Chapter 52: Chapter 52

When they arrived at Triffany's house they saw Tanner asleep on the sofa. Carloa looked around the house since it was his first time coming here.

"Tanner." Triffany called out as she walked close to him, she tap him lightly. "Tanner wake up."

He opened his eyes gently and was surprise to see his sister here. "Triffany, when did you arrive?" He looked around. "Where is mom and dad?" He asked.

"They went on a vacation." She lied with a smile on her face as Carlos who was looking around the house looked at her.

There was a little doubt in Tanners eyes. "But mum was in tears when she left home in a hurry after taking a call."

Triffany held her brother's hand and smile. "Yes. She was crying a tears of joy, it's been a while since she went on a vacation with dad." She had to lie in other to make her brother believe her and also not to make him worried.

Tanner studied her eyes for a while and fell for her lies. "Okay." He looked up at Carlos quizzically.

Triffany understand the gaze in her brother's eyes. "Meet Carlos, my husband." She got up.

Tanner smiled broadly. "The rich man that married you."

Carlos smiled. "Hi Tanner, am Carlos Zack." He introduced himself.

Tanner grins. "Thank you for marrying my sister." He told Carlos. "She really really need someone like you to complete her life. You know she's clumsy and childish." Carlos looked at Triffany.

"Tanner!" Triffany scolds him as she gave him a hard glare and Carlos chuckled.

Carlos squat down to see Tanner's face properly. "Young man. I think I like you." He told her him as they both turned to Triffany and stick out their tongue.

Triffany scoffed. "Aish! The both of you would really make me old." She looked at them giggling and shook her head.

Carlos turned to Tanner again. "Young man, pack your bags, you're coming to stay with us until your parents return."

"Really?" Tanner looked at Carlos and then return to his sister. "Triffany how long will I stay there?" He asked.

"Three or four days."

Carlos stood up. "Don't worry, you'll be well taken care of. I will make sure you enjoy your stay there." He assured him

Triffany looked at the two of them getting along and laughing, she wish she could see this friendly side of Carlos often. "I better go pack your bags and toothbrush." She left them to go pick up his things in his room.

When they arrived at Carlos mansion and enter the building Tanner look around dumbfolded. He couldn't believe how huge this place was.

He turned to Carlos. "This is really your house, this Mansion?" He asked with his eyes wide open.

"Yes." Carlos smiled. He remember this was the same look on Triffany's face the first day he brought her here to sleep over when she was drunk.

"Wow!" Tanner exclaimed. "It's like paradise on earth." He confessed.

Triffany smile and held her brother's hand. "Get a hold of your self Tanner." She told him.

But Tanner was to excited to listen. "It even has a pool, I feel so small in this building." He smile and looked at his sister. "Triffany you sure have a bright fortune." He told her.

Carlos looked at Triffany and smirked. "See, he knows how to compliment, unlike someone I know." Triffany scoffs, she rolled her eyes knowing fully well who he was referring to."

"Enjoy the praises then." She raised the corner of her lips, damn her brother was also making it hard for her to face this arrogant man.

Gabby came out. "You're back. Triffany how is your par..." They gave her a sign not to say any other things since Tanner was here and immediately she got the message. Oh! She mouthed.

Tanner looked up at Gabby. "And who is this pretty damsel here?" He asked with his eyes on her.

Gabby smile and squats close to him. "You must be Tanner. Triffany's brother."

"Yes. I'm Tanner Joey."

"Gabby Zack." Gabby introduced herself.

"That means you're his sister right?" He pointed at Carlos.

"Yes I am."

Tanner smile, cuteness really runs in their blood. "You're pretty." He peeked her cheek as they all smile even Triffany was surprise at his boldness.

"Thanks for the compliment." Gabby touched his hair affectionately and got up. "I guess you will be staying here with us."

"Yes, until my parents return." He told her.

"Then am going to make sure you enjoy your time here." She flashed him a cure smile..

"Thank you." He appreciates, still looking up at Gabby.

"Come with me. I will show you to your room upstairs." Gabby told them and lead the way as they followed.

She opened a room next to Carlos Zack room. "You will sleep here tonight"

Tanner entered the room. "It's beautiful." He looked around the room, it was three times bigger than his room at their house.

He smiled and sat on the bed and looked out the window. "I'm enjoying this already." He made a little dance with his shoulder.

"Don't get too use to it." Triffany told him as she set down his bag and started arranging his clothes.

"Tanner jump down the bed. "I'll try."

"Would you want some chocolate?" Carlos who was still standing by the door ask him.

Tanner looked at Triffany for permission, she knew he loves chocolate so she gave him the go sign.

"Yes." Tanner and climb down the bed.

"Okay let's go downstairs then." Carlos told him and they left the room.

Triffany watched the room door close, she still feel Carlos was acting nice since Tanner was her family, but the way he act with her brother make her heart warm.

She was glad, he was not giving him the cold shoulder he do give to her. She turned to the window as she remembered how they had both playfully stocked out their tongue to her.

She smiled, Carlos must be good to kids. Even if he doesn't love her, will he love her kids if she should bear one.

"Jeez Triffany what are you thinking?" She shouted at herself. She shook her head, now was not time to be talking about kids, will he even want to make kids with her.

She knew she was dreaming, since he had not even kiss her, making kids would be not be possible. She continue arranging Tanner's clothes, trying hard not to think of Carlos and making babies.

Carlos and Triffany were inside their room after Triffany had tucked Tommy to sleep. She sat down on the couch while he was on the bed.

Carlos looked over at her, she was deep in thought and it was past ten. "Hey what are you doing?" He asked out of concern.

