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02
Huling Na-update:
2024-10-29 19:42:56“Time to head home” I say, closing my laptop before packing my things. “Alice” I call out as I walk into her office space.
“Yes Lara” she answers. I smile, “please let everyone know that I will not be around tomorrow, you’re in charge tomorrow. So I’m leaving my company in good hands”.
She nods, “I will let them know ma, I’m sure everything will run smoothly”. I nod, “thank you, please let me know if there’s any problem, no matter how small it is”
She nods, “I will, but I’m sure there’ll be no need for that. Have a wonderful day off”
“Thank you Alice” I say, walking out of the office and towards the car park where my brand new Nissan is packed, a gift from my loving parents.
In thirty minutes, I arrive home thanks to the road being traffic free. I hand my car keys to the security, before heading into the house and straight for my room. I’m in a terrible need for a shower.
Once I’m done I change into a pink floral nightgown with a matching jacket since I’ll be leaving my room.
“I’m starving” I loudly grumble from the stairway, the smell of pasta filling my nostrils. “Ugggh” I mumble, as I drag my feet towards the kitchen, I shouldn’t have skipped lunch.
“What’s cooking?” I ask the chef as I walk into the kitchen. “Pasta” Clark replies, turning to face me.
“What?” I reply, covering my mouth in shock. “What are you doing here? And why are you cooking in my kitchen?” I ask, confused.
He looks slightly amused as he watched my awkward behaviour, “Lai invited me over for dinner, and I thought it’d only be proper for me to prepare dinner” he says, turning away from me and stirring the sauce.
I internally roll my eyes, “well a heads up would have been nice. Do I really have to see you everywhere I go” I say, sitting on the kitchen stool.
“And besides don’t you have a family” I quietly mutter under my breath, as I fill myself up with crackers fully determined to not have anything he’s cooking.
“Where’s the chef?” I ask, amidst snacking. He turns to look at me, a bit of annoyance apparent on his face, “do you have to talk and chew at the same time, and besides you’re distracting me, I’m trying to cook here”
I roll my eyes at him, ensuring he notices it, “this is my house and there’s no way you’re going to tell me what to do. Now please can you kindly tell me where the chef is”
“You’re so stubborn” he replies, turning away from me and completely ignoring my question. I have it in mind to go over to him and poke him till he answers me, but he’s my senior and I have no choice but to respect him.
“I don’t know why my brother couldn’t have made a normal and kind friend” I say quietly but loud enough for him to hear me.
“What’s the hassle about” Lai says, walking into the kitchen, “I could hear you two arguing all the way from my room”
I pout before sniffling, “it’s your friend, he’s been so mean to me” I say, pretending to wipe a tear from my face.
“Clark, what did I tell you about being nice to my sister” Lai says, going along with the act.
Clark frowns, “your sister is a menace, she’s been disturbing me ever since she came into the kitchen. Couldn’t you have asked your parents for a more gentle sister” he says, looking at me, causing me to shoot him a dirty look.
“Well it’s not my fault that I’m disturbing him, he kept being mean to me and reprimanding me” I say, facing Lai.
Lai chuckles, “I know better than to get into your arguments when you two start. I’m heading outside, there’s something urgent I need to do; so you two should please behave while I’m gone. I’ll be back before you know it”.
I solemnly nod, “Clark?” Lai says, “I’m always well behaved, it’s your sister that needs help” he replies.
Lai chuckles, “I guess this is my sign to go. See you two soon” he says, walking out of the kitchen, leaving me and Clark all alone.
“Please could you ask one of the maids to ring me up when you’re done cooking” I ask, getting down from the kitchen stool.
“And why might that be?” He says, using his professional mannerisms causing me to roll my eyes.
“I’m heading to my room but I haven’t had dinner. So I need you to tell one of the maids so that I can come down and cook dinner by myself, since you and Lai sent the chef away” I say, my stomach rumbling.
Clark nods, “well, I made enough for the three of us, so there’s no need to cook a separate dinner”. I smile, “thanks for the offer but I don’t want to get food poisoning”
“So would you please call the maid when you’re done?” I ask. He shakes his head, “no, just accept the food and stop being stubborn. I would even taste the food, if that’ll clear your doubts”
I smile, “well since you’re asking me so nicely. I guess I have no choice but to fulfil this wish of yours” I say, returning to the kitchen stool.
Clark nods, “yeah and besides there’s something that I have to discuss with you after dinner”
“With me?” I ask, surprised. He nods, “with you”. I shake my head, “do you mean me, you and Lai or you mean you and I”
He looks slightly annoyed, “I mean you and I, no Lai”. I nod, “what could it be about?” I ask.
“You’ll know after dinner” he says, placing a plate before me and taking a seat right beside me.
