Derek's POVHe placed a folder on my desk."Just one question: if you're a mid-fifties woman with no job and nothing to do, what would you be up to?" I asked. I twirled in my chair.He raised his eyebrows. "Don't tell me you suspect your mother now." He chuckled."No," I answered. "Suspension would mean that I'm unsure. I'm sure that she is up to something.""If you are saying this, it's because you are thinking of something." He spoke. He pulled out a chair and sat down, staring at me amusingly.I folded my hands, placing both of them on my desk. "I need you to watch her," I said.His eyes widened. Several expressions swept across his face as he processed my words. "Are you crazy?" He finally whispered. "Your mother is the most suspicious person by nature. Do you know what she could do to me? I'd rather not get on her wrong side." He said, alarmed.He looked around the room suspiciously, almost as if he was expecting there to be some secret security cameras hidden in the room."You a
Derek POV I found out the moment he smirked back at me from the crowd. I was meant to announce our new hotel opening in a few months. Instead, I left the podium as an engaged man. I should never have followed along with the madness. "You wouldn't be the first rich man to have a mistress. It would be best to learn to handle your private business more discreetly. Just think about getting married to Madison—the kind of influence it would bring to you. Maybe I'd finally be able to respect you as a businessman. After that, you can sleep with whomever you want. Women like her know better than ever to expect men like you to be loyal." He smirked. I laughed sarcastically. "Good thing I've never needed your permission to do anything. Even more so when it comes to my business," I answered. He sighed theatrically. I knew his next words were about to be worse. "Do you intend on being this weak and pathetic for the rest of your life? Think about all the things you could achieve. Do you think y
Clara's POV I pulled away Derek, staring back at the space where Madison was. I still couldn't believe she was gone and just like that. She wasn't the type to give up so easily, so what had Derek done? From the way she walked away, it didn't look like she was ever coming back. I thought I'd be barging in there and exposing Madison right in front of Derek, even if it meant telling myself, but there he was, completely fine without me. "So why don't I take you home?" Derek repeated. "You know, I think that it's time that I finally meet your family. We are having a baby, after all." He smiled. I tried to mask my concern. Not this again. After everything I'd been through and Madison finally leaving, my family meeting him was the last thing I wanted. I couldn't have him meet my family. I wasn't even sure if he'd still be talking to me a week from now. I hoped it would never happen. I needed to tell him the truth to get myself out of this situation finally. This has gone on for long en
Clara's POV The car came to a stop. I had arrived at my destination.Derek turned to face me as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "I don't want to keep dropping you off the corner like this. It feels wrong and sneaky," he said."I know," I agreed.He bent forward, capturing my lips with his.Our lips were in sync, the kiss becoming more passionate and intense by the second."I have to go," I moaned against his lips."Don't," he whispered back.His lips were back on mine again. I should stay away from him. My common sense and Derek could not coexist in the same room.I pulled away from him, breathing heavily, trying to gather all my senses. "If I don't leave now, I'll never leave. It's getting late, and you should drive home safely." I answered.I reached for the door as Derek stared at me, disappointed.I emerged from the car and stepped onto the street. The weather today seemed more friendly.I turned around for the final time, waving Derek goodbye, who waved back at me from his driver's seat
Clara's POVMom was in the living room tapping her feet impatiently.My mom was far more deadly when she was quiet.Derek and I sat down across from her. The room became increasingly silent.I wasn't worried about me but rather about Derek.Mom looked up, preparing herself for her speech.She sighed, her anger finally contained. "Look here, Clara, I don't expect you to be a saint. You can even date twenty of them simultaneously if you want to. I don't like being lied to. I've been worried sick, wondering if something had happened to you all the while you were with this one." Mom scolded."And you," she turned to Derek. "Do you always drive around dropping girls off at the corner in your employer's car?" she continued.This was not going well.Derek stuttered as he struggled to form a coherent sentence. "T-That was not my intention at all, ma'am." He answered. He has always predicted confidence. I've never seen him like this."Guys with good intentions don't drop off girls by the corne
Clara's POV Minutes later, Derek donned an apron, the two cooking and laughing together. I never knew suggesting experimenting with spices and recipes could be this funny.I felt like a third wheel around them. Neither of them noticed when I slipped out of the kitchen to watch some TV in the living room.That's when I saw Katy peeking from upstairs. She walked downstairs, her footsteps barely audible."Is anyone dead yet?" she asked.I pointed to the kitchen, where my mom and Derek laughed.Katy looked disappointed. "I was hoping that I'd upgrade to a bigger room." She joked.Katy cozied up right next to me. Of all the space on the couch, she couldn't leave me alone. "He seems like Mom; Mom just doesn't warm up to everyone. You should start working on having that baby." Katy whispered.And have to explain why the child was born a whole month late. Lying was not going to get me out of this one. I sighed, leaning my head back.The TV didn't seem that interesting. Not when I was on edge
Clara's POV"What?" Mom repeated.Derek finally registered as he formed a blank expression.Katy had already vanished as I heard the sound of soft footsteps in the background.Mom stared at us, her face confused and demanding answers."We are having a baby," Derek repeated, this time more softly, his voice filled with uncertainty.Maybe this was the time that I jumped in. I could say that it was a plant baby that we were getting together with or even a puppy. She would be less opposed to that idea. But Derek beat me to it."This was not how I intended for you to find out. I probably should have done things a lot better. The pregnancy came as a surprise to us as well." He continued.There it was. He had done it.There was no saving me from this situation now.I stood my ground, ready to face whatever Mom said next.I expected her to start shouting or do something that was completely crazy. But instead, she remained frozen as the words slowly sank in.She had only just met Derek, and sh
Clara's POV "After everything I've said to you, you did this. Do you have any idea what it takes to raise a child?" She yelled.I tried to make my way out of the kitchen, hoping I'd still make it on time for my bus."I made breakfast," she breathed more calmly."I can't, I'm-m getting late for work." I stuttered. I pointed at the door, ready to make my way out."Sit down," Mom demanded. "If your boss had the time to get you pregnant, he can also give you time to eat." She snapped.Without another word, I sat down.She placed a plate of toast and scrambled eggs in front of me."Maybe if I had fed you, those brain cells of yours would have been working, and you wouldn't be walking around doing stupid things." She said next.Ouch!"You are already starving the poor thing. How are you supposed to be a parent?" She said as she poured a glass of orange juice for me.She slammed the glass before me, giving me a stern look.Mom returned to chopping her carrots. That was probably the only thi