93Exhilarated and thrilled, Claire boastfully raised her invisible collars, "Soon, sir. And you will be the first one to know." Then she threw her head back, bursting in a fit of laughter. Her father joined her. Later on Claire spent long dedicated hours in her father's company as he gave her some life-changing advices. She noted them and accepted references he made of experienced people, who he thought could give her some insightful knowledge on how to start her company. After all, it's not a cake walk to begin a new company and succeed with it too. One needs advice and stories of success and perseverance to strengthen their spirits. The road to success is never straight. It is full of obstacles and bumps one has to avoid and tackle to reach the destination. For the upcoming five days, she was occupied in conducting and attending meetings with people Dominic referred to. She was utterly indebted to him provided that through his reference she was able to build connections and re
94The lines of exhaustion and dark circles under their eyes spoke of their struggles in their previous working environment. Jasmine Burlow, who worked for a successful company, had a fever when she came to attend the meeting that day in the coffee shop. She had even cried because her old company was oppressing her with loaded work. Since Claire promised to give her a peaceful work culture as their team was going to be of limited number of professionals, with no impending work pressure, Jasmine caught the opportunity with her teeth and was the first one to come to office when the location was shared on their chatting group. "If you are in with a partnership with TNR company, raise your hands."Kent opted to vote by hand and no one voted in favor of working with TNR except for him. "You guys are ridiculously crazy!" He let out an indignant sigh and departed. The team watched him with shock as he almost slammed the door. The silence that followed left Jasmine with a ghostly white fa
95"Do you remember Professor Feanis who taught us Engineering Material?" Kent's face was aglow with nostalgia as he sipped from the glass of his wine. "That professor with a black birthmark on his left cheek? Who will forget him. He taught less and conducted tests more." Claire said with flickering lashes as she expressed her distaste over remembering him. She rolled some noodles around the fork and lifted it to her mouth. Then she gave an amused tilt to her eyebrows and said with a grin, "But you were his favorite! In fact, you were every professor's favorite. Mr. Topper!" Kent responded to her with a small laugh while Claire rolled her eyes. She raised another bite of Scallion oil noodles and moaned. The food was good and as they relieved old college memories, it tasted even better. They had crashed into a traditional Chinese restaurant where the seating arrangement was made on the cushioned floor with a circular table between them. The walls were painted soft green, and mounted
96Claire closed her eyes in reflex as his hand stretched out. The memory of that day in hospital when he had slapped her consumed her being. She thought he was going to do the same so to prepare herself for the following pain, she stiffened her body and waited for it. Much to her shock, his smothering fingers banded around her elbow and peeled her off Kent's body. His roughness snapped her eyelids apart. Her gaze fell on his face and the stony look left her muscles twitching. Claire couldn't protest him because of her shock as he pulled her behind his back and gripped the front of Kent's shirt. Yanking him near his face, Hunter growled. "Keep your distance from her. Next time I see you within a five-metres radius of her, you will be a charred meat." He rumbled and let go.The moment was thick with tension and both Claire and Kent were in a state of daze. They were still trying to compose from the shock of Hunter's unexpected arrival, talk less of responding to his dark threats.The
97They were so lost in each other's company that they forgot the surroundings existed. Kent existed. They failed to see him approaching them and even his thudding footsteps went unheard. It was when he tugged Claire at his side by her arm did then Hunter was shaken out of the cobweb of his trance. He didn't get a chance to rumble in protest as Kent arched his chin up, grazed him with a challenging stare and mocked, "Last time I checked you both were controversially separated. And if my memory is not weak then it was because of a home wrecker lover of yours, isn't it?" "So, Mister, don't you dare do that in my presence again." Kent gave a light shake to his head as he bore his cold eyes into Hunter's murderous ones. He protectively reached a hand at his back to touch Claire's hand. "Leave Claire alone. Or you will curse your stars for getting a beating from a man with a lower status."Claire's lower jaw went slack in a moment of disbelief. Kent was really calling for the grim reaper
