Chereads / HERNAN AND GABRIELA / Chapter 7 - CHAPTER 6

Chapter 7 - CHAPTER 6

Aranza tells Alejandro to leave them alone. She says that it is unmanly for him to cling on to someone who does not love him. She adds that it is psycho behaviour. Adrianna tells Aranza that it is not worth it and that they should leave which they do. Antonio follows them, still surprised at what Aranza said. Adrianna is shocked as well. When Aranza sees Antonio and Adrianna are still shocked (as they walk to Antonio's car) she says that someone had to finally put Alejandro in his place.

Adrianna says that while that may be true, she (Aranza) should not get involved in such matters because Alejandro is crazy and vengeful. Antonio says that the best thing to do to such a person is to put them at arm's length and not give them the attention they crave. He adds that they should just ignore Alejandro. Alejandro is left embarrassed and angry. He vows to teach Aranza and Antonio lessons and to put them in their places.

Meanwhile, Gina and Hector are also preparing for the big day. Aurelio has gone to school. For them today is largely symbolic. It holds importance that runs beyond the actual day. Today marks the day they officially start their plans to retake their father's company from Helena and Carlos. Gina asks Hector, what they should do about Adrianna, Antonio, and Aranza when they reveal their identities. Hector says they should do the right thing.

He adds that Aranza is their sister, so she is entitled to her share of the inheritance, and as for Antonio and Adrianna, they were also children when everything happened, and as far as is known, have no involvement in Helena and Carlos crimes. Hector says it would be unfair to kick them to the streets. Gina agrees with her brother. Hector says that he still finds her love of the color green weird. She says she's always loved it. Gina then tells him that they are discussing important things and he should be serious. He calls her lemon and says she is as sour as always.

Gina glares at him. He hears a tone and looks at his phone. It is Aranza, asking him where he is. He answers and says that he and Gina are at home, and were just about to get a bus. Aranza tells him to wait there. Gina asks him why he is smiling. He tells her about Aranza's text messages. Gina says maybe Aranza is up to something. Hector agrees and says she takes after her older sister. Gina playfully punches him and acts mock offended.

Thirty minutes later, Antonio pulls into the compound of the flats where Gina and Hector live. Antonio's breath is swept away. He always knew Gina was beautiful but today, she looked even more beautiful. Today staff were allowed to dress up but still had to wear their work tags) and Gina had worn a stunning emerald green gown. When they get to the car, Aranza gives up her front seat and says Gina should use it. Adrianna tries hard not to laugh. Her meddlesome little cousin is up to her usual games.

Gina wants to say no. She is finding it harder to fight against her feelings for Antonio.

He is more than what he looks like. He may look like a scruffy bad boy, but he had a kind heart. He normally dressed casually but that day, he had shown he can dress corporately and still look dashingly attractive, without looking stuffy, or too formal. Antonio looks at Aranza who looks back like a sweet child, anyone who did not know her would not be able to tell that she was a master schemer. Antonio tells Gina that if she is uncomfortable, she should ignore Aranza and go to the back. Aranza is happy; she wants her favorite people to end up with each other. She can tell there is an attraction between Gina and Antonio and between Adrianna and Hector.

Gina knows that there is no way that she can avoid the situation without letting Antonio know how much being near him affects her, so she agrees, and soon they are on their way. They arrive in good time, earlier than most people. Aranza, being her usual jumpy self, sees friends of hers from university, third years, who are doing their industrial attachment and goes off to them. Adrianna and Hector go to a friend from the procurement department and a mutual friend, leaving Gina with Antonio. Adrianna is irritated, to see Alejandro there as well. Martin is there too with Emma, whose desk is near Gina's and who is her best friend.

Antonio asks Gina to follow him and she looks at him unsure. He smiles and tells her not to worry. He takes Gina to his cubicle. She sits on his chair and he sits on his table. He looks at her again, and wonders if he is going crazy, why does she remind him of Gaby? He remembers that as children Gaby's favorite color was green, unlike most other little girls who loved pink. Gaby also loved Jewels, particularly emeralds.

She also said that she would grow up to become an emerald princess.

Here comes Gina, and she is wearing an emerald green dress, with an emerald on her neck. Gina asks him if he is well. Antonio tells him she reminds him of someone very dear to him. Gina decides not to pry. She then puts a hand on his shoulder, to comfort him. Antonio realizes there is something special about Gina.

Later, the main event of the day began. Alejandro, as usual, was watching, Adrianna, and seethed with anger as he saw her near Hector. Invited guests and the media got to sample the products. They loved it, and the day went well.

On Saturday, Aranza was at the Ortiz house. She was going to shoot with Hector in the evening, on Saturday, and Sunday evening. It was Aurelio who opened for her. Aranza was dressed casually in shorts, sports shoes, a spaghetti top, an open shirt, and shades. She sat down and Aurelio gave her juice. Aranza thought he looked so handsome and he was nice, not like the other jerks she went with to the club.

Soon Hector and Gina woke up. Aranza insisted on helping Gina make breakfast. Aurelio said Aranza was just as stubborn as Gina, and they could almost be sisters. Both girls looked over at him. Hector agrees with him and Aranza rolls her eyes at him.

Meanwhile back at the Montes De Alba mansion:

Adrianna was in her room when she had a knock, it was Antonio. Looking at him, Adrianna could tell something was on his mind, so she asked him. Antonio says he thinks he is going crazy. Adrianna asks him why he thinks so. Antonio says he sees Gaby in Gina. He then explains the similarities between the two and says there is a certain bond between Gina and Hector. Antonio says that the bond feels like a twin bond.