Kaugnay na kabanata
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 03
Clark’s POVMy head is spinning, thoughts running through my mind as I make way to the office in my private car, tailed by two of my very best bodyguards.The emergency meeting I told Lai I was having was truly an emergency, but not truly a meeting, depending on what you define a meeting has. I had to meet up with my parents to discuss some shocking revelations that threaten to destroy all I’ve ever worked for.As the only child of Carson and Jane Rique , I have been trained all my life to inherit Dames, the company that I head as the CEO. Flashback to the meeting with his parents “You need to get married before the year runs out or we’ll have no choice but to hand the company to someone else” dad says, running his hands through his hair.“But the year will end in a month and a half. How do you expect me to find a wife in that short time? And besides what is the sudden need to get married, you’ve never required me to do so, so why now?” I ask.Mom smiles, “it’s really not our fault
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 04
Lara’s POVAfter dinner I helped Clark with washing of the dishes and the pots that were used to cook. In that moment I felt like it won’t be so bad to be friends with him, but that moment was short lived the moment he opened his mouth“That’s not how you do this” he says, taking the pot from my hands, “you have to ensure it’s cleaned with a dry towel before you return it to its original position”.I sigh, “of course, I’m sure you have a book of methods and processes for everything you do. You wouldn't want to be caught making a mistake. If you’re gracious enough, why don’t you publish the book, I’m sure the world cares so much for pan and pots, it’d be a bestseller” I say, in a sarcastic tone as I roll my eyes.He shrugs, “it’s just common sense” he replies, returning the pot to me. I roll my eyes, “I have more common sense than you do” I say, returning the pot to the cabinet.“Now what did you want to talk about?” I ask, turning to face him. “Let’s talk on the terrace” he says, inte
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 05
Our Wedding Day- The 18th of December “Do you Lara Austen, take Clark Rique to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.I smile, pretending to be in love with the man in front of me, “I do”. The priest nods, “do you Clark Rique take Lara Carter to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part.He nods, “I do”. I inwardly shake my head, so much for pretending to be in love. “I now declare you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride” the priest says, stepping backward.I flash a smile at Clark, waiting for him, inwardly grateful that I’m not the one that has to kiss him. He walks towards me tentatively like every step for him is painful.Afraid that the guests will suspect that we’r
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 06
I sidewardly glance at Clark who’s currently sitting opposite me in the car, part of me is debating begging him to let me spend some days at my own home and the other is considering leaving in the middle of the night, either way I won’t be spending the night in his house.I sigh for the sixteenth time in a row, and Clark throws an annoyed glance at me, “the way you keep sighing people will think you won’t be living in a state of the arts home”I roll my eyes, “I was already doing that at my brothers place, where I had my comfort” I say, pointedly. “And besides I didn’t realize getting married, also meant that I had to live with you. There are many couples who live separately nowadays”He nods, “that’s great for them but it’s not for us. When I took my vows I meant every word of them, meaning you’re my responsibility and I intend on us living together till we die”I roll my eyes once more, “thank you Mr Clark but I don’t need anyone to be responsible for me, I’m a grown woman” I say wi
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 07
“Lai kindly ask one of the home keepers to prepare a room for your father and I, it’s been a while since we last came over” I hear a voice that sounds strangely like my mother’s say.I immediately head downstairs, almost falling down the stairs as I do. Walking briskly to the lounge room, I find my mom seated on the sofa as she converses with my brother.“You need to start preparing to take over the company” she says. Lai eyes widen in shock, not at the words that she just said but at my presence in his house.Mom notices immediately and turns to see what his attention is fixed on, “what are you doing here?” She asks, standing to her feet.“Hi mom” I smile sheepishly. “Don’t tell me you’ve gotten rid of your husband in just less than eight hours” she says, ignoring my greetings.“She couldn’t get rid of me even if she tried” Clark says, walking to my side. I roll my eyes, “I wish I could” I mutter under my breath, out of my mothers earshot but loud enough for Clark to hear.He chuckle
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 08
“Does this dress look fine?” I ask Clark, my eyes fixed on the mirror as I speak. I intend to make an excellent impression on his parents, as we will be visiting them for the first time as a couple.He absent-mindedly nods, “Clark” I say, snapping my fingers in his face. “Yeah?” He says startled, “the dress” I say, pointing at the light pink dress I’m wearing.He nods, “oh yes, apologies. The dress is beautiful and even if it isn’t my parents already love you” he says with a shrug. I roll my eyes, “well is that a yes the gown looks pretty or a no, you need to change out of the dress?” I ask impatiently.“It’s a yes, the gown looks pretty” he says, a pointed look on his face. “Thanks, in that case I’m ready to go” I say, grabbing my bag from the bed.The trip to Clark’s parent family home a day before the annual general meeting is quite important to Clark. He wanted me to officially meet his parents and besides, it’d be awkward if the second time I’d be meeting my in-laws was at the co