98There was blood that washed down with rainwater, cleaning his hand like it was never smeared with red before. Meanwhile Claire and Kent have returned their attention to him. They saw him touch a hand to his back and bring back a bloody palm. The need to hold him plowed within her. Claire attempted not to lose her patience as she observed his face turning whiter and whiter while he gritted his teeth to contain the affliction. She almost took a step forward when a certain name echoed in her mind. Zara. Just four letters. Such a cute name. But the person who was named it, appeared smiling foxily in her mind. "Hunter will get rid of you soon! Save yourself the humiliation and leave us alone." Zara had sniggered at her face once, she was super confident that Hunter would abandon Claire for her. He did it. Not just that, he also insulted all the time she assumed he was being honest with her. Tears formed in her eyes. However, it wasn't detectable whether she was crying or it was the
99Claire sat like a corpse herself as Kent drove in silence. He has been studying her features since the minute they left Hunter outside the restaurant. Claire was trembling, and though he blamed it on the heavy rain for drenching her, he knew what the real deal was. She never sat still for a long while in one position. Her fingers bit and banded around her arms, her feet were restlessly tapping as if she was unable to suppress feelings that she should otherwise let freely flow through her. Her Complexion grew waxen and salty torrent perpetually streamed down her face like she was regretting something she did or said. "Claire, are you okay?" Kent decided against his will and asked her. "Just take me home quicker." She assured him with her dipping head as she wiped her tears. The look of hurt on Hunter's face was flashing in her mind endlessly. She didn't like it one bit. But she did it to punish him. If not with actions, she could hurt him with words, couldn't she? It was nothin
100Using her trembling fingers, she typed. Claire: He is shot on his back. Take him to a hospital soon, Reggie. She was crying and sobbing simultaneously by the time she finished. Claire touched a hand to her heart and was dazed, listening to the beating of her heart. It was a mess. Her chest was shaking and her breathing was ragged. Just then Reggie called her. Since her fingers were twitching and typing was proving to be a difficult task, she picked the call even if she knew she would sound pathetic on the phone call. She put the phone to her ear and heard Reggie's panic-stricken voice, "Sir is shot? How? And when? He seemed completely fine to me when I visited him in his cabin ten minutes ago." "Are you saying that I am lying?" Claire's voice was heavy and shaky, but her undertone was packed with fury. "Obviously not, madam. But I can assure you he is okay. He's attending an online meeting now." A gasp shot out of Claire's mouth. More tears left her eyes as she knew what he
257Claire sat heaving angrily beside Hunter. Her hands were folded under her breasts and she glared out without caring to fasten the seat belt. Hunter noticed it and said, "Claire, buckle up your seat belt."He was ignored brutally. He sighed as he tried again. This time Claire snapped her head towards him like a Python warning humans to leave it alone if they didn't want a painful bite."Fine, I'll do it for you."Hunter unclasped his own seat belt to come and help her. However, she thrusted a hand at his shoulder to keep him away."Touch me and you'll be dead meat!""I won't, now do it. We don't have time to waste, Claire. I told you I have a meeting!" He eyed the belt."It's none of my concern whether you have a meeting or not. I didn't ask you to drop me home. Now bear with it.""Claire..." Hunter sighed as he peered at her with a ‘what am I going to with you’ yet loving gaze. Claire fumed and looked out of the window. She wouldn't be acting this way if it wasn't for what she h
256“No thanks, sheriff. Just take my statement and I'll get going.” Claire spoke, but the sheriff insisted she take the almonds first. He was acting weird. He was being extraordinarily friendly and dusted the chair before she sat down too. She heaved because she knew the root cause. Although she was the daughter of a well-respected man in the country, she was being well-treated because of her connection with Hunter.Through her the Sheriff wanted to impress Hunter. Quelling down her frustration, she glared at Alexa... The culprit behind all this. Alexa shrugged with an apologetic look as she tried to speak with the sheriff. "Sir, we were at Paragon Mall shopping... And our friend was just attacked in the parking lot. Someone put a knife to her throat."Yara stood behind Claire, holding her shoulders. She nodded her head to confirm Alexa was telling the truth before she removed Claire's hair out of her shoulder and neck. "See here. It's not big but it could have been dangerous."
