Is this destiny?

In the garden…

Gabriel sat on the bench that is facing the fountain and he took deep breaths while trying to clear his mind. It's not that he is always thinking about Victoria, but he is unable to shake off the suffocating gloomy feeling.

Gabriel was startled when a little boy slammed onto his leg.

The boy hugged Gabriel's leg, looked up to him, and grinned.

Gabriel's heart softened at the sight of Oliver's chubby cheeks and a smile that reached Oliver's eyes.

They met only a few times, but Oliver accepted Gabriel right away, and it's impossible not to fall in love with Oliver at first sight. Oliver is always full of positive energy and his smile is contagious.

Gabriel remembered Oliver's hearty giggles when Gabriel put him on his shoulders and held his hands spread wide while running around and making airplane sounds.

"Hey, little B. Did you get lost?", Gabriel asked while rubbing Oliver's head.

Before Oliver could respond, Becca's voice came from the side: "Oliver! How many times I told you not to approach strangers?"

Oliver pouted. "Gabbiey is not a stangey."

Oliver talks well, but he struggles with the sound of 'r' that frequently gets replaced with random sounds.

Gabriel glanced at Becca and then he focused on Oliver. "Is that your new nanny?"

Oliver shook his head. "That is my sissy. I like you moye. She is bossy."

Gabriel stifled a laugh and he stopped it abruptly when he saw that Becca is glaring at him.

Gabriel cleared his throat. "So, you are Ben's daughter."

Becca scrutinized Gabriel. "Yes. I am Becca, and you are?"

Oliver lifted his hands toward Gabriel, indicating that he wants to sit on the bench next to him, but he needs help because his legs are short, and he can't reach.

Oliver loves the company of grown-ups. They treat him well, give him candies and other goodies, he does not need to share his toys, and grownups don't try to dress him up or to force him to play games he is not interested in. In Oliver's opinion, grownups are many times better than kids. As a bonus, he gets to learn new words while listening to their conversations.

Gabriel lifted Oliver and helped him to sit on the bench while responding to Becca's question.

"My name is Gabriel. I work for Steve. How come you are stuck with babysitting?"

Oliver gestured to Becca to sit on the other side. "Sissy, heye…"

Becca sat on the bench and looked at Gabriel over Oliver's head. "I'm not stuck with babysitting. I enjoy spending time with my baby brother."

Oliver pouted. "I am not a baby!"

Becca rubbed his head. "Sure, big guy. Whatever you say."

Gabriel noticed that Becca's smile was sincere when she spoke to Oliver and that told him that she really likes the little guy. Well, everyone likes Oliver.

Gabriel observed Becca and how she interacts with Oliver. She is young, yet she looks mature. Gabriel knows that Ben is earning nicely at the White corp. and considering that Becca's parents are divorced, he would expect that she is spoiled. But just after one glance, Gabriel can see that Becca is down to earth, and he was curious to find out more about her.

"How come you enjoy taking care of Oliver? Shouldn't a girl your age prefer things like going out, partying, and experiencing new things?"

Becca was surprised by these questions. She didn't like that Gabriel is stereotyping her. Becca takes pride in putting herself in a category of mature teenagers. She decided to answer and clarify a few things.

"My parents divorced when I was young. For more than ten years my mom dragged me with her across the world as she changed her lovers. My mother got custody of me and she didn't allow me to stay with my dad out of spite. I looked forward to turning sixteen and being old enough to stay on my own. I craved for stability, a place to call home, and to focus on school. Watching over Oliver is relaxing, and I can't wait to find someone who will treat me well and start a family of my own…"

Becca stopped talking abruptly when she realized that she is oversharing. Why is she telling all these things to a guy she just met? Well, she heard about Gabriel from Ben, and she knows that he is Steve's assistant, but technically, they just met.

Gabriel listened to Becca and subconsciously he was comparing her with Victoria who always avoided addressing topics related to kids and family or anything long term. He found it interesting that Becca (who is obviously a teenager) is talking about it seriously while Victoria who is in her mid-twenties was shunning those topics like they are something shameful.

Becca fidgeted under Gabriel's keen gaze. "Uhm… Why are you looking at me like I said something weird?"

"Sorry. Not weird. It's just… You are too young to have such mature thoughts. Shouldn't you be going to school and dating and figuring out what works instead of thinking about a lifelong commitment?"

Becca was insulted by his remark. "I am eighteen years old. Maturity does not come with age, it comes with experience. I had my share of traveling and parties and what I want is a rock that can't be moved by the storm. Boys my age can't provide that, so I am left with waiting for them to grow up. And who said that I'm not going to school? I'm starting UCLA in September. Going to school will not clash with my other interests.", Becca said proudly before adding: "Since you accused me of sounding old, I could say the same about you. If I don't see you with my own eyes, I would think that you are ancient and grumpy… or at least ugly."

Gabriel was shocked. This is the first time someone called him old… and did she say 'ancient'? And there was one more thing… "Now that you can see me, you can confirm that I am not ugly. Does that mean you think of me as handsome?"

Becca blinked. "Really… does a man with your looks need to ask for compliments?"

Gabriel smiled. "You didn't answer my question."

Becca was getting irritated. "You are not looking for answers. You are up to something else, but I am not sure what…"

Gabriel's smile widened. "You are smart. Inexperienced, but smart."

Oliver's head was tilting left-right as Gabriel and Becca spoke. It looked like he is following a tennis match from the front row.

Becca narrowed her eyes at Gabriel. "Great. I am being nice, and you insult me."

"Being inexperienced is not a bad thing. Everyone was there at some point. It only means that you are young."

"Young, compared to what?", Becca asked angrily.

Gabriel was not sure how to answer this, but he found her exaggerated reaction amusing.

Becca saw that Gabriel is shaking while trying to suppress laughter and she was confident that whatever she says, she will only make it worse. She decided to leave.

Becca stood up abruptly. "Oliver, we are going inside! I'm sure that dad finished his meeting by now!"

Gabriel looked after Becca who was practically dragging Oliver after her and he paused when he realized that in the last ten minutes, he didn't think about Victoria and he was not gloomy… and he even laughed. It's such a small thing, but at that moment, it meant a lot.

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