Chapter 6 - A Different Kind of Debt
Back at the penthouse, the sun had fully risen, flooding the apartment with warm, golden autumn light.
Ella sat propped up against a pile of silk pillows on the massive leather sofa, a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea in her hands.
The door opened softly, and Tyler walked into the room.
He looked pale, exhausted, and deeply shaken, wearing a fresh gray tracksuit provided by Mrs. Gable, the estate housekeeper. The moment he saw his sister sitting on the couch with a bandaged leg, he broke down, rushing across the room to drop to his knees beside her.
“Ellie... oh, God, Ellie, I am so sorry,” Tyler choked out, burying his face in her lap. “This is all my fault. They said if I didn't get the accounts for them, they’d come after you. I never meant for any of this to happen.”
Ella stroked her brother’s dark hair, her own eyes filling with tears.
“Shh, Ty. It’s okay. It’s over,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Barlowe is gone. Gabriel took care of it.”
Tyler lifted his head, wiping his eyes, looking around the palatial penthouse in sheer disbelief. “Who is this guy, Ellie? When his men brought me here last night, I thought I was walking into an execution room. Instead, they gave me a steak dinner and a king-sized bed.”
“He’s... complicated,” Ella murmured, looking toward the hallway where Gabriel had disappeared to take a phone call.
Just then, the heavy double doors opened again, and Gabriel walked back into the room.
Tyler scrambled to his feet instantly, straightening his jacket with nervous energy.
Gabriel stopped a few feet away, his gray eyes scanning Tyler from head to toe before shifting to Ella.
“Your brother is free to go, Ella,” Gabriel said smoothly. “My driver is waiting downstairs to take him to a safe apartment on the north side, along with a completely clean financial slate. His debt to Barlowe has been officially erased.”
Tyler’s mouth dropped open. “Erased? Just like that? How much do I owe you, Mr. Ross?”
Gabriel’s lips twitched into a faint, dry smile.
“You don't owe me a dime, Tyler. Your sister paid your debt in full last night when she walked forty floors through the storm.” Gabriel turned his gaze back to Ella. “Though she might take a few weeks to pay off the interest.”
Tyler looked between his sister and the billionaire mafia boss, a slow realization dawning in his eyes. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Right. Well. I’ll just... go wait downstairs for the car,” Tyler stammered, backing toward the door. “Thank you, Mr. Ross. Really.”
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving silence in the grand office.
Ella set her teacup down on the side table, looking up at Gabriel with a mixture of awe and defensive caution.
“You didn't have to let him go completely free,” she said softly. “He made stupid mistakes.”
“Everyone makes mistakes, Ella,” Gabriel said, walking closer until he stood beside the couch. He reached down, resting his hand lightly on the edge of the cushions. “The difference is what they’re willing to sacrifice to fix them.”
Ella looked down at her bandaged leg, feeling the warmth of his presence radiating against her skin.
“My leg is going to take a month to heal,” she murmured, almost to herself. “I won't be able to go back to my apartment. I don't even know if my job at the firm—”
“Your job at the firm is finished,” Gabriel interrupted calmly.
Ella’s head snapped up. “What? You fired me from the audit?”
“I didn't fire you. I acquired your firm this morning at 7:00 AM,” Gabriel stated as if he were discussing the weather. “You are no longer an independent forensic accountant working out of a damp cubicle. You are the senior financial director of Ross Global Holdings, with a corner office on the 39th floor, double your previous salary, and twenty-four-hour armed security.”
Ella stared at him, absolutely speechless.
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“You can’t just buy a company because you like the accountant!” she sputtered.
“Watch me,” Gabriel replied, his gray eyes locking onto hers with absolute, devastating certainty. “You saved my logistics network from a federal audit, you exposed a syndicate money-laundering ring, and you bled on my floor. In my world, that makes you indispensable.”
