Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Carlos Zack came back home at noon because of his health, Gabby was not home and Triffany was not back yet. He lay on his bed with the quilt over his body, he picked up his phone and called Gabby.

She answered at the third ring. “Hello, brother.”

“Gabby, where are you?”

“I’m on my way to see grandma and grandpa, are you okay?” She was surprised that he called her, plus his voice was a little weak.

“I’m fine, greet them for me.”

“Okay.” Gabby hesitated before ending the call.

Carlos put his hands on his forehead after putting down his phone, he gently close his eyes to sleep, blocking the painful words he had heard Kelsey say.

Gabby arrived at Ethan Zack mansion, she ran into Bailey’s arms as she hugged her tightly. “Oh my little princess.” Bailey kissed her cheek, it had been a while since she saw Gabby and she was so happy that it could be see in her face.

“Grandma, I miss you so much.” Gabby looked up at the woman that have taken care of her for a these years.

“I miss you too, little one.”

Gabby refrains and looked up at her grandma with her brow slightly furrowed. “I’m now a big girl, I’m twenty years now.”

Bailey chuckled. “I know.” They both laughed.

Gabby looked around, then back at Bailey. “Where is Grandpa?”

Ethan Zack came down to the sitting room. “I’m here child.” He opened his arms and Gabby ran into them like a little child.

“Grandpa, how have you been?” Gabby looked up at his elderly face.

“Healthy, you?”

“I’m breathing.” Gabby opened her arms and put on a funny face as they all chuckled. She looked at her grandfather closely. “Grandpa you’re looking younger as days goes by.”

“I’m still in my sweet sixteen.” Ethan gave them a pose as they laugh out loud.

“Then, I’m still at my infant age now.” Gabby shakes her head with a grin, her grandfather is really funny.

“Let’s all go in, I prepared our traditional meal.” Bailey lead the way as they followed behind.

“You always make the best meal grandma, I can’t wait to eat them, I wish I came with Carlos and his wife.” They all sat on the dinning chair to start eating.

Ethan looked up at Gabby who was picking up her cutleries. ”How are they doing?”

Gabby smiled as she looked up at him. “You should watch their drama, they are both like cat and dog, they don’t see eye to eye.”

Bailey looked at her husband with a frown. “Ethan, see what you have done.”

Ethan sipped his wine slowly. “Carlos will come around.” He picked up his spoon to start eating.

Gabby looked at him. “Grandpa, you shouldn’t be too hard on Carlos, he is trying to hold up.”

“I’m only making sure her learns, life is not always a bed of roses.”

Gabby curled her lips up. “Grandpa, if you treat me like you treat Carlos, I will disown you.” They all chuckle to her word.

“I know ladies are difficult.”

Gabby smiled happily. “You know I’m a princess and princesses don’t go through hardship. So I want my freedom at all time.”

“You can have that until you get married.” Ethan said softly.

“Next time come with Carlos and his wife okay, I would love to treat that lady well.” Bailey told Gabby.

“I trust you grandma.” Gabby smiled.

“What is she doing right now?” Ethan asked.

“She got a job at a publishing company, her final interview is today, grandpa I think she will be good at it, cause she put in so much efforts and I heard she passed the written exams.

Ethan nods. “Then should we promote her?”

“How?” Gabby looked at her grandfather curiously.

“I would let our company employ her.”

Gabby smiled happily. “Really! Grandpa, you would do that?” Ethan nods. “She would be so happy to work in our big company.”

“I’m sure she would.” Ethan smile.

Gabby stopped smiling when she remembered something. “But there would be a problem.”

“What problem?” Ethan put his glass down.

“Like I told you earlier, cats and dogs don’t see eye to eye. Carlos wouldn’t want to do that since she’s the one and Triffany don’t want anything to do with our company.” Gabby explained.

Ethan exhaled softly. “It would be difficult then, since Carlos need to sign it.”

An idea pops into Gabby head as she looked at them with a smile. “Grandpa I have a plan.” Ethan looked at her, raising his brow, waiting for her to continue.

Gabby sat up at the dinning chair and puts down her napkin. “I would ask Triffany about the company she’s working in, I’m sure Carlos don’t know about the company, I will make her keep it a secret from him and then I would let you know the company she’s working with, you will then make Carlos sign a contract with them.” She looked up at her grandparents. “How did you see my plan?”

“You’re smart Gabby.” Bailey gave her a thumbs up with a cute smile.

“Thanks grandma.” Gabby smiled and then turned to her grandfather to here what he have to say about the plan.

“But Carlos is more smart and he can’t be fooled, who told you Carlos don’t know the company she will be working in.” Ethan looked at his grand-daughter. “Gabby your brother has a high IQ and we shouldn’t interfere.”

Gabby pouts. “Is this really coming from you grandpa? ‘We shouldn’t interfere’ I’m surprise grandpa. You interfered in his relationship with Kelsey and now you’re saying we should not interfere.” Gabby said sarcastically.

“Gabby I know what I’m saying, Carlos was blinded by the love her had for Kelsey, I had to make him understand.” Ethan sip his wine gently.

Gabby and Bailey looked at him in surprise. “What did Kelsey do?” Gabby asked curiously.

“Just eat up, that is left for Carlos to discover, we should not interfere.” He started drinking his soup.

