With his hands tucked into his pockets, Chase was moving to and fro on the rooftop, staring at his wrist watch at intervals. It was thirty minutes until the restaurant would be opened, yet Zara was nowhere to be found. He had even called her phone several times hoping she would pick up and give a reason why she was delaying but she never did. Her attitude disturbed him so greatly that staying in one place was an impossible task for him. “She isn't still picking up her phone, what are we going to do now?” Wembley asked, showing him his call history. “She will come around, let's be patient.” Chase said with a calm tone but deep down, he was worried sick. “You have been saying that for an hour now.” Wembley grumbled and then just like he came earlier, he stormed down the stairs.Moments later, Zara pulled up across the road but didn't step out. Wondering what the issue was, Chase dialed her contact again.From his position, he could see the screen light of her phone on the seat next
Zara tried to leave but Chase placed his hands against the wall, preventing her from taking a step. She turned around to repeat the same action but it was the same result. Frustrated, she exhaled and with her lips pressed tightly together, slid through the wall to the floor so she would crawl away but before she could attempt doing that, Chase was crouching right in front of her.“What do you want?” She mumbled, trying to act like she wasn't pissed but she couldn't keep it in. She kept darting her eyes around, making Chase convinced that indeed something was wrong. “Can't you tell me?” He asked, trying to touch her face but she was quick to push his hand off. Since she discovered the restaurant, Chase hadn’t returned home with her until today since he felt something was bothering her. “Why did you return with me?” She was desperate to change the topic of discussion but Chase wouldn't fall for that trick. “Can you tell me already and stop moving around in circles?” He sucked his t
All through the day, Chase didn't step out of his room. He alternated between lying on his bed, sitting and pacing about his room as he thought about the new phase of his life.After helping Bernard, if only he knew he was going to make him a part of his family, he would have kept his distance from him, if he had done, he strongly believed he wouldn't be in this kind of situation. Despite his current dilemma, Chase didn't even allow the thought of returning to his home to cross his mind. He was determined not to return but to stay back and steer his life in the direction he wanted. Zara on the other hand kept calling him and when he wouldn't pick up, she gave up. At about five pm when the restaurant was going to start booming with customers who were on their way back from work, Chase left for work. “She wouldn't show up.” He muttered as he slid into the taxi he had boarded, referring to Zara. When the chauffeur turned in his direction, he quickly waved him off and then sank into h
Surprised to see Wembley, Chase was stunned for a while as he kept staring at him. His current position did nothing but to scare him more, making his heart ram against his chest in a quick succession. In a bid to make light of the current situation, Chase chuckled as he walked up to him. Wembley too pulled away from the wall and with his hands still tucked in his pocket closed the gap that separated them. “What's going on?” Wembley asked, starting the conversation. “What's going on? What do you mean?” Chase asked with a casual tone as he searched his eyes for answers to his question. The top question on his mind at that moment was if he had found out about him and Zara but at the same time he didn't want to voice it out. What if he is talking about something else? - these words kept ringing in his head, thereby preventing him from parting his lips to make enquiries. “It's been a while since we shared a drink, let's grab one after work.” “Huh!” “What? Don't tell me y
It was now three weeks after Chase left and Zara kept hoping he would return but that didn't happen.At work, she kept putting up her best and at the same time hoping Chase would have a conversation about what had happened with her but he acted like nothing of that sort happened leaving her frustrated but she didn't show or act like she was. Pulling her luggage, Zara made her way towards the mansion. After a ton of review on if moving out was worth it, she finally returned to her family house. That morning, Katherine and Raven were preparing to head to the company when Zara arrived. On seeing her, the duo exchanged glances, trying to get answers to unasked questions. Zara on the other hand was lying on the couch with her phone in her face. She was aware of their presence but pretended not to have any idea. “What are you doing here?” Raven broke the silence in the living room as she walked up to her.Not bothering to look in her direction, Zara replied, “The last time I checked, I
Chase had just finished serving a customer when Wembley walked up to him and then grabbed his arm until they were in the kitchen. “There is a looming trouble.” He said with his hands resting on his waist. “What's the issue?” Chase asked with a calm tone though his heart was already running with different thoughts. “The food company we signed a contract with is facing backlash from the media. We need to do something before it becomes an issue for us.” He rapped. Just then, Zara walked up to them and then tossed her iPad on the table. “I just saw this.” She said. It was the news about the company. “You were the one who suggested we made a deal with them. You shouldn't be making any fuss, rather think of how you're going to resolve the issue.” Wembley snapped at her. “This isn't the time to be apportioning blame.” Chase cut in. “You guys should find a way to fix this… I will keep serving the customers.” “You cook and serve?” Wembley and Zara asked in unison. “Yeah, I will be fin
