Three months later

Gabriel's POV

Life is torture. That's the short and sweet conclusion for what life is, I thought as I sat in my office with my hands gripping my hair, ready to pull them out of its roots.

I had long since tossed away my jacket and loosened the strangling hold of my tie. I was sitting by my desk trying to read an important contract that needs to be signed within these two days. I have read it atleast ten times and I still cant remember a word it said. I just cant seem to concentrate.

I had no sleep at all last night. And I came to office as soon as the girls had there breakfast. I can't sleep most of the nights because a pair of beautiful honey coloured eyes kept haunting me in my sleep.

I keep dreaming of waking up next to her to the feel of her fingers travelling along my chest. As I open my eyes she lifts her head to rest on top of my chest, with those eyes looking right at me, her soft silky hair cascades down her back onto my chest and I lift my hand to thread my fingers along its length.

I groaned as I realised that I was now day dreaming about her instead of reading. I am not going to get any work done today I decided with a another loud groan, shutting the file closed. I should just go home I thought, as I leaned back on the chair, closing my eyes.

After sometime I heard a knock and someone walked in. I knew it wasn't my secretary, as she wouldn't dare enter until I told her to. So I just stayed as I was with my eyes closed.

A gentle carass on my head made me open my eyes. I saw the eyes of my mother looking down at me fondly.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" I asked lifting my head and straightening in my chair.

"I came to see your father and thought I would drop by to see you. I haven't seen you in months honey." She murmured gently as she walked around to sit opposite me.

"Yea, I have been busy." I told her shortly.

"Yea I can see that," she said as she looked at the mess on my table. Several files were opened and thrown carelessly on top of the table, while there were several more piled up at the end not yet touched. "your father told me you have been working nonstop ever since you came back from the holidays. Honey you shouldn't tire yourself so much you could get sick.

Sophie called me." She continue, changing the subject as I didn't bother replying. "She said you are not answering her calls?"

"I told you mom I have been busy. I don't have time to entertain relatives." I told her.

"She is calling because she is worried about you. You know that."

"I am fine."

"She told me what happened there. Have you heard from her?"

"No." I told her shortly, knowing exactly who she was talking about.

It was true. I know she calls the girls every single day, but its always when I am at work. It might be a coincidence or she might be avoiding me just like I am avoiding her.

"Have you tried calling her?" Mom asked, interupting my thoughts.

"No." I replied again.

I heard mom sigh making me look up at her from the files that I was pretending to read.

"Its for the best mom. Its not even been an year since Sarah left us, I cant start all over again. Not so soon." I told her honestly, speaking about my feelings for the first time in three months.

I feel guilt. So much guilt when I cant get Nicola out of my head. I should be missing Sarah, but its Nicola I miss and the guilt is eating me.

She nodded understanding. "I guess it is for the best. Jessica told me she has seen Nicola with a very handsome young man lately."

"Its probably Simon." I commented not caring anymore about mom's gossip.

"Simon? You mean her manager? No its not him. Jessica sent me a picture." She said, making my eyes go wide.

What the hell! Do these women not know the term privacy? They have taken their gossip skills a little too far. I thought as I shook my head.

But as mom took out her phone and showed me the picture I felt like she had taken one of the pens lying on the table and stabbed my heart with it. I felt the wind knocked out of me with the pain that I felt.

There she was smiling up at a dark haired man looking as pretty as ever in a white top tucked into a knee length silk pink skirt. Her long brown hair, that my fingers itch to touch again, was left loose. The wind was blowing some strands on her face.

She looked happy, I thought, as my heart twisted.

"Son. You need to call her. You need to stop hurting yourself like this. Sarah is gone. It doesn't matter how long its been, your heart is with Nicola now and you would regret it for the rest of your life if you dont act on that now."

"I thought you hated her mom." I told her bitterly, making her sigh again.

"I dont hate her. Yes I thought Sarah was the perfect one for you and yes I had behaved inexcusably towards Nicola, rubbing it in while she was hurting.

I am ashamed of my behaviour....but, can I ask you something son? Did you really love Sarah? Oh was that just an infatuation, because as far as I can seen, you were never as happy with Sarah as you were with Nicola. The day she left, you completely changed. And I only saw a glimps of your old self at the twins' birthday party while you were with her. And Sophie told me you were back to your old self in North Carolina.

But here you are again. Buryimg yourself in work. You look a mess and I am sure you feel it too. When was the last time you slept Gabriel?"

I shrugged not answering. I felt a headache starting with the reality check mom was giving me. I sighed closing my eyes and leaning back again.

"Go home Gabriel." She said, standing up to leave." Spend some time with the girls and try and get some sleep. And please, atleast think about what I said?" She said as she finally left,closing the door behind her.

What is there to think about, I thought. She just showed me a picture of Nicola being happy in the company of someone else. I wondered how she could just move on so easily.

'I love you'.

That's the last thing she said to me before she left. Why would she tell me that she lover me, when she can move on to another guy in less than three months? Did she mean it as a Goodby? As in forever? After I poured out my heart to her, that last kiss and her last words, were they meant to tell me she was moving on?

I rubbed my chest as I felt a searing pain in my heart. Have I really lost her?..

...........

Its been one week since mom came to talk to me and I have poured myself into work, barely ever going home. I feel like I am at the brink of madness now..between the guilt of not missing Sarah as I should and the pain of not being with Nicola.

I know I told Nicola that I want to be with her when I am no longer mourning for Sarah. But I feel guilty for not mourning for longer. She is the mother of my children and I had loved her. She was a good wife and good mother. She deserved better.

And as for Nicola, well, she has moved on anyway, hasn't she. So I should stay away and let her be happy.

I was in the midst of signing some papers when my phone rang. I checked the caller id, finding that it was Ryan.

I smiled seeing his name. I had missed him. I picked up the call pushing the papers aside to look through later.

"Hey man. Whats up! Is your work sooo important that you cannot spare a single minute to call your old friend here?" Her asked, speaking before I could say anything.

I smiled into the phone. Ryan had always been an impatient person who was full of life. Seems like he hasn't changed.

"Hey. Long time. How is that cousin of mine treating you? You ready to call it quits and come crying home yet?" I teased

"Nah. She's good. Life's good"

Speak for yourself man, I thought to myself.

"So..why am I having the wonderful blessing of hearing your voice early this morning?" I asked relaxing into my chair.

"Oh no reason. Just wanted to see how you were," he said. His serious tone giving him away.

"Jessica made you call me?" I asked. "Mom told her to didn't she?" Im sure she did, when I have ignored her request to call Nicola and buried myself more in my work.

"Yeah, but Im worried too man. I thought you were doing fine. What is this I am hearing now of you working nonstop and not taking care of yourself?"

"Im fine. People need to just stop treating me like I am a child." I said in annoyance.

"Well if you act like one, what are people to do?" He said making me roll my eyes.

"Is there any other reason why you are calling me Ryan, cause if not, I am hanging up." I told him getting ready to hang up.

"Wait you bastard. I swear if you hang up I will make you regret it!" I rolled my eyes again at his empty threat.

"What?" I asked in annoyance. Irritated with everyone for poking there head in my life.

"Come down." He said making me sit up in surprise.

"What? You are here? Why the hell are you calling me if you were here all this time?" All I heard was a snicker before he hung up. I sighed in exasperation before picking up my suit jacket and walking out.

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Hey guys. Only one or two chapters left. I can't wait for Nicola and Gabriel to meet again. Wonder who this dark haired guy is going to be. Seriously I haven't thought of that yet.

Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter. Please comment if you did.

See you in the next chapter. Until then, don't forget to give a vote ❤😊