Chapter Twenty-Five
Carmella opened her eyes at the sunlight streaming through the curtains. It was another morning in her dull, hopeless life. She lay quietly in her room, her childhood room, and looked out at the pecan tree beside the window. Nothing could cheer her up now. Every thought revolved around the fact that her baby was no more.
Her phone vibrated with an incoming call from Gilbert. She felt guilty that she came back to Las Vegas without informing him.
"Hello Gilbert, I'm sorry that I couldn't inform you. I just lost it and called dad," she said, with a sigh.
"I understand Carmella. Don't feel bad. I'll come down and meet you when I'm free, okay?" Promised Gilbert.
"I'll look forward to it," said Carmella.
"So are you studying for your exams, Carmella? They're coming up in two months," reminded Gilbert. Carmella had completely forgotten about them.
"Oh, thanks for reminding me, I'll start studying, " she told him.
"Get a grip on yourself dear. What has happened cannot be undone but you have to come to terms with it. Try to do something to keep yourself busy," said Gilbert.
"What can I do Gilbert? I don't have a job now," she sighed.
"Why don't you start a fashion brand for kids? Design what you would want your baby to wear when it arrives again in your life," he suggested.
"Yes, you're right Gilbert. I love the idea. I'll design clothes for my baby and all the other little babies of the world," she said with excitement.
"That's the spirit. Make me proud, little sis," said Gilbert, and Carmella smiled at his endearing words.
"Sure, I will," she said with a smile. After disconnecting the call she waited for her mom to help her freshen up. It would require her another five days to get better.
Jaxon went to the office early and sipped the coffee that Phil brought in. Today his old PA David Parkinson would join and Jaxon was glad. Gilbert walked in with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Jaxon, start," he said sitting on the chair opposite his, with his arms folded and waiting.
"Start what?" He asked, puzzled.
"Apologising of course. Remember you promised to apologize to me all your life, " said Gilbert with a grin.
"Shut up, you already forgave me yesterday," said Jaxon with a grin.
Phil came rushing into his office room with a newspaper in his hand. "Sir, please see this. There's an article about our company here," he said, handing the newspaper to Jaxon. Gilbert got up from his seat to peer into the newspaper. Surely there was an article there which read,
Love triangle causes a fall out in Jaxon Craddock Group Inc.
"What the f*ck is this?" Growled a furious Jaxon. They read the article which stated in detail how Jaxon Craddock as well as Gilbert Prescott, the owners had fallen for billionaire hotelier Ethan Parker's daughter, Carmella Parker which caused a rift between them. As a result of which Gilbert Prescott resigned from Jaxon Craddock Group Inc.
"Who gave this interview to the press?" Asked an equally angry Gilbert.
"Sir, Loria Gladstone, an intern in the designing team gave this interview yesterday before you arrived. I wasn't aware. Ed from the audiovisual room informed me and when I came down, the interview was already over and the reporter had left with the recording," informed Phil.
"Call her, now," said Jaxon. Phil called Ben Simmons over the intercom asking him to send Loria Gladstone over to Jaxon's office.
After ten minutes, a nervous Loria came into Jaxon's office.
"You called me sir?" She asked, breathlessly.
Jaxon indicated the newspaper, "Why did you give a false interview yesterday without my permission?" He growled.
"Sir, I just wanted to malign that b*tch Carmella's name. She stole your designs, didn't she?" Said Loria with a smile.
"Shut up. How dare you say such a thing against Carmella? She's innocent and I love her," gritted out Jaxon.
"Jaxon, calm down. Let me handle this," said a calm Gilbert.
"Do you really think that I'm in love with Carmella? Why did you lie?" Asked Gilbert, facing her and glaring at her.
"I thought that maybe you liked her..," she started but Gilbert cut her off.
"I like her as a sister only. You have gone against the company and we have to take action against you, Ms. Gladstone," said Gilbert.
"Sir I didn't mean to harm the company's name. Please forgive me this time," she begged.
