupid move. I won't waste such a huge amount of money to get you out of jail next time."

They talked for a while before Gabriel hung up. Gabriel took a quick shower and put on a plaid shirt, black pants, worn-out brogues, and a blue hat. He tied the bundle of wood to his bike till it was secured, put on a helmet, and drove towards Beverly Hills.

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Gabriel pulled over in front of a shabby bungalow. A construction van was parked outside.

He was about to ring the doorbell before someone shouted, "Ring that thing, and you'll hear jingle bells before it's even Christmas."

Gil Roberts, a carpenter, came out through the front door. "Bring the woods in, the roof would have collapsed if you were an hour late."

Gabriel gathered the wood into the house with the help of Xavier Hunter.

"You could stay and watch or go out looking for a woman to bed." Gil winked at Gabriel.

Gabriel glared at him and they both laughed. He was one of the few people that knew who Gabriel was.

Gabriel saw a brunette in the dinette talking to an older man. His eyes scanned the poorly furnished house and his gaze stopped, transfixed, at a picture of Sydney and the brunette.

"Stay by the door, or you'll get blind with sawdust," Gil instructed.

Gabriel instead stood by the dinette. He folded his arms around his chest and his ears tinged. If this isn't destiny, what is?

Avery said something to Auxanger and he walked out of the dinette.

"Hello, Gavin." Avery broke into tears. Gabriel could tell it was fake.

"Can you stop by Bluey's? I really want to talk to you."

"Please, Gavin it's important."

Avery's fist clenched. "Fine, I'll meet you there instead."

She slammed her phone on the table and groaned. When she stepped out of the dinette, she told Gil she was leaving and stormed out of the house without waiting for his reply.

"F**king b!tch." Gil cursed under his breath.

Gabriel headed towards the door. "I've gotta go. I'll just stick with being a lumberjack."

Gil scoffed and his lips curled into a smirk. "Save me a whore."

Gabriel rolled his eyes and left. He waited for Avery to drive off before getting onto his bike and peeling away into the busy street.