22 CARLTON’S POV “Why is Dahlia here? Why was she in your company? Why did she came back? Since when have you been seeing each other?!” Mari-gold had been ranting the same thing right from when we were in the car driving back to the mansion and as soon as we gets in, she doesn’t waste time to attack me. She didn’t even give me room to breath. I throw my keys to the table collapse on on couch. “Answer me, Carlton,” “Get a grip Mari-gold!” I scoff, getting really irritated. “No, why is she here?,” she asks again, impatiently tapping her feet to the floor. “We are business partners. The man you saw beside her, that's Tristan Martinez, CEO of Tristan delight. Dahlia bought shares in my company through him. This partnership will get the company back on its feet and redeem our reputation.” “At least that's the plan…,” I add. “Terminate it.” I sharply turn to look at her in her akimbo stance. Hands placed on the waist, head held high. “What?” “You heard me,” she
Carlton’s pov “How could you do that?” The room is as still as ice as my Father paces back and forth. His eyes inflamed as they glared at me. Apparently, there are already rumours of my collaboration with Tristan Delights. People think I may be framing the company and that is where Marigold's father's speculations came from. “I am only trying to promote the company,” I quietly reply him. “Promote? Don't be a joker. You're destroying everything we have worked for. How could you make such a drastic decision, all on your own. You didn't deem it right to inform me, huh?” I nod my head, recalling our past argument on the company, and the numerous ones before that. When will he ever support my decision. To be frank, I am getting frustrated of all this back and forth. “Do you know how furious the Campbells are? They are partners and you didn't even inform them. How can you make such a reckless decision, Carlton?” The Campbells are Marigold's parents. Her Father has been cal
DAHLIA'S POV A feeling of satisfaction washes over me as I relish the dreadful news about Stewart's Foods Co. that I had seen on TV. As usual, the media arrived at so many conclusions as to why a company like ours would partner with a drowning company. As much as we are supposed to be helping them, alleviating the company's current state, I still enjoy seeing the hate speech on the news and social media about Stewart's Foods Co. I live for these moments. Our company is posing to be Stewart's Foods Co’s savior but the irony of it, is that deep down, we are thrilled about all the slander they are receiving. People even speculate they may have some dirt on us and that's why we are helping them. Although they know better than to expatiate on that rumor. Tristan will end it before it even starts. Lately, the news and social media has been endearing to me and I always anticipate the nasty articles posted on the downfall of a big company. A lot of reporters don't even bother
CARLTON'S POV It’s a relief that the doctor was able to revive Andre After I rushed him to the hospital. And it also took high level of discipline to not go wild on the teachers. Fuck sakes they knows Andre is a special kid, Aren’t they supposed to keep an eye on him? Once again, My whole days went into watching over Andre, neglecting piles of work I’ve to Fix at the office. I called and literally spammed marigold with Text messages, informing her of Audre condition so she could watch Andre while I return to the office. But who was I kidding? Marigold didn’t Take my calls or returned my Texts. Honestly, I’m getting fed up of Mari-gold! Audre got discharged few hours Ago and when we arrive home, I takes my time to prepare his Favourite for him. Spaghetti bolognese. Thankfully he didn’t stress me. He was extremely weak Anyways so he just complied. After feeding him, I got him to shower. I gave him his medicine and now he’s up in his room sleeping. I finally got some time to
DAHLIA'S POV I had just gotten off the phone with Tristen and to say I’m infuriated is an understatement. I’m boiling really hard right now. How could Tristian Agree for me to meet with Carlton Alone at some Restaurant to Discuss about the press conference? Yes, I know we would eventually get to discuss it but why a restaurant. Why not the office? It’s already bad enough that I’ve to stand the sight of that Face of the man I hate so much and now we’ve to meet in a restaurant like some couples on a date? The thought of that Alone is making me cringe right now. I need something to calm my system down right now. so I walk to the wine cabinet, pick out my favorite white wine and pour myself a glass. Circling the glass, before bringing it to my lip, I allow the taste of the wine to remain under my tongue before swallowing. I take in a deep breath to calm myself but Gavin barges into the kitchen in frantic motion. “What's wrong?,” I ask, reaching out for him but he flinches at
DAHLIA'S POV As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I recall how this has become a frequent action for me since commencing my revenge on Carlton. First the mask party, then the lunch meeting and now this. The press conference is set to begin soon yet I am here in front of a mirror unable to bring myself to move. We are going to be late, Tristan and I. But I can't care less, the though that occupies the bulk of my mind is, am I truly ready to see the faces of the people I despise the most in this world and actual converse with them. “Tristan is here,” Sunny announces as she quickly runs back to the kitchen to continue cooking. I take in a deep breath, and pat myself on the cheek. “You can do this, Dahlia.” Then I put on perfume and leave the room. *^^* The hall is rowdy as reporters and paparazzi are everywhere. I immediately spot familiar faces and my rage begins to build. Carlton's parents are seated at a corner and my parents are seated at a short distance fro
