Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Carlos Zack took his bath and called Kelsey, she picked on the first ring. "Hi, Kelsey." Carlos voice was tender and filled with love.

"Carlos."

"Are you done? Can I come over now?" He asked putting on his tie while standing by the mirror.

"No."

"I want to come over. I'm done with everything here." Carlos begged, looking around his lonely room.

"Don't you have anything to do at work today?" Kelsey asked.

"I cancelled all my schedule."

"You don't have to."

"Why not. You're my priority." Carlos's voice was clear and it made Kelsey smile hearing this. "Now get dressed quickly, I will be there in thirty minutes."

"Okay then."

"Love you."

"Love you too." Carlos ended the call.

Abbey who was with Kelsey looked at her with a smile. "Look at you now, you're blushing already."

Kelsey covered her two cheek with her hands. "Am I?" She sits close to the mirror and started applying makeup.

Abbey walked close to her and sit down in her front. "It was just like this the first day Carlos kissed you." They both chuckled. "You were smiling all through that day and I couldn't help but smile back."

Kelsey looked at Abbey, Abbey has always been there for her for a long while now, she cherishes her so much. "This is why I love you, my friend."

Abbey's face turned serious a few minutes later. "Kelsey, what are you going to do? Carlos is getting married in two days."

Kelsey paused her make-up and her eyes turned dark. "He doesn't love her." She spits.

"But they will get married."

Kelsey turned her eyes to look Abbey straight in the face. "They can also get a divorce." Abbey paused, she didn't expect these words from her friend. "What?" Kelsey raised her brow when she saw the looks on Abbey's face.

"What are you planning?" Abbey raised the corner of her brow, the cold look on Kelsey's face was scaring her.

Kelsey turned her gaze to her house image in the mirror. "I have made a plan on how to get my man back without putting up a fight, or acting childish."

"Seriously?" Abbey looked at her. "Fill me up on this plan Kelsey."

Kelsey smirked, her eyes darker and cold. "I'm going to put that lady in her place, she will be lonely, miserable and depressed. She won't feel loved and she is going to beg him to divorce her. I will never let her have any alone time with Carlos. I will get Carlos back."

Abbey just stare at her friend speechlessly, this was the effect of losing a loved one, it must have changed her friend, this wasn't the Kelsey she knows.

Carlos arrived a few minutes later at Kelsey's house, she was done, he leads her to the car and Shanne opened the door, they both steps into the back seat and Shanne drive into traffic.

Carlos held Kelsey's hands and kissed the back of her hand. "Today we are going to do whatever you want to do."

Kelsey look at him and smiled. "Seriously?"

"Yes, and where you also want to go. I'm going to take you there." His eyes staring at her eyes.

"Let's leave this country together." Kelsey's word made him paused and his face became expressionless. "I'm kidding." She said finally.

Carlos smiled gently. "I am ready to do it." He looked at her.

"I know." Kelsey doesn't want to dwell on this matter. "For now let's go to the beach."

"Okay then."

...

Tanner was watching a movie in the sitting room when Triffany returned home. "Welcome big sister."

Triffany smiled to see her younger brother, she went close to him. "Tanner you're back from your school trip. How was it?"

"Awesome." Tanner got up hastily. "Wait for a second, I bought something for you." He ran upstairs and came back down shortly with his hands at his back. "Close your eyes Triffany."

Triffany obediently closes her eyes. "What's this surprise?" She asked curiously.

"Tada!" Tanner stretched his hands forward. "Open your eyes now." He was giggling when she did.

Triffany saw a little box in his hand and smiled broadly. "Woah! Chocolates." Triffany licks her lips.

"Your favourite." Tanner smiled.

Triffany touches his cheek tenderly. "You're so sweet, Tanner." They both sat down on the sofa as Triffany opened the box.

"Let's dig in!" Tanner said looking into the box.

Triffany lifts her eyes to look at him in surprise. "I thought you bought this for me. Why are you saying let's dig in?"

Tanner gave her a cute smile. "We are going to share it."

Triffany covered the box and put it on her side. "No. It's mine now. I can finish it alone."

Tanner frowned. "You're greedy."

"Wo, wo, wo, seriously? You gave me this, you can't share it with me. I'm not going to give."

"I won't buy you, anyone, anymore!" Tanner furrowed his brow.

"I can buy it myself." Triffany paused her lips in a thin line.

"You can't... you don't have money!" Tanner shouts.

"Who told you I don't have money. I have a lot of money!" Triffany shouted back at him

"Liar!" Tanner snapped. "It's only employed people that have money. You are unemployed. You don't have a job!" He shouted again hitting Triffany in her weak spot, rendering her speechless. "You're so broke!" He added with folded arms.

Triffany's eyes were filled with tears as she shouts. "I'm not! I'm going to find a job and I'm going to make money." She puts the box of chocolates on the table and runs upstairs to her room in tears.

Tanner looked at the box of chocolate she left on the table and his eyes grew soft. "Why is she so sad. She is not even taking the chocolate anymore when it's her favourite."

Laura came inside and Tanner shouted. "Welcome, Mom!" He ran towards her and hugged her.

"Hello, handsome." She set her bag down and looked around the sitting room. "Where is your sister?"

"In her room mom."

"Okay."

"Mom, I think Triffany is not happy." Tanner looked at his mother who stopped and stare at him.

"Why?"

"She's sad about something I said." Tanner blinks.

