With Angela's luggage in tow, Gael walked her up to her apartment. The ride in the elevator was quiet, neither of them wanting to speak. Oliver was sitting on the sofa with a scowl on his face when they arrived at the door to the apartment. He had a phone in his hand while occasionally glancing at Riccardo who stood not too far from him.
Sensing their presence, Oliver looked to the door and saw his sister.
"Finally, you're here," he spoke under gritted teeth and stalked towards the foyer to meet Angela.
"What are you doing here, Oli?" She greeted with a kiss on the cheek before walking past him and putting down some of her things on the dining table.
"What's going on? I can't pass through this meathead. What's happening in your bedroom?" He nodded to Riccardo, a crease forming between his brows as he questioned her.
Angela didn't want to look at her brother in the eye because she had to lie. But then her gaze was drawn to the tall man looming at the doorway as if he didn't want to come inside unless invited. Gael just stood there with his hands in the pockets of his joggers, and that's only when she noticed that he was wearing workout clothes, the Dri-FIT shirt clinging onto the muscles on his upper body. She had to tear her gaze away and focus on something else—ah, the robot vacuum docked in the corner. That's one powerful vacuum.
She cleared her throat. "The pipe burst in my bathroom. It's being repaired. I had to stay with Nina in the meantime."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was going to...today, but you found out first before I had the chance."
"Okay." Oliver sighed and nodded at Riccardo. " What's up with that? Why is he here? I knew that meathead was familiar. He's one of his…" He dragged his gaze to Gael. "Why is he with you this early, Anj?"
Angela didn't like what her brother called Riccardo. She actually grew a liking towards Rick. The guy might look like a bouncer from a club—burly and fierce—but he's actually nice and knows how to cook delicious food. She frowned. "First of all, his name is Riccardo or Rick, not meathead. And second…" Her voice trailed off.
'Shit.' She was too worried on the way to the city that she hadn't thought of a reason why Gael was there with her and why one of his men was watching over her apartment. She swallowed. Blink. Blink. Blink.
As if on cue, Gael stepped up and walked towards Oliver. "Su." He offered his hand.
Oliver shook it. "De Luca."
Angela gasped inwardly, unsure of how Gael and Oliver were going to face each other. How much did her brother know about Gael? Then she remembered that Oliver asked the other a favor back in Hillberry. Her brother must not know about Gael's identity, right? She bit her bottom lip, hoping nothing terrible was going to happen.
Gael lowered his hand and tilted his head over to Riccardo as he spoke to Oliver. "Rick's one of my security. I bumped into Angela a few days ago. Heard about her situation, and I offered to help look out for the repairs going on here since she can't stay the whole day."
Oliver was suspicious, his eyes bouncing between Angela to Gael. "I didn't know you two were that close…" He observed his sister whose expression was unreadable.
"We did get stranded on the island a few months back. I got to know her during our stay there. She...helped me with some things. I'm just returning the favor." Gael's jaw tightened as he cast a glance at her. She knew full well that the 'got to know' bit that he said actually meant more than that.
"Is that so... And you're together this morning…"
Giving his attention back to Oliver, Gael replied casually, "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd check up on the work here. We met downstairs while she was getting in the building."
Angela chose the time to interrupt their conversation to steer the conversation away from Gael. "Oli, why are you here?"
Oliver squinted at her, and then he turned to face Gael again. "Will you give us a minute, Anj?
Her heart was kicking on her ribcage as she hesitated. She didn't like this at all, but she strode across the room and stayed in the kitchen to give them a little privacy. Her apartment was an open-floor space, so she could watch but not hear as they talked in the living room.
...
Oliver was a couple of inches shorter than Gael, but he stood with poise, looking like the protective brother that he was. Then he said, "I appreciate that you looked out for her back on the island and brought her home. But what are you really doing here? I don't like you hanging around my sister."
Gael kept his face impassive. His back was straight, and his shoulders were squared. He was in his workout clothes but he exuded confidence like he wore a tux or a cape and a crown, appearing like a king and he owned the place. He answered without hesitation, "I'm here for business."
"What business?"
"It's confidential."
Oliver's eyes were sharp as he scanned Gael's face, looking for signs that would give him any hint, but the other was stoic and did not give out any hint of wickedness.
A thud by the kitchen caught their attention. Two men crossed the room, carrying boxes of tiles, and had just knocked over a trash can.
Oliver glared at the floor. He looked angry as he swept his gaze back to his sister. "You wanna tell me about the roses in the trash?"
Angela paled when she saw what her brother found. The bouquet that Evan sent her a few days ago spilled out of the trash. It was starting to wilt already, but the colors of white and lone blue roses were still obvious. Oliver knew where those came from. "I...was going to tell you about that too."
Her brother opened his mouth to retort but then realized that they weren't alone. This was a family matter. He looked at Gael and told him, "Thanks for your generosity but we won't be needing your help anymore. I'll take care of things from here."
That was an obvious statement. And the scowl on Oliver's face as he said the words almost sounded like he was saying: 'Thanks. Now get the fûck out of here.'
Sensing the tension in the room, Gael exchanged looks with Angela. Compared to his unfazed stance while he faced Oliver, his eyes softened as he stared at her.
'Will you be okay?' said Gael's eyes.
'I'll be fine,' hers replied.
Gael signaled Rick to leave with him. And after bidding Oliver farewell, Angela followed him towards the door. "I'll see you out."
She walked with him to the elevators, their arms brushing as they moved. She thought they would at least have the chance to have breakfast together on the last day, but she left his home in a hurry. Now she didn't know if she'd see him again. Angela was still mad at Gael because of last night and just how he's being hot and cold around her, but she still couldn't help feeling uneasy of whatever this was between them.
They waited for the elevator. Rick stepped inside the car first when it opened. Just before Gael took the step, she grabbed his wrist to stop him and circled her arms around his neck. It was an impulsive move but something she really wanted to do. Her heart was pounding, and she worried that he'd feel it as their chests pressed together. He slightly bent forward to accommodate their height difference. Then she softly spoke in his ear, "Thank you..."
Gael hesitantly returned her embrace. He brushed his lips against her temple very lightly and told her, "I'll see you around, Angel."
…
Angela went back to the apartment with a scowling Oliver.
"You need to move out. I can get you a place where you can move in this afternoon. I'll handle the paperwork," he said.
"I'm actually meeting a realtor this morning."
"Cancel it. The one you'll be moving to is closer to my building."
She no longer protested, understanding that Oliver wanted to do it for her for his own sanity as well. But she didn't want to deal about Evan right now. Her head was pounding. She padded towards the powder room and grabbed some pills from the cabinet—took them and drank some water from the kitchen. She massaged her temples, her fingers moving in circular motions. "You haven't answered me yet. What are you doing here, Oli?"
Oliver followed her to the kitchen, a look of worry lacing his eyes when he caught sight of the roses in the trash again before facing Angela. "I'm here to pick you up. We'll meet Dad at 9 for breakfast. Go on and change. I'll make some calls for the apartment and the movers."
She nodded and wordlessly strode towards her bedroom, pausing and turning to her brother when he called her. "Hey, Anj?"
"Hm?"
"You'll be okay," Oliver reassured.
Angela curled her mouth into a smile. "Of course. I'm Angela Su."
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