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No one was ever comfortable in Daniel’s presence and the same could be said for Gabriel. He had thought that it had been a joke when he received a message that the man wanted to see him. He means, why would Daniel want to see him?

Aside from the fact that they were relatives, they had nothing else in common. Moreover, Daniel was bad news. Why then would he want him at his place? Could it be that he wanted to eliminate him and reduce the competition for his son?

No, it didn’t make sense. If Daniel wanted to end him, he would do it incognito mode and not literally hand him an invitation to his death. He already informed his men and if he doesn’t return in one piece, they would inform his parents who would take action.

“You’re here,” Daniel said, coming towards him and Gabriel nearly jumped out of his skin. He had been lost in his thoughts all this while. He stood to his feet hurriedly, bowing his head slightly.

“Make yourself comfortable, I don’t bite,” Daniel said to him with a warm reception, showing off his white teeth that Gabriel imagined as shark’s teeth instead.

Gabriel sat down reluctantly. If he had been uncomfortable before, he was anxious now. He had been told stories about Daniel’s nefarious activities since young; it had been ingrained in his head as an adult. Hence, it wasn’t surprising he reacted nervily to Daniel’s presence.

“I’m sure you are curious to know why I invited you over?” Daniel asked him.

“Y-yes…” Gabriel cleared his throat at once, and answered firmly, “Yes, I’m very curious.” If Daniel wanted to end him, they wouldn’t be having this cordial conversation.

.....

Daniel leaned back into his seat and scrutinized him with intensity and Gabriel shifted uncomfortably in his seat. What did he do now?

He asked him, “What do you think about my son’s decision to make peace with the Draven?”

Gabriel opened his mouth to answer, but Daniel cut him off by saying, “I am not my son Marcel and need your sincere contribution. You don’t have to worry because nothing you say would leave this room.” He promised him, “You have my word.”

Realizing Daniel needed his opinion gave Gabriel a boost of confidence,

“I think your son is a coward,” He said tentatively, expecting that Daniel would explode for calling his son a coward. But when seconds passed and nothing happened, Gabriel narrowed his gaze at the man. Does he sincerely mean that?

“And?” Daniel needed the rest of his opinion.

The sun must have risen from the west today, Gabriel was surprised to see the change in Daniel. He wasn’t here to defend his son but to hear someone’s opinion about his son’s decision. Since that was the case, Gabriel decided to go all out. There was no holding back.

“I honestly think that Marcel has become tender-hearted and forgotten that no growth comes without a war. Even the plants must battle the weeds to nourish and grow. Our family has indeed witnessed a tremendous increase in income since his reign, however, the respect given to our family is beginning to diminish compared to when it was under your rule,” He indirectly praised Daniel whose head of course swelled with pride even though he did not show it.

And by respect, Gabriel was talking about fear inputted into people.

“Even small gangs these days challenge our authority, something that did not happen in the past. But if we go head to head with the Draven family and win, our past glory would be revived and -”

“What if we lose?” Daniel asked him before he could finish.

“We cut our losses, but only after putting up a mean fight. By then, we have regained our respect even though we lost in the end.” He said.

There was no reaction from Daniel by the time Gabriel was through and it made him begin to think that he had said something to offend him only for a smile to slowly grow at the corner of his lips.

“You would make a good leader if my son hadn’t occupied that position,” Daniel said and hope grew in Gabriel’s heart. Was he trying to say that he would support him if Marcel wasn’t in the picture?

No, no, no, he shook the ridiculous thought out of his head. Had he forgotten that Daniel was tricky and good at using people to get what he wants? He refused to be deceived by him.

Holding Daniel’s gaze, he asked him, seriously, “What’s the point of all this? What do you want from me?”

“Wouldn’t you want to be the one to make that history?”

“What history?” Gabriel already sensed where this conversation was going.

“Stop the pact Marcel plans to have with the Draven family before it is too late.”

His eyes widened, “No way,” Gabriel refused right away.

“Give them a reminder and the deal would fall through naturally,” Daniel told him, unaffected by his declination.

“No,” Gabriel told him, “I know what this is. You plan to use me as a scapegoat in whatever plans of yours. You think Marcel would let me be after ruining his chances of a treaty with the Draven family?”

“You all are so short-sighted,” Daniel laughed in amusement. He said, “Why do you think I chose you? You’re Benjamin’s son, why would Marcel punish you for doing something that you thought was right?” He grinned devilishly.

The gears began to work in Gabriel’s head. He looked at Daniel in suspicion but the temptation was too real.

“What do I get from this?” He needed to know.

“You have always been outshined by your cousin, Arthur. Don’t you think that it’s time you have your stage now?” Daniel offered him his support.

Never make a deal with Daniel, that had been one of the warnings Gabriel received as a kid. But he was a grown-up now and scare stories like that are best left in the past.

“Deal.”