Chapter 155
"Thought you'd be home with your family and wouldn't show," Kyle said, promptly shoving the girl away to stand and greet his friend.
Pushed aside, she didn't seem to mind the slightest bit. Her eyes were fixated on Gabriel, with an adoring gaze.
"Where's your wife? Not seeing her around?" Aaron joked as he scanned the room.
"Gabriel."
"Gabriel."
The heiress beside Aaron and the leading actress by Liam's side were the epitome of decorum, both rising and smiling to acknowledge him.
"Gabriel, take a seat!" Russell hurried over, swiftly pulling out another chair at the card table.
"She's got a lecture tonight, she'll join us afterward," Gabriel replied nonchalantly, ignoring the swooning ladies as he answered Aaron's question, then took a seat and pulled an envelope from his suit jacket, tossing it in front of Kyle, "A birthday gift."
Kyle laughed, took the envelope, and upon opening it, his jaw dropped in amazement.
"What on earth did Gabriel gift you to scare you like that?" Out of curiosity, Aaron snatched the envelope for a look and was equally stunned, "Dude, that's sick! Giving away shares just like that?"
Gabriel's gift wasn't just anything; it was a five percent stake in Campbell's entertainment company. Should Kyle acquire these shares, he'd become the company's leading shareholder, overshadowing all other investors.
Kyle had mentioned to Gabriel before about buying those five percent shares, but Gabriel had been noncommittal at the time.
Now, Gabriel had casually handed over those five percent shares as a birthday present; no wonder Kyle was so astonished and thrilled.
Gabriel nodded in agreement, “Once he signs, it’s his.”
Russell leaned in curiously, his eyes lighting up. “Man, Gabriel, you always know how to make an entrance!”
Aaron chuckled and handed the share transfer agreement back to Kyle, “Man, you gotta go all out like this on my birthday too.”
“Hey Kyle, what’s that? Can I take a look?” the young girl chimed in, her voice dripping with feigned innocence.
“Get lost!” Kyle pushed her away, “Russell, take her out.”
“Kyle...” her voice trembled with a tinge of hurt as she heard she was being dismissed.
“Enough, get out!” Kyle snapped, losing his patience.
“C’mon, leave before you kill the vibe for the rest of us,” Russell said, stepping in to escort her out.
Reluctantly and with nowhere else to turn, the girl pouted, her face expressing the brink of tears as she was led away by Russell.
After that, the other two women became more cautious, careful not to let their gazes wander over to Gabriel.
“All right, new deal, everyone,” Kyle said with a smile, putting the agreement securely before shuffling the cards.
The three of them were waiting for Gabriel. Past or present, within the River North, they were impenetrable, with no one else who could get a word in edgewise, William being the sole exception.
But William didn't grow up with them, so the emotional connection wasn't the same, and he never forced his way into their tight-knit group.
“Liam, you alright? Your wound healed up?” Gabriel asked casually, holding his cards and taking a drag from his cigarette just lit, glancing over at Liam who’d been quiet the whole time.
“Do I look like I’m unwell?” Liam raised his eyes, echoing the sentiment with indifference.
Gabriel laughed, “Good, then Teresa won't have to worry.”
Liam gave him another look, speechless.
The actress beside him stole a glance at Gabriel, who was all smiles, a cigarette dangling from his lips—a picture of contentment. His gaze was brimming with an affection that was hard to turn away from. It became clear; the word on the internet about Gabriel's fondness for Teresa wasn't just smoke and mirrors.
“You’ve changed, man. Seems like dads are a different breed,” Aaron teased Gabriel with a knowing look.
"Look, everyone knows the saying 'it's what's on the inside that counts.' My “sister-in-law” isn't just a pretty face; she's a college professor and an internet sensation. Her lectures are dynamic and engaging. No wonder Gabriel's on cloud nine with a woman like her!" Kyle greeted the sentiment with a grin in his eyes.
"Yeah, I've watched Mrs. Garcia's class too. Even though it went over my head a bit, the students' reactions were enough to tell me she's got a knack for keeping a classroom alive." The opportunity had finally presented itself, and the celebrity jumped in to join the praise.
Buttering up Teresa in front of Gabriel was a surefire way to get on his good side.
Sure enough, Gabriel lifted his gaze, giving the actress a glance, lips curled in a half-smile, not saying much, then casually shifted the topic as he laid out his cards, steering the conversation elsewhere.
"Hey Gabriel, how about I get you a..." Russell began, setting a glass of liquor in front of Gabriel, a warm smile on his face.
"Zip it, kid. Teresa's gonna be here soon, and we don't need extra fuss," Kyle promptly slapped the back of his head, "You can head down now. Make sure everyone else is well taken care of."
