The troublemaker
Chapter 50 The troublemaker
DS FASHION HOUSE, LOS ANGELES.
Darby tried to focus on the new dress sketch she was planning to work on, but she felt restless instead and the more she tried to pay attention, the more something plagues her. As much as she tries to deny it, having Abigail storm her personal space without warning makes her feel quite uncomfortable. It reminded her of how desperate her sister was when they were younger. It’s no doubt that Abigail has a kind of natural hate towards her.
Kissing her teeth, she tapped her pen on the tablet in an attempt to put her mind back to work. Her phone rang distracting her. Darby reached for the phone and a small unconscious smile appeared on her face at the caller’s ID. She answered the phone after clearing her throat.
‘Hi.’ She mumbled.
Leo moved a bit on the other end. ‘How are you doing, Darby?’
Darby hummed. ‘I’m okay. How about you?’
‘I feel great.’
‘Were you unable to reach Isabella? I’m sure Sinclair would love to speak to you. He isn’t here with me.’ She said.
‘Oh no, that isn’t why I called. I wanted to seek for your permission to take Sinclair with me to a family gathering this weekend.’ Leo requested.
‘He is your son after all and he has to eventually meet everyone of your family. You can take him, that would enable me some free time.’ She joked.
He chuckled along, pausing briefly. ‘Darby?’
‘Hmmm?’
‘Will you like to come too? It’s my mom’s party. I’m sure she would love to meet you.’ He said.
‘I will turn down your invite, Leo. It’s best we maintain this distance. I don’t want to get familiar with your people and make Chloe uncomfortable. Knowing Sinclair should be enough for everyone of us. Just do well to take care of my son, please.’
‘Sure, I understand you.’ Leo sounded a bit disappointed. ‘I was also thinking that I should hire a nanny to take care of Sinclair at my side. I feel it’s too much of a hassle for Isabella.’
Darby sat up when she heard some faint noises behind the door. Shaking her head she returned her attention to the call. ‘That can be done when I feel more comfortable leaving Sinclair all by himself. The only reason I still feel at ease with you taking him is because of Isabella. I can only trust her with the safety of my child. I hope you do understand me.’
‘I understand your point, Darby. But he is my son too and I will do all that it takes to protect him. Trust me. Still I understand your standpoint and I won’t go against it. As long as Isabella doesn’t mind, it’s all good. I hope it’s okay if I also pay her from my end because of the double work?’
‘Thanks for being so considerate, Leo. I am sure she would appreciate…” Her words hang in the air when the faint noise became more clearer like some group of people are arguing outside the door. ‘Can I call you back later, Leo? There is some kind of emergency.’
‘Sure. Later then.’ He replied hanging up.
Darby grabbed her phone and hurried out of the office. To her horror Abigail and her assistants seem to be having a tussle. It’s obvious they are trying to stop her from barging into her office.
“What the hell is going on here?!” She yelled. The assistants jumped back while Abigail gritted her teeth at them.
“She forced her way in, ma’am. And when we asked her to leave politely she kept throwing kicks at us. We didn’t call security on her because she is your family.” Irene explained while panting heavily.
Abigail kissed her teeth as she held Darby’s gaze. “Took you long enough. You must really think you are a big shot now that you own a store like this.”
Darby bit hard on her lips throwing her head to the back as she tried hard to control the surge of emotions within her. “What are you doing here, Abigail? Didn’t I warn you to never return?”
“And I clearly told you I would be back if you didn’t do what is expected of you.” She retorted.
“I don’t owe any of you anything. What part of that response do you not understand?”
“The only part I understand is your ungrateful self that can’t seem to come down from her high horse and pay your actual dues. I won’t let you off easily until you do what is required of you. I will make sure you get disgraced by every blog in LA.” Abigail threatened.
“You won’t do shit!” Darby gritted flaring her nose. “If you think I am afraid of you then you have got something else coming.”
Matching Darby’s stance, Abigail stood in front of her unflinching. “And I promise to bring you down. I’m sure you have a little idea as to what I am capable of doing.”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
She let out a dry chuckle. “Fuck you, Abigail. Do whatever it is you want, but I will not budge! I hope you read my lips clearly! Get the fuck out now before I call the cops on you. I will not just have you tossed out, but I will ensure to have you locked up for trespassing.” Darby threatened.
Seeing the possibility of actually getting arrested, Abigail snorted as she made a backward and turn towards the exit while pointing at Darby. “I promise you, Darby. If nothing is done in the next twenty four hours, that is if you do not try to come and reconcile with my father. I will bring your entire hard work to ruin. Try to test my patience.” She threatened, bumping into Zac on her way out. Abigail pushed him to the side to make way as she cursed at him.
“You will not do shit. You pathetic crazy bitch!” Darby yelled back throwing all of her self control to the wind before storming back to her office.
Zac was taken aback by the push and most importantly at Darby’s reaction. Mumbling a greeting at the assistants, he went after her. Darby was crying hysterically and screaming in the office while kicking at the wall when he got in.
“Darby!” He called out pulling her away from the wall to avoid doing any major damage. “Calm down! What’s going on?” Zac queried.
Yanking her arm away from his hold, Darby placed both palms on the wall. “I have had enough of this crazy lots! They can do whatever they want, I will not budge ever!”
“Who was that?”
She gulped hard. “My sister.”
“I believe this isn’t the first time she has been here aside your mother right? What does she want from you? It’s obviously something serious if you are this worked up.”
Kissing her teeth, Darby placed a palm on her forehead as she steadied her breath. “Can you believe she is asking me to pay them and reconcile with them if I don’t want gossips spread about me in the tabloids.” She gritted.
Zac gasped lightly. “What? Are they that desperate? Will she do that?”
“Of course she can, if she was able to ruin my chances with Leo. She would obviously try to bring my hard work to shreds, but I don’t fucking care. I am not going to be their prey.” She cried.
“But you know what bad publicity will do to your business. You can’t allow this to happen.”
Darby squared her shoulder as she turned to face him. She wiped her tears. “I wasn’t playing when I said I don’t give a fuck about whatever she does. I am going to stand strong. I won’t play victim ever again. You know what, Zac? Please leave. I don’t think I am interested in being pleasant right now.” Darby said turning away from him.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Zac left the office. As he walked out of the showroom, he paused at the reception where Irene and Jenna stood talking in whispers.
“What’s been happening here?” He asked, throwing the question in the air.
Irene hummed scratching the back of her neck. “No idea, sir. That lady just comes here make a scene and threaten Miss Darby. Everyone in LA knows troublemakers like her have a knack for bringing people down. I can only hope Miss Darby would be able to scale through this without any major harm.”
“Shit!” Zac cursed. “Do you know of any means to which I can reach the lady? Probably she dropped a contact?”
They shook their head in response as Irene excused herself to go back to work. Jenna snapped her fingers all of a sudden.
“I have a number, but I don’t know if it would be helpful.” She said bending down to search through her drawer. “When Miss Darby mother came she had scribbled down her contact but my boss had ignored and walked past it. For some reason I just thought it might be useful.” Jenna said handing the piece of crumbled paper to Zac.
Out of the blue Zac cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. “You are a lifesaver. Thank you very much.” He said before heading out.