As soon as Clara got back to work, she got bombarded with emails and a very lengthy complaint from Lana, Max’s secretary. In her email, she sounded very, very frustrated, and that didn’t sound good, but Clara thought she would have to deal with that later. For now, she had Max and Jeremy in her office, and they needed to discuss her plan.
Finding out that her dad loved her all those years, and always remembered her on her birthday, gave her the motivation to move forward. To find out if they really were her parents and finally find her kidnappers.
She was still apprehensive about telling the Jacobs family her true identity because she needed proof. Springing this kind of information to unsuspecting people would be disastrous if it ended up that their facts were wrong. But if she was right, then she would love to get closer to her family and try to find out wh
Heather first saw Jeremy when he was in high school. He was 15 at that time, and she was 12. She fell in love as soon as she saw him. Clara always brought them with her to volunteer. He didn’t really want to be there. All he wanted to do was play with his video games, but Clara asked him to come. This was their way of helping the community and making sure the kids in the orphanage won’t feel so alone as they did. Heather was a very quiet kid, but when she saw Jeremy, she would open up and would have the confidence to follow him around and talk to him. She wanted to know more about him and hoped they could be friends and maybe later more than that. She would make sure that she was there every time he volunteered, but he was oblivious that she was trying to do all the chores with him all the time. Everybody b
It was Heather’s first-day training with Lana today, and she was nervous and excited at the same time. Finally, she will get to spend the whole day with Jeremy once she graduates, but she has to pass the dragon’s test first. Some people call him the dragon. And just like a dragon, you can see him only when he passes through or when he breathes fire on you. He was as moody as a dragon, and he hid in his lair all the time. The only time people have seen him laugh was when he was with Clara and Max, but these days, Heather hasn’t even seen him hanging out with his siblings. Lana was there to train her, so she would know what to do. And be able to anticipate what he needs when he needs it. ‘It’s really simple to be his personal assistant. He mostly keeps to himself, stays in his office and the lab,’ Lana starts.
It had been a few weeks since Sebastian sent Clara home, and it’s been bugging him. First, because she was not texting him back. He thought they had established some form of connection the last time they spent the night together. Even though she warned him to back off. ‘Why am I wasting my time with this woman when she won’t even give me the time of day?’ he had a murderous glare in his eyes while he was mulling over his drink. Second, he can’t even close his eyes without seeing her half-naked in bed with her arms and limbs wrapped around him. She invaded his thoughts when he was most relaxed. ‘I’m such a pervert, ugh!’ he thinks as he rubs his forehead, ‘I just have to see her again to get her out of my head, then maybe if she rejects me again, then I’ll be okay.’
Clara was just walking through the doors when she felt her skin buzz as if something was going to happen, and she did not know if it was good or bad, but she hoped it was nothing disastrous. Then she saw the girls at the front desk huddled together, talking to someone. She didn’t know if the raised voices were excitement or agitation, so she decided to check it out. The women at the front desk were her first defense, and if they couldn't prevent anybody from crossing over the line. Then security should have been called. She knew it was him before he even turned around, and now she knew that buzzing feeling she felt was Sebastian standing ten feet in front of her. He was chatting up the girls at the front desk, probably charming them so he could weasel his way into being allowed to go straight to her office
Clara had been waiting for Sebastian to kiss her, and when it didn’t happen, she felt stupid. She didn’t like losing control of any situation. ‘Faggghhhh… He should just leave before I do something stupid. Why does he have to be so freaking hot, anyway? Staring at me like he wanted to kiss me. Ugh, good thing it didn’t happen, or is that a bad thing? Uuuuugh!’ She was in turmoil. Her PA Eliana, Eli, as her friends call her, had tried to get Clara’s attention when she passed her by, but it seemed like someone had pissed her off, and she was in a hurry, running away from something. ‘It’s just 8 am. Who got to her before she made her way to work? This day is not looking out to be good,’ she thought. She better find out who pissed o
