Chapter 29: The Drama Is Never Ending

Ricardo's POV

"I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!" I yelled as I rampaged through my office cabinets and the drawers in my desk.

I was livid. I knew I had my reports on the desk earlier. I've completed it at my home office, placed it in my Tom Ford briefcase.

"RACHEL!" I called to my personal assistant. I heard the clicking of her running heels towards my direction. She knocked and entered.

"Sir, you yelled?" she asked.

I eyed her.

"Have you seen a black folder on my desk earlier, I can't find my documents and I have a meeting with the CFO in a few minutes! I went to get a cup of coffee, came back and now it's missing!"

"No. Sorry, I haven't. But earlier, after you stepped out, Miss Vant came along and said she was going to reorganize your office."

"Re... What!" I snapped, "Where is she?"

"In her office."

I sped-passed Rachel and went to find Penelope. I found her in her office talking on the phone. She ended the call when I walked up to her desk.

"Sweetie, how are you, and what's wrong, you're frowning and it looks like stream is blowing from your ears."

"You reorganized my office?" I questioned.

"Oh. Yes. I did."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to surprise you. Your office is a mess. You have paper everywhere."

"I'm the CEO. Not a kindergartner. Each paper contains something important and the those ON MY DESK, are extremely important."

"All I did was reorganize to make your life easier."

"Nah, you made it more difficult. I can't find my financial..." before I could even get the full sentence out, Penelope reached into her drawer and slapped the folder on her desk before pushing it towards me.

"Why do you have them, Penelope?"

"I know how important these are. And I think information like these should be in my possession. Run them by me. We're partners here, Ricardo."

I chuckled as I looked at the woman. She must be out of her chicken brain mind. I've been running my company without her input or presence for years. What made her think I needed to run important and sensitive information through her?

I snatched the folder and went to my meeting.

Little did I know, this was only the tip of the iceberg.

~
A few days later, I walked into my office once again and almost had a stroke. My office had been REDECORATED. The walls were covered in a wallpaper that looked like my great great grandparents' kitchen. The best office chair I've ever gotten was gone, along with my desk which was as precious to me as the Resolute Desk was to the president.

It was replaced with a white chair and white desk. Curtains were hung in the windows and a rug was placed over my Lux Touch tile that was encrusted with diamonds.

"You've got to be kidding me," I said as I looked around in horror. Shortly after, my PA arrived.

"Sir.."

"Rachel, what happened to my office?" I asked trying my best to contain my anger.

"Sir, Miss. Vant redecorated. I tried to tell her that that wasn't a good idea, that you like things how they are."

"And?"

"She shoved her finger in my face, showing off her ring and threatened to fire me if I ever talk to her again."

I reached for the phone. She even had the receiver changed to a pink one. Pink!

"Yes, my darling. I take it that you're now at your office," she answered the phone.

"You have exactly one minute to present yourself," I said and hung up. I dismissed Rachel and shortly after, Penelope walked into the room with a wide smile.

"How do you like your new..."

"Don't even bother to finish that ridiculous question."

"Ridiculous?"

"Yes! Look at this place, what did you do?"

"I redecorated. Your office needed a face lift. It wasn't you. I was trying to surprise you."

"Penelope, for the love of the heavens, don't give me any more surprises."

"Do you like it?"

"I hate it."

She looked hurt and appeared to have swallowed her tears.

"Why do you hate it?"

"Because it isn't me. My great great grandparents had very similar wallpaper."

"I was going for the rustic look."

"Rustic, with the most hideous rug I've ever seen in my life, a pink phone and a white desk and chair?" I pulled out the chair and noticed the material was that the fluff, like those fluffy bedroom slippers. There was nowhere I'd be sitting in that.

"Ricardo..."

"Fix this. Return it exactly to the way it was and don't you dare change anything else in my office without my permission. You're not to even touch a paperclip or a sheet of paper even if it's on the floor."

"Might as well just forbid me from entering."

"The most sensible thing you've said since your arrival. Hand over the key."

"No. You can't do this!"

"I can do whatever I want. I'm the boss here."

"My father would hear of this. This is an embarrassment to me. I'm your fianceé."

"Don't remind me," I nonchalantly responded. She reached for the key, threw it at me and stormed out.

~

I couldn't function in the redecorated office. I hated it that much so I decided to pack up and leave for home. I can finish the tasks at my home office where everything is the same.

~

Upon my arrival, I heard shouting from the kitchen area. I quietly made my way there and found an argument between Flamboyant and Mavielle was escalating very quickly. Miss. Prime was caught in the middle of it trying her utmost best to calm the women down but Flamboyant quickly turned on her, shoving her out of the way and bellowed that everything was her fault and how much of a strong dislike she has for her.

"You're trying to use my personal life as an excuse when you don't know anything about it. You know what I allowed you to know," Miss. Prime spoke up to Flamboyant.

"You have some nerves to be casting blames and judgments when the problem is you," Mavielle spoke to Flamboyant also.

"The both of you are exactly alike! Team up against me because you want to single me out. I'd hate me too if I was either of you. Jealous bitches!"

"Girl, you can't shake my confidence and I'm sure you can't shake Adani's either!"

I stepped into the kitchen.

"Shit," Mavielle said under her breath but I caught it.

The silence was discernibly and all eyes locked on me and my motions. I looked at them with disappointment before I spoke up.

"I don't know what this feud is about nor do I care to find out. What I do want is for it to stop. I'm not going to have my house assistants barking at each other and I'm definitely not going to have you putting your hands on each other too. This stops here. Do you understand me?" I said and looked between them.

"Yes, Mr. Parriston," they answered.

"Well well well. I was wondering when you would put them in their place," my mother said as she stepped into the kitchen, "I'm having guests and they were bothered by this screaming match which was started by Adanet."

"It's Adani," Mavielle corrected.

"Whatever," my mother replied, "She walks around around, occupies one of the guest bedrooms which is what I don't understand, but all she does is throw stones and then hide her hands. I saw when she approached Flamboyant and started the confrontation. Ghetto."

"Mother, this isn't about who started what. This is about it not repeating itself."

"Oh please, you're too soft. I swear I gave birth to a jello. These people, especially these two," she said and pointed Mavielle and Miss. Prime, "They're running all over you and you're letting them."

"Let me handle this."

"See that you do. How your staff behaves is a reflection on you." She walked out of the kitchen and I heaved a long sigh.

"Sir, truly, we're sorry and I should have known better and defuse the situation," Mavielle said.

"What happened isn't up for discussion. I don't want to hear it. If you speak more on it, Flamboyant would think it's her place to explain her piece and then eventually Miss. Prime would want to talk her piece and then the blame game starts and the drama continues. I said it ends here. I'm going to my office."

~

I left the kitchen next and entered my peaceful and welcoming home office. I sat down in my chair, turned on my computer and started on my tasks.

Later on that evening, Penelope arrived. She sat in the den with my mother and I was certain she told her what occurred at the office. Mind my business, I went into the gym, did several exercises and lifts, cooled off, had a shower and went to get something to eat.

"Penelope told me what happened. Is that the reason you came home earlier today?" Mother asked as she took her plate and sat down next to me.

"Yes," I answered.

"I remembered upsetting your father too with my creative side."

"Creative you say?"

"Mm-hmm. I told her how to fix it and get on your good graces again. And another step."

"All she has to do is fix my office to the way it was. What other step is there?"

"Darling, you're angrier everyday now. It's obvious you're lacking, Ricardo."

"What?"

"I advised Penelope that she should move in. She's moving into your bedroom as we speak."

Oh Hell !!