Triffany looked up to him. "I don't know. I just can't sleep." She said honestly.

Carlos got out of the bed and went over to the couch. "Why?"

"Dad is in the hospital and mom is by his side awake and then Tanner who isn't aware of any of it because I lied to him." She looked down at her hands that were in her laps.

Carlos held her hands and gently squeezed them, he knew how she felt now. "Your dad and mom would be fine and Tanner, you lied to him because you don't want him to get worried, so it's fir his own good."

Triffany looked up at him as he continued. "I do lie to Gabby too, most times, so you did the right thing. Whereas you should worry more about yourself and health." He told her, she had just given a lot of blood to her father, she needs to rest.

"How?" She asked.

"You look exhausted. You have to look after Tanner and you also have to go to work tomorrow." He reminded her.

"Oh shit!" She exclaimed as Carlos looked at her surprise at her outburst. "Work." She jerk up. "Jeez!" She ran over to her wardrobe.

"What's wrong?" He asked her.

"I didn't find a good dress to wear." She told him while going through her wardrobe. She was searching for a nice outfit when she received a call from her mother at noon and had totally forgotten about this.

Carlos rolled his eyes. “What’s so important? You don’t normally think of what to wear.” He got up from the couch, putting his hands in his pocket.

“I will be representing my company and we’re being transferred to a big company tomorrow. I have to look my best.” She checked an outfit in the mirror and then tossed it aside.

Carlos watched her for a while. “I just don’t understand how that have to be a problem.” He looked at the effort she was putting just to search for an outfit.

“Hey.” He called out and walked over to her and held her shoulder, she turned around to face him. “You should rest now, it’s past eleven.” Triffany looked at the time and faced him.

“But I have to do this.” She looked into his eyes.

Carlos left her shoulder as he looked at her wardrobe, he scanned the clothes in there. “You should wear the yellow one.” He told her and she turned to see it. “Yellow suit you better.”

Triffany looked at him and wonder why he’s being this nice to her, she smile softly, well if it is all a pretense then she want him keep acting this way. This was the first time he had say something suits her and she was happy he pointed it out himself, like a real husband does.

“You think so?” She asked him, wanting to hear him say it again.

Carlos smiled down at her. “Yes.” He held her hands. “Now you should get some rest.”

Triffany looked at him. “Why are you being so nice to me?” She asked him.

Carlos narrowed his eyes. “Nice my ass!” He let go of her hands. “You have a lot of work to do tomorrow. Am just giving you a hint.” He told her seriously.

Triffany looked confused. “You’re really scaring me now.”

Carlos walked over to his bed as he lay down, putting the quilt over his shoulder. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a hint.” He switched off his bedside lamp and closed his eyes.

Triffany returned to the couch as she lay down. She looked at Carlos and mumbled. “He’s strangely nice, and really weird today.” She smile, just thinking of all he had done for her today. “Well, it comes once in a while.” She switched off the light and fell asleep.

…

Carlos woke up the next morning and saw Triffany still asleep on the couch, he walked over to her as he checked the time.

“How can she still be asleep by this time.” He looked down at her and saw how tired she looks. He covered her with a blanket.

After watching her for a while he walked into the bathroom, brushed his teeth and took his bath. He went downstairs after getting dressed with his well tailored blue suit.

“Good morning Mr Carlos Zack.” Tanner who was having breakfast greeted him.

“Good morning.” Carlos smiled since Tanner greeted him like some businessmen he do associate with. “But, don’t you think that was too formal?”

Tanner shook his head. “Am not sure it is.”

“Morning brother.” Gabby smile as Carlos peek her cheek.

“Morning.”

“Breakfast is ready.” Gabby told him and he joined them on the dinning table.

Tanner looks around hoping to see Triffany but she was not here. “Where is Triffany?” He ask Carlos.

Carlos looked up at his little face. “She’s still asleep.”

Tanner signed and Gabby and Carlos wonder what he was going to say. “I thought as much, she never wakes up early. I have to prepare myself cause I won’t be seeing her each morning.” Gabby and Carlos chuckled at his word.

“I will drop you off at school on my way to the office.” Carlos told him.

“Thank you.” Tanner smiled.

“Now eat.”

Tanner took a spoonful of meal and smile. “This is so delicious.” He told them as Gabby touched his hair softly.

“Eat a lot okay.”

Triffany woke up to the loud ringing of her cell phone, she stretched her hands out of the couch and picked it without looking at the caller ID still sleepy. “Hello, who is this?”

“Where are you?” Hearing the familiar deep male voice from the other side of the line she sat up and looked at the time as her eyes grow wide.

“On my way sir.” She jump off the couch.

“I want you here in thirty minutes.” Director Kammy told her and hung up.

“In thirty minutes? I haven’t even taken my bath or make up.” She picked up he towel to head to the bathroom but decided to glance at the bed and she found it empty.

She frowned. “Unbelievable! He left without waking me up.” She rushed into the bathroom to take a quick shower, not even having the time to curse Carlos in her heart.

She dressed up and applied a light makeup before running downstairs. “Triffany, why the rush?” Gabby who was alone in the living room asked her.

“Am late for work. Where is Carlos and Tanner?” She asked.

“Carlos took Tanner to school, he would head over to the company after that.” Gabby told her as she watched Triffany took a bit on a slice bread and a sip of her tea. “Slow down and eat.”

“Sorry Gabby, but that won’t help.”

Gabby gave Triffany her car keys. “Take my car.”

“Why?” Triffany looked at her.

“You would be late, so go on Triffany.”

Triffany got the message and smile. “Thank you Gabby.” She said before hurrying away.