Chapter 16
Dancing With Another Man
“So, tell me about it, where do you work now?” Tanya asked loudly to my ears after taking a sip of her vodka spritz.
The DJs set was fire and the dance floor was filled with dancing bodies, going with the beat, and swaying with the fast rhythm of the music. The room was shrouded in darkness, pierced intermittently by vibrant laser lights that cut through the smoky haze, creating an almost surreal, dreamlike atmosphere. The lights flash in rhythmic patterns, painting the walls and the gyrating bodies in neon blues, reds, and greens. The smell of alcohol clung to the air, mingling with the faint scent of smoke from the fog machines that added to the club's theme. Waitresses walked through the crowd, balancing trays of drinks high above their heads, barely navigating the chaos.
Chapter 17: A Spark in the NightClaire’s POVWhen I thought I was free tonight. I am wrong. The alcohol in my system had completely taken over my rationality and I was swaying my body with a man with his hand on my hips, and I do not care of anything else. However, that changed when a few streaks of light showed me who was standing against the bar counter, taking a glance at his wrist watch then his eyes went to me.I was surprised but I am not in the right mind to stop enjoying myself. I thought he went with Alex on his trip He is his secretary he should be following him wherever he goes.But I guess tonight, I was the one who got followed. Well, who cares, Alex is in Italy anyway. And besides, he would probably not mind that I went out. He could do whatever he wanted, so I should
Chapter 18: Burning DesireClaire’s POVThe elevator closes, revealing my reflection on its doors. I watched myself with dazed eyes, and he met me with his dazed ones. I pressed my lips in a thin line while I backed myself to lean on the wall. My head was spinning and the feeling of being lifted up to heights was not helping with the alcohol flowing in my system. I felt so light, and tingly, and I knew I would trip again if I remained on my stilettos so I removed them and felt the icy floor under the soles of my feet causing me to shiver a little bit. I held my stilettos in my hand and crossed my legs, putting one foot on top of the other to warm them. But it was no longer needed. Alexander lifted me, carrying me in a bridal style. His body was warm, pressing against mine. It was soothing and I relaxed under his arms.“Did you somehow hit your head o
Chapter 19: Covering Love BitesClaire’s POVI curled under my blanket and stared at the empty side of my bed. The chilly air from the air conditioning unit bit my exposed skin sharply. I sighed as I recalled what happened last night. I do not know what time it is already but I did not bother to hurry myself and go to work. I need a break from the office.My phone buzzed from the bedside table but I did not have the energy and the will to deal with anything right now. If that is from the office, then it could wait until tomorrow. A minute after, my phone rang and it was annoying to the ears. I rolled and reached for my phone, checking the caller ID.Tanya.“Spill!” I pulled the phone away from my ear when she screamed once I answered. I
Chapter 20: Why Marry?“Why are you here?” I diverted the topic.And here comes that smirk again, with his eyeglasses making it more hotter. I am quite disappointed though that he is now removing, placing it on the table. It did not make him any less hot. I definitely do not regret it.“You’re asking me in my own building?”I rolled my eyes at his remark and went back on slicing the pancake.“You did that better in bed.” he uttered, and lightly ruffled the top of my head.I felt the blood rush up to my cheeks. And before I could even react, I already heard his footsteps walking away from me.I stabbed my fort
Chapter 21: He Fired ThemClaire’s POVThe sky is gloomy and the trees are dropping a few of their withered leaves as their branches are being swayed by the wind. The rainy season seems to be starting too early this year as I have seen on the news this morning at the 5 AM show, a storm might arrive in the city this week, but they say that it has a chance that may dissipate before it landfalls. Cars were passing by so slowly as the traffic at the end of the highway was gradually moving. I stood at the sidewalk — loading zone and waited for a cab to pass by and hail. Uniformed students, seniors, and middle aged adults were also waiting in the area. It is the rush hour, 7 AM in the morning; it is when the students, workers, and employees, fight for a ride to get where they have to go. The bus loading zone is almost a kilometer away from here so everyone near the area converges to a few loading zones to hail cabs or sometimes get picked up by their Uber. After a few minutes of waiting, we
Chapter 22: Non Disclosure AgreementClaire’s POVFor the whole day, my co-workers treated me with indifference. They also refuse to look my way or talk to me, only when they respond to my questions. They may not be talking bad about me anymore, but still, they act like I do not exist, only when I speak. Nevertheless, this is better than hearing my name in gossip through whispers or obvious noises. I packed my belongings and was ready to head out when my phone beeped. I fished it out of my pocket and saw that it was Tanya.“Let’s meet at Holmes Bar later at 8.” she texted. It was not a question, so I know she was insisting. Perhaps she could no longer wait to hear about Alex. Tanya has stayed and worked in the city longer so she is well versed when it comes to the place. Also, she is more active on social media and socialite news than me so she must know Alexander Vermont, for sure. Even just based on her reaction at the club before and when she called, she was able to immediately rec
