The new project was coming handy, having everyone at their toes as it seemed to be a very important client. Claire was inside her Superior’s office, handing over the presentation materials."I included the previous designs, as Lydia suggested," she told him without any enthusiasm. Handling paperwork was a bummer for her."This is good, Levy," said Nathan—a slender man, tall with low-cut hair. He was smiling, impressed. "But I have some bad news for you." His face suddenly turned mirthless.Claire frowned. "What news? Don't tell me you're not taking me with you."He'd promised to let her participate this time. What a fool she was to believe him!"That's exactly it," he replied. "Someone else is taking this project, so you won't need to assist me anymore. Sorry, Levy.""No, you can't be serious, Nathan," Claire snorted. "I worked my ass off for this presentation, just so I can finally get out of this boring office and do something real. Why are you doing this to me?"Nathan was sitting a
"Need some coffee or tea?" Doris offered, but none of the two obliged.The glass door swung open again. Ryan, Harry, and other three men entered the room. Claire's heart skipped a beat when she saw him. Harry looked a bit surprised to see her. He smiled subtly. As for Ryan, he was indifferent. He took a seat across from her, his eyes gleaming.The presentation started upon Ryan's instructions. He didn't botherwith introductions. Nathan began explaining the slides on the projector, during which Ryan's eyes were almost fixed on Claire, and she returned with a glare. He was distracting her, damn it! Always a jerk.By the time Nathan was done with the presentation, everyone was nodding in agreement while exchanging murmurs. Everyone except Ryan who stared at the projector with an unimpressed look. He seemed to be thinking, and Claire couldn't leave his eyes."I don't like it," he said crisply.All eyes in the room turned on him, surprised."Excuse me?" Nathan prompted."I thought it was
"Get in," Ryan ordered quietly, holding the car door open."And if I don't?" Claire retorted, glaring menacingly at him.He smirked. "If you don't I'll kidnap you. And I'm not bluffing," he replied, his voice casual yet demanding."Oh? I'd love to see you try," Claire uttered, challenging him.Ryan broke into giggles, certainly finding her amusing. "Claire, I'm not in the mood to play with you in the parking lot. Just get in the car and let's talk.""We have nothing to talk about, though, do we?" Claire insisted, sounding serious.Ryan leaned toward her, and in response she reclined back onto the car. "Just get inside the car, Claire. Unless you want me to shut your smart mouth right here in the daylight. Is that what you want?" he whispered into her ear, ignoring whoever was passing by.Claire's breath hitched at the warmth of his breath in her ear. It was arousing and she wasn't ready to succumb to it."You're such a fuckwit!" she muttered, panting softly."A fuck what?" Pulling bac
She wasn't going to win against him, Claire knew this for a face. But she also knew he was capable of doing that for her. If he stopped seeing her, everything would be back to normal."Listen, Claire," said Ryan in a soft voice. He stood up so that they're closer. "I'm not playing—""I'm done with this!" Claire snapped. "I can't afford to be the other woman, and especially the evil one." She furiously grabbed her handbag and headed to the exit."So this is all about Doris?" Ryan snapped back, and she stared back at him, wondering what was really the matter with him."Yeah, it's all about her," she retorted. "So can I go now?" Her voice was harsher."Are you feeling guilty or something?" Ryan asked.Was he serious? Claire let out a smirk and bit her lip savagely.She'd started to think he was really out of his mind. Was it possible that she was dealing with a mental patient? Asylum mental? She asked herself inwardly, but couldn't bring herself to believe he was in need of a shrink."Do
Claire's body was resting on Ryan's, both lying intimately on the couch. A huge flat screen was rambling on something none of the two paid attention at. Outside it was slightly raining, the water sliding smoothly on the glass of the great window.It felt peaceful; Claire couldn't deny this feeling of such rarity in her heart."Why did you rip off my blouse? Now I don't have anything to wear," Claire lamented.Ryan was smoothly toying with her hair, tangling and detangling the strands. "I was in a hurry to undress you, I guess," he answered flatly, grinning at her.Claire sighed. "You're so crazy, Ryan.” The back of her hand grazed his cleanly shaved face that made him look younger than his thirty-two years of age."You've said that over a million times already." Ryan's hands slid down to her waist, playfully reaching for the hem of his shirt.It was the only thing Claire was wearing right now."Ryan!" She giggled as he squeezed her butt with both hands, knowing fully well that she had
"I think I've got some explaining to do with Nathan," Claire muttered. "All thanks to your amazing indiscretion, Sir!" She changed the course of their conversation, and Ryan didn't seem to appreciate the turn."Don't call me Sir," he repeated his plea. "And why do you have to explain anything to Panther?" He frowned at the idea."Because he's my superior, and thanks to you he can now complete the puzzle on what's going on," Claire uttered and again their bickering started.And neither of the two was ready to back out."I don't owe an explanation to anyone, Claire!" Ryan snapped blatantly. "And, what is this with Panther? Are you close to him now?""Yeah, I'm close to him.” Claire snorted. "We are colleagues, we work together, and he's my boss." She slid the plate aside, annoyed.Ryan frowned. "Finish your food," he demanded."Excuse me?" Claire prompted quickly."I said finish your food," he repeated, sternly. "I want to see that plate clean, Claire, and I'm not bluffing.""Fuck! Why
Ryan took a seat behind his office desk and skimmed through some documents."This is good enough," he said pointedly, regarding the contract Harry had been working on. "And what's the emergency?" He turned towards Doris, who had been watching him taciturn.She sighed audibly and said, "I'm afraid Clancy has got you this time." She sat straight."What?" Ryan frowned."Where did you go, and without telling anyone?" Doris snapped angrily. "I've tried to reach you, but it seems you were too busy to answer!" She frantically rolled her eyes."Tell me about Clancy, what happened?" Ignoring the lady, Ryan turned to Harry for information.This was way more important for him."Well," Harry started, but when Doris got up stoutly like an angry wife, he had to stop his speech."Sit down, Doris!" Ryan demanded."I don't think you need me here, so why should I stay?" she replied harshly while reaching for the door handle."I said sit down, Director Marcos!" Ryan snapped aloud, his voice supreme. "I'
"Gosh, what a bastard that Clancy is," Claire snapped, and he laughed at her mad tone of voice. "So, you already have another project in mind for Montesby?" she asked."Yeah, by next year Montesby will be a part of the Government's Redevelopment Plan. Starting with the construction of a subway." Again he got engrossed into details, and Claire loved listening to his plans and visions of grandeur."Wow. And how the hell will you finance and manage another one?" she queried."In this industry, Claire, you can't let your guards down. It's one late move and you're out. So timing is also a merit, plus, I'm not the one financing the project.""Oh yeah? And who does?""Rule number one, never use your own money in Real Estate business," said Ryan, and Claire smiled with a raised eyebrow."What's rule number two?" she asked."Use only other people's money," he replied."That's the same thing." She laughed, her eyes staring down at him."That's the whole point." Ryan laughed as well. "If you sno