Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Gabby came out to the sitting room where Triffany sat typing with her hands that were hurting her. "You're trying so hard." Gabby told her as she sat down next to her.

"I need to." Triffany glance up and continue typing.

"It hurts, don't it?" Gabby pointed at her hands, Triffany looked at the hands that were banded and shook her head.

"I can manage." Triffany paused as she saw some dark circles on Gabby's face. "Gabby you look pale. Are you alright?"

"I just have a headache. It will be hone after I take some pills."

Triffany studies her fir a while, she can't just let this go. "Are you bothered by anything? You can tell me."

Gabby shook her head. "You will find me insane if I tell you."

Triffany puts her laptop down on the desk and sat up straight, facing Gabby. "No I won't."

Gabby exhaled softly. She looked at Triffany with her big eyes. "I'm having nightmares and I wake up crying lately."

"Oh my!" Triffany looked at her with a worried expression. "It must have been so hard for you. You should have told us or come stay upstairs with us."

Gabby laughs it off. "Triffany, I'm no longer a kid and whereas I can't just barge into a married couples room because they stay upstairs."

Triffany knew she was right. "Well you should tell me about your dreams then."

Gabby scratched her hair, she hesitated for a while. "That6the crazy part Triffany." She looked at Triffany who was seriously waiting for her to continue. "You better not hear it."

"Tell me, I can help."

Gabby closed her eyes as if gathering words. "Okay. In my dream today, I saw this who I know and should I say loved." She paused to see Triffany's facial expression.

She was listening attentively so Gabby continued. "In my dream we were both so happy together, we even had fun at the amusement park and beach but just then another lady showed up.".

"It was his first love and he had to leave me for her. I cried and begged him to stay but he told me he can't, he left my hands and went with her. I cried and woke up crying."

She looked at Triffany again who was still facing her. "I'm insane right?" Gabby asked as she pressed her lips together with a weary expression.

"No Gabby." Triffany shook her head. "You went through all that alone." Triffany held her hands gently.

"That... I have someone I met recently, i like him but Triffany he loves someone else and he told me he had even seen her, his first love and they work at the same company now and he was goingto start over with her."

"That's so cruel." Triffany furrowed her brow.

"Which part of it."

"Him telling you all these."

"Gabby shook her head. "It's not his fault. He don't know I love him." Gabby heaves a sigh.

"How then are you holding up." Triffany searched her eyes, she had thought she was going through a lot but not aware that Gabby was also going through all these.

""Barely." Gabby chuckled lightly. "I have to find a way to cheer myself."

"Gabby!" Triffany called out worried. She knew what Gabby meant by finding a way to cheer herself.

"I know Triffany. I know. I'm not going to sit around sulking. A few drinks will cheer me up and meeting a new man will get my mind off him.

Gabby got up from the chair and looked down at Triffany's worried face. "Gabby shouldn't be this way." Gabby winks her. "And please don't tell my brother about what I told you. I hate it when he nags me."

"I won't." Tri6said softly, she admires Gabby for acting so strong even in this moment.

""Thank." Gabby flashed her a smile. "I'm going out now. Laters." She left the house and few minutes later Triffany's phone rang.

...

Carlos came back home, he looked ar6the sitting room but didn't find Triffany. He wonder if she would be asleep upstairs.

He heads up and opened the door but she was not on the couch which was her regular sleeping position.

He set his briefcase and phone down, wondering where she could be, he checked the bathroom, it was empty.

He went downstairs to check the office he took her to the other day in Hope's that she could be there, but she wasn't.

He called out for her but got no answer in return so he retired to the sitting room where he sat down.

"I came back to see her face but she's not here." He muttered wondering if he should go back to the office but on second thoughts he shook his head.

"Where the heck is she?" He leans back on the chair. "Could she have gone to meet that man?" He sat up immediately. "I really need to find out who this her friend is."

He got up to leave when Triffany stepped in and he was taken aback. "You startled me!"

Triffany lifts her head surprised. "Why are you home early?" She knew it was still late noon and Car6never returns home at this time.

"It's..i...i.." he stammered. "I don't have any schedule and I can come home whenever I please." He looked at her. "Why are you ac9like a typical wife?"

Triffany scoffed, she knew she had to drop this talk so they won't end up arguing. "I just wonder why you're home early." She walked pass him and head over to the sitting room chair.

"Where went you?" Carlos followed behind.

""Why are you acting like a typical husband?" She retorts. Carlos was silent and then she smiled. "Did you search around for me?"

Carlos scoffs. "Why would I?" He sat across her chair. "I was very happy you weren't at home but here you are." He raised the corner of his lips.

"I was really at peace too." She rolled her eyes. She opened her laptop.

"Hey what are you doing?" Carlos sat up. "The doctor was clear when he said you shouldn't do anything with your hand."

"He said I shouldn't do anything hard with my hand." Triffany corrected him. I heard him clearly, so why do you care?"

"Not as if I care, I just don't want you to say I am the reason you're never using your hand again." Carlos tilt his head to a side.

Triffany shoo6her head. "Tsk. Let me just reserve my comments."

"You better do." He said and Triffany furrowed her brow, Carlos laughs to see her so pissed. "I see you get joy when I'm annoyed." She picked up her lap6and head upstairs.

Carlos watched leave as a smile plastered on his lips. "She's cute." He said to himself.

Carlos came inside the room and saw Triffany who was on call, he sat down on his sofa pretending to read a work file as he overheard her conversation.

“I’m doing okay.”

