The Warning

The following day…
The early morning sun penetrated the windows and casted shadows on the only person in the room—Ava.
She could be seen on her seat in the cabin, her phone held up to her ear while she kept grinning and grinning so big and wide.
Apparently, she was speaking to her man since she’d made a promise to him yesterday that she would always give him a call as soon as she stepped into the office, before starting any task of the day.
“I’m missing you badly already, Jamal,” she pouted her lips, swirling from side to side on her seat.
Zachary Gonzalez deep hoarse voice responded as soon as Ava’s words came, “I feel like coming over and kidnap you and then lock you up with me forever, Tinkerbell,”
A shiver ran down her body along the warmth that spread across her chest at his words.
A deep chuckle rambled into Zac’s chest at the other end of the phone, “Don’t flush too much just yet, Kitten. Wait until noon for a little surprise,”
A gasp slipped through Ava’s parted lips, her eyes flashing with horror slightly, “Please, Zac, whatever the surprise might be I don’t want you to come this to place again,”
“Why?” he growled.
Ava opened her mouth to tell him her reasons when the door creaked open and Vera and Gabriella strode into the cabin.
“Uhmm… I’ve got to go now, Jamal. We’ll talk later,” she said quietly into the phone and then hung up directly.
“Good morning,” Ava greeted them jovially but the two ladies ignored her completely as they settled down on their various seats.
Ava’s shoulders shrugged and her lips pursed. She sat upright and got to work, muttering to herself that after a month everything would be over.
Felix came in next and greeted the girls cordially but Ava was the only one who responded with the same warm gesture. “Morning to you too, Felix. Trust you had a good night's rest,”
Right after Ava’s words, Vera scoffed and rolled her eyes before looking at Ava coldly, “What’s with the friendly attitude toward a man you barely know, Miss Taylor?
You already have a super hot and freakily rich man as your boyfriend, do you want to have this one for yourself too?”
As Vera spoke, jealousy and fury could be seen flashing across her black eyes.
It was obvious she had a thing for Felix and even though Felix behaved naturally with all the females in the company, it was clear that he also had a crush on Vera.
However, Vera couldn't help but feel insecure and afraid since the day that Ava had joined their team.
Although she would never admit it, deep down in her heart she knew that Ava was prettier and had nicer curves than her. So it was normal for her to be intimidated.
On the other hand, Ava already had a soft smile playing around her lips as she sensed Vera's jealousy. She thought in her mind that Felix was not as attractive as Zac, he was still a diamond among ordinary people.
“No, Vera. I'll never think of stealing Felix from you. Though I would have loved to if I was still single,” Ava poked fun at Vera and her entire face immediately became flushed with colors.
“W-What do y-you mean?” Vera glared at Ava, “I didn't tell you we’re in a relationship, did I?” She tried to make her voice stern while asking the question but her fluttering heart and her blooming face failed her woefully.
“Really? We're not dumb, Vera. You just confirmed to us now that you could kill anyone to have Felix,” Gabriella also taunted.
Vera’s opened wide, “Gabi!” she warned but Gabriella only laughed, hitting her table.
Ava laughed with her while going back to her business. Felix who had been standing in the middle of the room all these while spared Vera a glance full of sweetness before walking to his table.
All of a sudden, the door busted open, revealing a fuming Stephanie.
“The chairman is here,” she announced her furious gaze landing on Ava.
And like that, the rest of the team also stared at Ava, a silent understanding weaving among them—except Ava.
“I’m sure his sudden appearance has more to do with Zachary Gonzalez's presence here yesterday,” Felix eventually broke the silence, sighing.
“Of course, Felix,” Gabriella conceded and shivered slightly, “I just hope he doesn't cause a fuss,”
After her words, their eyes stayed on a sore Stephanie who in turn kept her own gaze on an innocent-looking Ava.
“Believe me, Ava Taylor, If I should lose my job because of you then I will make sure you suffer intensely for it,” Stephanie threatened, a muscle tickling fiercely around her jaw.
“Quit that, boss. You shouldn't be threatening her now, rather be hoping you don't lose your job,” Vera cut in, her lower lip twitching in disgust.
Surprise flashed through Ava, Felix, and Gabriella's eyes while Stephanie's eyes grew dark as she narrowed them at Vera.
“What did you just say, Vera?” she asked in a quiet tone.
Vera smacked her lips and leaped to her feet, looking directly into Stepanie’s eyes, “I said this is not the time for you to start threatening Ava, boss. You should look forward to the chairman’s meeting because as we all know that his sudden presence has a lot do with you,”
Scoffing, Stephanie wrapped her hands around her chest and moved closer to Vera’s seat.
She wasn't upset with the way Vera had just spoken to her but with the fact that Vera made it so clear that she was defending Ava.
Even Ava and others couldn't believe their ears with Vera’s attitude. Was she really supporting Ava?
“I see you're now on Ava’s side, Vera. Why though? To win her favor? To officially meet Zachary Gonzalez?” Stephanie asked word by word as she stood across Vera’s desk.
Vera only swallowed and looked away from Stephanie’s cold face. Even she did not know why she'd stood up for Ava but one thing she was sure of was that it was not because she wanted Ava to like her.
“That’s enough, Stephanie. Vera didn't support Ava or anything, she only said the truth,” Felix put in softly.
Just then, a knock came at the door followed by the manager’s head peered into the cabin.