Let me tell you a story so you would understand why I love Jeremy so much. He was the reason I started talking again when we were at the orphanage,’ Clara said as she ushered Heather to the sofa. Sebastian wanted to tease her from the secret bedroom when he heard what she called out earlier. But when he heard Heather come in, he decided to listen to their conversation instead. ‘We were always hungry when we were at the orphanage. Food was always regulated. There was usually enough to slake your hunger, but not enough for nourishment. We learned early on that if we wanted to eat, we had to forage or help in the neighbor’s farms so they could give us some of their fruits.’ ‘Max found this berry bush in the nearby forest, and just like most berries, they thrive in cooler climates, nearer water sources. This on
After lunch, Sebastian decided to give Clara a break from all his torment and teasing. Lunch did not turn out well after he teased her because she kept ignoring him the whole time, even though he was sitting beside her. He tried to place her favorite sushi pieces on her plate, as he did before, and she kept returning them to the serving dishes. He was back to square one. So after lunch, he asked Eli to direct him to a room, so he could use it to torment the people at work since Clara did not want to pay attention to him, anyway. It was now 5 pm, and the offices around him were abuzz with people leaving to head out. It was Friday, so some of them were making plans to get together. He wanted to have dinner with her, and after she got embarrassed, that would probably be out of the question.
Heather was outside listening to Jeremy laughing with Sebastian in his office when she saw Clara walking toward her with a scowl on her face. ‘Is Jeremy with Sebastian in there laughing at me?’ Clara asks, not knowing whether to laugh or get mad because, like Heather, she was thankful that Jeremy was laughing again. It gave her a bright idea. ‘Hey, so I don’t know if you heard, but that idiot inside said we’re grilling burgers at our house for dinner. Tell me you don’t have anywhere to go. Want to come and hang out with us?’ Clara raises her eyebrows questioningly. ‘Maybe come with me to buy ingredients too? I’m scared to be alone with Sebastian. I feel like he’s going to try and kiss me again. Please... plus Jeremy will be there. Maybe you can kiss him too,’ Clara smiled suggestively, trying to
-=- Downstairs, the hotel staff had cleared the entire outdoor area to accommodate the most important event happening today. They place an arch covered in vines and calla lilies on the outer edge, overlooking the beach and the sea. Sebastian tried to do everything not to let the cat out of the bag. This event was going to be a surprise. And even though deep in his heart he knew her answer, that she wanted to marry him, he still couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about her reaction. Clara was not a simple person. She was very complex in her reactions and outbursts. He prayed to all the gods in heaven to help them today. There was no denying that as soon as Clara steps in front of the doors that led to the patio, she would know what he had planned for her because waiting at the door was her father, Nathan Jacobs.
Max, Jeremy, and apparently her sister, Celine, were inside waiting for them, waving their hands and screaming simultaneously. Sebastian walked them back into the hallway to keep her state of undress from prying eyes. The couple laughed at their predicament as she unwrapped her legs around him. Clara gave him one last lingering kiss, and when they were ready, headed back into the room. ‘Why are you guys inside our suite? Who let you in?’ ‘We got in last night, and you said you wanted to rehearse and set up the equipment before the presentation, so here we are,’ Max said with jazz hands waving in the air. She just rolled her eyes. ‘You guys are too early. I still need a nap. Can you leave?’ she plopped down on the sofa and snuggled with a pillow. The
I was sitting in my living room writing up Max’s story when this alternate ending came to me and got me excited. The following chapters were going to be part of his book, but I decided you need to be rewarded for reading all the way to the end of Clara’s story. I hope you enjoy this alternate ending. -=- ‘Clara! The plane is leaving in two hours, and there is a major accident in the 405. If we do not make it in time, you will not make your appointment.’ Sebastian yells as he walks to their bedroom. Their meeting at 2 pm is irrevocable, and nothing should impede them from keeping it. This will be the most important appointment of their lives. Clara rolls her eyes. ‘We have two hours, relax. Even in this traffic, we have enough time to make it. Your driver knows all the shortcuts. Plus, Jeremy and
