Chapter 103 - The Redivivus (1/2)
As Miguel drives back to the hospital after bringing Claire home safely, Michelle Alcantara is still in her new office in the TXCI Tower, overseeing the furniture and all that. She's having a minor crisis with a large painting—it has a sentimental value to her so she had it brought here, only to find out that it's too big for any wall in her office. She fumes—Gabriel must have planned this, she thinks, so convinced in her imagined oppression. She's about to tear the painting off the wall when she hears knocks on the door.
It's Mrs. Gomez, Gabriel's loyal receptionist. Instantly, Michelle's face shifts to one of fake delight.
”Have you heard about the news?” Mrs. Gomez steps inside the office, looking around. ”Oh, you're still fixing it up. Aren't the people from Facilities the ones in charge of finishing this office?”
”They were. I sent them home,” Michelle says, a hand on her hɨps. ”I wanted to be fully hands-on, but I guess I have to recall them back tomorrow. Look at this wall—it's too small. My art work could not fit in here.”
Mrs. Gomez scoffs. ”Michelle, everything is too small for you, even the entire world.”
Michelle throws the woman a look. They have known each other for years. Mrs. Gomez has been Gabriel's receptionist and sort-of girl Friday for as long as anyone could remember, and she doesn't put up with bullshit. Mrs. Gomez has always called her simply by her name, perhaps to insist on putting her in her place, even if she's now co-partner in this new company. And if there's anyone here Michelle could never threaten, it's this old biddy—Gabriel loves Mrs. Gomez, despite their often love-hate relationship.
”You mention some news,” Michelle says. ”I've been cooped up here in the past many hours. I haven't seen Gabriel or his new ȧssistant. We're supposed to discuss a few things.”
”That's the news,” Mrs. Gomez says. ”Gabriel is in the ICU.”
Michelle stares at her with that puzzled look. ”ICU? What's that?”
Mrs. Gomez rolls her eyes. ”Intensive care unit. The nearest hospital. Gabriel's very sick, Michelle. I'm going to visit tomorrow, see how he's doing.”
”What?” The look of shock on Michelle's face is genuine. ”Why didn't anyone tell me? When was this? How's he doing? And why not go and visit him now? We can go together.”
”Maybe because you were busy? Cla—I mean, Bella rushed to the hospital as soon as Gabriel's people called her up this morning. She's been there ever since, I gather.”
Michelle paces the floor nervously. ”No, we should go there tonight. Oh, my God. My Gabriel…”
”My Gabriel?” Mrs. Gomez thinks, wondering what illegal drugs Michelle was on. Last she heard, the Gabriel-Michelle tandem has long joined the fate of the dinosaurs. ”I can't go tonight, even if I wanted to.”
”Why not? Let's go together in my car. It's the nearest hospital, right? The one a few blocks from here?”
”I can't go tonight. No one else is going to babysit my newest granddaughter. Her parents are going to be on a date night. They'd be disappointed, furious even, if grandnanna doesn't show up. I'll go visit Gabriel first thing tomorrow morning.”
”Jesus,” Michelle mutters. ”If he's in the ICU, then it must be really serious,” she says, grabbing her bag. ”I'm going. I hope I'm not too late.”
”I'm not worried, Michelle,” she hears Mrs. Gomez say behind her. ”Gabriel Tan is un-die-able!”
As Michelle zips past the city's legal speed limit just to get to the hospital as quickly as possible, she begins to realize her own emotional response. Why is she so worried, anyway? What can she gain from this? Have you forgotten how Gabriel threw furniture at you the last time you met? Yet, Michelle brushes off these questions—truth be told, she's still hoping Gabriel could see the light and forgive her. She did spend the past few years cheating on him—she didn't think Gabriel would have the heart to leave her even if he found out. She thought Gabriel's love for her was bottomless, regardless of how badly she'd treat him. But as it turned out, the man did reach the end of his rope. And now, there seems to be nothing she could do to regain back his affection. But perhaps Gabriel falling ill could present some opportunity.
She finds Miguel in the waiting area right outside Gabriel's ICU room, sleeping as he sits in the cold metal chair.
”Miguel?” she whispers. ”Miguel?”
He's just half-asleep, and when he hears that female voice, his heart jumps; he thinks it's Claire, for some silly reason. He opens his eyes and is never more disappointed in his life when he sees who it is. ”Michelle? What brings you here?”
”I'm sorry, but I just learned about what happened to Gabriel. How is he?”
”Oh, he's fine. But if you want his condition to worsen, go ahead and enter that room.”