DAHLIA’S POV I look around warily my eyes searching the room for a tall and muscular man. There aren’t many in the room so this should be easy, besides Tristan stands out wherever he goes. But the more I look, the more the appearance of even his silhouette seems vague. Where the hell could he be? I don’t want to spend one more minute than I have to here. I take out my phone from my Hermes bag which every female that passed by me stared at. Tristan’s phone number is the first on my call log since I speak to him on a regular basis. I dial in the number and it goes straight to voice mail. I impatiently stuff the phone back in my bag as my eyes dart around the room again. Still no sign of him. I have to find him, I can’t leave without him, besides we came in his car. As much as I don’t want to speak to anybody here, I’d have to if I intend to find Tristan quickly. The room is getting less crowded as people make their way out. Maybe he’s already outside waiting for me, and like
DAHLIA’S POV‘What…what is it?’Tristan asks, looking around to find out why I gasped. ‘Your…your knuckles,’ I pointed to his hands on the wheel, as my finger trembled slightly.‘Oh,’ his face falls, as he stares at his bloody knuckles. ‘It’s nothing.’My brows shoot up, ‘what do you mean it’s nothing, that doesn’t look like nothing, what happened?’ He sighs, taking his hands off the wheel as he stares out the window. I can tell something is bothering him, ever since his supposed bathroom disappearance, he has been off. Actually, ever since we stepped foot inside the hall, his mood changed. I could feel the rage burning through him as he stared at Carlton’s father. Could that have something to do with his bloody knuckles?My damn lawyer skills always make me jump into rash conclusions.I look at him, with deep concern and he sighs, succumbing to my silent request for an explanation. ‘I punched a mirror.’‘What?’ ‘It’s not a big deal. I’m fine, my hands are fine. I’ll just clean
Carlton POV, Most of the parents who came for the Bootcamp seems to know each other. When I and dahlia walked together into the hall, we long splits up as friends who knows us came to greet us. While I leave dahlia with her old friend, I walk off with a business associate of mine leaving Andre behind to mingle with his peers. But I actually regrets doing that because Andre got involved in a fight with some kids right inside the hall. Dahlia’s kids were also involved too. The table quickly turn. Me and the other parents of the kids have to separate the fight while everyone in the hall has their attention towards us. “What the hell happened?” Dahlia yells, glaring at both her kids and the all other kids. “They started it!” Gianna snap, pointing at the other kids they fought with. “They were making fun of Andre.” She divulged and I frown. A girl among the other kids retorts Gianna. “She’s lying. I and my friends just said sick kids can’t survive boot camps.” The kid said wi
Carlton POV, Most of the parents who came for the Bootcamp seems to know each other. When I and dahlia walked together into the hall, we long splits up as friends who knows us came to greet us. While I leave dahlia with her old friend, I walk off with a business associate of mine leaving Andre behind to mingle with his peers. But I actually regrets doing that because Andre got involved in a fight with some kids right inside the hall. Dahlia’s kids were also involved too. The table quickly turn. Me and the other parents of the kids have to separate the fight while everyone in the hall has their attention towards us. “What the hell happened?” Dahlia yells, glaring at both her kids and the all other kids. “They started it!” Gianna snap, pointing at the other kids they fought with. “They were making fun of Andre.” She divulged and I frown. A girl among the other kids retorts Gianna. “She’s lying. I and my friends just said sick kids can’t survive boot camps.” The kid said with o
Dahlia POV, The morning has been a whole new vigor of excitement as today is their BOOTCAMP. But me? I don’t really know. I’m not so thrilled about Bootcamp due to my past traumatic experiences but that Aside, I’m also worried that Tristian isn’t here yet. It’s already 9 Am and my kids are all dressed up already, including me. In fact they are already waiting in the car while I’m just in my room packing up relevant stuffs for the camping. Sunny had really been of great help all morning. And right now, she’s still helping me. “Do you really need these much mattresses?” Sunny asks I’m stuffing several mattresses into a bag while she had been passing them to me. “Of course, I wouldn’t want my kids catching a cold.” I said and she groan then roll her eyes. “And Tristian,” she suddenly hollers. “You said he would be here this morning. What’s keeping him?” She asks with a scoff, feigning her usual annoyance over Tristian. Well, even me would like to know what’s keeping him. If he
