“Thank you for coming” I say, smiling at Clark as we head home. He nods, “you’re welcome, it was a successful event” he replies with a smile on his face.“Congratulations on your company’s new position” he says, briefly turning to face me. “Thanks” I reply tiredly as I stifle a yawn. “You’ve had a long day” he states, “yeah” I mutter, my body feeling like it’s slowly shutting down as I struggle to keep my eyes open.“Why don’t you rest on me” he says, moving closer to me, “are you sure?” I ask, covering my mouth as I yawn. He nods, “it’s just till we get home” he replies.“Thanks” I reply, moving closer to him, before resting my head on his shoulder to make myself comfortable.“Lara” Clark says, gently tapping me, “yeah” I mumble, my eyes still closed as I snuggle against him. He sighs, pulling me to a sitting position, “we are home Lara, we have to get down” he says, keeping me in an upright position.“Alright” I reply, freeing myself from his grasp before grabbing my bag from the se
In a brief amount of time, Clark and I are seated in a private jet on our way to Amalfi Coast located in Italy. “Would you like us to have seperate rooms?” Clark asks, his eyes fixed on his phone screen before turning his attention to me.“Would you?” I ask, inwardly trying my best to not blush. He smiles, shaking his head before speaking, “In all honesty I’d like us to share the same room, but most importantly, I want you to be comfortable”I smile, “I’m more comfortable sharing a room with you” I reply truthfully, “it takes me a while to get used to new places”. He smiles, “then I’m glad you have me”.“All done, I’ve reserved the penthouse at the Caruso for the next two weeks” he says, with a smile as he drops his phone on the table.“Clark?” I say a bit shyly as I look up at him, “yes Lara?” He asks his attention on me. “Do you mind if I come over?” I ask, wanting to enjoy every moment with him for the two weeks we are here, unsure of how things might be when we return to Yula.“Of
“So where are we going today?” I ask, putting my hair into a bun, before sitting on the bed. “I’m thinking of us visiting Positano,” Clark says, handing me his phone to show me pictures.“This looks nice?” I say, scrolling through the pictures, “it has exquisite beaches and it’s known for its mild Mediterranean climate and a proximity to luxury” he says.“Are we going to swim?” I ask, handing him his phone. He smiles, “not necessarily but we can if you want to” he says. I shake my head, “not sure yet, but let’s pack our swimming suits just in case we end up wanting to” I advise.“Let’s go get breakfast” Clark says, offering me his hand as he pulls me off the bed. “Where are you thinking of?” I ask, feeling silly that I keep shifting the responsibility of selecting places to him.“There’s a bakery around the corner, so I’m thinking we'll get something to eat before heading to Positano” he says, slipping an arm around my waist as we step into the elevator.“That sounds like a good idea
“Thank you for today” I say, settling into bed as I turn to face Clark who’s already laying in bed. He smiles, “no need to thank me, I had as much fun as you did today. Maybe even more” he chuckles.I smile, “I highly doubt that, but I’ll stop thanking you for now” I chuckle. “Goodnight Clark” I say, before switching off my bedside light.A few seconds pass by in silence, before Clark's voice fills the room. “Lara?”, “yeah?” I say, in a questioning manner as I switch the light back on.“I’m sorry about my silence when you spoke about wanting to travel with your children in the future,” he says. I smile, feeling confident as I reach out to touch his hair, “it’s fine, you’re not yet comfortable with the idea” I say, running my hands through his hair.“Are you fine with that?” He asks, moving closer to me. “Of course, I’m learning to accept the fact that you might not want a kid. And most importantly I don’t want to force a child on you”.“But you still want kids right?” He asks. I nod,
We arrived back from the trip which felt more like a little honeymoon feeling fresh and more in sync with each other. Clark has moved back into the room and we have fallen into a daily routine, which we very much adore.“Good morning babe,” Clark says, wrapping his arms around my waist, my back laid against his chest. “Good morning” I say, turning to give him a quick kiss before backing him.“You’re going out?” He asks, in a questioning manner as he watches me dress. “Yeah” I nod, “but we just got back” he whines, clinging to me.“No we didn’t” I say, “it’s been a week since we got back from our vacation” I state, placing a kiss on his cheek before walking past him to check myself out in the mirror.“So where are you going?” He asks, settling on the edge of the bed. “To Lai’s place” I say, carefully watching him from his reflection in the mirror, “and I’m not just going alone, you’re coming too” I say, grabbing a pair of flats before joining him on the bed.“I am?” He asks, “yeah” I r
“You’ll see yourself, I can’t seem to put into words” she sighs dramatically, walking faster than ever as I struggle to meet up with her. “Was Belle’s room so far” I ask, trying to remember the last time I had been upstairs.“We had to move her to the upper room, she was in need of air” she says, practically running now. “The last floor” I say, stopping abruptly as I struggle to catch my breath now.“How many more floors?” I ask in disbelief, struggling to accept what I already know. “Just one more floor” she states, not bothering to stop as she walks ahead of me.“Is that supposed to be good for her?” I ask, turning to face Clark before resuming my journey. He shrugs, “never had to take care of a pregnant woman”.“The real question here is why your brother has so many floors in his house?” He asks, his breathing slowing growing rapid. I shake my head, “it was a gift from my parents, they were in love with historical mansions so they got an architect to build a modern replica” I say,
