A week after the Kingstons visit, the Turners came. They came much more earlier than the Kingstons. Even the security guards at the gates were surprised to see them. Reluctantly, they stood up as it was their job.
One of the guards approached them. "May I know who you are here to see." It was not a request but an order. Victor frowned at the guard tone.
"We are here to see chairlady Lee." He said with a calm smile.
"Do you have an appointment with the boss scheduled by this time?"
"No! Why do you ask?" Victor asked with a smile. The guard didn't respond as he walked away. Stephen who was also in the car became furious. How dare that guard act all cocky in front of him. "Hey! Where are you going?" Stephen yelled. "Open the gate for us you arrongant punk." He cursed incessantly. The guard he was yelling curses at had already gone inside while the rest treated them like air.
After a few minutes, butler Charles came out but he did not walk towards their. He just stood in front of the gates with an expressionless face. Victor came out of the car and walked towards butler Charles when he noticed that the butler wasn't moving an inch. Stephen followed suit with a gloomily face. He was atleast a few years older than Charles yet he had to bow his head before him.
"Good day, Mr Charles." Victor greeted politely.
"What can I do for you?" Butler Charles said coldly. Stephen gave an awkward laugh. "My dear friend charles, why are you so cold. We are only here to seek an audience with Miss Lee. " He said with a cheerful smile.
"Who visits someone so early?" Butler Charles said with a frown. Both Victor and Stephen looked at each other in confusion.
"Early?" Victor repeated as he looked at his watch. "but Mr Charles it's just thirty minutes past seven. How is that early." Are they kidding him. It was almost eight O'clock when all business men had gone to work, yet they called it early. Victor looked at butler Charles who only raised a brow that could be read as "So?"
"A drive from LA to California is not a small journey now, is it?" Butler Charles kept quiet. He doesn't like dealing with people who think they are above everyone even when they have nothing. He just stared at them with disinterest.
"What time will the chairlady be free?" Stephen asked when he noticed the butler's bored expression.
"Do you have an appointment? " Butler Charles asked instead of answering their questions.
"No but we hop-"
"Then I'm afraid you can't see her." Charles cut him off. "The chairlady is a very busy person. If you would excuse me i have important things to do." He turned around and went inside the gates.
Victor and his father stood there at loss for words. "What just happened?" Stephen blurted out as he faced his son. He was a little bit surprised that Victor was still calm even after they were just insulted.
After a few minutes of standing there, Victor said to his father. " Let's go dad."
"But-" Stephen wanted to argue but Victor cut him off. "You won't gain anything by standing there." He said with a sigh as walked away. "Not unless you want the attention of the invisible eyes around here." Victor opened the car door and gestured for his father to enter. Stephen stomped his feet angrily before walking towards the car. The car drove away immediately Stephen and Victor got in.
When Ava woke up, butler Charles informed her on what had transpired earlier. "Excellent. As always. " She commended while munching on her food.
"I did it with your best interest at heart, young miss." Butler Charles said with a bow.
"They will come again." Ava said with her eyes close enjoying the flavor of the meal.
"Then I will keep chasing them away til you are ready to met them." Butler Charles replied.
"I don't have the energy." She said lazily. Butler Charles nod his head in understanding. What she was saying is that she won't see them. In order words, they are just wasting their time by coming here. Unyielding pests.
For the next four days , the same thing happened again. The Turners came consistently but were sent back with the same phrase. "The chairlady is busy." The guards would always say to them.
Stephen was starting to lose his patience. He was tired of the embarrassment. They have been visiting Ava's villa for four days straight yet they were told the same thing. The worst part was that butler Charles didn't come out to meet them after the first time.
"Victor I think we should just give up." Stephen said to his son as they were preparing to leave for Ava's villa that morning.
Victor frowned at his father. "Why do you say so?" He asked.
Stephen shook his head and sighed. "No matter how many times we go there. They won't let us see the chairlady nor tell us where she is. " He said as he tiredly slumped on the sofa. They were currently inside his study room.
"Dad," Victor called as he walked towards the dinning cart. He took a glass of water and gave it to his father. "We can't just give up. If we give up so easily what would people say about us. I'm sure you have heard of the rumors circulating in our circle. " He asked with a gentle voice. When he saw Stephen's reaction, he continued. "Let's just go."
"And if we were sent away... again?" Stephen asked.
"Then we come back home dad. Don't forget there is always a plan b." Victor said with a smirk as he stared at his father. Stephen could feel the confidence that radiated from Victor when spoke about plan b.
"And what is the plan b?" Stephen asked. He wanted to be cautious here. They were dealing with a very fickle and unpredictable lady. So very step has to be planned meticulously.
"Don't worry dad. When the times comes you will know." Victor said with a mysterious smile. "Now shall we leave?" He asked as his father. Stephen nod his head as he gestured for Victor to help him off the couch. His will was already weak but was trying to persevere due to Victor's confident words.