Chapter 52: Gathering The Flames

Zenobia's POV

I yanked Jordan through the entrance of the building and into my office. Slamming the door behind me, my eyes blazed at me.

"JORDAN! WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. HELL!" I shouted every word.

"Miss. Hollen... I'm.. I don't know what to say. I'm sorry."

"Keep your apologies. I'm not the one with a bloody mouth. What were you thinking, Jordan, you literally attacked her at the entrance of my business! Do you know how that can reflect on me?"

"I'm sorry. I snapped. I shouldn't have laid hands on her like that."

"You shouldn't have laid on her period!"

"You're defending her right now?"

"I'm defending me! She's going to come after my pockets! You have no idea how this can turn out badly and how she can spin this into her favor. You fucked up!"

Angry was an understatement to describe how I was feeling.

"Miss Hollen..."

"I swear if you 'Miss. Hollen' me one more time. Matter of fact, you're fired, Jordan."

"Wait! What?!"

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me. I'm not LaTasha. You're terminated!"

"I can't believe this bullshit. This girl killed my unborn child, bragged about it and now I'm the bad guy?"

There was a knock on my door and Tiffany poked her head in.

"Thank goodness you're here," I said as I saw her and signaled for her to come in.

"Good morning," she greeted with a questioning look on her face.

"Is it though?" I asked her.

"Zen, there are people outside asking questions about an altercation. Did you and LaTasha exchange blows?"

"No. He did. Beat her into a pulp," I answered.

"Jordan, why in the hell would you do that?" she turned to him and asked. I explained what occurred and Tiffany grew worried.

"Man, this can go left really quick. It's already on social media. Someone recorded it and posted it," Tiffany said, staring at her phone, "The comments are saying you Zenobia unleashed your bodyguard on LaTasha because you were both with the same guy at the same time."

"What?" I asked, grabbing Tiffany's phone, I checked the comments, "How the hell they know of Kyle?"

"Check her social media," Jordan spoke.

I looked at LaTasha's Instagram and sure enough, there were pictures she stole from Kyle's page and posted it to hers to give the illusion they were a couple. She even made a live video stating a certain spoil rich girl took her man away from her, painting me as the bad guy and the one who was doing the stalking instead of her.

"This is total madness!" I shouted.

"She planned all that shit! She knew I would react like that and I was stupid enough to fall into her trap!" Jordan said, causing me to flare up even more.

"Why are you still here, you're fired! Get out of my company! Take all your things off my premises and leave!" I shouted at him.

"Fine! Just make sure I receive my paycheck for this month," he said before storming out the door.

~

I sat at my desk with my hands at my temple. The phones were ringing and my cellphone was vibrating off my desk.

"Zen, this is getting bad. LaTasha just issued a short statement. And it reads ' Although we had our differences, Zenobia and I made it up at her company's grand- opening, or so I thought. I was applying for a job position this morning in person. I even have the application here with me, and that was when she told her bodyguard to attack me because she heard I was pregnant with her ex- boyfriend's baby. I am going to sue her and her bodyguard." Tiffany finished reading and her eyes go wide.

"What the hell! She really spun this! That fucking bitch!" I yelled, knocking a pen off the desk.

I rose from my desk and began pacing. Tiffany smartly turned the air conditioner on follow me mode.

"Zen, we need PR assistance from The Hollens. This can ruin you and the image of Zen& Iff Company. So before things really go left, you need your family's influence and you need Kyle to clear this mess up."

"Kyle and I aren't....."

"Zen! Put your pride aside and fix this!"

"I shouldn't have to be fixing this, this isn't my fault, it's Jordan's!"

"The media doesn't give a shit! They will drag your name through the dirt until you look like an earthworm, is that what you want?"

"Of course not, Tiff."

She retrieved my cellphone off my desk and handed it to me. Over thirty missed calls. Several from my father, my mother, my cousins and two from Kyle.

I immediately called him back. He answered on the first ring.

"Zen?"

"Kyle."

"Are you alright, I heard about what happened earlier and the awful things going on in the media right now."

"I will need your help to fix this."

"Whatever you need. I'll be there for you. I'm coming to you right now."

"Okay but aren't you at your job?"

"I'm taking an absence for the day. Are you at your office?"

"I'm here."

"Is he there with you?"

"No. I fired him. He's gone."

There was a silence before he spoke again, "Okay. I'm on my way."

~

I called my father afterwards.

"Baby, are you okay, tell me what happened because I know what they're saying isn't true," he spoke into the phone. I told him the truth and he informed me that he'll get PR and uncle Evan in on this.

After I called my mother and my cousins back, I hung up and sank into my seat once again.

"Tiff, I'm just wondering if her lawsuit would be successful," I said.

"I don't think so. She's lying. What happened had absolutely nothing to do with you."

A knock came to the door.

"Come in," I said.

Kyle appeared.

Butterflies formed in my stomach as he walked up to me. I stood up and he pulled me in for a hug.

"Are you hurt, he didn't hit you too, right?" he asked.

"No," I answered. He exhaled with relief as he took me in.

~

Another knock came. I wasn't expecting anyone else but I'm walked my father and a female companion.

"I think it's time for some damage control," he said, "And I'm sorry I wasn't the first one through the doors as promised."

"It's fine. Today is cancelled anyways."

"Good. This is Trish. She's the best PR anyone can ask for, and we're lucky to have her."

"Trust me, I know LaTasha personally and I'm going to bury her at her own game," Trish said.

I explained what happened earlier and about the history she had with Kyle and Jordan that I was aware of. Kyle gave his part as well and so did Tiffany.

Trish thought it was best to issue a statement as well for everyone in the media would be looking forward to my own explanation on the incident.

After just a few minutes of the release, social media and local news outlets had the story.

"Which side are they favoring?" I asked Trish. She was busy typing on her tablet but looked at at me with an unreadable expression.

"Still too early to tell. The story is just getting out," she answered.

"I hate this. I'm waiting for judgement from people who I don't even know," I said.

My father rest a comforting arm around my shoulders. "It's going to be okay. That girl is not damaging your image or your company's. Over my dead body."

"This just in," a news announcer said, LaTasha Hernandez, a young lady who was physically attacked by Zenobia Hollen and her bodyguard earlier this morning at Zenobia's new place of business, Zen & Iff Company, has pressed charges, and filed a lawsuit against the two. Presenting her would be attorney at law, Jefferson Mayers. More on this story as it develops."

"Jefferson Mayers. He has never lost a case, especially a lawsuit case. Those are his strong suits," Kyle said.

"Can't people see this is a lie and a way for her to make an easy money. She lawyer-up really quickly," Tiffany said.

"Zenobia's status is of a very high rank. I'm pretty sure LaTasha had dozens of calls from attorneys and most love striking while it's hot," Trish said.

Pictures of LaTasha's injuries began circulating. It was the first time I had seen her after the altercation. She was in the hospital bed with her entire face swollen. Her mouth was the worst of all and there were talks she may have lost a tooth.

Everyone were on their phones looking and reading.

Shortly after, Jefferson Mayers issued his statement to the press. He was standing at the entrance of a hospital I was certain where LaTasha is a patient,
"I'll be presenting Miss. LaTasha Hernandez. Such a heinous crime needs to have consequences. Having money, title and power doesn't put you above the law. An attack was issued on my client from the command of a woman who is scorned. And her response was it's all a lie. Miss. Hernandez is going to get her justice, and not even daddy Hollen can save his only gem."

"Zen," Kyle said, tuning to me when we were done listening, "You would need Jordan."