fantishu
The confrontation
Chapter 37 The Confrontation
DS FASHION HOUSE, LOS ANGELES.
Darby checked the time again it was almost nine and she still can’t leave. The dress she was working on seem to be taking more time than expected. It would have been easy to tell her assistants to finish up while she returned home to her son but it would end in tears if she did that. The dress has to be sent to New York by morning. The client seem indecisive on the exact design she wanted and had asked for the plain stones to be replaced with flowered stoned patterns.
Taking a deep breath, she leaned into the couch to rest for another few minutes while the assistants worked on the dress tail. Forty more minutes and they would be done. A message popped up on her phone bringing a smile to her face. Chloe was asking if she was still at work and with pride as regards her hard work, she replied yes.
Her phone rang in the process, it was Zac calling. Smiling weakly she answered the call. ‘Hello there, mister.’ She drawled.
Zac chuckled on the other end. ‘Don’t start with your tease. How is it going?’
‘I should be able to wrap up in an hour. It’s so stressful to have clients like Daphne.’ Darby huffed.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
‘I wish I can come help you.”‘
‘Oh, please. Don’t bother, it’s enough that you barely just arrived. My assistants are really the best, I got the best of hands.’ She praised, smiling at Irene and the new assistant Pamela. “So tell me how are you settling?’
Zac let out an exhausted exhale into the receiver. ‘It was going well until I bumped into this rude person who had my groceries scattered on the floor.’
‘Oops, sorry about that.’ Darby muttered, motioning to Irene to get a fallen scissors off the floor.
‘It would have been nice if she said sorry. Instead she cursed and stormed off. I can only hope she doesn’t get to be my neighbor.’
‘Or perhaps a future acquaintance.’ She teased.
He laughed lightly. “You think too far. I hope you have called Sinclair to bid him a goodnight.’
‘I sure did, he wouldn’t let-‘ Darby’s words hang in the air when she saw Chloe making her way in and she looked vicious. ‘Let me call you back, Zac.’ She mumbled into the phone before hanging up. “Is everything okay, Chloe? Why do you look so stressed?”
Moving closer to her enough, Chloe landed an ear deafening slap on Darby’s face. “You bitch! How dare you?!” She screamed
Irene and Pamela dropped all they had in hand and rushed to the middle to separate the two women. Darby had a shocking look on her face and she seemed lost.
Stepping forward to face the fuming Chloe with a hand still rubbing at her cheek, Darby inquired. “Why would you do that?”
Chloe scoffed in distaste. “You have got some nerve asking me such dumb question. You are really one hell of a pretender. Do you still think you did nothing wrong by pretending not to know my man and going behind me to introduce your bastard as his son?!”
Sudden rage consumed Darby at the mention of her son, taking an intimidating step close to Chloe she pointed a finger at her face. “Now I will urge you to hold your horses right there, Miss Chloe. I would take whatever insult you dish but do not involve my son in it. I don’t take lightly to my little one being disrespected.”
Chloe slapped her hand away. “I don’t care whatever tickles you. All I know is for your own good stay the hell away from my man. Don’t even think you would have him because of the child you both have together. If you think I am being boastful try me. I will make sure not just your name but that of your family is dragged in the mud. You two-faced bitch!” She yelled in her face before going back out.
Darby slumped into the couch as her breath hitched. Pamela went hurriedly to get her water. Handing it to her, Darby drank it till the very last drop.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” Irene asked as she rubbed at her back.
“Do you think she will be alright?” Pamela questioned Irene. “If I knew she was here to cause trouble I would have bundled her out.” She could make do with her threat due to the big stature she possesses.
Snapping out of her reverie, Darby let out a shaky breath. Her eyes glanced back at the time, about twenty minutes have gone from the forty she had envisioned. Shaking her head, she glanced up at the ladies and the dress.
“You know what, girls. I would advice you clock out now. I can handle it from here, you don’t need to worry.” Darby said.
“But ma’am, we still have to work on the tail.” Irene reminded.
“Don’t worry about it. I will definitely work on it myself. You both can head home.” She insisted.
Ten minutes later, Darby was the only one left after she constantly assured the assistants that she could handle it alone. Seated on the floor with her legs beneath her thighs, Darby’s hand shook hard as she tried to hold on to the scissors. It felt like a nightmare what just happened few minutes ago. The look on Chloe’s face is enough to scare off anyone. She tried to process what could have gone wrong. Even though she had prompted Leo to tell Chloe about Sinclair, Darby didn’t stop to think about how it might affect their relationship.
All she wanted was to be sincere with the transaction between them. No matter how much she tried , her mind couldn’t concentrate on work and it brought tears to her eyes. She was doing fine a while ago without any drama. Deadline was due tomorrow and here she was a total mess.
Taking in a shaky breath, Darby crawled towards her phone to call Leo. To her surprise he had already called, she must have missed it when her mind had travel far. Picking up the phone, she dialed Leo. He picked on the first ring.
‘Did Chloe come to you?’ He asked hurriedly not letting her speak. ‘I need you to let me know Darby, Desire called to tell me that she had stormed out of the house making promises. Are you hurt?’
A lone tear rolled down Darby’s face as she rubbed at the spot she had been slapped. Sniffing, she held down her tone. ‘She did come by. But I would like you to resolve whatever misunderstanding is between you both, please. I don’t want my son and I to be dragged into your mess.’
‘I promise you, Darby. This isn’t how I thought it would turn out. However, be rest assured that I would take care of it all.’ He paused like he was hesitant to say something.
Darby sighed loudly. ‘Don’t worry I won’t stop you and Sinclair from communicating. You both have barely known each other a week and he is crazy about you.’
Leo laughed heartily into the receiver. ‘Does that mean I can take him for some ice cream this Saturday?’
‘He is your son after all.’ She mumbled.
‘Thank you, Darby. Thank you so much.’
‘It’s okay, just don’t pull me into this. Also ensure to protect my son.’
‘I would do everything it takes to protect him, I promise. Thank you.’
‘Alright, bye.’ Darby muttered ending the call.
Sure, she is definitely doing the right thing. Her interest isn’t in Leo but the wellbeing of her son. And if that warrants taking a few slaps here and there, she definitely wouldn’t mind. Sinclair deserves to be with his father and Chloe has to suck it up. And with that conclusion, she went back to her work after putting Rihanna’s song on repeat.