017

That morning, after making breakfast, Chase invited Zara to the table only to find out that she was yet to be prepared for school and she had about forty minutes left for her first class.

Raising his brow at her, he lowered himself on his seat as he picked up his cutlery.

"I bet it would be more tasty than ever." She grinned, taking a long sniff of the golden brown pancakes in front of her.

With her gaze now fixed on him, she had her hands across her chest and with a scowl etched on her face asked, "Why don't you join Jasper and Wembley in the kitchen? You cook more tasty meals than both of them combined."

"They are good."

"Uhm… I already knew that's what you're going to say so I'm not surprised." She pouted, rolling her eyes.

Just when she was about to take the first bite of her breakfast, Chase held her hand only to let go when she flashed him a quick look.

"What? Is anything the problem?" She asked.

"About school, don't you have classes today?"

"Oh… about that, I quit last night."

"What… wha… what are you talking about?" He stammered, his eyes wide open as he stared back at her with unbelief written all over his face.

"Yes, I'm in charge of my life now and so I take decisions that are beneficial."

"No Zara, call off the jokes here and tell me what the fuck you're up to." Pushing his head backward, he grabbed her hand and then leaned towards her, "What happened at school? You can always talk to me and I'll try as much to help."

Pulling her hand away from him, she stuffed her mouth with her meal while Chase sat back staring at her with fear-filled eyes.

He was scared that something had gone wrong in school and that was why she decided to quit.

"Nothing happened." She broke the silence and at once he raised his head, still not relieved by her words.

"FlavorQuest is going to be the number one food company in the state and a competent manager is needed to run the business." She explained.

"There is no way I will be able to function properly if I stay back in school studying."

When Chase didn't respond to her words, she held his hand and with a bright smile etched on the side of her lips, said, "Don't worry, I have everything under control, you don't need to bother about me."

"What about your mom?"

To this question, she delayed answering as she darted her eyes around with her hand under her chin.

Suddenly surging forward and with a grin on her lips, she slammed her fists against the table, "Mom is going to make a fuss about it if she finds out but don't worry about me, I will be fine."

Chase, yet to be convinced that she was making the right choice, tried all he could to convince her to change her mind but she remained adamant.

After breakfast, she got into her car and then headed straight for school to retrieve her materials from her locker and then speak to her faculty head.

When she arrived at school that morning, the first class was already over and students were loitering about. She was still looking around when a group of her friends walked up to her.

"Zara, I thought you were kidding about dropping out," Karen said as she slung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Have I ever made a joke this expensive to you before?" She retorted, a confident smile on her face as she walked towards the office of the faculty head.

"But… you don't have to drop out. I know you got a job as the manager of a struggling restaurant… hold on for a minute." Sasha said.

Using her palm to shield her lips, she looked around for a while before grabbing her shoulder, startling her a bit, "Is it because of your manager's husband?"

"Uh… yeah. Do you have a problem with it?" She retorted, pushing her hand off her shoulder.

"Are you going to stick to him?" It was Prisca's turn to ask.

"Yes… yes…. Yes." Questions kept coming from all corners and all that Zara did was affirm it all, making the frown on their faces deepen.

Pushing her hand into her hair, she swirled around and with her hands across her chest, she said, "See you at FlavorQuest by seven pm."

She didn't wait for their response before she knocked on the faculty's head office and then ushered herself in the next minute.

After speaking to Mr. Yun as he was called by the students, there was a grave silence in the room as he reviewed what she had said.

About a quarter past an hour later, Mr. Yun placed his hand on the table and with his gaze on her asked, "Is anything the matter? You can speak to me if you're uncomfortable speaking to the counseling office."

"I'm perfectly okay Mr. Yun. It was my decision after thinking it over for a while and I have decided to go by it." She shrugged and still smiling said, "I decided to inform you so you wouldn't start panicking otherwise, I would have just gone AWOL."

"Zara, you can't do this. You have a promising future. Your grades are good and if you keep up this way, you will be the best graduating student in your class." She said, trying to coax her but her mind was already made up.

Just like Chase who tried all he could to make her change her mind, he did the same but his efforts didn't amount to anything and when he saw that there was nothing he could do about it, he gave up.

After leaving his office that morning, she proceeded to the locker room and after gathering all her materials, she pushed them down in a paper bag and then began to head towards the exit.

Smiling like she had won a jackpot, she continued her movement until her phone began to buzz in her pocket.

With a frown etched on her face, she placed the paper bag down and then pulled her phone out.

"What does this wench want from me?" She muttered, glaring at the screen of her phone which displayed Katherine's contact.

Rolling her eyes to the back of her, she swiped to receive the call.

"What took you forever to receive the call?" Raven snapped at her when the lines connected.

"You should be grateful I decided to speak to you otherwise you wouldn't be blabbing right now." She added with an eye roll which Raven responded to with a scowl.

"Thanks to Mom for making me speak to you. Anyway, she wants to meet with you so make yourself available."

"When?"

"By evening."

"I'm busy, you should reschedule the meeting." She was already seated behind the steering wheel.

"Then come around whenever you're free. When should I be expecting you?"

"Beniel, when would I be arriving at Bernard Group?" She asked the AI assistant on her dashboard.

"If the traffic is mild, you will arrive in half an hour but if it isn't, you will arrive at your destination in forty-five minutes."

"You heard her," she said then hung up.