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 09
I stare at the light blue official gown I’m wearing, I really want to look as official as I can. Today is the annual general meeting at Clark’s company.I keep saying it’s the day where we dethrone Uncle Fernard but Clark prefers the term annual general meeting. Whichever it is, today is the day Clark gets possession of the company which is the real reason why I’m currently in a marriage of convenience with him.And on the bright side, the sooner he claims his rightful position, the sooner I can expand my business. Taking one last look at my outfit, I decide this is the way to go, I look beautiful but also authoritative enough to command respect.Grabbing my keys from the vanity, I head downstairs to the car park stopping at the kitchen to give instructions to the chef to prepare some food to celebrate Clark’s success.The drive to the company only takes about ten minutes, apparently this is no coincidence. My husband is such a workaholic that he ensured that he purchased a home close
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 10
The clock strikes at 1:50pm, reminding me that the meeting is set to hold for 2pm. Without wasting time I carefully put my things away, leaving them in the lounge room as I make my way to Clark’s Office.On my way to the office I bump into Clark, who is closely followed by Lai, who’s busy arranging some documents that I assume are relevant to the meeting we are about to have.“I was just coming to get you” Clark says, with a half smile. I nod, “same, let’s head to the meeting floor so that we can get good seats” I joke.Clark’s eyes widen and I assume that he’s about to correct me when his mouth opens and closes immediately as he understands the joke, “you’re just joking about the seats” he says, as we enter the private elevator.“Never been in here” I say, referring to the private elevator, “and yes I’m just joking. I know we have assigned seats and we can’t sit anywhere we like” I smile.“Are you nervous?” I whisper to Clark as we walk through the hallway towards the meeting room. H
Pinakabagong kabanata
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 100
“Where are you heading to?” Clark asks, a confused look on his face as he rises to his feet, his brow furrowing slightly. “To the office,” I state, my tone laced with surprise at his question. It’s almost as if he can’t believe I’d choose to dive straight into the investigation on a day like today.“Today?” He asks, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Yeah, the sooner I get started with the investigation and communication approval, the sooner the lies made by Alice can be revealed.” I can feel the urgency in my words, the determination to clear the air and gather sufficient and compelling evidence.He nods, a spark of understanding igniting in his eyes. “Alright, I’ll come with you. Thank you so much for your time and dedication,” he says, his voice steady and sincere as he exchanges handshakes with both Becky and Elvis.“Yeah, thank you. I’ll contact you as soon as I can,” I say, exchanging firm handshakes with Elvis. Then, I turn to Becky, pulling her into a warm goodbye hug, “Take ca
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“And what is the conversation with the HR team meant to achieve?” I ask, slightly leaning in as I wait for Becky’s response. Her face scrunches up a bit, which is a very common trait that she shows when she is thinking, and I can’t help but find it endearing. “Speaking with the HR unit helped us understand the hiring process and if there was any bias involved,” she explains, her tone growing more animated as she continues. “This could help us prove to the court that Alice brought Rita into the firm for ill intentions. If we can show that there was favouritism or a lack of proper procedure in Rita’s hiring, it’ll cast doubt on her credibility. We need to establish that her testimony is tainted by her connection to Alice, which means her words can’t be trusted by the court since she’s not independent from any of the parties involved in the case.”I nod, absorbing her words, feeling the gears in my mind turning. “So, if we can uncover any discrepancies in the hiring process, it not onl
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“Good afternoon, Mr. Clark,” Elvis says, his voice warm and inviting as he stretches out his hand for a handshake.“Good afternoon, Elvis,” Clark responds, meeting his grip with a firm yet friendly shake, the corners of his mouth lifting into a light smile that hints at a shared camaraderie. “And it’s just Clark,” he adds, his tone casual and approachable.Elvis nods appreciatively, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Apologies, afternoon Mrs..” he begins, but before he can finish, I interject with a playful smile, “Afternoon, Elvis!” “It’s just Lara,” I continue, teasingly cutting him off. “What’s up with him today? He never calls me Mrs.” I chuckle, shaking my head in mock disbelief as I turn to face Becky. “Good afternoon!” I exclaim, pulling her into a tight embrace. She shrugs lightly as I finally release her from my embrace. “How are you doing?” I ask, gesturing for us to settle onto the plush sofa. She smiles, her expression brightening the room. “Quite fulfilled,” she
