Free Elementary Virtue: The Prophecy by Sonja Wuthrich Page A

with some silver threads in it and looked as if he felt uncomfortable almost vulnerable.
    Ana had to admit that he had an incredible charisma and still looked good for his age. He had that certain something women usually fell for. His tanned face looked friendly if you missed that vicious line around his mouth that didn’t entirely disappear even with his charming smile. He looked at them with his pale green eyes, «My dear, don’t tell me that you are still angry after all these years? Do you still feel sorry about our time together?" Certain arrogance spoke from his words, looked like he couldn’t keep up his innocence for a long time. It was quite obvious that her mom would outburst in rage within seconds. Ana darted over to her and put a reassuring hand on her arm. "Don’t let yourself get provoked, Mom, let’s get out of here." Her mom nodded, and they headed for the door. "It was nice to have met you, Gabe." Ana waved at him, and they left the classy apartment without looking back.
    "I am sorry muffin, what did I think when I brought you here? Gaby and your father are apparently in cahoots together on this," hectically she pressed the button for the elevator. Gabe came running out of the apartment out of breath. "Please don’t go," his moss-green eyes had a pleading, almost desperate expression, "give him a chance, I know he's not a real charmer and diplomacy is a foreign word for him. At first, I didn’t want to deal with him, and my mother felt the same way. He kept on looking imploringly at Ana's mother, "But he seems seriously changed. He has grown older and is suffering because he doesn’t know his children. He says he wants to make it up to us. Please come back and listen at least to what he has to say. If you still want to leave after that, he will understand. You and Ana are the only family I have left except him, and my mother died last year, “Gabe could be very convincing if he wanted to. Ana and her mom looked at each other, "Ok, I can’t believe I'm saying this, but we’ll give the old selfish moron a chance!"
    Gabe's eyes widened in astonishment at what she said. "Don’t look at me like that Gabe, this man brings out the worst in me, even in my vocabulary. Unfortunately, there are no good feelings when I think about him, rather some unbridled lust to murder him, if I may say so." She put her hand on his arm, "What happened to your mother?"
    "She died in an accident."
    "Oh, sorry to hear that." Gabe shrugged, "It was a difficult time." Ana and her mom followed him back into the apartment, where Carmine meanwhile struggled with the coffee maker, which snorted and squealed, "Hey Dad, I told you that you have to descale the thing. Otherwise, it will explode sometime soon. It would be nice if you listened sometimes." Gabe looked amused at Carmine, “As a matter of fact I have brought back your daughter and her angry mother, what about that? So, please behave and don’t screw it up this time around." Carmine Grande looked up, and his pale green eyes sparkled. For the first time in her life, Ana understood why her mom had fallen for him. If he felt like it, he could be charming as hell. He came towards her reaching out for her, and her mom stepped immediately aside. He hugged Ana then he held her at arm’s length. "Let' me look at you! At last, I have waited a very long time for this moment. It is unforgivable that I have neglected you and your half-brother for so long.
    I was an ambitious idiot who only thought about work and I suppressed my feelings. Now I want to make it up to the two of you. After all, what is more, important than family in life?" Ana’s Mom cleared her throat, "I am sorry to disturb this touching scene that takes place around fifteen years later than expected. You didn’t even pay for her pacifier or any child support. I guess the show, for the father of the year, is postponed until tomorrow. Ana and I have to get ready for the awards tonight. So, if you will excuse us for