Ariana was found tied up and gagged in one of the hotel’s janitor closets, one that was not normally checked until the morning. Because she was resilient and determined to alert anybody to Clara’s disappearance, she made enough ruckus for one of the hotel guests to notice and call for help. Clara felt relieved to have found her the next day. Thankfully, she had been released from the hospital with a few scratches and bandages on her head and arm. The bad guys banged her head enough to give her a concussion, so she had to be kept overnight for observation. She twisted her arm from trying to get out of the restraints, and when she continued to throw her body against the door to attract someone’s attention. Ariana was very resilient, and Clara liked that she fought until the end. Now that the threat to Celine and Clara’s life had been eliminated, with the bad gu
-=- This chapter is R18. If you are not over 18, please skip this chapter and proceed to Chapter 124. -=- Clara laughs. Sebastian knew this was a serious situation, but after being rejected earlier, he trod lightly and opted for the easygoing route. ‘I love you, Baz. Thank you for being patient with me.’ Clara looked at him lovingly and caressed his face, kissing his lips lightly as she closed her eyes. The fire was back in her eyes. He hated being the one that took it away from her by making her worry and question everything they were to each other. But now, he would make sure that he would do everything in his power, never to extinguish that again. He would do everything to make her happy.
Boss runs away as Nathan and Clara bend down to tend to Nicholas. But the cops had already surrounded the house by then, and they apprehended him as he tried to run away, just like the other goon that tried to escape earlier. Sebastian, on the other hand, fought off Spike, disarming the gun from him when Boss fired the shot. Spike had no fighting chance, and he knew as soon as Sebastian got his weapon, he was going to jail. With the criminals arrested and Clara’s uncle carted away to the hospital, they were all finally able to settle down and take a seat. Everybody was pretty shaken up, and the women sniffled from time to time as they recounted what happened. They huddled with each other, Emilia Jacobs holding onto her daughters to seek comfort and assurance that the nightmare was over. Sebastian took
The house was eerily quiet when they got home. ‘Mom! Dad! I’m home!’ Clara called out as she came in through the door. That should have been an indication that something was wrong because they had left the front door unlocked. When none of the regular security was present around the property, she just assumed they blended in with the background. But her excitement at getting away from her abductors got the better of her. She did not apply the regular protocols for security. Her mom, dad, and sister sat on the sofa in a neat line, with their hands behind her back, their mouths covered with tape. The gun she felt pointed at the side of her head made everything click into place. The kidnappers had a backup plan, and they were waiting at her parent’s home. They took the whole family hostage as a las
Spike proceeded to tape Clara’s mouth but didn’t expect her to be awake. She bit down hard on his hand, inflicting so much pain that he slapped her across the face, dislodging her blindfold enough so she could see through the bottom. Clara kicks Spike between his thighs, rendering him immobile for a few minutes. Enough time for Clara to bring the hands tied behind her back under her knees. She had to bring them in front of her, making it easier to get out of the zip ties that bound them together. Clara falls flat on her face even before she can get anywhere. Spike had come out of the sensation of having his balls kicked enough to slide his feet and trip her. He holds a knife to her neck, pinning her to the floor. She had no choice but to surrender. She fights him again when he pulls Clara up to tie her agai
Nicholas Jacobs had been watching Clara and Celine as closely as everyone else ever since the kidnappers came back and threatened to take them again. When he saw Clara sneak out into the restroom with nobody following her, he decided to take it upon himself to do it. Clara did not trust him after what he did, but he did not care. It was better to be safe than sorry. Clara could yell at him if that's what she wanted. He deserves it, after all. He pretended to make a phone call, hiding near the men’s restroom doors. When he saw two uniformed hotel staff come out of the women’s restroom with a hotel trolley, the kind used to carry all the sheets and linens from rooms that have been emptied and he grew suspicious. These men didn’t look like the regular hotel staff. They looked more buff and were suspiciously gruff-looking, covered with all those tattoos. So when they left, he checked inside the restroom, and