Gabby knew she can never force words out of her grandfather’s mouth so she gave it a rest. “Grandma, I would love to spend the night here.”

“You are always free.”

“Thanks grandma, get ready to tell me stories.”

“You’re not a kid.” Bailey flashed her a smile, but Gabby chuckled knowing that her grandma will still tell her the stories, she had always done this everything Gabby was here and she enjoys them.

Tommy and Triffany heads back to the office after having lunch together, they went into Tommy’s office, he filled her in on some of the things he was working on and the duties of a publisher.

“I will send you some of the authors manuscripts via email, first you will start by reviewing and editing them so that it can be easy for the readers, when you’re done let me check it out first, before we go into the next step.”

“Okay, I have never done this before, but I’m willing to try.” Triffany smile broadly.

“You will do fine. Just let me be the first to see the work.” Triffany nods. “Alright, you can go home now.” Tommy turned to his computer.

“Why?” Triffany asked in surprise.

Tommy lifts his eyes to look at her, he knew she was so excited to do this job. “Go and share the good news with your family and friends, I kept you for myself all these time.” He said, she was suppose to resume work tomorrow but he was so excited to let her leave.

Triffany smiled, she can't wait to tell her cousins about all these. "Okay, thank you once again."

"You're welcome, now go." Tommy watched her take her bag and leave the office, Tommy made a few happy punches on the air, so happy that fate had still brought her to his side again.

Well this time he would always see her at the office and son he would form a bond with her and she would fall for him.

...

Triffany arrived at her cousin's apartment, she put in the password and let herself inside.

"Hello cousins." She called out joyfully as she saw them in the sitting room doing their business.

Allison saw her and ran towards her to give her a big hug. "Triffany."

"Triffany you're here." Nick turned away from his game to look at her, flashing her a smile.

"Yes." Triffany sat down with Allison. "Guess what?" She lifts her brow grinning from ear to ear.

"You got a car." Allison said with her eyes pop wide.

"No." Triffany shakes her head and turn to hear what Nick will say.

He shrugged and turned back to his game. "It's obvious they accepted you. The job was given to you."

"Absolutely correct." Triffany made a little dance with her shoulders.

"I'm so happy for you Triffany, congratulations." Allison smiled broadly, obviously happy that her cousins got in at last.

"Thank you Allison." Triffany looked over at Nick who was eating some chips. "But Nick how come you always guess right?"

"I don't have a low IQ and it's the only thing that can make you this excited, girl I can read you like an open book." Nick wink her.

Triffany scoffed at the proud Nick's word. "Don't be so full of yourself." She took the chips he was eating and put some in her mouth.

"Hey, don't touch my chips." Nick took it back from her. "You're so unbelievable." He frowned.

Triffany stick out her tongue. "I ate them already."

Nick groaned. "You're so childish." Nick moved away from her with his chips.

Allison who had been waiting for them to complete their argument turned to Triffany. "This calls for celebration, Triffany."

"Yeah sure it does." Triffany giggles.

"We've got chicken and beer." Allison told her heading towards the fridge.

"Chicken and beer!" Triffany exclaimed, she helped Allison bring them out.

"I'm in for chicken and beer too." Nick call out, coming close to them, they gave him a hard glare making him halt. "What? Why the looks?"

"You didn't congratulate her." Allison muttered.

"And you already have chips, so go eat that." Triffany put her hands on her waist showing him how serious she was.

Nick raises his two hands to surrender. "Triffany congratulation on your new job and I'm tired of this chips." He went close to them. "You can have them if you wish." He surrendered the chips and turned to take a beer.

Triffany hits his hands. "You're such a kid, come on. Join us we don't mind." She flashed him a smile. Nick joyfully joined them as they all digged in and happily chat while eating.

Kelsey called Carlos phone but he didn't answer even after seeing the calls, he turned in his bed, shivering with cold as tears dropped down his eyes.

He checked the time, it was six-thirty in the evening and Gabby was not still back, he dialled her number.

"Hello brother, you called me twice today which is surprising, is everything okay?" She asked, still at her grandparents house.

"Are you not coming home today?" He asked in a low tone.

"I'm spending the night here at grandparents house, do you miss me already?" She grins.

Carlos scoffed. "I don't. Just wanted to check on you."

Gabby felt disappointed. "Why can't you tell a white lie? Well grandma prepared the favourite traditional meal ever." Gabby said happily.

"I bet you are a lot." Carlos sneezed which surprised Gabby.

"Carlos are you sure you're okay?" She asked with concern.

Carlos forced a smile, one thing he don't want to do was make Gabby worried and she was also with their grandparents. "I'm fine, enjoy yourself and make sure you learn good etiquette from grandma before coming back."

Gabby frowned. "Again with the lecturer and nagging. Goodnight." She said in anger and ends the call.

"Was that Carlos?" Bailey asked.

"Yes." Gabby puts down her phone.

"Is he okay?" Bailey being her motherly self asked.

"A nagging brother is always okay." They both chuckled.

"Does he nags you that much?"

"Grandma, you can't imagine what I do go through." Gabby puts.

"I think I do." Bailey smile.

"Grandma are you ready to tell me the stories now?"

"Ready as ever." They both smile and Gabby sat up on her bed to listen to grandma Bailey stories.