Chapter 5 He's A Spectacular Man

After being busy for a long moment in the kitchen, Emma came out of the kitchen holding up some plates in her hands. She was looking so tired, she couldn't remember the last time she prepared a meal in the house. It was always Ava that did the cooking and now that Hazel was around, she tends to act like a good mother in front of her. The smell of the delicious dishes on the table wafted to where Ava and Hazel were both sitting in the living room. The aroma made Ava's stomach rumble wildly. Hearing this, Hazel retracted her hand which was holding the ice bag, then smiled at the flushed Ava.

"Come on, let's go have dinner then we'll be going out afterward," She told Ava while getting on her feet. Ava only frowned as she manages to stand up. She had completely lost all her energy, she didn't have a taste of any food until this moment. "Where are we going, Hazel?" asked Ava as she subconsciously reached out her hand to touch her cheek, which was cold and dripping wet from the ice bag. Hazel, beaming like a two-year-old kid who had just received a lollipop from her mother, linked her arm around Ava's as they both headed to the dining room without answering her question.

Hazel scooted a chair for Ava and made her sit down before she did, Ava smiled warmly, it seemed she was not surprised at Hazel's gesture. Although, Ava and Hazel were age mates. The both of them just clocked twenty years old some months ago. However, Hazel tends to treat Ava as the younger sibling. The love she had for Ava was evident in everyone's eyes, but even at that, Ava didn't consider it to be an advantage against her family. She knew how ashen her family could be when it comes to any member of Scott's, but she would never do that to her family. Even though they didn't care for her so much, they were still her family.

Every member of the family was now sitting at the table, Charlotte, who had locked herself in her room upstairs, had also come down for dinner. Even in her sulking and mad state, she would never miss her mother's meal for anything. Emma was an excellent cook. A trace of disgust could be seen flitting behind Charlotte's eyes as she glowed at Ava, who was, in turn, devouring her food ravenously. Hazel just smiled with amusement as she patted her back, "Slow down girl, the food is all yours" She chuckled, Ava slightly raised her chin and realized they all had all their eyes on her. She gulped the content in her mouth slowly, then took her eyes back to her plate, embarrassed. Shortly after, everyone was done eating. Dylan evacuated the table first. Charlotte also rose to her feet and turned around, "Come put the dishes away, Charlotte" Hazel instructed flatly, inflicting Charlotte's steps to halted dead in tracks. She clenched her fists, causing her nails to cut into the flesh of her palm. Instantly, feeling the sharp pain made her come back to reality. She unhurriedly turned back to the table, facing Hazel, who already had a connived smile on her lips. "This is my house, Hazel and if there's anyone to put the dishes away, then that should be Ava" She explained calmly, but the gleam flashing across her eyes was noticeable. Ava, who had already gotten on her feet and ready to pack the dishes, her actions were stopped by Hazel. "I'm not disputing the fact that this place is your house, Charlotte. Ava is your younger sibling, and she's obviously in pain as it is, so can't you just be nice for once in your life and clear the table?" Her voice turned bone-chilling with ridicule, while a complacent smile was seen playing around her lips.

Emma, who had remained silent but was harboring her animosity stood up and made to clear the table, she knew Charlotte wouldn't do it, so she should do it for peace to reign. The last thing she wanted was Hazel's vengeance. "No, no, come on Aunt Emma, Charlotte would clear the dishes, and if she doesn't..." She paused and smiled at Ava. "Then that means Charlotte wouldn't be coming with us tonight" Hazel declared then moved away from the table. Immediately, Charlotte's features softened a bit as she exchanged a glance with her mom then gulped, "Where are you going?" Her voice had dropped to a vulnerable whisper. Hazel put on a mockery smile, she had quite expected such a reaction. "To celebrate Ava," She said simply. This time, she was standing in front of Charlotte, raising her chin defiantly, "So, are you in or not?" A quicker of excitement shot through Charlotte, she had always wished to go out with Hazel, but Hazel would always decline her. Of course, she was aware of the fact that Hazel didn't like her too much, she didn't like her either but loved to be around her so that people would think she was also the top class in the society.

