Chapter 32
Gabriel: #ToTrustOrNotToTrust
M amie’s slumped on the chair and I can’t help but feel a little sorry for her. Meanwhile, Nora is sitting on the couch, still eating like nothing’s happened. It blows my mind how calm she is, even in a situation like this. And when she responded to Mamie’s rude comments so gracefully, it filled me with so much love and gratitude. I wanted nothing more than to give her a big hug right then and there.
“Look, ma’am,” Nora says, picking up a brioche. “Isn’t there a loophole you can exploit to keep the business within the family? One that doesn’t involve Gabs marrying someone he doesn’t want to. I mean, I believe that’s your concern, right? Keeping the business.”
“You think I’d have stooped to this level if there was another option? Risking my grandson’s reputation?” Her head is still lowered, her forehead wrinkled. Suddenly, she doesn’t seem so intimidating anymore.
I take a seat on the chair opposite her and hold her hands in mine. “Mamie, I’m not doing this to hurt you or Mom or the business. But don’t you think it’s unfair if I don’t have a say in who I want to marry? Did you marry Granddad without your will? Do you think you could’ve been happy together if you didn’t love each other? Do you think he could have built such a successful business if he wasn’t so happy at home?”
She bites her lip. I guess I struck a raw nerve. I know she and Granddad were high school sweethearts. Mom has told that story many times over in her rants. They studied in the same school, lived on the same street, and had no other relationship ever in their lives. Mom never understood why they didn’t support her choice in marriage when they believed so much in love. Perhaps time changes people. Or maybe it’s wealth that does it.
She lets out a sigh. “I know. It’s not that I don’t understand, but sometimes you have to be practical. It’s not that you love anyone, Gabriel. You’ve never even had a steady girlfriend. So how does it matter to you? As for Sophia, that girl is all business. As long as you’re discreet, she won’t even bother if you have other affairs. So you can carry on with your lifestyle and still have the family business. At least that’s what I thought when I agreed to Daphne’s plan.”
She picks up her phone and tinkers with it for a moment. “Here, I deleted the file. So nothing’s going to that man. I don’t like him in any case. He’s too nosy.”
“I know right,” Nora pips in. “He’s the worst. He’ll ask you innocuous questions, and next week you’ll find them on the internet, all spiced up. That’s how he works. I hope you didn’t tell him anything.”
Grandma looks at Nora, and a faint smile comes to her lips. “I didn’t. I actually played his own game against him. You’ll find that most people are quite forthcoming in front of old, motherly women. I found out he has some gambling problems and needs some money to pay off his debts. You can use the information to bring him down if you like.”
Wow! This lady is cunning. I make a mental note to be careful around her and also this new information about TruthSeekerBob. Who knows when it may come in handy?
“Aw. Poor thing. Perhaps that’s why he’s always trying to get other people down. Thanks for the info, but no, I don’t play by his rules,” Nora answers.
At that same moment, I feel ashamed of my thinking. Ready to bring this man down using information gleaned from someone. Perhaps intrinsically, I’m no different from Mamie or Mom. Maybe that’s how I am—willing to stoop to new lows to get what I want.
“I’ve noticed,” Mamie says. “Despite what I said earlier, I respect you, Nora. I like your views and your way of thinking. Your sister’s not so much. I also know that Gabriel’s online popularity is partly because of you.” She lets out a sigh. “Look, I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t even want to talk to Gerard Dumas or get your friend’s ex-colleague involved in this. I hated it, but this business is dear to me. More dear than anything else.”
“You did what?” I almost yell. “You involved Neil, Eva’s ex-colleague into this? Jesus! That’s why he wants to discuss investments in our family business with me. And what did you tell Gerard Dumas?”
She drops her eyes, unable to meet my gaze. “I told him to tell you what he did. He knows, as well as I do, that you weren’t a liability for that startup. But that was the only way to make you exit it. Daphne had been trying for so many years to get you to work for the Bardot business, but you didn’t want to. You left us with no other choice.”
Wow! What did I do to deserve a family like this? I really hope I’m not like them.
“There’s always a choice,” Nora mutters.
I can feel the tension in my forehead, and I glower at Mamie. I still don’t believe it. For a minute, I fix my gaze on her slumped frame before I find my voice.
“So you’re saying that by getting someone to insult me in front of my colleagues and friends you were only looking out for me?”
She has the nerve to nod and ignore the sarcasm that went with that statement.
“I was,” she says, her gaze still focused on the floor. “Maybe I went a little far, but you have to trust me. I had only your best interests at heart.”
I scoff, loudly enough for her not to miss it this time. As if I can trust her.
I want no part of this family. My grandmother, my mother, my cousins, whoever they are, the family business. I don’t even want to make the presentation I’ve planned for Monday. All I want is to put as much distance as I can between them and me.
Nora speaks up as if she can read my mind. “Gabriel has worked hard for this presentation on Monday. But given the situation, does it even make sense? I believe your company can still gain a lot from having him, whether or not he owns part of it. I’m sure you’ve thought of this possibility, Madame Bardot.”
“I agree. Gabriel will be an asset to the company. So I’d definitely want him to continue working for the business, whatever he decides regarding the inheritance. As for a solution to the will condition, I have an alternative. I haven’t told Daphne about this, so please don’t discuss it with her. He can marry Sophia for now and divorce her after a year. It’ll fulfil his grandfather’s condition on paper and he can keep the twenty-five percent share of the business.”