Chapter 23: We’re MarriedClaire’s POVI offered to help Alex but he declined, telling me to go talk to my friend instead which I would. Taking my bag to my bedroom and calling Tanya. After a few rings, she answered. “Nope, you can not decline anymore. You already agreed.” she immediately said. No ‘hello’s or ‘what’s up’. “Actually… Well, you were asking about Alexander Vermont, right?” I started.“Hell yes, girl! I can not wait to hear things from you. You have been hiding secrets from me now.” I sat on the mini sofa in my room and stretched my legs as I sighed. My eyes wandered to the ceiling, painted in a pristine white which is in contrast to his bedroom which looked darker and minimally accentuated with gold linings. The ceiling seemed to float above the room, enhanced by subtle recessed lighting that cast a soft, even glow across its surface. The edges were lined with sleek, modern LED strips, providing a warm, ambient light that illuminated the room without overpowering it.“
Chapter 24: A Good For Nothing GirlClaire’s POVTanya and I talked all night after we cleaned up for dinner since she had the guts to ask Alex if she could sleep over for the night and Alex agreed contented with the signed NDA. She stayed in my room and I told her everything, from the beginning to the current events including my situation at my work. She was happy for me, excited even, and a little bit delusional to think that I and Alex would end up together in the end, not with this fake marriage one. But life is not like those read in the fictional books. This is reality, it does not always have a happy ending. The seamstress unzipped her bag and grabbed her tape measure and a small notebook, with a pen clipped into it. “Now stand up,” she ordered which I followed immediately. Her wise age makes her look strict along with her strict tone. Her eyes behind her rectangular framed eyeglasses that sit on her pointed nose look assertive and judging. She held the tape measure against m
Chapter 81: The ProposalClaire's hands trembled as she fought to shut the door. Her voice was low and angry, almost a hiss, "Leave, Alex. Leave. I don’t want you here." But no matter how hard she pushed, Alex's grip on the door was stronger. He wasn't letting go this time.She glared at him, her heart pounding in her chest, but the truth was, his sudden presence after all these months had unraveled her. She was pregnant, alone, and already emotionally exhausted. Seeing Alex, of all people, standing in front of her only intensified everything she had bottled up inside. Her emotions clashed violently. The man she loved — the man who had hurt her — was standing just inches away.“I’m not leaving,” Alex said firmly, his voice filled with a quiet desperation. “Claire, please… just let me talk to you.”Tears pricked at the corners of Claire’s eyes as she struggled with her emotions. She wanted to hate him, to push him away and protect herself from any more pain. But as she stood there, fac
Chapter 80: Leave, AlexTanya’s sharp voice cut through the phone after the nonstop calls from Alex. "What do you want, Alex?" Now that he learned about Claire’s pregnancy, he couldn’t calm down, and the search for her was too slow and it was making him restless, he could not just sit down and wait. There was an easier way, and that was through Tanya, so he reached out to her multiple times.Alex took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. "I need to know where Claire is." Silence. Tanya refused to reply. She promised Claire that she would not tell a soul where she was."I know she's pregnant, Tanya," Alex continued, his voice betraying a hint of desperation. "I need to find her. I need to be with her."Tanya’s sigh crackled through the phone. “Pregnant or not, you’ve lost the right to know where she is. You made your choices, Alex. Now, Claire’s making hers.”Alex closed his eyes, pushing back the frustration. “I understand how it looks. I made mistakes — I was so focused on the compa
Chapter 79: His Child“We’ve found something,” Jones’s voice said, pulling Alex from his haze.“What is it?” Alex asked, straightening up in his chair, suddenly alert.“We tracked down Tanya’s relatives in the Philippines. Took a while, but we’ve confirmed a connection. She’s got a cousin there, and from what we can tell, Claire could be staying with them.”Alex felt a rush of adrenaline, a flicker of hope he hadn’t felt in weeks. Finally, there was something concrete.“Do we know where they live?” he asked, his tone sharp, all business now.“Not yet, but we’re working on it. We’ll need to send someone over, a private investigator. We’ve already got people on the ground following up leads, but it’s delicate. We’ll need time.”“How much time?”“Could take a couple of weeks, maybe more. We’re doing everything we can.”Weeks. The word echoed in Alex’s mind. Claire could be slipping further away every moment that passed, but there was no other option. He had to be patient. Something he ha