“You’re called in the meeting room, Stephanie. Hurry,” the manager said quickly and the door closed immediately.
Anxiety erupted in Stephanie’s heart. She was flustered in her heart, and it was stuffy to the point where it became difficult for her to breathe.
Nonetheless, she regained her composure, blew out a discreet sigh, and then found her way out of the cabin—not after throwing a last glare in Ava’s way.
The second Stephanie set her foot into the immense conference room, she felt the air around her grew heavy and oppressive and she had to lower her head, not moving an inch away from the tall well-furnished door.
“Come have your seat, Miss Martin,” she heard the chairman’s voice and she bit down on her lower lip before striding toward the empty seat beside the manager and sat on it.
The general manager and a few other head of departments were the only people present but Stephanie couldn't still help her loud beating chest.
“I want to believe you're not surprise that you're invited to this meeting, Miss Martin,” the chairman began, his attention staying on Stephanie’s face.
Giggling awkwardly, Stephanie glanced at the old man and shook her head firmly, “Not at all, sir. Although, I rarely got such an invitation but strangely, I'm not surprised,”
“Oh, is that so?” the chairman leaned against his giant swivel seat, his neat but almost wrinkled face pressing into a frown.
Nodding, Stephanie answered, “Yes, sir,”
The chairman, Mr. Gary Robert, an Italian man who had grown all his life in the States was a well-respected and kind man. He only became unruly when it's needed.
He had no wife or children of his own. However, he had an adopted son, Antonio Robert, who he had solely adopted so that he could take over his fortunes when he was gone.
In the past, his company had gained recognition and a firm foothold across the country but it was not like before since the Gonzalez'sgroup emerged.
“I’ll cut to the chase, Miss. Martin Stephanie. But I’d like to ask this first, how long have you been working here?” The chairman asked.
“Five years, sir,”
“So you must know the kind of person I am, don't you?” The chairman raised another question.
“Yes, sir. You never treated us like an employee which is why we're diligent in our work because as a good leader that you are, you deserve good followers,” Stephanie spoke her mind without raising her head to look at the man.
The chairman nodded his head slowly, understanding the hidden meaning behind Stephanie’s words.
“I appreciate your effort and hardwork you put into this company, Miss Martin but giving a co-worker a hard time is completely out of it, don't you think?”
Stephanie bit her inner cheek and curled her hands into fists under the lengthy table.
“According to the information I got here,” The chairman continued, flipping the papers in front of him on the table. “The intern just started yesterday. Can you please tell me why she had to work so much on her first day of resumption?”
A heavy silence enveloped the room. Stephanie was filled with a pang of embarrassment and she felt like hiding her face somewhere.
“I’m truly sorry, sir,” she finally said something after being silent for several seconds.
The chairman then released a long sigh, leaning his hands on the table and staring into the void.
“I’m going to say this just once. The last person I want to have a tiff within the business world is no other person than Zachary Gonzalez,” the chairman uttered, meeting each and everyone’s gazes.
“That young man is more capable and powerful than you could ever think of. Believe me, I got a report from his source about his visit before the general manager even reported yesterday,”
Upon hearing this, the general manager recoiled like a withered flower and audibly gulped. He'd directly given the chairman a call right before he met Zachary Gonzalez yesterday.
So how could the news of his presence have reached the chairman before his call?
****************
Ava Taylor sat on a double couch in her hostel, watching a music video on the television while munching her toast slowly.
She'd come back to her hostel from work today to get some of her clothes but she became exhausted from rearranging her room and wardrobe which was why she couldn't think of driving to Zac’s house.
She was so tired. And of course, she'd given him a call that she wouldn't be coming back tonight but the big man became all grumpy and even hung up the call on her.
Sighing, Ava dropped the toast and drank some juice before lying on her back on the couch.
The house was quiet and peaceful without Charlotte so she hoped Charlotte wouldn't come back home tonight.
With that thought, she grabbed the remote and reduced the volume of the music and her eyes slowly closed on their own as soon as she lay back.
However, just then, the entrance door opened and Charlotte came in. She seemed a bit surprised after seeing Ava lying on the couch.
“What are you doing here?” she yelled, not willing to hide her displeasure.
Ava didn't move nor open her eyes, but hadn't fallen asleep either. She was going ignore her completely.
A flicker of confusion crossed Charlotte’s features before realization dawned… Zac had finally ditched her. She smiled.
“Oh, didn't I tell you that someone like you will never have a chance with Zachary Gonzalez?” She sneered, feeling a great excitement in her heart.
Ava’s lashes fluttered for some time before she opened her eyes and saw Charlotte already walking away.
“So you think I'm here because Zac had dumped me or what?” she asked softly and Charlotte stopped walking at once and turned around to face her.
“No, Ava. I don't think, I’m sure he has finally put you in your place or why would you be here tonight? He's gotten enough of you already and has got rid of you,” Charlotte sneered relentlessly but she stopped when Ava broke into a hysterical laughter.
“Is that what you are thinking__”
The words had not gotten out of Ava’s mouth completely when a ringing phone suddenly interrupted her.
She watched as Charlotte fetched her phone from her bag and the wide gleeful smile that enveloped her face as she answered the call.
“Hey, Reid. How are you doing?”
Ava, who was about to lay back down, caught the name and her brows instantly lifted on their own.
Reid?