CARLTON’s POV, After the marigold sex tape shenanigans has been eradicated, I decided to finally face my father. More he called few moments ago after I just parted ways with dahlia and I drove straight ti the mansion and I found him at the living room standing and facing the glassed wall. Even as an old man, he still bears that intimidating Aura around him and I hated the way my body reacted to him. Especially when he twirls to face me, his stern dark eyed unnerves every inch of me. I just pulls up a firm, unbothered facade as I wait for him to speak. And I’ve been waiting since like the past ten seconds. “Finally, you decided to show up.” He finally speak with a calm voice then he walks away from his position. My eyes follows him keenly and the next thing he does actually stuns me. He walks towards the wine rank. Bring out a red wine and two glasses. He fetches some quantity each glasses and pass one over to me. I hesitate for a second before collecting it then he walks back to
Dahlia’s POV, The drive to wherever we are heading is quiet and cozy until Carlton brings up the subject of Tristian. “You know, I’ve been wondering.” He begins. pulling my attention from the phone I’m operating, I turn to face his side profile. “What do you have on Tristian?” His question completely throws me off and I arch my brows at him. Then As if reading my mind, he speaks further. “Like getting Alan to release marigold sex tapes and still getting him to take it down, couldn’t have been so easy. Yet he he did all that just for your sake. You seem to have something on him and if you don’t, then he definitely has a thing for you.” And there he goes again trying into pry into mine and Tristian’s relationship. I know what he wants to hear and that’s what I’ll be giving him… but in a non pleasing way. “You are absolutely wrong on that.” I began, eyes still pinned to his side profile. “Tristan doesn’t have anything for me. I mean not everyone does good things and expect somet
Dahlia Carlton finds a place to pull over and following the direction that Tristian sent us, it wasn’t hard to track Alan’s apartment. He’s in block B among the many jumbled apartment we passed by in the cranky area. “How does Tristian even get to know this place? Does he runs thuggery or what?” Carlton literally vocalized my thoughts as we step over some piles of woods. From what I know, Tristan never knew Alan before until marigold welcome party. However, I don’t know if Carlton is merely making a harmlessly observation or he’s trying to rob Tristian with a bad image. So I don’t respond, I just shrug and we continue walking. After walking a few distance we finally arrives at Alan’s door. We knocked a couple times on the door but after getting no response, we both walked into the apartment. we haven’t walked for long when I started hearing faint sounds. At first it isn’t Audible but the closer we approaches the place it’s coming from, I get to make sense of what’s going on.
“What are you doing here Grayson?” Sunny’s voice cuts through the thick silence in the Air. She probably figured I needed help and spoke on my behalf. I can only hope that Grayson doesn’t press on with his initial question because heavens know I’ll have to lie to him. Thankfully, Grayson drops the stupefied look on his face and responds to Sunny’s question. “The math Assignment you gave us all.” He walks fully into the room and that’s when I noticed the book in his hand. My eyes follows him as he extends the open page to sunny. “I couldn’t do mine. I can’t find the answers to any of the questions.” He whines boldly like it’s a normal thing for him not to know basic maths. And what gets more into my nerves is the way sunny reacts to it. “Oh sweetie, I’ve forgotten I gave you an Assignment. Wasn’t this in like four… three days ago?” She pets Grayson with her usual sweet voice while giving Grayson a poppy look. Grayson shrugs. “Okay, don’t worry. I will teach you how to solve
“What are you doing here Grayson?” Sunny’s voice cuts through the thick silence in the Air. She probably figured I needed help and spoke on my behalf. I can only hope that Grayson doesn’t press on with his initial question because heavens know I’ll have to lie to him. Thankfully, Grayson drops the stupefied look on his face and responds to Sunny’s question. “The math Assignment you gave us all.” He walks fully into the room and that’s when I noticed the book in his hand. My eyes follows him as he extends the open page to sunny. “I couldn’t do mine. I can’t find the answers to any of the questions.” He whines boldly like it’s a normal thing for him not to know basic maths. And what gets more into my nerves is the way sunny reacts to it. “Oh sweetie, I’ve forgotten I gave you an Assignment. Wasn’t this in like four… three days ago?” She pets Grayson with her usual sweet voice while giving Grayson a poppy look. Grayson shrugs. “Okay, don’t worry. I will teach you how to solve this
Dahlia’s POV, There seems to be time in your life when you feel like a lost poppy. Like that moment when you can’t just figure out if you are still on the right track or completely loosing yourself. And that’s me right now. I just finished the interview with Carlton and right now, I’m in a Cab heading back home. While My eyes is taking in the beautiful view of the city, my mind is pre-occupied. The short time I’ve spent with Carlton and everything he had said to me had been replaying in my head. His regret for marrying marigold. His family’s pressure. His deep regret for hurting me. I wanted all of this… I wanted him to acknowledge it all which is the mail reason I even came back to his life. And as I’m reflecting on all of these, I should be feeling elated right? I should be having that giddy feeling that I’m finally close to my revenge but damn No! As I think of Carlton, all that looms in my head is his regretful disposal… The pain in his eyes as he acknowledges how much he ha