Chapter 7

"What! Chairman." Carlos looked at him stunned, he was not expecting these words from his grandfather.

"You can call me grandpa now, we are alone," Ethan told him gently.

"Grandpa I can't do that," Carlos told him hastily.

"That's the only way, Carlos."

Carlos furrowed his brow and looked at his grandfather with deep eyes. "How can you ask me to marry a girl I've never known, I don't know her name or location, or family background even before now. Why would you come up with this conclusion?. I can't propose marriage to her, I already have someone else." Carlos told him.

This was the first time he spoke back at his father, this was the first time he wishes to go against Ethan Zack's word.

Ethan looked at him. "The company comes first Carlos...I've spent my life developing that estate and if your parents, my son haven't died he would have managed it at this my old age. You have to take that place Carlos, you have to preserve it this way." Ethan told him.

Carlos scoffed in his heart. "I don't believe you would say I should get married to someone you've not met, I don't love her grandpa." Carlos's voice was a little sad.

Bailey Zack his grandma came into the room where they were.

"Why the faces?" She asked, seeing their expressions were not so good.

Carlos saw his grandma and told her what his grandfather had just said. "Grandma, grandpa is trying to make me marry someone I've not known until the event that took place."

Bailey's eyes grew sad seeing her grandson's grief, she moved close to him and sits down. "Carlos we've talked this out too, it seems to be the only way to stop this mess you've created." She told him gently.

Ethan looked at his grandson, he can't let himself get soft now, this is for his company. "You should hold an interview, telling them you've known each other before now and the tears in her eyes were because you've promised her marriage before you both drifted apart, she was overwhelmed to see you once again but was sad because of the way you both meet again.

Carlos looked at his grandfather. "Grandpa you're unbelievable, how can you map out all this lie in one speech. I'm going to find another way to solve this mess I've created, I can't betray Kelsey and then lie and live with someone I don't know." He told his grandfather with his eyes darkened.

Ethan exhaled. "I would watch you from now, until tomorrow, if this mess is not solved then I'm calling the press for the private interview. You only have today to resolve this in your way." Ethan told him indifferently.

Carlos stood up and left the Villa unhappy.

Carlos Zack went home where his friends were already waiting for him, they sat close to him with worried faces. "What did the old man say?" Eric asked, breaking the silence.

Carlos laughed softly. "He told me to call an interview and announce a marriage proposal to that unknown girl." He told them.

They all looked surprised, they were not expecting this either. "Then what did you say?" Blake asked him.

Carlos looked at his friends with knotted brow. "I can't marry a person I don't know or love, I declined Blake, Kelsey wouldn't want that and I can't risk my grandpa company. What do I do?" He asked them.

They were the only ones who him and also, the only ones he rely on for advice.

Garrett looked at his friends with sad eyes. "I don't know if I should say this, but Carlos to be honest with you, you have to do as the chairman said, this would also affect the New Zealand project if you don't act fast," Garrett told him.

Gabby came downstairs after hearing their conversation. "That was well said." She smiled.

They all looked at her while she continues with a mocking tone. "It's like a movie Carlos." She sat down close to them. "Click...click..tick.. tick...boom! And your world comes trembling down cause of one mistake."

She laughed and looked at her brother. "Nah... I can see your head spinning right now, but don't get hard on yourself." She told him with a chuckle.

Eric looked at her, how can a sister be so evil at this moment. "Gabby you're so annoying." He told her.

"I know." Gabby smiled sipping her juice.

Blake glared at her. "You should be helping, not putting more pressure on the fire." He told her coldly.

Gabby waved her hand as if a fly was buzzing in her ear, waving Blake's words away. "Save me the lecture... Carlos needs it most now."

She looked at Carlos still with mocking eyes. "Carlos you're my big brother with the big words of advice filled in your brains, now it's time you feed yourself with that advice, cause right now you need it more than I do." She scoffed.

"That's enough Gabby!" Carlos scold her. "I know you're offended about what happened yesterday, I'm sorry, but now is not the time please." He told her gently.

He knew why she was acting this way, he had always advised and stopped her from going the wrong way, but right now was not the time she reminds him of all the bad things he had said to her, right now his head was spinning and he is looking for solution to this problem.

Gabby understand him perfectly and relax on her chair. "Well...you got a point there."

Garrett looked at Gabby. "Gabby he is having a big crisis here, if you have anything that would help then tell us." He told her.

Even if Gabby was a brat, they also seek advice from her and help sometimes.

Gabby smiled and crossed her legs, she kept the juice on the table. "Okay listen up." They all focused on her including Carlos. "Carlos, you love Kelsey right?" She asked her brother.

"Yes, I do." He answered.

"Those two words, I love hearing them." Gabby smiled and looked at her brother. "Okay, and this other girl on TV you don't like her?"

"I don't even know ow her." He answered impatiently. "Come on Gabby, I need advice, not questions." He rolled his eyes.

"Okay." Gabby exhaled. "Just like grandpa said, propose marriage to her, make the press know, at least you will become more popular and famous." She told him with a smile.

Everyone leans back with a sigh. "One piece of advice for you Gabby. Go and swim because right now you're high." Eric told her.

Gabby smiled and stands up. "I'm going already, who wouldn't like a famous and popular brother." She said finally before walking out.

Garrett looked at the dejected Carlos. "You should explain things to Kelsey, then do the interview and solve this issue," Garrett told him.

Carlos loosens his tie, he was downcast at this moment. "How can I do that?" He asked closing his eyes to think. Kelsey was more important to him.

"Man you got to do that," Blake told him and they all looked at each other.