Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Carlos Zack went to see the chairman at his Villa, he walked up to Ethan Zack who was standing in the French mirror looking out of the garden. "What exactly are you doing chairman?" Carlos asked with a cold voice.

Ethan faces him with a smile. "You're here Carlos."

"You fixed the date already," Carlos said trying hard to control his anger.

Ethan walked to his desk and sits down on the chair. "The press was running out of patience as to when your marriage would be held. I have to do it since you're not forthcoming."

Carlos scoff. "And since when or for how long will you hurt me and the person I love?"

"You both will get over it soon," Ethan said gently, folding his hands gently on the desk.

"Kelsey is not a strong as she appears to be and I will never stop loving her," Carlos said indifferently.

Ethan relaxes on his chair, his eyes on his angry grandson. "I don't care about your love life, Carlos. As long as it saves the company, you can continue loving Kelsey and hate this new girl, I don't give a damn. As long as the wedding push forward to save the company. That should be what you keep in mind. My pronouncement is final, you are getting married next week."

With this Ethan Zack stands up and left the room, leaving Carlos who looks heartbroken. He knows he can never go against the chairman. He knew his grandfather will never back out.

Bailey Zack, his grandmother came inside. "Carlos, son." Her voice was gentle, Carlos turned his sad eyes to look at her.

Bailey walked close to him. "I know this is a lot for you to bear, I do understand, but you really should stay focus." She looked him all over. "You look a mess. You need to rest Carlos." She told him.

Seeing his grandmother, the woman who took care of him after his parent's death, he sobs. "Grandma Bailey, at this point I miss my parents. I wish they were still alive." Tears filled his eyes.

Bailey pulled him in a comforting hug. "That's why I'm here for you. I miss them too. Right now you need to be strong, come lay down and rest for a while."

Bailey took him to the room he had here when he was still with them, she made him lay down to rest.

Carlos who had not been sleeping lately closed his eyes under the watch of his grandmother and drift to sleep.

...

Carlos Zack mansion.

Triffany stopped the taxi at Carlos Zack mansion entrance, she steps out of the taxi and it drove off.

She looked at the big familiar building, a place she had spent a night in, she was furious.

She walked to the gate but was stopped by the two guards there. "Who are you?" They asked her.

"Is that asshole inside?!" Triffany asked in anger. The two guards looked at each other. "Don't act as if you don't have an idea who I'm talking about. Your boss!" She barked at them.

"We can't give you any information about our boss, not until you tell us who you are." It was guard two speaking this time.

Triffany scoffed. "Are your eyes blind... haven't you seen me on TV huh!"

They both look at her, her hair was scattered careless and they didn't recognize her.

The first guard looked at her closely. "Is she not the one getting married to sir Carlos?" He asked the other one.

"She looks all..."

"Messy yes!" Triffany cuts him off. "Out of my way, I have to see that dumbass!" She growls and pushed them aside as she ran through the garden leading to the mansion, the guards running after her.

Triffany ran close to the balcony where she saw Carlos friends discussing with Gabby, they turned to look at her. "Where is that asshole?!"

Eric looked at her scanning her outfit. "And who is this?"

Gabby recognize her and smile. "You're here, for my brother right?"

The first guard approaches breathing heavily. "I'm sorry miss Gabby, I will escort her out now." He moves to touch Triffany's hands but she pushed his hands away.

"No." Gabby stopped him. "You and return to your post now." The guard's bows and left.

"Where is he?" Triffany asked again, running out of patience.

"Is she the future bride?" Eric asked bemused.

Triffany gave her m a hard glare. "I'm no future bride to that crazy psychopath! Who do you all think you are? Is it because of money? Getting married to someone just to save your ass from the press! What about me huh?!" She asked in anger.

They were all calculating themselves because they were rich, but she had no say in it. "I planned to marry someone I love and cherish, some who also love me." Her voice came out choked and soft this time. "Not this. Where is that crazy jerk?!" She shouts.

They all looked at themselves, this was the first time a lady was not intimidated by their presence.

Blake leans close to Gabby and whisper. "Gabby, you do act tough right? Handle your match, and whereas she's a girl." Gabby gave him a hard glare and he back away. "I'm sorry." He told her gently.

Garrett looked at Triffany. "What did you say your name was?" He asked.

Everyone look at him including Triffany, gosh this was bad, Garrett regrets asking her that now.

Triffany scoffed. "Is that jerk your friend?" She asked Garrett. "He's about to get married to a lady whose name is unknown."

Triffany stamps her feet on the floor and held her forehead, she was very tired now. "Gosh!" She held her sob and blinks tears from her eyes. "I thought my life would be much better after graduating. Oh, my crazy life!"

Triffany turned and walked away slowly like a zombie, heading to the gate.

"Is she leaving?" Eric asked looking at his friends.

"I think so," Gabby said gently.

"Garrett do you not know her name?" Blake asked him.

"No, I don't. Do you?" Garrett turned to Blake.

"No." Blake look at Eric. "Eric, do you know her name?"

"Was it, Trif...Trif...Aish!" Eric tried to remember in vain. "Carlos doesn't even mention her, talk more of her name. I don't." Eric responds.

Gabby shook her head at the three of them. "Tsk! You three are just a bunch of crazy. How can you all not know her name." Gabby scold them.

"Please tell us, miss knows it all," Blake said sarcastically.

"It's Trif... Trif..." They all looked at her as she was trying to recall. "Go ask my brother, why bother me!" She blurts out when she can't remember, she walked out and they all chuckled.

Carlos Zack returned to his mansion, his friends were still waiting for him. He looked worn out as he crashed on a chair next to them.

"Wine?" Eric asked.

"Yes please." Eric poured him a glass of white wine, which he drank in a gulp.

