Clara's POVI couldn't believe it.Derek knew about Leonardo all along.How many people knew about this while I was clueless this whole time?What else did he know about me?I stopped in my tracks, anger rushing to my face as I continued listening to the rest of his conversation.I've never told him anything about it, and I know he was his partner long before I knew about it.It makes sense now. He was so invested in knowing about my family before meeting my mother. He must have had me investigated. Who knows what kind of information he must have had about me?"It's ridiculous of my grandfather to even think I'd use Clara to get the contract." He said next. "Before you forget, I want to know exactly what business my mother has with the doctor Clara and I visited." He added.I nearly gasped.He was even closer to the truth than I would have ever thought. Was he investigating me this whole time?It felt like a lot for me to process at once.I took some steps back, walking back to the ba
Clara's POV "Mr Montenegro had someone pick out a few dresses for you for the charity ball this evening." She said as she pointed at a pail of clothes, all covered in their suit bags.Hadn't I told him I wouldn't be going? What made him think he could go along and find me a dress anyway?Poor Cassia didn't seem like the right person for me to be having that argument with."He left you a note too," she pointed to the letter at my bedside. "He is such a romantic, isn't he?" She giggled.She stared at me with a wide grin before deciding to leave my room.I waited for Cassia to leave before reaching for the letter.Breakfast in the garden, please join me.-DerekHis letter read.I returned the letter to the bedside as I jumped off the bed.After last night, I was still unsure how to feel about everything. I'd be a hypocrite if I tried to call him out for being a liar or for hiding things from me. He wasn't my favourite person either at the moment.But I was hungry. Besides, I wasn't goin
Clara's POVAs far as Derek was concerned, just one second of me looking at a wine bottle would be enough to send me to rehab."Clara doesn't drink," Derek answered, his tone definite."Come on, Derek, let the girl have more fun." She winked."She is pregnant," Derek clarified.Jocelyn's eyes widened. We were all in awkward silence for a while.I was going to have to lose the baby. If everyone found out, I'd never be able to walk the streets again."So..." Mike cleared his throat. "I heard that your grandfather would be joining us, Derek," Mike said."You know him. He likes making appearances," Derek answered.His grandfather was coming. Why doesn't he tell me about these things? I'd have liked a fair warning if I was potentially meeting any new people, especially family members. Was I being naïve in hoping that his grandfather would be just as nice as everyone else in his family?"His presence would surely be good for our business. You know he attracts a lot of clients," Mike added.
Clara's POV"Noemi, you remember Derek Montenegro, right?" Jocelyn asked."Of course, who doesn't know him?" Noemi responded."Well, she is his little... project." Jocelyn hesitantly answered.I didn't want to be that girl from the hood who ended up beating up a bunch of rich snobs, but right now, the thought seemed tempting. Why kill someone with kindness when you can just knock them out with your fist?The two ladies had their eyes widened; they didn't need anyone to invite them for a seat."That explains the clothes," Ellianna answered."Don't be so mean. She is pregnant, and you wouldn't want anything happening to her baby." Jocelyn laughed."Oh, how far along are you?" Noemi asked. A more serious expression now occupied her face."About five weeks," I replied hesitantly, tracing my lie."Oh, you look a lot bigger than I would've expected," Noemi commented.Why had I even bothered entertaining them? This was all my fault."Don't be so mean, Noemi, and it's not her fault the poor t
Clara's POV"She will be alright. Her pulse and breathing are back to normal." I heard a muffled voice.There were a few sounds soon after, followed by the door closing.I was feeling a lot better than I had earlier as I began regaining consciousness."You are awake," Derek said, his voice alarmed.He began pacing up and down, looking over at me in panic."What happened back there?" He asked as he continued pacing.He barely gave me time to respond, and he was already on his next point. "You should have been more careful. Your mother would have killed me if you had died.""I'm alright," I answered as I sat up straight.He paused, staring at me in disbelief. "Your face had turned blue. I thought you were going to die." He reasoned."I had a panic attack." I finally answered.He sighed, his body relaxing a bit. He then approached me before settling himself right next to me."Do you want to talk about it?" He offered.I was silent for a while, fidgeting with my fingers, thinking about wh
Clara's POV “Clara," she said, drawing me out of my thoughts."Yes," I answered with a sigh."I love you. I couldn't have asked for a better sister," she said. "I'd also love you a lot more if you could find me a European boyfriend while you are there," she added."Do you only love me when you need something?" I asked."Of course not. I will hang up now because I'm hoping you'll make me an aunt by the end of your trip." She said,I sighed again."Okay, bye. You are supposed to be in class." I reminded her."I was too depressed today. I'll decide if I want to tomorrow." She answered.I was starting to regret leaving her alone.She hung up the phone after having our final goodbyes. It made me feel a lot better knowing that she was okay. I'd be a lot better off if I were out of here.Derek came back not too long after. He looked a bit frantic and out of breath. "Unfortunately, I have to show up at the auction tonight. I'll only be in and out of the event. I'll be back in a few minutes.
Clara’s POV Did I look that bad? I thought the two ladies had done a good job."You can't go wearing that." He answered with a straight face."Why? Is it that bad?" I asked, my mind racing.He was now approaching me, taking small steps at a time.I didn't have time to change. I'd have to redo the make-up, too, and I'm sure that by then, the event will be over.He was now only a few inches away from me. His presence became more demanding. His strong scent filled my nostrils. "There is no way you can go there looking this gorgeous." He whispered. His breath brushed against my ear, sending tingles down my spine.I stepped away from him, slapping him gently on the shoulder. "You can't mess with me like this," I answered, my heart rate returning to normal."I'm serious. Isn't there some law in this country that says it's illegal for you to look this good?" he replied convincingly.Thank goodness for makeup. My cheeks would probably be bright red right now."Come here," I heard him say. Be
Clara's POV"I don't know what I did to her," I whispered with a sigh."Don't worry, she is just bitter because her husband has taken on a mistress because she can't have any children." She answered. "You shouldn't let people talk to you like that, you know?" she said."I was about to punch her in the face," I answered."Then maybe we could light her cheap hair extensions on fire," Nicole added.I stood silent, not knowing how to react. It was a bit too violent, but I liked where she was going with this."Maybe that's a bit extreme," she admitted. "I'll just get some popcorn and watch. Punching her implants out of place would also work just fine." She laughed."We could have worked with that," I answered.I turned away, paying attention to Derek delivering a speech."How do people stand to be around him?" I heard Nicole whisper. "He looks like a representation of every hair commercial." She added."You don't like him, do you?" I asked her.She turned around, giving me her full attenti