"No, what you've done cannot be forgiven. In your evil plans to malign Carmella, you've brought trouble upon your own self. We will terminate your internship and also make sure that you never make it into any other company in the future," said Jaxon.
"No sir, I'll be finished for life. Please don't do such a thing to me," she begged but Gilbert typed a letter of termination for her and took two prints of it. He made her sign them and handed one to her. The reasons for termination specified were attempts to malign the company name and illegal disclosure of company information to the media.
Loria sobbed brokenly but no one paid her any heed. "Your pay will be calculated and deposited into your account. You may leave now, " said Jaxon, dismissing her. She left and they started checking the other newspapers and magazines for any other articles that might have been published. Some newspapers printed about the theft too, thankfully Carmella's name was not mentioned at all.
Some of the magazines flashed pictures of Carmella with Gilbert too along with the news. Jaxon sat with his head in his hands. "Now she'll never forgive me, bro," said Jaxon, feeling completely lost.
"We have to call a press conference, bro. That's the only way to clear all our names," suggested Gilbert.
"Okay, call a press conference, " agreed Jaxon. Gilbert went away to make arrangements and call a press conference while Jaxon tried to call Carmella on her mobile. She didn't pick up her call as expected.
Carmella knew Jaxon was calling her but she was upset with him. She muted her phone and allowed it to keep on vibrating as she sat down to find a good name for her kidswear brand. Finally, she decided upon Little Blossoms and went ahead with registering the company name.
Her dad walked in furiously, holding some newspapers in his hands. "What is the meaning of all this, Carmella?" He shouted angrily.
He handed the newspapers to an anxious Carmella. She saw the articles that got his dad in such a fit of anger. She gasped reading the fake news and called Gilbert immediately. He didn't pick up the phone.
"Dad this is all fake news. There's nothing between me and Gilbert. He's like a brother to me," she answered him.
"What about your ex-employer, Jaxon Craddock?" Asked her dad, curiously.
"I, I actually dad..," started a guilty-looking Carmella.
"Are you in love with him?" Asked her dad, with a worried expression on his face.
"Yes dad but we had a fight, so I came back," she said a half-truth to him. She couldn't tell him about her pregnancy yet.
"I guessed as much even though you didn't tell me," said her dad. "Sort it out with Jaxon and get married, princess. My name's being pulled into this and I can't let our good will suffer. You know our hospitality business is based upon our goodwill?" Said her dad, leaving the room.
Carmella sat stupefied by what her dad said to her. What now? She would never marry Jaxon even if he came begging upon his knees. He had killed their baby and she couldn't ever forgive him. How would she explain that to her dad? Carmell tried to call Gilbert and Phil but they didn't pick up her call. Tired, she closed her eyes and tried to think of a solution.
The next two days, Carmella was much better and could move about the house slowly. There was news about her affairs with Jaxon and Gilbert splashed all over the newspapers and magazines. Her dad was wild with worry and kept yelling at her to fix it. Unable to take in any more, she moved out of her parents' home, shifting to one of their vacant apartments where she could live in peace. Her family wasn't at all happy that she moved out but Carmella needed some personal space to think about her new kidswear brand.
Gilbert called her after three days. "Why is that fake news still circulating, Gilbert?" She asked worriedly
"We've called a press conference today Carmella. Jaxon and I will clear the rumors, don't worry. Loria Gladstone wanted to teach you a lesson and she went and gave an interview to the media without our knowledge. Jaxon has sacked her but the damage has been done," informed Gilbert.
"Oh, it's all her doing? Dad's furious. He wants me to clear my misunderstandings with Jaxon and get married to him. Dad's goodwill is getting affected which is affecting his hotel business," said Carmella, dejectedly.
"Oh, that's bad news," said Gilbert as he thought about what Carmella told him. He decided to tell Jaxon about it.
Maybe it would help him in some way to ask for Carmella's forgiveness and get her back.
