~~~~FLORES CORP~~~~
"Good day, Miss. Flores!"
"Miss Flores!!"
"Good morning, Miss. Gabriela."
"Welcome, Miss. Flores!" Gabriela's arrival in Flores Corp turned heads and a line of workers were bowing to her as she made her way to the elevator that took her to her office on the first floor.
She pressed her office code and got in. She smiled satisfactorily when the office scent welcomed her and it was cleaned up for her use.
She opened the windows and got lost for a second staring at the view. Suddenly, a bag was lunged at her head.
"What did you tell your workers about me? Huh?" She was shocked to see Claudia, looking as enraged as ever.
"Workers? I'm confused." Claudia walked towards her and grabbed her hair.
"Let me make you understand. Why were they calling me a bitch? In the middle of their discussion? Why were they saying my mom got married to your dad for his money? Answer my questions, Gabriela Flores!" She roared. Gabriela groaned in pain with gritted teeth.
She pushed Claudia.
"Because that is what you are. A bitch. You and your mom are bitches."
"You spread information about me to those poor ugly lizards at the counter."
"You dare call someone poor and ugly? Take a look at yourself."
"Just because you're the Flores heiress, doesn't mean you can tarnish my mom's name."
"I never said anything about your mom to my workers. I don't even talk to them...all we discuss is strictly business. Why am I even trying to prove things to you? So what if I told them everything about your mom? How she pushed Veronica's dad off the bed because she wanted to steal his money, how she's currently paying for his treatment to stop Veronica from leaking the audio, how she became Mr. White's mistress because she wants to hit the top in The White's Academy. How she turned Mr. Myers into nothing all thanks to her greed. Your mom is a greedy golddigger. She is a witch! She's terrible! She's...she's hungry for power. And you're too blind to see that. You're trailing in her footsteps, going wrong all because you wanna get what you want. You've always been on my nerves and for this, I swear, I'm going to tell Dad everything. I have evidences to prove my point. That your mom is cheating on him with other rich men! She's a whore!!!" Claudia's hands flew across her face heavily, slapping her loudly.
She pinned Gabriela to the wall.
"I'll kill you before you get to do that, Gabriela Flores. You will die."
Gabriela smirked.
"You've got some guts." Gabriela broke free from her grip but she grabbed her jaw. Gabriela hit her with her elbow but Claudia proved stronger by twisting her arm with the other hand.
"Arghhh!!" Gabriela's eyes were red, filled with fury.
Claudia threw her to the ground with force.
"Don't you dare, don't touch me." Claudia's steps towards her screamed danger.
She ran towards the door and pulled the knob but her eyes widened when she saw that it was locked.
Claudia landed another heavy slap on her face. This time, she fell to the ground.
"Gabriela Flores, why did you come into my life?" Gabriela wanted to stand up but Claudia stepped on her hand, crushing it under her heel. Angry tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You came out of nowhere, hellbent on taking everything away from me. Why do you think the world revolves around you? You lift your head high and think money's gonna solve it all. I'm gonna prove to you that I can also be great! I can also have servants running at the snap of my finger! I can also be rich!" Claudia stepped back when she saw her hand bleeding.
"Oopsie, blood. Then I want more blood! More blood!!" She barked. She pulled Gabriela by her hair and smashed her head on the wall.
Blood gushed out of her head down to her face. Gabriela retaliated by punching Claudia's face.
They both settled in a wild fight and workers burst in to pull them apart.
Two businessmen, Mr. Zachary and Mr. Skiendel came in and were successful, pulling them away.
"You bitch!"
"I'm gonna kill you!"
"Calm down, Miss. Flores."
"Who the hell are you? I believe you came in to instigate a fight."
"She's Miss. Flores' stepsister."
"Oh my gosh, holiday quarrels, huh. Have a break. This is a working space. Not a ring for wrestling, please." Mr. Skiendel called security and had them throw Claudia out because she couldn't stop screaming like a maniac.
~~~~
"Mom!! Mom!! I can't tolerate this anymore! I can't even go into Flores Corp, my own dad's company because I'm scared of security guards. Its getting too much. Gabriela is getting too full of herself. She beat me up so badly, I came to college today with support."
"Calm down, Claudia. We'll find a solution to all of this."
"You keep talking about solutions, yet you don't act fast. You are Jennie Flores. You have connections. Don't just sit around thinking Gabriela will magically stop bugging me. What should we do? Kill her in the middle of the night, or pay a nurse to stop Daniela Flores' treatment?" Jennie chuckled.
"Woah, woah, woah. That's a little too much."
"Its nothing compared to what Gabriela's doing to me. She's destroying my mental health. She's haunting me, just because I ganged a rape for her sister. And she fucking deserved it. How could she kill my innocent puppy, deny it and blame it on Carissa?"
"And how could you kill Carissa's sister?"
