My Husband Is A Stranger

Chapter Five - Early

Clara didn’t want to go home even if her aunt told her that she has to because their meeting will be at 5 PM. She still can’t believe that she has a job now.

She was supposed to be happy, that was her long-time dream ever since she finished studying because she wanted to make her parents proud, but something inside of her kept bugging her mind saying that it was wrong.

Clara didn’t feel accomplished, she’s the type of girl who doesn’t want everything to be handed over to her plate. She wanted something that she worked hard for.

Having the job her aunt gave her feels off, she doesn’t feel happy at all. She blew some air out of her mouth.

She’s already on the ride and her aunt called for her, the butler and driver immediately noticed that she was so troubled ever since they fetched her from the company.

“Ma’am pardon me for asking, but is there something wrong?” the butler dared to ask, they didn’t know her fully yet but all of them developed a soft spot for her kindness.

Clara shifted her gaze to them as she gave them a small smile, “I got the job,” she informed, so their eyes widened.

“Oh that’s good news ma’am, why do you sound upset?” the driver then asked, so she just sighed before leaning on the tinted windows of the car.

“My aunt just gave it to me, I didn’t have any interviews to prove that I was suited for that job,” she mumbled, “I-I don’t think I could accept something like that,” she sighed once more.

The butler and driver stared at each other before smiling, they thought their madame’s step-niece was different from the rest of the girls they met that surrounds their madame’s circle.

“I’m pretty sure even with an interview, you would get the job ma’am, I believe that you’re an exceptional woman,” the butler bowed his head for Clara to witness his sincerity.

“I agree with him ma’am, plus, Madame Serene was always like that, I think she also thought that she did something nice for you for giving that job,” the driver can’t believe he’s trying to defend her madame to her niece. 

When all she did was be ruthless to them without anyone looking, Serene was like that to all of the workers under her.

Clara giggled at what they said, “Shocks you two, stop trying to make me blush,” the butler and driver just smiled as they continued listening to what Clara’s been telling them.

After Clara was dropped off in front of the manor of her aunt, several women went out of the front door in decent clothing and greeted her with a smile.

“Are you perhaps Ms. Clara Crayford Crest?” one of the ladies asked, so Clara slightly nodded her head.

She didn’t know these people, but how come they know her name? “Y-Yes, that’s me,” Clara gave them a polite smile, there’s this itch inside of her that wants to ask why they knew their name, so those ladies bowed at her.

“This way ma’am, your aunt ordered us to make you look decent for dinner later on,” they informed, so Clara's mouth formed into a circle.

These pretty ladies are probably the make-up artists and designers her aunt was talking about that’s waiting for her at home, “Oh I see, okay then,” Clara followed them inside.

A lot of maids greeted her, so she just greeted them back while still following those ladies right beside her.

One of them looked at Clara because they’re wondering why she’s greeting everyone. She's very odd compared to her aunt.

After they arrived at her room, Clara was surprised to see that it was filled with many elegant dresses and makeup that she’s not familiar with. ‘All of this in one dinner?’ She thought.

Maybe her aunt was really sensitive about her first task. She felt pressured for a moment as one of the ladies guided her inside the bath.

Clara stood idly near the bathtub that was filled with milk and petals of red roses, she’s waiting for the lady to get out.

“Um, are you going to use the bathroom too?” Clara politely asked, so the lady just furrowed her eyebrows at her.

“No ma’am, I'm here to help you clean yourself,” Clara’s eyes widened, she was bewildered at what she heard from her.

“W-What? I’m sorry but I heard you said you’ll help me?” she asked again just to be sure, so the lady nodded at her.

“Yes, I’ll assist you, ma’am, it was an order from your aunt,” she informed her. Clara knows that she’s not a freaking disabled person or a princess that’s to be assisted inside of the bathroom. She thought it was weird since she’s already a young adult.

“I-I’m pretty sure I can handle myself alone,” she nervously laughed, afraid that she might think she’s taking this lady’s job.

The lady was confused for a moment before nodding at her, “Alright, as you wish ma’am,” she then bowed and left Clara alone inside the bathroom.

Clara sighed in relief before stripping off her clothes. She made sure first that the door was locked before she jumped on the milk bath.

She thought that it’s weird to have gestures like this when it’s just her first task, are these really necessary when you’re wealthy? Clara thought, but she just focused on fixing herself before stepping out of the bath.

After she got out, her hair was being dried with a hairdryer while some of the ladies were fixing her face and clothes that they told her she should wear.

“I’ll make your curls more visible on the tips ma’am,” the other one informed, so she had no other choice but to nod.

Clara shifted her gaze at the time and it’s almost 3:30 PM, she wanted to leave at 4:00. Secretaries are always an hour earlier than their bosses and she wanted to make a good first impression.

It didn’t take the makeup artist and the designer to fix her up because she’s already beautiful enough as it is, they helped her wear the black buttoned-down fitted dress that’s puffed on sleeves, and its length is almost above her knee.

The elegant dress hugged all of her curves and revealed her cleavage that Clara doesn’t want to show off because she thought it’s inappropriate. But she was told that her aunt insisted on letting her wear that for tonight, so she has no other choice, but to abide.

“You’re done ma’am,” all of the ladies who fixed her smiled proudly as they accompanied her to the mirror to check her reflection.

She almost gasped after seeing her reflection, she looked extremely stunning as the dress made her skin lighter, the natural makeup she requested was perfectly paired with the red expensive lipstick that was plastered on her lips. Her hair was curled to perfection as the diamond accessories that she was wearing winked at the mirror.