Laura looked down at him in suspicion. "What did you say to your sister?"

"I told her she doesn't have money because she is jobless." Tanner lifts his eyes and Laura furrowed her brow.

"Tanner. How could you say that to your sister." Laura frowned.

"She didn't want to give me chocolates. I even bought them for her." He pouts.

"You shouldn't have said that to her too. Now go upstairs and apologize to her." Laura ordered him. "I bet she is crying right now."

Tanner knew he was wrong now and started crying too. " I didn't mean to make her sad, I was just angry at her. Mom, I'm sorry." He sobs.

"If you are sorry, you should go tell her that you are sorry," Laura said with her brow arched.

"Okay, mom." Tanner took the box of chocolate and head upstairs to Triffany's room. He knocked on the door. "May I come in?" He asked in a hoarse voice.

"Get lost, Tanner!" Triffany shouted from inside her room. "I don't want to see or talk to you!"

"I'm so sorry Triffany. I didn't know the words I said couldn't be so hurtful. I sincerely apologise." He said standing outside her closed door in tears.

"Triffany, I won't eat the chocolates anymore, you can have all of it. I will buy more for you. Just accept my apology. Please Triffany, I'm sorry." Tanner sniffles.

Triffany opened the door to see her bother in tears. "Apologies accepted." She squat close to him. "Don't cry anymore." She uses her hands to wipe his tears.

"I'm truly sorry," Tanner mutters.

"I know." Triffany smiled. "Come into my room, we will both share the chocolate and see a movie." She held his little hands and lead him into her room as they both giggle ear to ear.

Blake, Carlos friend came to his mansion, Gabby was cutting her nails as he approaches her, she looked up surprised to see him. "Blake, what are you doing here?"

"Why? Shouldn't I come around?" Blake asked sitting down next to her.

"My brother is not at home. He went on a date with Kelsey." Gabby told him honestly.

"I came to see you."

Gabby scoffed and lift her eyes to look at him. "I'm not going to date my brother's friend and I'm sure Carlos will never let that happen."

Blake laughed at her words. "Who wants to date someone like you?" Blake said sarcastically.

Gabby arched her brow. "Then why are you here?"

"I need some advice."

Gabby chuckle. "What kind of advice?" She raised her brow.

"Relationship advice."

Gabby runs her hands through her hair and crossed her legs. "At least you recognize one of my talents. Tell me what you want to know."

Blake exhaled softly and looked at her. "My girlfriend is mad at me, she said I don't understand her feelings. I do buy her whatever she wants, yet she's still complaining."

"Men will always be men," Gabby said slowly.

"What?"

"Not every lady needs your money, real ladies need care and affections. Are you always there for her when she needs you? Blake cares for your girl, protect her, take her out and make her feel special." Gabby finished.

Blake rolled his eyes. "Ladies are a headache."

Gabby gave him a nasty look. "Okay." She stands up. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" Blake asked, surprised.

Gabby smiled and wink him. "Let me show you how to treat a lady. We are going on a date now."

"What! Seriously?" Blake smiled happily.

"Yes. Call your girlfriend."

"Oh!" Blake stopped smiling. "We are going with my girlfriend?"

"Yes. I will meet you outside. Let me dress up." She left for her room.

Blake leans back on his chair, he had thought she wanted to go along with her.

...

The next day Carlos made a reservation in a restaurant to meet Triffany Joey since their wedding was going to be the next day.

He ordered different delicacy and was eating and drinking but Triffany just watched him without taking a bit of her food.

"Why aren't you eating?" He asked her, lifting his eyes to meet hers.

"I'm not going to eat anything you buy with your money," Triffany told him coldly.

Carlos laughed and sips his wine. "So be it then."

Triffany who was tired of watching this insolent man spoke up. "Why did you call me out here?"

"I'm eating right now. We can talk when I'm done." He said and took a bit of his food.

Triffany scoffed. "Continue your meal then." She said sarcastically.

Carlos looked around and then back at her. "You know what I'm embarrassed right now. You can't dress properly for a dinner and I'm sure you're afraid of eating since you can't use the cutleries. It's quite obvious." He said nonchalantly.

Triffany gave him a hard glare, holding down her anger. "Don't let me cause a scene here."

"There are securities around, they will throw you out before you dare. So chill." He said coldly sipping his drink. He has heard how crazy his sister say she can be.

Triffany was already tired of being here in this rich place with his man and she was getting angry. "If you don't have anything to say to me, I have something to say."

Carlos ignored her and continue his meal. Triffany leans close to the table. "I don't care if you are rich or an heir of an estate or your mansion. I don't give a damn, I don't love you!"

Carlos smirked and drop his fork. "I don't love you either." He sips his wine elegantly.

"Then that's good. We have no choice but to proceed with this crazy marriage, because of you. Points to be taken...stay out of my business and I will stay out of yours if you cross my boundaries and try to disrespect me...then.."

"Then what?" Carlos cut her off now furious too.

"I will show you I don't give a fuck on whoever you are!" Triffany gave him a hard glare not intimidated by him.

Carlos chuckled. "You're funny."

Triffany looked surprised and she wonders if she was not harsh enough.

"You!" Carlos cold voice pulled her from her thoughts. "You should know your place, I don't mingle with a low life like you. My house, my rules. You should mind the way you behave when we get married." He finished.

The waiter came and he cleared the bills. "I guess we are done here." He said to the speechless Triffany and walked away.