CHAPTER FIVE: BLACKMAIL

Lucas smiled at first, refusing to believe. Then slowly, his face changed as the look on Purple's face became tight and grim.

"What's up with the confrontation", his questioning eyes asked as he bent to pick up the paper that had fallen to the floor. 

He opened the letter in a sheer stiffened posture. As his eyes glanced down at the contents, he let out a squeal, gripping the sides of his head as if to cover his ears.

"Who the hell gave this to you and what does this have to do with me?"

"You should know Clara by now, the woman you are supposedly having an affair with. She is almost three months gone, pregnant for you"

For a moment, Lucas thought his heart had stopped beating. He tried to speak, tried to dodge the fuzzy thoughts playing games in his mind, but could not. He could not fathom what under the heavens Clara was playing at.

He knew as much as he could hear the thumps of his beating heart that the baby was not his. He was done with her a long time ago. How dare she mess with him! He would teach her.

He could feel his hands tightened into a curl as his eyes took on that ominous aura that came with anger.

"I swear to you Purple, I would never do anything to hurt you. I was done with Clara after three months, almost a year ago before I met you"

Purple made to leave, the ache in her heart refusing to go away. She could no longer tell what to believe. Lucas had proven to be a gentleman worthy of respect, but she was not quite sure if he still loved her as much as she loved him. And Clara…. Are her claims true?"

Lucas held her hands and stared into her eyes with a determination that made her insides crumble

"I will sort this out, I promise"

………………

"Can we meet at the torpeth house by 8 tonight?"

Clara stared at her screen as a message popped up. A slight grin escaped her lips. It was from Lucas, the bastard had suddenly been brought back to his senses and now he wants to meet with her? She would enjoy taking advantage of this opportunity.

"Hiiii….. it's me, Clara. I'm not ready for trouble, neither am I ready to marry your husband as it is evident he is only a freaking cheat. All I want is that you break up with Lucas and never have anything to do with him again. If you do that, I will only get half of his inheritance and stay far away from him to train my baby on my own.

If you do not leave Lucas, then I will marry him, claim legal rights for my child's support and myself, and thereafter inherit the whole of STANFORD COMPANY". She proofreads her message with satisfaction and clicks send.

Clara's pearls of laughter came in a small whooping sound as warmth radiated throughout her body. She knew Lucas hated her and would never want to do anything with her, but yet she despised Purple. How could he fall for a low spiteful wretch like her?

She on the other hand had given him her body, her love, her attention, her all, only to be tossed away like a piece of trash. How is that supposed to be fair?

………….

Purple sat on the floor of her apartment with drooping shoulders, overwhelmed with a darkened feeling about the unknown. Immediately, her phone chimed and she reached out for it.

A message appeared on the screen and she tapped on it and absorbed the content. It was from Clara. Suddenly, slowly, yet carefully, her eyelids became heavy and gummy as her heart gradually failed. Then the tears she had dreaded from the beginning came, in graceful amount.

Wiping it in quick succession, she called Ellen, her best friend and seeked her advice, the former encouraged her to be strong and believe in Lucas, in what he was going to do, in their future. "There has to be a mix-up somewhere" she assured.

Feeling distressed, yet encouraged, she had made her decision. It was time to tell Lucas about it.

Lucas waited patiently for Clara to arrive at their agreed venue. Although he had not gotten a reply to his last message, he knew she would definitely come. Clara was one to be very subtle and crafty. Had it not been her intention to pinpoint a harmless pregnancy on him? 

Clara walked into the bar with a set chin, her face set in a hard, determined expression. Her ash blonde hair cropped bristly across her face and her bottle green eyes dazzled amorously. Her bare skin contrasted beautifully with the silk yellow chiffon that she wore.

Heads turned in her direction as whispers flew around. Satisfied that she had produced the results she desired, located Lucas with one glance and rushed over. Giving no room for pleasantries, she chipped

"Can I get drinks for us?"

"No," Lucas said curtly. Although she still looked lavishing, he knew that hidden behind the facade of beauty was a terrifying monster.

"Let's get straight to the point, Clara. You and I know that the baby in your womb is not mine. I can lock you up for defamation should the truth emerge. I hope you're aware"

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't know what the hell I'm doing? You dare think I do not know the father of my child? Oh! Lucas. I've never known any other man since that day at the DESIRES HOTEL. My body started developing symptoms a few days later and a hospital result confirmed my fear.

She paused for a second and continued

"However, I don't have the intention of marrying you. All I want is half of your inheritance to take care of myself and my unborn baby"

That did the trick. Lucas suspected a gnawing smell of dread as a slow ticking of foreboding roused him. Immediately, he did the calculations. It was seven months now since he and Purple had begun their relationship journey.

It was also a year ago since he last had anything to do with Clara. The test results confirmed that she was only three months gone. If so, she was either trying to blackmail him or force another man's child on him.

As a mischievous smile formed on his face, he fought an overpressing urge to call her the sneaky, manipulative bitch that she was. But No!! He was going to play along, pretend like he had fallen into the bait, pretend like he was going to marry her and finally serve her the punishment she rightly deserved.

Bringing himself to look into the cold green eyes, he smiled

"Why will I give you half of my inheritance when you can just marry me and inherit my protection"

"The hell I'm not in need of your protection Lucas. You know what I want? Break up with Purple, never have anything to do with her again, only then will I marry you"

"Even if that would be very difficult, it should not be a problem. I will let go of her. This I have to do for my baby"

Clara rubbed her stomach in sheer excitement. Who would have thought that million dollars Lucas was finally tripping heads over heels for her because of her baby. He was finally falling into the trap.

She struggled to maintain a rigid posture, when in reality,all she wanted to do was to burst into reels of laughter. Finding her words, she said

"For you to be willing to let go of Purple without an argument proves you're not in love with her. I know she is not as classy or sexy as I am right? You choose to settle with her out of mere pity.

"When is your next check-up" Lucas retorted when he thought he had heard enough of her disgusting words for the evening

"Tomorrow or next in fact, my darling"

"Can I take you out tomorrow after the check-up? There are really interesting things I want to show you, at least to make up for all those time I left you"

"Alright, I will be available. For now, I have to go for an appointment. Bye, my darling"

The meeting ended leaving Clara bemused as to what kind of spell she had managed to cast on Lucas to make him so vulnerable.

Lucas let out a wry dry smile. The game had just begun.