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“Didn’t you notice that there were no media personnel in the room?” Clark asks, his smile widening. I shake my head, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. “I didn’t take notice since I came in at the last minute. I know that most court cases are open to the public, so I just sort of assumed that they were there,” I state, my voice trailing off as I glance around the room.He shakes his head, “well, they weren’t. I personally requested the court to make the case a private trial, with only the necessary attendees being allowed to view the proceedings.” “Really? And when did you do this?” I ask, intrigued by the proactiveness of the man before me. There’s something admirable about his initiative, and it makes me curious about his deeper feelings for me. “Two weeks before the court case,” he replies, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that suggests he’s not merely following protocol but doing this for a deeper reason. “It takes a week to apply and process the documents submitted
Married to My Brother’s Best friend 96
Clark walks towards me, his presence radiating warmth as he wraps me in his embrace, pulling me close as he slides his arms around my waist. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his voice laced with concern, turning his face just enough to catch a glimpse of mine, searching for the truth behind my silence.I shake my head gently, feeling the weight of my thoughts as I release myself from his comforting hold. I turn to face him fully, wanting him to see the turmoil swirling in my mind. “Nothing, really. I’m just thinking about the court case hearing from last week Monday,” I say, letting out a heavy sigh that seems to carry all the tension I’ve been holding inside. “I’m sorry,” I say, frowning deeply, my face a canvas of worry as I replay the events in my mind. The way Alice and her lawyer, Rick, manipulated the entire situation feels like a bitter pill to swallow. “I can’t believe they would twist the entire story to their advantage like that,” I continue, my voice tinged with frustration. “To m
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“Describe your workplace?” Rick asks, leaning forward with false curiosity. “My workplace is a calm yet bustling environment,” Rita replies, pausing as if carefully considering her next words before she continues to speak.“There’s always a whirlwind of tasks to tackle, but what truly sets it apart is Mrs. Lara. She has this incredible knack for balancing the workload for everyone. She ensures that we have designated days off to recharge, organises team bonding activities that really bring us closer together, and even surprises us with generous bonuses that make all the hard work feel worthwhile”.He nods, a glint of curiosity in his eyes, “Last question, what was the request Mrs. Lara made of you concerning Miss Alice?” he asks, his gaze piercing. “Mrs. Lara had asked me to look for a new apartment for Miss Alice,” she replies, her tone deceptively calm, but I can sense the tension beneath her words.“Do you have proof?” he inquires. I frown, listening intently as the lies spill out
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Each step toward the stand feels like a journey through quicksand, my heart racing as I approach the place where I must lay bare my truth. The stand looms ahead, a symbol of both vulnerability and strength, and as I finally take my position, I remind myself that this is my moment to speak out, to reclaim my story amidst the swirling chaos of accusations.“Good day, Mrs. Lara Rique,” Rick says, turning to face me. I nod, taking a few seconds to steady my nerves, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on me. “Good day, Mr. Rick,” I reply, my voice steady, carefully masking the turmoil of nerves swirling inside me like a storm.“I’d like to ask a few questions. I only require a yes or no response. Do you understand, Mrs. Lara?” he asks, his tone clipped and formal. I nod, but a flicker of annoyance ignites within me at the demeaning way he addresses me. “Yes, I do,” I reply, my voice firm, even as I feel a rush of emotions battling within. He nods, his expression unreadable. “Gr
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Rick nods thoughtfully, his brow furrowing slightly as he steps back, steepling his fingers. "And how was your stay in her home?" he asks, his voice smooth yet probing. I lean forward, my heart racing with anticipation, eager to catch the web of lies that I know will spill from her lips this time. I can almost see the gears turning in her mind as she concocts a story that I’m sure will be as elaborate as it is false. The corners of her mouth twitch, betraying the confidence she tries to project.“My stay in her house was wonderful in the beginning, and I was very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Rique for their generosity towards me,” she says, her voice softening as she hangs her head down, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her demeanour. “But…” she trails off, leaving the air thick with unspoken tension. “But what?” Rick asks, his tone sharp and inquisitive, pressing further.“Mr. Clark kept on making advances towards me,” she continues, her voice trembling slightly as she pretends to
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A look of intrigue colours my face as I wait, my heart racing, to hear what she has to say—nothing but lies, of course, but I can’t help but feel the tension in the room as she finally takes her seat at the stand.Rick, with his trademark eloquence, leans forward, his voice steady yet commanding, “Please tell the court your relationship with Mrs Lara Rique,” he asks.She nods, her expression shifting from composed to sober as she begins to speak. “I’m an employee of Mrs. Lara,” she states, her voice trembling slightly. “I’ve been working for her for quite a while now, and I’ve been nothing but loyal to her. You can ask any of the employees; they’ll tell you the same.” Her words come out in a rush, as if she’s trying to convince not just the court but herself as well. “I don’t understand why she’s trying to charge me to court now,” she continues, her voice cracking under the weight of her feigned distress. Suddenly, she bursts into tears, fake tears spilling down her cheeks like a we