Carlos dropped the glass and looked around. "Where is Gabby?"

Blake relaxes on his chair sipping his wine. "The princess is having her moment upstairs."

Garrett looked at Carlos's face. "Are you alright?" He asked out of concern.

Carlos nods and poured himself another glass of wine. "I'm getting better after a few rest. Grandma Bailey forced me to rest." He said softly.

They smiled and look at him, sure enough, he really needed the rest and gratefully Bailey made him rest.

Garrett cleared her s throat and leans forward. "That reminds me, Carlos.." Carlos looked up at him, permitting him to speak. "What's the lady's name?"

Carlos looked at his friends bemused. "Which lady?"

"The girl on the news," Garrett said, watching Carlos reaction, he was too curious to find out.

Carlos sips his wine gently. "There are many ladies on the news Garrett. Be specific."

Eric looked at Garrett and knew he need help, he was also curious too and he said I Garrett place. "What he's trying to know is the name of your future wife."

Carlos gave them a hard glare and rolled his eyes. "Can you please not bring up that crazy lady topic to my hearing." He snaps, his brow arch. "I've heard enough and I'm tired of it all ." It looks like his strength was drained and he leans against his chair.

"She came today." Eric the bold one speaks.

Carlos looked up with a frown. "To this house?"

"Yes, she was really angry, she even walked away like a zombie and it got us worried," Blake added.

Carlos narrowed his eyes and sipped his wine. "I don't care. She is making my life worse." He runs his hands through his hair.

Garrett knew he had to change the topic. "Carlos the set manager sent the file for tomorrow's event."

Garrett hands him the file and Carlos went through it. "Thank you." Carlos stands up. "I'm going inside now." He told them, picking up his suit jacket, he left for the building.

His friends breathe out, they shook their heads. "He's way worse now." Eric sigh.

"He loves Kelsey." Garrett sipped his drink, their friend was suffering and they are helpless, which makes them all sad.

They all knew how much Carlos love Kelsey, even on their watch, he always smiles, but right now he was like a dead vessel and it made them dejected.

...

Glammaly estate was so busy the next day, staffs got ready to set everything and get it ready for the planned business with the New Zealand director.

Philip knocked at Carlos Zack office and entered. "Sir they will be here in thirty minutes."

Carlos who stood by the large window, turned around, he was a little bit nervous but he kept his business face. "Okay."

Philip escorts him m out to the meeting room. Carlos entered and all the board of directors stands up to greet him. "Are you all ready? They will be here in thirty minutes."

He sat down and the directors and shareholders sat down. Carlos nods to Stephen and he did a briefing to the rest.

"The New Zealand directors are here," Philip announced.

Carlos stands up and shakes hands with the three directors that walked into the room.

They sat down and Carlos who have been ready for this for a long while started the meeting, introducing them to the new telecommunication device of his he wants them to invest in.

After the meeting, the New Zealand directors looked pleased and decided to invest in it.

Carlos reported the success to the chairman, Ethan Zack, who was proud of his efforts and complimented him, this deal was a great step for the Glammaly estate.

Carlos arrived home to see his friends smiling at the success. "Congratulations." They told him.

"Thanks, guys." Carlos took a glass of wine and sipped it, sitting on the chair.

"This calls for celebration." Eric giggle, damn he loves throwing a party.

Carlos gave him a smile that did not reach his eyes. "There's nothing there to celebrate. I would only celebrate if I can't do that marriage." He looks exhausted, standing up he kept his glass on the table and turned to his friends. "By the way, thank you all for your hard work and support."

He knew his friends have also done a lot to make this a success, he would have stayed and celebrated, but he was not happy at the moment, all he needs was to rest.

"Carlos, can we talk?" Garrett asked before he could leave.

Carlos looked at him, as of contemplating. "Sure." They both left his other friends and walk to the large area of his lobby facing the beautiful garden that was now glittering with the setting sun.

Garrett looked at Carlos, his face fell, he knew Carlos was a businessman with all the serious face, but, he also knows that Carlos loses himself in his friend's company, he was always cheerful and laughs with them, telling funny tales, but right now this wasn't the Carlos he knew.

"Carlos, how are you holding up?" He could not resist asking.

Carlos smiled gently, his smile looked distant as if it was a forced smile. "I'm not." He said honestly.

Carlos looked at the flowers that felt like they were also lonely like her s heart. "Garrett, I'm not, this face, this smile. They are all pretence."

He looked at Garrett, his eyes now said. "Kelsey doesn't even want to see me. It seems like I disgust her Garrett. She found out before I could tell her." Carlos sigh, his hearts were shattered.

"You did all you could," Garrett said softly.

"No.." Carlos snap. "If I did my best, this marriage should be cancelled by now and Kelsey will be with me now." Carlos's voice was hoarse, filled with deep regret.

He closed his eyes gently and shakes his head. "Garrett, there's no time for me to set things right." He runs his hands through his hair.

He had been in control of everything, but in l he had lost total control. "It's just a week left. Should I elope with Kelsey, that's the crazy idea I have left, nothing else."

"Take a deep breath, Carlos," Garrett said, trying to calm him down. Garret watched Carlos take a sharp breath. "You should talk to that girl..." Garrett suggested. "What's her name again?"

Carlos gave him m a hard glare. "I don't fucken know her name! And hell no." Carlos snap. "I can't talk to a person like her." He exhaled sharply.

Garrett shudder and stepped back a little, he was only trying to help. "Carlos I'm not the bad person here, why are you getting mad at me?"

Carlos runs his hands through his hair again and sigh, he was very exhausted now. "I'm not mad at you, I'm angry at myself." He looked out of the garden and Garrett became silent, they stood there watching the sunset in silence.