Chapter 121: Chapter 121

At the Thornston Estate Entrance...

The man swallowed dryly and tried to look anywhere but at the plump girl striding toward him. He had been first dealing with the person that he had assumed was her driver. It was his first day on the job, and he had only worked for a few hours.

’May the heavens help me keep this job! I never thought that I would meet an impossible customer on day one!’

Even getting that call that morning that he had been hired had been too good of news to be true for him. He was the main Gatekeeper of the Thornstons!

How that position had landed on his lap was still puzzling to him; nonetheless, he remembered the reason the previous person had been terminated, and he was not about to go down in his story as the person who had terminated a few hours into his work. He braced himself for the storm that was heading towards him and said a silent prayer.

He knew of the woman coming to him, so he was somewhat prepared. She was dressed in a long green patterned A-line skirt and a white spaghetti top with heels that made him wonder how she was even able to move on that uneven ground.

She arrived in front of him and hooked her arms on her curvy waist, flipping her long brown hair, which had been let loose over one shoulder; she looked straight up at him, making him squirm.

"Do you know who I am?"

’Ain’t that classic? What had who she was got to do with the fact that his employer had denied her entrance?’

"I’m sorry, Miss, but who you are ... has nothing to do with my work."

"What did you say?" She asked angrily.

"I am the only other friend that your new mistress has. I am Brianna Mush! Did you communicate that to her?"

The man responded respectively. "The news came down directly from Master Ian. I am sorry. You can try making an appointment and coming later or...."

"Or what?" Briana snapped.

Briana had been in for a rude awakening earlier that day. She had casually called Ava only to hear that Ava had been headed to the Thornston estate.

"Why does that poor nobody get to be invited but not me?!" She had been truly puzzled, checking her phone several times to verify if she had missed the invite. However, she had found no such thing.

"I had proven myself by going all the way to see Shelby and those brats! I even sent her a wedding gift! Why would she not invite me to her home?" Briana could not understand it.

She had puzzled over it over and over again and then decided to take matters into her own hands, and there she found herself at the gate, being denied entry by the stupid gateman.

’When had someone of that calibre even had the guts to look her straight in the face and talk to her?’

"Or what?" She demanded again when the stupid man refused to speak.

’I can’t believe it; I had to leave the car and come here myself!’

"You can try calling your friend. A word from her can give me the pathway I need to work." The man was humble enough, and that even irritated Briana more. She had been parked there for the better part of an hour.

The wind breeze had increased, causing her to have goosebumps. The daylight had also let out, and the evening had arrived without her knowing it. Initially, she had thought that it was a small hitch and that she would be allowed in sooner or later, but when her driver had met a dead end, Briana had thought that her presence would do the trick, but she so had underestimated the will that the new gatekeeper had to keep his job.

The politeness of the man continued to irk her.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Nobody, Miss. Just a man doing my job." He closed the boot window, leaving Briana stomping her foot on the outside.

Briana could not believe it.

"Shelby had lied again! She said that her husband had locked himself up in his room, but didn’t the gateman just say that Ian had prevented her from going in? Why would Shelby lie? Also, most importantly, why would Ian say that about her? Unless Shelby had badmouthed me!"

She walked back to her car dejectedly, her driver holding the door open and waiting for her.

She dialled Shelby’s number again for the umpteenth time, but no one had picked up.

"Just go back home!" She snapped!

Back at the estate and the dinner, Shelby watched as the phone rang to the end. Just as she had tried to pick up the call, Ian had confiscated the phone.

"She’s my friend Ian...."

"You should learn how to choose your friends wisely, my Elfin...."

Shelby looked up sideways at Ian, not really understanding why he was acting coldly towards Briana. Ian had never met Briana, so it was a bit puzzling as to why he was like that.

Thoughts of Briana made Shelby look over at Ava.

Her gaze held a lot of questions, for Shelby could only think of one reason Briana would be there that evening. If Briana had not known of the dinner or Ava’s visit, she would never have been so impetuous!

Ava lowered her head, feeling guilty as heck.

’I should guard what I tell Briana from now on. How could I make the same mistake again,’

"Sorry...." She mouthed at Shelby.

Ava liked to own up to her issues. She stood up with Gabriel in her arms and then turned to Geneva. "I’m so sorry, Geneva. I may have let it slip that I was coming here... that might be why Briana also came here...."

Geneva stopped what she was doing.

"Do not apologize for the stupidity of others. You did nothing wrong! Now take your seat, and let’s start this."

Ava felt a whoosh of gratitude just as Geneva asked, "Where is the good-for-nothing-son-of-mine?"

"He should be here shortly," Katie interjected.

Ava was surprised when she was guided to a seat right by Shelby.

"But – I am staff...."

"And you are also Miss Shelby’s friend!" This time, it was Suzie who had spoken.

"Clean your mouth!" Ava whispered to her.

Suzie blushed and quickly wiped her mouth, not at all ashamed that she had been caught. Suzie took Gabriel from Ava and set him down across them with his other two siblings. Ava did not miss the scowl on the older girl’s face. Samantha made no secret of the fact that she would rather be anywhere than at the same table with them. However, the presence of Ian made her keep it at a minimum.

A hand brushed across Ava’s elbow, and she turned to her left, startled to see Rocky.

The words slipped out before she could contain them.

"Oh.... So, you knew that I was here? That’s so unbelievable of you, Ava. However, that makes me so happy! You noticed me! Does that mean that you missed me?"

Rocky whispered, making sure that Shelby, who sat on Ava’s right side, did not hear anything.

"Stop playing around!" Ava hush whispered.

"I am not! Everything I told you is what I really feel, and I will pursue you with all I have in me, so brace yourself for this, my love!"

Ava’s heart skipped a beat then and there, and then she started feeling slightly guilty for deleting the audio. Whatever it was, Rocky had only been looking out for her, so why did she do that? Finally, she hardened her resolve: ’This is my life! I should live it the way that I want!’

On the other hand, Ava gave up but could not help but ask, "Is everything okay at home? What of your father?"

"Are you worried about me? Ava love?"

Ava shook her head and turned to Shelby, only to find out that she was engaged with Ian. She had no choice but to turn back to the ’unwanted attention’ from Rocky. As to whether the attention was unwanted was something that only dear Ava could reply to.

"Are you going to serve my snacks, or do I have to beg for them in my own home?" This was none other than Geneva. Even Alex kept glancing at the doorway, looking forward to it.

Even Gabriel and Ingrid’s eyes lit up at the thought.

"Auntie Ava, did you prepare those snacks again?"

Ava nodded, her eyes cringing up at their reaction.

"Are you looking forward to them, Bestie?" Ingrid lowered her head, but Ava did not miss the slight reddening of her cheeks.

"You must be Samantha! I’ve heard a lot about you...."

Samantha, who had also lowered her head so that no one could know that she was also looking forward to those snacks, whipped her head up.

"Of course, you! Who else? Your new step-mum talked a lot about you!"

Samantha felt warm on the inside. But she would rather die than let anyone see this.

Ava smiled and replied, "Nice to meet you!" As if she had not heard Samantha’s retort.

On the other side, Katie replied to the older couple, "We are waiting for Master Brad-"

"Why do I have to wait for that brat?"

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