Zara, who was standing next to Wembley, brushed past him and with the speed of lightning, she found her way to Chase's side. Grasping his hand, she gulped, trying to steady her heavy breathing but she couldn't. Digging her hand into her hair, she began to tug on it, trying to come up with the right words to say to him. “Chase please, don't allow them to take me away.” She cried. “Why? They are your family and since there's nothing binding you and Chase, you should return to them, don't you think?” Wembley shot at her. He had been trying to keep his cool but with each passing second, his wrath was increasing to an unbearable level. “You can do whatever you want, but I won't return to you.” Chase said, his gaze fixed on Katherine who had been glaring at him. Smiling, she pushed her hair away from her face and now holding her purse, said, “I hope you don't come crawling on with knees because I will play this record to you.” She said, waving her phone in his face. At once, Z
Still on the rooftop talking, a strong smell began to circulate around the air, making Chase who was seated before to rise as he began to look around. “Seems something is burning.” Wembley said, sniffing the air too. Suddenly, Chase, who had been trying to come up with a reason for the strong odor, slammed his fist against the table, “Shit.” He grunted and before Wembley could even grasp what he was saying, he was already running down the stairs. A customer had dropped by, requesting for a meal. Instead of Zara calling Wembley like he had instructed her, she decided to try her hands on it only to get the food burnt. She was already crying when Chase pushed the door open, revealing Maurice holding a pan and Zara who was sobbing as she paced about. “I'm sorry, I should have come around soon enough. I have no excuse to give.” Maurice rapped with his head bent to the ground. Brushing past him, Chase walked up to Zara and then held her shoulder. In fright, she bent her head in a bid
Fuming with anger, Finn tossed the throw pillow he was holding aside, yelling out his lungs as anger coursed through him. Shutting his eyes, he titled his head to the side only to fist pump the air the next minute. Meanwhile, while all these were going on, his mother was watching him from the dining table where she sat. “Son, is anything the issue?” She asked, joining him on the couch and holding his hand. When he wouldn't stop throwing a fit, she decided to question him. Still filled with rage, he didn't waste time in telling her what had happened, making sure not to leave any details. “Really?” She asked, raising her brow. “I can't believe they want me to bring back their staff who voluntarily left. Also, he shouldn't even be there in the first place when he can't cook good meals, how did they intend to retain their customers if they turn a blind eye to it.” He huffed. With his hands across his chest now, he leaned into his seat, tossing his head backwards. “It's sickening.”
On arrival, furious that her family had decided to create a scene, she stormed into the building only to meet Chase, Wembley and Jasper seated around a table. “What is going on?” She asked, looking from one person to the other. “I want to leave. I can't handle my duties anymore.” Jasper replied, biting his lower lips. The previous night, some customers were complaining about the food in low tones, and then he also stumbled on the comments on Zara's page. Just when Zara was about to speak, the door flung open and Finn walked in, grinning from side to side. “Good morning boss.” When he was done exchanging greetings with everyone, he plopped on the next seat, wondering what they were talking about that made them wear a serious look. “Am I missing out on anything?” He asked but he didn't get a response, instead, Jasper pushed his resignation letter towards Zara. “Please endorse it.” He said, taking off the badge from his shirt. “I can't believe you're doing this.” Zara snapped, gr
With her hand under her chin, Zara was pacing around her living room. She had been trying to come up with the perfect strategy of curbing the issue at hand but couldn't come up with anything. Frustrated, she grabbed her purse off the table and then headed straight for the door. Immediately she stepped out, her eyes went straight to Chase's apartment and for the next few minutes that followed, she kept staring hard at it until a neighbor came along. She was already scurrying away when the woman grabbed her shoulder and with a little smile on the edge of her lips said, “Do you know who your next door neighbor is?” Not knowing why she had asked, she nodded, pushing her hair away from her face. “Yeah.” She replied. “I haven't gotten a chance to speak to him even for once but I can tell he is a good man. Last night, he got my granddaughter a cake at the confectionery shop when I couldn't afford it…” she kept on talking about how he had helped her until she exhausted everythin