“You look beautiful today ma’am, congratulations,” the designer smiled at Clara as she handed her the Chanel classic small flap bag that cost more than $7,000 to complete her look. 

Clara felt anxious about this dinner, she almost looks like she’s a walking million-dollar bill. She’s dressed like she’s going to a party and not to work. Though she felt touched being congratulated on the work that she got today. She felt giddy like she was proud of herself.

“T-Thank you, I have to go now,” Clara sincerely thanked the ladies that helped her get ready, she went out of her room to look for a ride.

“Are you not going to wait for madame Serene?” one of the ladies asked, so Clara politely shook her head.

“No, my aunt is my boss, we have to work professionally even if we’re relatives, so I’ll go there first myself as her secretary for the meeting,” Clara smiled confidently, so the ladies looked at each other like they’re confused.

Work? Meeting? Isn’t she going to be engaged tonight? That’s what Serene told them, so they have to make her presentable.

“She doesn’t have any idea what’s happening at that dinner?” one of them whispered while they’re following Clara from behind, the two ladies beside her just shrugged.

“She looks like she doesn’t have any idea,” one of them claimed, so they looked at Clara with pity from behind. They're confident she'll be taken aback by the news she'll hear soon enough once the dinner starts.

“You look stunning Ms. Clara,” a lot of praises were to be heard as she carefully descended downstairs, she felt embarrassed because everyone that was lined up around her was complimenting her.

“Congratulations Ms. Clara, we’re happy for you,” one of them mysteriously said, she was genuinely touched that they all greeted her like this.

“Gosh, thank you, everyone,” Clara blushed red as she approached the butler and driver that was waiting for her at the front door.

“You look, glamorous ma’am,” they sincerely said, so she smiled and that's probably reaching her ears right now.

“Thank you, shall we go to that dinner?” Clara invited, so both of them just nodded as they escorted her to the Ferrari Monza.

After she buckled herself with the seatbelt, the driver started stepping on the pedals to drive her to the fancy restaurant her aunt told her to go to.

Clara’s heart pounded against her chest because she was extremely nervous. She didn't understand why she felt like her hair was standing on end when she was only going to a dinner meeting.

“Are you nervous ma’am?” the butler worriedly asked, so she flinched before clutching to her chest. She never felt so nervous before aside from when she heard the news about her mom and dad’s accident.

“Unfortunately, I am,” she nervously chuckled while exhaling out a lungful of air, she shifted her gaze at her phone to check if her aunt was looking for her.

“It’s normal to feel that on the first day of the job, plus I heard you’re meeting a very special client tonight,” the butler informed, so she wondered for a moment.

“No wonder why I had to dress up like I was going to a party,” Clara stared at her dress, so the driver and butler just laughed.

“Get used to it ma’am, even if madame Serene is just going out gardening, she has to be dressed like she’s going to a fancy ball,” the driver butted in, so the butler agreed with him.

Is her aunt for real? She amusingly smiled at the thought that her aunt is wearing a very fancy dress out gardening, she must feel so uncomfortable.

“Sheez, I can’t imagine how comfortable my aunt is, it’s itchy wearing these kinds of dresses,” Clara complained, so she and her companions inside of the car continued talking until they arrived at the Fettucini Restaurant.

Clara’s eyes immediately widened after she witnessed her aunt was already there on the outside, smoking her cigarette, and probably waiting for someone to arrive with numerous guards on her sides.

“A-Aunty!” She panicked and immediately went out of the car without saying goodbye to the butler and driver. Clara was really surprised.

She took a glance at her wristwatch and noticed that she’s still an hour early, “Y-You're already here, good evening,” Clara nervously greeted her, but Serene just stared at her appearance before taking off her Bulgari Flora shades.

“You look perfect, dear,” Serene proudly greeted, the money she paid for those hairdressers and designers we’re worth the price.

Her niece looks presentable enough to attract her client for today. She wanted everything to be perfect before she’ll have her hands on the business she has been wanting to get. 

“I-I’m sorry aunty, I didn’t know that you’ll be here this early,” Clara apologized, she feels bad having her boss get there first before she does.

“Oh no worries dear, I purposely went early here because I know you would be, I was about to change my outfit, but decided not to,” Serene mysteriously smiled before offering her hands towards Clara.

“Let’s proceed inside and wait for our client, he’s a very important one, so we have to be cautious about him,” 

Clara’s aunt informed her of all the things that she has to do. Why would she pour him a glass of wine when she’s pretty sure that there are loads of waiters wanting to do that job for them?

She just shrugged and feasted her eyes at the interior design inside of the fancy restaurant. It was very classy and smelled like France was sent to build their business from the furniture around them.

“Wow, this place looks great aunty,” Clara complimented, still googling her eyes around the place. Serene just gave her a small smile before talking to the hostess at the restaurant to guide them towards their reserved table.

“Your guest has already arrived a while ago, Madame Serene, he’s waiting in your reserved tables,” Serene stopped for a moment at the information before smiling, she knew how interested that old geezer was to what she offered.

She felt giddy because she knew, sooner or later, she’ll have her hands on that business that she wanted for years.

“Oh no! Our client is early too, aunty, what should we do? It’s embarrassing,” Clara panicked, so her aunt just shook her head at her.

“Don’t fret, just smile and I’ll do the rest,” Serene confidently told her niece off before wearing her Bulgari Flora shades.

To be continued...