"Oh fuck you, Mom! What if someone hears that?" Claudia snapped.
"Her sister was innocent just like your puppy was."
"Yeah, she'd know what it feels for her loved one to suffer. That's why I ganged up that rape. The worst part of it all is, Miguel is on her side. Miguel is supporting her because he's in love with her. He fell in love with a girl who was once his enemy. I can't bear that."
"Okay, what's on your mind now? I think we've done everything we could to stop Gabriela but she seems superior."
"I have a plan." The door suddenly flung open.
"Um....Mom, I'll call you later, someone's standing in front of me looking weird."
"Okay bye." Claudia hung up.
"What do you want from me?"
"I don't want anything, Claudia. I was just passing by and my finger accidentally hit record." Veronica said sassily.
"What? Record?" Claudia walked towards her in a fit of rage.
"What did you record, witch?"
"I recorded what you were saying. You yelled loud enough and the door wasn't properly closed." Veronica shrugged.
"Give me that!" She dodged it.
"Too late. One more button and everyone in this school will be having a good laugh. How you're secretly plotting against Gabriela Flores. I know what's really infuriating you. The fact that you can't have Miguel Jackson."
Claudia was fuming.
"Yes. That's exactly why I want to kill Gabriela Flores."
"Think before you speak, babe. Its still on record."
"Give me that phone or I will – " Other students trotted in for the next lecture and Veronica disappeared among them.
"Argggghhh!!" Claudia cried out.
"What's poppin', Claudia?" Sandra walked towards her and they went to their seats.
"Veronica. My mom and I were having a discussion and she recorded it. What if she releases it to the press? She's got two audios now."
"Hey. I think Veronica's climbing to the top too fast. We'll prove to her that we are stronger."
"But how?!!!"
~~~~CAFETERIA~~~~
Gabriela arrived with her friends for lunch and their appearance turned heads.
Whispers filled the air about how gorgeous they looked. Before they could reach their table, Claudia walked towards Gabriela and splashed a bucket of water all over her.
The bucket hit the ground after the water was emptied because her fist was shaking with rage.
Gasps and murmurs took over.
"What was that?"
"Gabriela must be so embarrassed right now."
"Claudia will be punished for this."
"Wow, how daring."
Gabriela smiled cunningly. The glow on her face made Claudia's whole body tremble with intensity.
"Hell!"
"Gabriela's drenched and she's the one getting angry."
"Claudia is a pathetic girl. She needs medical help."
Veronica rose up from her seat and attention turned to her.
She pulled out her phone from her bag and played the audio of Claudia and Jennie's conversation.
"Damn!!"
"Sounds ridiculous!"
"How could Claudia be so poisonous?"
"I don't believe Claudia can stoop this low."
"Gabriela is way above Claudia's league."
"Claudia is a bitch!"
"So evil."
"She caused Daniela Flores' rape?"
"She ganged up Daniela's rape to get back at Gabriela? She's so heartless!"
"OMG, she wants to kill Gabriela?"
"Who knows if she's actually Marissa Connor's killer?"
"Did she kill Marissa Connor like the rumors we heard?"
"So the rumors were true."
Isabella walked towards Claudia and threw her down on the ground with a resounding slap.
The students started surrounding Claudia, with furious looks on their faces.
"We didn't know you were a killer."
"You ganged up Daniela Flores' rape? What did she ever do to you?" One of them pulled her hair.
"You're a mean witch, someone like you will never be the heiress of Flores' Corp."
"I know why you're jealous. Because the most handsome guy in school doesn't even look at you."
"Why were you even born?"
"You're so evil and venomous."
"Go to hell, Claudia. Nobody loves you."
"You're so ugly and stupid. You will never be like Gabriela." Claudia let out an ear splitting shriek, followed by mockery laughter from the students.
"She has gone crazy."
"That's what you get for messing with Gabriela Flores in the first place."
"Geez, she needs therapy."
"Keep her away from you, Gabriela."
"Wait...is it true that your mom is dating Mr. White?"
"Is it true that your mom wants to become the head of college?"
"Is it true that your real father is a nobody?"
"Ugh, Claudia you are disgusting!"
"What is going on here?" Professor Wayne came to the scene.
"Claudia spilled a bucket of water on Gabriela on purpose." A student reported.
"What is your issue, Claudia? You contribute nothing to the cleaning of the school premises, but you think you can spill water everywhere? Get lost. Mandatory cleaning for a month!"
"What? Mandatory cleaning?"
"Yes! Get started!" Professor Wayne ordered. Claudia rose up and some students stepped back with irritated stares. She stormed out of the cafeteria and another round of laughter followed.
~~~~~~~
"She smashed your head on the wall? Fuck, get this girl imprisoned already!" Gabriela laughed.
"Its okay, Miguel. She's still my half-sister. I want to make her regret it. I don't want her taking my last name to jail."