“I called to check up on you. How far have you gone in editing the chapters?” Tommy asked her from the other side of the line.

Triffany looked down at her laptop. “Not far enough for a week.” She said softly.

“It’s remaining six days before you submit it.”

“Yeah.” She looked at her injured hands. “I hope I finish it before then.” She looked over at Carlos who was focusing on the file in his hand.

“I’m sure you will. So keep your promise.” Tommy reminded her.

“What promise?”

“You promised to let me go through it first.”

Triffany smiled. “Yeah, sure. I will keep my promise.” Carlos looked up at her as his face fell to see her smiling.

“Okay, what are you doing now?” Tommy asked trying hard to keep her on the line.

Triffany leans back to her chair as she looked around. “Nothing actually.’

“Would you mind going out with me this evening to see a movie?”

“Movie? This evening?” She looked down to her wrist watch, hearing her say this made Carlos eyes shone in anger.

“Yes.”

“Okay. I will see you by seven.” She smile.

Tommy made a happy fist in the air. “This means a lot to me. Thanks.”

After talking for a while they ended the call. She put her phone down and head over to her closet. “What should I wear?” She thought out loud. She checked out a black trouser and a brown jacket as she checked it out in the mirror.

“This should be good.” On second thought she brought out a red dress. “Should I just go with this one?” she asked herself.

Carlos who have been watching her cleared his throat. “You’re being noisy.” He told her to get her attention but Triffany totally ignored him.

“I don’t even have any nice outfit.” She checked a blue dress in the large dresser mirror, it didn’t suit her taste, she puts it back and went back to the couch. “Should I just cancel it?” She pulled the hair on her shoulders backward. “No I can’t, a movie will free my mind from certain things.”

Carlos looked up at her. “You’re thinking out loud and it’s distracting me. Can you just think in your mind.” Triffany looks up at him, she frowns and walked out of the room.

Carlos puts the file on his hands down. “She’s ignoring me now and planning to go on a date with someone else. How do I stop her without being too obvious?” He asked himself.

He think of an idea. “I have to do something that won’t hurt her, but will make her stay by my side.” He touched his chin. “If I bring up going to an evening meeting with her, would that be too obvious.” He runs his hands through his hair. “What do I do?”

…

Evening came and Triffany prepare to go out to meet Tommy for the movie. Carlos sat up on his sofa watching her.

“Carlos you’re a genius, think fast.” He told himself as he taps his finger on his chin thinking of how to stop her from leaving.

He watched her pick up her purse, all dressed with the red dress, her hair was falls perfectly on her shoulder and back and she was wearing a light makeup and looking stunning. He parted his lips, there was no way he was going to let her see that man dressed like this.

Her phone rang and she picked up. “Hello.”

“Where are you?” Tommy asked on the other side of the line.

“I’m at home, but am heading out right now.”

“Okay, I’m waiting outside the movie theatre.”

“I will be right there.” She said and they ended the call, she puts her phone into her purse.

Carlos looked down at her finger and smile. “Hey.” He called out and Triffany looked at him. “You’re not wearing our wedding ring, why?” He pointed at her finger.

Triffany scoffed as what he said was funny to her. “Did I just hear you say wedding ring?”

“Yes. Married couples should always wear their wedding rings every time and everywhere they go.” Carlos puts on a serious expression.

Triffany rolled her eyes at him. “You told me directly that we should only wear our wedding ring whenever your grandparent, my parent or the press want to talk to us. So why are you bringing up the ring stuff now?” She sat down to put on her high-heel.

Carlos was not ready to lose this argument so he sat up. “You’re going out and a reporter might see you and want to interview you. I don’t want a news that would complicate things later. You know you’re too good at causing troubles so just stay out of it.”

Triffany sighed. “I’m going to see a movie not to see a reporter or cause troubles, so just stay out of it.” Carlos looked at her knowing that this was not working out for him.

Triffany got up. “I’m leaving now so enjoy your peace.” She smiled and turned to leave.

“I’m hungry!” Carlos said making her halt. “Make me dinner before leaving.”

Triffany turned her head to look at him sharply. “Make dinner yourself or you can tell the maids to do it. Whereas you had just eaten dinner not too long.”

Carlos closed his eyes. “This is not working.” He said under his breath.

“I don’t know when I will return.” She held the doorknob to leave.

“Triffany.” Carlos called out as he got up from his chair. She looked at him. “Don‘t go.” He told her as he locked eyes with her.

Triffany was surprise to hear him say this as she thought to herself that this is what happens in movie when the husband hugs his wife and kissed her, begging her not to go to another man because he loves her.

She looked at Carlos serious face and wonder if this is really happening with Carlos. “Don’t go, Triffany.” Carlos said again.

“Why?” She asked softly, her eyes still on him to see if he was going to going to say he loves her.

Carlos blinks and puts his hand into his pocket. “You’re good at causing troubles the moment you step outside. What if you get hit or splashed with water and another news comes out with a title which reads. ‘The wife of Glammaly estate heir caused another disaster.”

Triffany sighs, “Figures.” She said to herself, what was she expecting? She looked at him and flashed him a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “That won’t happen again.”

“How sure are you?”

“I’m 99% sure, because not every man out there is like you who splash water on people and give them money instead of apologizing.” Carlos pressed his lips together now regretting bring that up.

“I’m off.” She opened the door and left as Carlos retreats to the sofa tired. He looked around the large room. “She left and I’m home alone.” He sighed and leans back on his chair.