Without further ado, Charlotte moved to the table and cleared the dishes at once, then walked in the direction of the kitchen. Emma and Ava were astounded as they watch her back view disappearing into the kitchen. Emma mentally shook her head, she felt Charlotte was helpless and this was all because Hazel loved and minded Ava only. Hazel despises Charlotte, and she never takes the initiative to hide it from anybody. And now, she ordered Charlotte gracefully and which she conceded immediately just because of an outing. "Come on Ava, let's go to your room, so we can start getting ready" Hazel beamed with smiles, reached out and grabbed Ava's arm then hurried upstairs, pulling Ava along. Ava just smiled as she allowed herself to be led around by Hazel.

Reaching inside Ava's tidy room, Hazel tossed her white purse and her smartphone on the bed, then scampered toward Ava's closet. "My baby has to look prettier tonight" Hazel mumbled as she rifled through the clothes, but she couldn't find a dress that suits her taste enough for the night. Ava simply chuckled as she sat down on the bed, she knew Hazel would never find whatever she was looking for in her closet. She was not a stylish type, most of her dresses were baddie jeans, denim shirts, sweatshirts, and baggy jeans. Taking a deep breath, Ava lay on her back and sprawled her hands on the bed. Her hand touched Hazel's phone, then she quickly sat up. She snatched the phone and directly opened the website, she rubbed her forehead, trying to recall his name. She stared blankly, thinking of how Layla was clinging to him and calling out his name. 'Zac!' She remembered. A wide smile displayed on her lips as she searched for Zac. She didn't know his other name; however, she was certain all the Zac on the web would be revealed. Soon, the pictures of the Zac's exhibited on the phone screen, but his was the initial. Ava clicked on his picture and his profile arrayed. 'Zachary Gonzalez, a multi-billionaire the youngest CEO of Gonzalez corporations. His companies had to gain a firm foothold in the whole of Texas. Gonzalez corp became the largest conglomerate here in Houston, and he had also set up branch companies in oversea' Ava's eyes widened in incredulity. She had acknowledged that Zac was a rich person from the aura she had sensed around him earlier, but she never guessed Zac was a billionaire and to top it off, the youngest one, in the entire of Texas? She swallowed down her saliva and continued to scroll down. Furthermore, she scrolled and scrolled for a long moment, but there was nothing to show about his personal life. His age, parents, siblings spouse or relatives, nothing was there. Suddenly, someone snatched up the phone from her. She was startled but heaved a soft sight when she saw that it was Hazel. "What were you looking at that occupied all your attention that you didn't even hear me calling out your name?" Hazel snapped, blinking her eyes down at her. She had been talking to Ava like forever about the dress she was going to wear for the night, but Ava's sanity had been long gone. Hazel pursued her lips when she didn't get a response, she looked down at the phone in her hand. A flirtatious smile covered her lips instantly, upon seeing the handsome man on her phone screen. Ava grimaced slightly, she knew Hazel commonly have a thing for a nice-looking man. "Why are you suddenly searching about Zac? Tell me, you like him too?" Hazel snickered, tapping Ava's nose with her index finger. Ava put up her brows, "You know him too?" Hazel scoffed then rolled her eyes, "Who doesn't know Zachary Gonzalez? A young billionaire and spectacular man. He's every lady's crush" Ava's jaw dropped open, wide enough to fit an egg into her mouth. It was apparent that she was the only person who hadn't heard about Zac before.

Hazel noticed the terror look on Ava's face," Don't tell me you haven't heard of him before? He's a popular man, he's often introduced in the headline of business channel, haven't you seen him on TV too?" Hazel questioned quizzically, then came to sit beside Ava on the bed. Ava tucked her lips in her mouth, "He came to the coffee shop today" Ava told Hazel, but Hazel could only furrow her brows as she asked, "Who?" Ava pointed to Hazel's cellphone, "Him, Zachary Gonzalez," Immediately she finished her words, Hazel bust into hysterical laughter. Ava stared at her, stunned. "You must be imagining things, babe. Zachary? In your coffee shop? I'm sorry, Ava, but that's impossible" Hazel affirmed firmly then got on her feet again, there was still a smile on her pretty face as she returned to the closet. Was Ava a die-hard fan of Zac too? Ava, on the other hand, was staring blandly into space. She was not mistaken, Zac was the same man who came to the coffee shop today.