“Can I talk to you Lara” Alice says, hanging back at the door. Weird! Alice has never been one to distance herself from me.“Of course, please come in” I say, glancing at the clock hanging right above the door. “Are you busy, it can wait” she says, noticing my gaze on the wall clock.I shake my head, “my meeting is in three hours time, we have sufficient time to talk” I say, leading her to the sofa. “So what’s the matter Alice? I’ve noticed that you’ve pretty down this week. Is there something you’re unhappy with at work?” I ask, concerned about her well being.“No, I’m very happy with my work” she replies, shaking her head. My eyes travel to her hands as she fidgets as she struggles to continue speaking, “you can trust me” I say softly, reaching out to grab her hand.She nods, “my issue is not work related, can I still open up to you?” She asks, her eyes searching mine. I nod, “of course, I’m here for you” I say, gently squeezing her hand as I wait for her to speak. “It’s Evan” she
“Here’s your room” I say to Alice, pointing towards a freshly cleaned guest room. “If you need anything just let the home managers know, they’ll be willing to assist you” I say.“Thank you so much for this act” she smiles, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Stop crying, everything will be fine” I say, gently squeezing her hands, “you’re safe now”.“I know, I’m just so grateful” she says, pulling out a handkerchief before carefully dabbing her eyes. “Alright, I’ve got to go discuss things with my husband but if you need me, I’m just a phone call away” I say, with a soft smile on my face before exiting the room and heading upstairs.“Clark?” I call out, switching on the bedroom lights, “Clark” I call out once more, gently knocking on the bathroom door before pushing it open. “I guess he’s not here” I mutter, making my way downstairs in search of Clark.I lightly knock on the door to his office, patient waiting for an audible response before letting myself in. “Come in” his voice, loud and
Annie nods, her expression serious. “I understand; this is a very serious matter. What would you like me to do?” she asks, her tone shifting to one of readiness and support. I can sense her commitment to addressing this issue, and it gives me a moment of reassurance amidst the issues at hand.I nod, my expression serious as I meet her gaze. “It is a serious issue, and it’s bigger than you imagine. I’d like you to come with me to answer some questions and also help identify your subordinate who was directly involved in the hiring process of Rita. It’s crucial that I speak with her, too, to get a clearer picture of what went wrong.” She nods, a look of resolve crossing her face. “Please give me a minute,” she states, her voice steady, before exiting the room. I take a moment to gather my thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on my mind. In a few moments, the door swings open, and she returns, this time not alone but with a younger girl by her side. “This is Kelly,”
“Are you willing to testify at court?” I ask, my voice steady and devoid of any emotion. Rita’s response is immediate, her head shaking slowly, almost as if she’s trying to physically reject the weight of my question. “I’m sorry, Lara, but I can’t,” she states, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her words. “I can’t betray my cousin like that.” Her eyes dart away, avoiding my gaze as if the very act of looking at me might shatter the fragile barrier she’s built around her loyalty. I nod, a hint of irony creeping into my voice. “You already betrayed her by telling me the truth in relation to this matter, but don’t worry, I won’t force you to do what you don’t want to do.” I pause for a moment, letting my words sink in, watching as her expression shifts, a mixture of guilt and defiance flickering across her face. “It’s funny, isn’t it? You were so comfortable lying against me in the court of law, and now you’re hesitant to say the truth.” I can see her jaw tighten at my
Rita opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, my voice firm and unyielding. “Remember that the system will log the exact time you arrived each day by tracking when you swiped your access card. So think twice before you try to lie or come up with some flimsy excuse,” I say, letting my tone carry the weight of authority. I lean in slightly, my gaze piercing through her defences, waiting for her to reconsider her next words. The silence stretches as she weighs her options, knowing full well that I’m not just making empty threats.She hangs her head, feeling defeated, “Yes, Lara. I’ve been coming into work late every day for the past week. I’m sorry,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper as she raises her head to meet my gaze. I nod slowly, my expression unwavering. “I need a tangible reason for why you’ve been strolling into the office late every afternoon,” I say, my voice steady and devoid of any emotion.“If you can’t provide a valid explanation, your pay will be docked,
As I step out of the office, my attention is immediately drawn to Rita, who is just settling into her desk. "Good afternoon," I say, offering a tight smile that barely masks my curiosity. I gently knock on the doorframe to catch her attention, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet of the afternoon.Rita looks up, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, good afternoon, Lara! You’re here!" she exclaims, her voice filled with shock as she rises to her feet.I nod, a smirk dancing on my lips. “I work here, remember?” I say, letting a subtle hint of sarcasm slip into my tone. She looks up at me, her cheeks flushing slightly as she nods, “Of course, sorry ma’am,” her voice dropping as she glances down.That action instantly transports me back to memories of Alice, who would always adopt that same piteous look whenever she was called out for something. A wave of annoyance washes over me as I watch Rita mimic that behaviour. “Anyway,” I say, shifting my gaze away from her and scanning her clut
“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
“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
“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
“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
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