"Your last name will be changed. She can rot in jail, for all I care."
"As Claudia Flores? I don't want people questioning me or my father."
"Wait a second, you said my last name would be changed."
"Yeah. If she's Claudia Flores and you are Gabriela Jackson, you guys won't be related anymore." Gabriela blushed.
"Gosh, that would be insane."
"Will you really be my girlfriend after graduation?" Miguel asked.
"Yeah, though it feels like we're dating already."
"Why do you think so?"
"Why's your arm around my waist...it's making me feel uncomfortable."
"Everything makes you feel uncomfortable!" He half yelled and cuddled her.
"I just want to be close to you."
"I know...I'm just kidding."
"Ahem!" Isabella walked in, clearing her throat.
"Hi, Isabella!" They broke the cuddle.
"What are you both doing so glued to each other?"
"Nothing that you should know of. Mind your business, Isabella." Gabriela replied.
"Hey, Isabella. Its our final basketball practice this evening before the match and I'd like you and Gabriela to come to my dad's mansion for it. Rafael will be present and you both can have a drink with us."
"Sure, great idea." Isabella gestured with an excited smile.
~~~~~
"Go in. You have five minutes because she'll be transferred soon."
"Five minutes for visitation? What the fuck?"
"Your time starts now." Claudia went towards Nadia's prison cell and at the sight of her friend, Nadia flew into her arms and hugged her tightly.
She was crying profusely.
There were bruises on her head and arms.
"You're hurt,what happened to you?" They broke the hug and sat.
"They took me to a prison cell filled with so many strong girls. They punched me so hard and treated me like an animal."
"Hey, Nadia. You don't have to cry, okay?"
"How have you been?" Nadia asked.
"I've been terrible! Gabriela has been on my neck and she's not letting go. There's even a girl – Veronica Lander. She's been threatening my mom and I."
"Why?"
"My mom had a one night stand with her dad. She was trying to take something from him when he fell off the bed and got paralyzed. She wants to release their audio to the press. She's extorting money from us. And that weirdo, Isabella Wilson, she attended Dedra's quinceanera to show off there as Rafael's girl. She got pushed into the pool and Rafael miraculously saved her. These girls have turned most of our mates in their favor. They support everything they do. I was embarrassed at the cafeteria, all because of Gabriela. Veronica played another audio – a discussion about my mom and I planning what next. I even talked about ganging up Daniela Flores' rape. If she releases that audio, I might be jailed. I don't know what to do anymore."
"And how's Michelle?"
"Michelle Jackson. That bitch has been living with a smile on her face. She has been your mom's favorite. There were rumors that she was at your house for dinner about two weeks ago."
"She's dating Damien right?"
"Yes. I heard she also visited the White's for dinner. And they have given their blessings to the relationship."
Nadia was silent.
"All this could never have happened without Gabriela Flores' intervention. She's my number one target. We have to end her." Claudia was determined.
"I tried making Miguel come to my house to seduce him and the next thing was Gabriela spitting right into my face with her words."
"I know just the right thing for you to do. Listen to me."
~~~~JACKSONS' MANSION~~~~
After the basketball practice on Miguel's court, students hung around taking selfies, chatting and filling the air with excitement.
Some even brought snacks and stared at the sky, sitting on the rooftop and telling fairytales.
Others were watching trends on social media, laughing and trying to learn the dance tricks.
Claudia and Sandra arrived and sashayed towards Miguel.
"Hi, Miguel. Sorry we were late. Traffic causes." Claudia spoke.
"Okay...sit and make yourself comfortable." Claudia was relieved he didn't ignore her.
They sat next to Damien and Michelle who seemed to be lost in their phone screen.
"Hi Damien!" They chorused. Claudia felt like dissolving when Damien didn't reply them.
"I can't wait to see Rafael." Sandra whispered to Claudia.
Gabriela, Isabella, Carissa and Diana completed the circle. When Veronica stood alone, Diana called and set a seat for her.
Rafael came over to fill the table with alcohol and snacks.
They began drinking, as though partying and pop music was the source of entertainment.
"Michelle isn't drinking anything." Miguel mentioned.
"Just water would do, thank you." Miguel poured alcohol into a huge glass.
"Gabriela. Here you go." Claudia burned with jealousy as Gabriela casually took the glass from him and gulped it down.
"Someone's jealous." Diana's voice was above a whisper as others laughed heartily.
"Who's jealous?" Claudia asked, trying to sound neutral.
"Me. I want a boyfriend like that." Diana winked at her. Claudia wanted to devour her.
"No one's dating Gabriela. She's still single. Y'all can continue the race. You might win." Rafael gestured to the guys and they chuckled dryly.
"Ask Miguel what happened the day we were peacefully having a chat about Gabriela." A guy spoke.