Chapter 78: MiserableThe following days passed in a blur of frustration, alcohol, and regret. Alex could not shake the feeling of loss, the gnawing emptiness that had settled in his chest since Claire disappeared. He had always prided himself on being in control, on having everything within his grasp, of everything going his way. But now, everything felt like it was slipping through his fingers like he was not in control of things anymore. Claire had become an unforeseen factor that was driving his life into ruin. His apartment, once filled with the quiet presence of Claire, felt cold and empty. It was not just the absence of her physical presence — it was the absence of the warmth and life she had brought into his space. Without her, the apartment felt like a hollow shell, a reflection of the growing void inside him. Before, he never minded, he never noticed, for he never let anyone in ever again after Aubrey Chen, but somehow, Claire made everything different. The once cold and ho
Chapter 77: Can't Hide ForeverThe phone rang again, its shrill tone slicing through the suffocating silence of Alex’s office. He was slouched in his chair, a half empty glass of whiskey resting on the edge of his desk. The burn of alcohol did little to numb the persistent ache gnawing at him ever since Claire disappeared. For a few seconds, he stared at the phone, considering letting it ring, as if ignoring the call could somehow silence the storm raging inside him.But something about the persistent ringing was tugging him from his haze. With a frustrated sigh, he reached for the phone.“Yes?” he answered when he recognized the caller, his voice rough and groggy from drinking all day.“Sir, it is Jones,” came the steady, familiar voice of his security head. “We have finally tracked down Claire’s last known whereabouts.”Alex straightened in his chair, his heartbeat quickening. “Go on,” he urged, gripping the phone tightly.“She boarded a flight to the Philippines. We confirmed it th
Chapter 76: Fight for HerAlex pulled out his phone, staring at Tanya's contact. She had always been close to Claire, her best friend. If anyone knew where Claire had gone, it would be her. With a deep breath, Alex tapped her name and waited for the line to connect.The dial tone rang once, twice, then a click as Tanya picked up."Hello? " Tanya's voice came through, cautious.Alex cleared his throat. “Tanya, it is Alex.”There was a pause on the other end. "What do you want, Alex?"“I need to talk to you. About Claire.” His voice was firm but not demanding. He did not want to escalate things, but he needed answers. “I need to know where she is.”Tanya scoffed, the sound sharp and unforgiving. “You need to know where she is? Are you serious? After everything, Alex? After all those photos of you and Aubrey?”“It is not what you think,” he started, but Tanya cut him off.“Oh, it is exactly what I think. Do you think I did not see the articles? The photos? Claire saw them too, Alex. She
Chapter 75: ClosureA few days had passed since the divorce papers landed on Alex’s desk, and despite that he had pushed the papers in his table drawers, out of his sight, the fact that he had to make a decision and the existence of CClaire’s signature on the paper did not leave his mind. The cold reality of Claire’s absence became more noticeable as he moved through his daily routines. She was gone, and there was no escaping it. He tried to bury himself in his work, as he always had when things got complicated, but this time, even Vermont Corp. could not keep his mind from drifting back to her, in addition to the relentless inquiry of Alessandro Vermont about Claire each article he had read on the internet about Aubrey Chen. Alex never had an answer to them and just let his father get mad over it, accusing Alex of manipulating him to get the position he had wanted, only abiding by the conditions he had set to get what he wanted, and now that he had it, he had completely neglected his
Chapter 74: Life He Wanted, Needed"Mr. Vermont, this just arrived for you," one of the assistant secretaries in his office said, placing it on his desk.Alex barely glanced at it, offering a distracted nod. "Thanks, just leave it there," he replied, his eyes still on the screen. He had been engrossed in back to back meetings, discussing expansion strategies, reviewing reports, and making decisions that would impact the company’s future. His mind was occupied with the endless responsibilities that came with being the new president.The envelope remained unopened on the corner of his desk until he finished reviewing a lengthy financial report and he finally reached for it, intending to deal with it quickly before moving on to the next task.He frowned looking at the envelope with only the return address of Humprey’s Law Firm printed on it. He had no idea as to why the law firm had sent him papers knowing that he was not facing any lawsuits or any legal matter which if it involved the c
Chapter 73: The AnomalyThe soft murmur of conversation and the clinking of glasses surrounded Alex and Aubrey as they finished their dinner at one of New York's most exclusive restaurants. The dim lighting cast a warm glow over the elegantly set table, making the evening feel almost intimate despite the public setting. Alex glanced at Aubrey, who was smiling softly as she swirled the last of her wine in her glass."That was lovely," Aubrey said, her voice smooth and melodic. She set her glass down and looked at him with a satisfied expression. "It has been a while since I have had such a relaxing dinner."Alex nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I’m glad you enjoyed it." He signaled the waiter, who promptly brought the bill. As Alex reached for his wallet, he could not help but notice the flicker of movement outside the restaurant's large windows. Paparazzi. They had been spotted.It had started with a few people recognizing them, whispers spread through the restaurant like w