Nora nods, her lips in a straight line. Is she really thinking seriously about this? Whatever we’ve gone through in the past couple of weeks means nothing to her?
I shake my head in disbelief.
Nora holds my hand and squeezes it. Then she turns to Mamie. “But even if it fulfils the condition on paper, it doesn’t fulfil it in spirit. As a result, don’t you think the two family businesses that your husband wanted to join as a result of this marriage won’t really happen?”
“You’re right, Nora. But at least Gabriel will get the money and his aunt won’t get any more to squander away.”
They both have their eyes fixed on me, expecting me to respond. What can I say? There’s no winning this, but at least I can lose on my terms without selling my conscience.
“I can’t do this. Marry Sophia. Even if it’s only on paper. It’s my life and I don’t want to lead it on a foundation of falsehood and half-truths. And for what? For money? If this is your best suggestion, I’d rather live without this inheritance. I don’t take these commitments lightly, Mamie. I’m sorry.”
“Of course you don’t. No wonder you never commit to anyone. Think about your mother at least. Would you deprive her of her inheritance because of your selfishness? Would you deprive yourself of this opportunity?” She turns to Nora. “You’re his friend. Tell him he needs to do it.”
“Will Sophia agree to this?” Nora asks.
I’m amazed she’s even considering this. How can she?
“Sophia is a businesswoman. She’ll need something out of it. But we can negotiate that, I’m sure. So, what do you say?”
I feel all semblance of control slipping away from under me. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. Get back in the driver’s seat! Play for some more time.
“Thank you for your offer, Mamie. I’ll think about it, but I need a promise from you.”
She raises her eyebrows and looks at me.
“You need to promise that you won’t do such underhand dealings, at least not with me or Nora or Mom and Dad. We need to trust each other.”
She sighs. “I’ll try.”
I shake my head. “Not good enough.”
“Okay, I promise. It’s not that I thrive on these things. They give me a kick, I accept,” she says, chuckling, thinking she has won this round. “Sitting alone in this big house, one can’t help but enjoy playing the role of a puppet-master. But you have to promise me something in return. That you’ll consider my offer seriously.”
I nod. “I will, I promise.”
We sit in silence for a bit. Nora is attacking the ravioli now. I’m amazed by how much this girl is eating today. It’s like this is the last time she’s ever going to get a meal.
Mamie picks up a glass of juice and says, “So what are you both going to do about TruthSeekerBob?” Even though she says ‘both’, her question is addressed to Nora.
“Nothing,” Nora says.
“What? You can’t let him be. There have to be consequences. He’s discredited you both.”
“People will soon forget about it. We can continue faking this relationship for a while, at least on social media, so that our followers see us together. Later, we can give any excuse and part ways. As for TruthSeekerBob, without the recording, it’s just his word against mine. He has nothing now, so I think he’ll back off.”
“What if your sister’s boyfriend, Kevin, gives him the original recording? I mean, he sold it to me for a couple of grand. He can go to TruthSeekerBob and offer it to him, too.”
Nora thinks for a while. “You’re right. Truth has a way of coming out. Maybe we shouldn’t lie. There’s no reason for that now. We can tell the truth ourselves. Might be easier that way. Why lie to people who follow us, like us, and support us?”
I can’t believe it. “What about the backlash? Many people might unfollow you.”
She shrugs. “So be it. Followers keep coming and going. But peace of mind and a clean conscience is important. Follower numbers aren’t worth lying and tainting your soul.”
Mamie stands up and pats Nora on the shoulder. “You’re strong, Nora, to even think of doing this. But I’d suggest that you both should neither fan the flame nor apologize just yet. Maybe, with no proof, this Bob fellow backs off himself. No action will be required then, right? Take the word of this old lady who has seen the world through a lot of changes. No one cares. We think everyone is thinking and talking about us. We spend our lives worrying about what others will say. But no one, what do you Americans say? ‘Gives a shit’, about any other person. So, leave it at that for now.”
Nora finishes the ravioli and puts the plate back on the table. “You’re right, ma’am. But if this-Bob-fellow, as you put it, doesn’t back off, I think it might be for the best to tell the truth.”
“Sure, you know best,” Mamie says and then spins around to face me. “Well, I believe Nora has probably had her dinner here. Do you want something to eat? Would you like to stay here for the night or return to your hotel?”
I pick up a brioche and take a bite. It’s amazing. No wonder Nora has been gorging herself. “We’ll go back. I’ve to prepare a bit for my Monday’s presentation and my laptop is in the room.”
“As you wish. And Gabriel, je suis vraiment désolée. I hope you can forgive me.”
“It’s okay, Mamie. I don’t approve of what you did, but I understand why you did it.”
She hugs me, and then Nora. “I’m sorry, Nora, for getting you into this trouble. And you’re not at all like what Daphne told me. I’m glad Gabriel has you as a friend.”
She calls out to someone and tells them to get the car ready.
“The driver will drop you to your hotel. If you like, you can keep the car and driver till you’re in Paris.”
“No, thank you,” I say. “He can return after dropping us at the hotel.”
Even though she’s promised she won’t manipulate us, I don’t believe her. So I don’t want her driver acting as her spy and telling her what we’re doing, where we’re going, and what we’re talking about. It’ll be some time before I can trust her completely, if ever.