He looks at Adrianna, and to his surprise, she does not look shocked. Adrianna says that she too has seen Hernan in Hector. Adrianna believes that it's because they miss the twins so much, and neither of them received much love from either Helena or Carlos, and so they were so close to the twins, who were like good friends to them. Antonio asks her if she believes Helena and Carlos had anything to do with the twins' disappearances, and if they could have planned Gabriel's death.

Adrianna says she is unsure, but she could not put anything past the two.

Antonio smiles and asks her where the noisy one (Aranza) is. Adrianna pretends she is insulted on behalf of her cousin. She says Aranza has gone to the Ortiz's house and is going to shoot with Hector over the weekend. Antonio asks her if she thinks Aranza is smitten with Aurelio, and Adrianna says she is. Antonio says it was about time Aranza started getting interested in something more than books and cameras like relationships for instance.

Adrianna agrees. Antonio says that despite what happened in the club their little lamb (Aranza's nickname), is growing up and she is intelligent but needs to get street smart as well. They remember childhood memories about themselves and Aranza, and how she would follow Antonio around and try out Adrianna's things, and the trouble she would get into.

Back at the Ortiz house:

Aranza asks Gina what she and Aurelio are up to during the weekend. Aurelio says that they are going to watch movies. Aranza says they should join them, which they do. Gina's phone rings and it's an unknown number. She picks it up, and it is Horacio Saenz, her ex-boyfriend. He begins to chat her up, and Gina is beginning to get tired of him. Why can't he just leave her alone? Hector notices her discomfort and asks her if she is okay, she says, it is just a wrong number. The rest of the day was spent enjoyably.

As they often do, Armando and Luisa call the children, the next day.

On Monday, there was a meeting between Montes De Alba Inc. and Alves, Inc., which among other ventures does packaging. Alves Inc. was a long-standing partner of Montes de Alba Inc. in partnering with packaging their products. Horacio was among the delegation present. Horacio used the opportunity to look for Gina. Antonio went to look into a technical query in Gina's department. He heard Horacio asking Gina if she was free over lunch.

Antonio was worried that if Horacio was persistent enough, Gina would give in to his advances. Antonio goes up to Gina's desk and says something has come up, and it has to be discussed over lunch. Horacio asks why it can't be discussed now, and Antonio says both he and Gina are working and leaves to check on the computers. Horacio knows Antonio is Carlos' son so he lets it go. Gina is surprised but tries to hide it. What is Antonio, Upto? Horacio, says he will see Gina later.

Of course, office gossip spread, and people began to suspect that something was going on between Gina and Antonio. Emma Valdez, Gina's close friend, asks her if there was anything she should know. Gina asks her what she should be telling. Emma says about Antonio Diaz. Gina rolls her eyes and says nothing. Emma asks Gina if she hasn't noticed Antonio likes her. Gina downplays Emma's words and says that Antonio is not the kind of guy she would date, because he is not serious about love and relationships, for him it is about attaining an unreachable target. She says men like him love no one but themselves.

Shortly before lunch, Gina went to take some files to Martin when she noticed people were looking at her weirdly. Martin (Anna Patricia's son) calls her aside, saying, there was something they have to talk about, as a matter of emergency. Gina is becoming intrigued. First, it is Antonio, then Martin. She follows Martin to the Cafeteria and chooses a secluded corner. Gina asks Martin what's wrong because he is acting weird. Martin, says he has to tell her the truth.

Gina asks him what truth, he is talking about. Martin says there is an audio clip of her and Emma that has gone viral. Gina is shocked. What audio clip is he talking about? Martin sends her the audio, and hands over his earphones for her to use. Gina is shocked. It was the audio where she trashed Antonio. Gina tells him she is embarrassed because everyone including Antonio must have heard it.

Antonio seats in his chair, his thoughts on the audio all the young staff in Montes De Alba Inc. are sharing. The audio where Gina trashes him. It hurts him more than he cares to admit. Antonio decides now to up the ante. He really was going to pursue Gina. He would make her see that there was more to him than her judgmental opinion of him. He would make her love him. Antonio goes to the advertising offices to look for Gina and is told she left with a colleague from procurement and went to the cafeteria.

It is lunchtime when he reaches there. She is there with Martin. Antonio watches them. He will ask her if she is interested in Martin. Gina is even more uncomfortable when she sees him. Gina introduces them. Martin says he has to go because he is having lunch with Emma. Gina is afraid of being alone with Antonio. Martin senses it and squeezes her hand. Antonio sees it and it irritates him. Martin bids them goodbye and leaves.

Antonio sits and orders a drink.

Gina waits for him to bring up the topic of the audio, which he does not. Gina asks him what he wanted to talk to her about. Antonio says nothing that was of importance. He just did not want Horacio to chat her up, especially in front of him. Gina glares at him and walks up to leave. Antonio asks her where she is going. She says that they need to have a conversation but not there. Antonio agrees and says maybe they should meet after work. Gina reluctantly agrees.

Later, Hector sees her and asks to speak to her. He asks how she is doing with the whole scandal. Gina says she is fine, embarrassed but okay. He asks her what Antonio's reaction is to the whole scandal and Gina says they will talk about it later. He asks her if she is sure it's the right thing to do. Gina says she'd rather get the awkward conversation over with.

He asks her, how the whole issue started. Gina says someone recorded them when they were talking in her cubicle. Gina says she suspects Isabella Velez, was behind it.

(Isabella and Antonio went to the same university and dated for most of their campus time. Antonio left her but it's common knowledge she wants him back). Hector hugs her, then rubs his hand over her hair, the latter, he has done since they were children. She says she is not a baby. He shrugs and says she is still his little sister. Gina rolls her eyes and says they are twins and she was born five minutes after him.