Due to the large amount of workload they had to handle every day, Zara brought up the suggestion of hiring more workers which was accepted by all. On Saturday morning, D-Day for the physical meeting of all the applicants who had shown interest in working in the restaurant, Zara and Chase sat in the office while Wembley ushered the applicants in one after the other. Since customers on Saturday mornings were always minimal, Maurice and Jasper were able to handle them without a hitch. The physical interview went on for a long time, yet Zara couldn't pick her choice. She kept on making a fuss about each applicant. It was either their appearance or their language skills. “At this rate, we aren't going to get any workers at the end of the day,” Chase said, placing the files of the applicants they had interviewed on the table. “I cannot afford to employ someone who will cause trouble. I need the best and so I will stick to my laid down principles.” She said, pushing a list in front of
Zara, not wanting Chase to catch up with her, increased her pace as she climbed down the stairs and at the same time, trying to hold back her stubborn tears which were already rolling down her cheeks. The feeling of being rejected was the only thing on her mind. She didn't care about Raven's mockery. Since Chase came into the household, she had been a secret admirer, always fantasizing about getting married to him and all that. When she learnt of how he was being treated by her mother and Raven, she was bitter but there was nothing she could do about it.That was why she decided to stand up for him when they plotted to accuse him of cheating. And now, she got rejected. “Where are you hurrying to?” Wembley asked when she brushed past him. “Out.” She yelled, not bothering to look in her direction. This single act made Wembley turn towards the stairs, trying to fathom what was going on. “She is crying.” Maurice walked up to him, staring at the path she had taken. “Crying?” “Yeah
With disappointment written all over her face, Raven returned to her mother. The moment Katherine saw her, she sank into her chair, she didn't need anyone to tell her it didn't go well, Raven's face and countenance says it all. “Mother, we have lost Chase completely. There is nothing we can do anymore rather than to let go of the strife against him.” She mumbled, plopping on the creamy couch. With her lips caged in between her teeth, she pushed her hair away from her face and after a few minutes of silence, turned her attention to Katherine who was staring at her. “What… is anything the issue?” She asked with a raised brow. “You have just five minutes to make the decision.” Katherine replied, her tone cold and icy. Confused, Raven began to dart her eyes around, trying to read a meaning to what she had just heard but the more she thought of it, the more confused she became. “I already told you that I'm going to deal with Chase until he comes crawling back to me. All
When she arrived, Chase was drumming his fingers against the table. Though he hadn't requested for her earlier, she was now present, so he decided to spew what he had been saving up until now. “Are you busy?” He asked, nodding at the iPad she was holding. “I’m not. I was going through the sales stats. It's impressive boss.” She mused and even without Chase asking her to tell him what it was about, she went ahead and started blabbing. “Thank you, I mean it.” He flashed her a coy smile as he patted her head. “Come on, I didn't do the work alone.” Smacking her lips she pulled a chair out and now seated across from him, said, “What if we have a team dinner to celebrate?” “It's up to you, fix it.” His response made her smile widen as she drummed her fingers against the table in excitement. “Wembley said you wanted to see me, is anything the issue?” She asked, breaking the short silence in the room. “Not really.” He shook his head sideways, contemplating on if he should spill on not.
With a huff, Zara pulled her last luggage through the door and with a tired look on her face, she banged the door shut only to fall on the next available couch. Shutting her eyes tightly, she pushed her hand into her hair as a little smile appeared on the side of her lips. Before dropping by FlavorQuest the previous day, she had made a stop at a housing agent who showed her a catalog she should choose from after which she paid her rent fee.“This is a dream come true.” She mused, now lying on her side as a bright smile appeared on her lips. For a while now, she had been fantasizing about getting a house of her own and now it was a reality. Her excitement was what lured her to sleep that night. ***“Shit!” Zara muttered as she sat up on the couch she had spent her night on. Throwing her legs off the couch, she hurried towards the bathroom to have a quick bath. She was already getting late for work after reading out the new rule and regulations she had drafted the previous night.
Still on the rooftop talking, a strong smell began to circulate around the air, making Chase who was seated before to rise as he began to look around. “Seems something is burning.” Wembley said, sniffing the air too. Suddenly, Chase, who had been trying to come up with a reason for the strong odor, slammed his fist against the table, “Shit.” He grunted and before Wembley could even grasp what he was saying, he was already running down the stairs. A customer had dropped by, requesting for a meal. Instead of Zara calling Wembley like he had instructed her, she decided to try her hands on it only to get the food burnt. She was already crying when Chase pushed the door open, revealing Maurice holding a pan and Zara who was sobbing as she paced about. “I'm sorry, I should have come around soon enough. I have no excuse to give.” Maurice rapped with his head bent to the ground. Brushing past him, Chase walked up to Zara and then held her shoulder. In fright, she bent her head in a bid