255 "What do I want?" The man chuckled behind the mask. He trailed the tip of the knife on Claire's jaw and pierced the tip back on the pulse at her throat. She gasped and shivered as the man laughed. "It's not about what I want— it's about what they want... And they want to see her bleed." Claire gulped, listening to the man carefully. She was in tears, her nerves were frayed, but she could infer someone had sent the man to scare her. Yes, it was supposed to scare her because the man had enough time to kill her but he hadn't.He was taking his time to frighten the girls. His hold on the knife didn't indicate that he meant to slit her throat. It was a facade. "Who is it? Who wants my blood?" Claire asked and the man was taken aback. "I was warned about that mouth of yours!" He sniggered. "They weren't wrong." "Who is it? Is it... Zara?" Claire guessed and the man froze. He stared at her, and those eyes looked familiar. She was thinking where she saw them when the man shook her
254Two days later,"Do you really think this suits me? I... Don't really like the... Color! It looks dull on me." Her voice wavered with doubt as she peered at herself in the mirror."You are looking like a glass of hot chocolate! Trust me, every other woman at the party is going to be jealous of you, Claire. Just choose this dress!" Yara exclaimed with glimmering eyes. The girls have come to a mall to buy dresses for themselves for an informal party organized by Prince Rashid. Although the official gathering to introduce projects was postponed to the end of this month, he expressed his desire to meet and greet everyone in person to know everyone better before getting down to the real business. He was being charitable too given he sent out gift cards and opportunities to women to shop from famous brands for the party. The men were sent tailored suits to choose from, and the party was held at the biggest banquet hall in Bloomcrest— White Pearl. It was not usually available for book
253Rashid stood beside his wife as he smiled at Hunter. A hand going around Kareena, he kissed her hair and admired his daughter giggling in his friend's arms. While Hunter was fidgeting with her, she seemed happy. "Her name is Nour, the light of our eyes." Rashid said. Hunter's body was alight with emotions that brought tears to his eyes. A baby... He was holding a baby! The feeling of having a bundle of joy in arms, at first, brought sadness and a reminder of the baby he and Claire lost. Wouldn't he have been this big— in Claire's belly? As he looked at Nour, the feelings in his heart were replaced with happiness and warmth. He forgot about his grief and hesitantly lifted a finger to caress her chubby cheek. "Hey, baby." Hunter whispered and Nour gave out a squeal of joy at him. "She's only that happy around her father, Hunter. She cries in other men's arms. But it looks like she likes you." Kareena stated as she came closer to touch the head of her daughter. The minute she
252That look wasn't made up. She was as shocked as Kent was."Don't tell me you didn't know?" Claire responded with a nod. "Well, I thought you knew about it. All of us know that he's friends with your ex-husband since we agreed to work for you."Claire was at a loss for words. She blankly stared at the screen, and on it, she could actually see Hunter winking at her instead of Kent. She also saw him wiggling his eyebrows at her and saying: You didn't expect that, did you? But baby, your man is a big shot.After shaking off that image, she blinked her lashes. Kent saw it and chuckled. "Don't worry. I've got your back. I'll be right by your side at all times!"They hung up soon after that. She put the laptop away and stretched on the recliner, staring up at the ceiling. It was still unbelievable for her. "How didn't I see it coming? I wouldn’t be surprised if Hunter got his Arab friend to put up a facade to help him." Claire's heart slithered. "But... Hunter doesn't know I used to
251“Because I know, once we land, you will torture me to death but you won't show me your face. So..." He breathed audibly, making her heart stutter."So?""So... soaking in the sight of you while I can."Claire wanted to scoff at him for sounding so cheesy. But she couldn't. His gaze was intense and the veins around his neck distracted her.Had they not been entangled in personal issues so deeply, she would have thrown her arms around his neck and pulled him to kiss her."Just go and sit!" Claire said instead as she averted her gaze.The curtains were drawn away from the window, revealing a paradisical view of the sun's rays spreading out into the clouds. The sky was painted with hues of morning and Claire was in awe.She put a hand on the window and stared out, completely taken aback.Although this wasn't the first time she was seeing a sunrise, this was definitely the first time she was seeing it while being amidst the clouds.... It was ethereal."This is how the rays of your smil
250The time in the plane was quiet and pressing down on Claire. She felt like an idiot. She went with Hunter like he had a right to take her out of the old Murphy Mansion. The feeling in itself was aggravating. She kept wondering why she gave Hunter the right to order her around! They weren't married. He had no right to take her back to Bloomcrest in his private jet! Traveling with him made her feel like she was still his wife when she was not.Claire avoided his attempts to talk to her. She refused to look at him when they took off. Hunter didn't give up, though. He persistently whispered apologies, assurances, promises in her ear. He even tried to hold her hand which she slapped away.When they were in the air and free to unfasten the seat belt, Claire couldn't be any more grateful. She quickly peeled out of the seat from next to Hunter and dashed to the loo.Her face was hot and red. The glistening tears she noticed in her eyes in the reflection mocked her."What am I doing? The
249"You pathetic orthodox woman! Your mouth is a trash bin. You spew rubbish every time you open your filthy mouth. Cole is not a toddler and he sure as hell is doing better in his life compared to you.""You.... How dare you talk to me like that?" Tia clutched Penny's front of the shirt."I dare to talk to you like that because you dared to insult my boyfriend. He's the best man to walk on earth— unlike you, an abhorrent old hag who knows nothing better than to interfere in his grown up son's life." Penny howled before thrusting Tia's hand away.It took everything in her not to push her back, after all she was still her mother's age. But that didn't stop her from verbally lashing her."Mothers like you are the reason why children want to try the most extreme things in life like drugs and unprotected séx. They feel burdened under your control