Chapter 17
1018 Words
Chapter 17
Clara's POV
"Miss Clara", Dominic stopped me the moment I made a run towards the door.
I internally sighed. So much for avoiding him.
"Is something wrong?", I turned to him with a frown, enough to deter him. "I have an appointment soon."
"I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch with me", he offered, his tone so innocent that I blinked up at him in shock for a few seconds.
"What?"
"Lunch. Together", he voiced out slowly.
"Why do you think I'll come with you to grab lunch?", I glared. "Listen, if I gave you an impression of being open or nice, then I'm here to tell you that I'm not."
"Clara."
"It's Miss Valmont to you", I interrupted. "And, I'm not interested. I can get my own lunch."
"Why are you acting this hostile? Are you scared you might fall in love with me after a few minutes of being alone with me?"
I knew he was baiting me, yet I found myself biting. "You wish."
"Then, come have lunch with me."
I grabbed my purse and phone, turning to him. "Lead the f*****g way."
I caught the slightest smile at the corner of his lips before we walked off.
The restaurant was nice, not too intimate that we'd be assumed to be lovers, nor was it so open that someone would take us as colleagues. It was just the right amount of everything. I hated how great his taste was, I hated everything about him.
"What are we doing here?"
"We aren't strangers", Dominic's eyes softened as he stared at me.
I deviated my eyes, focusing on the bread rolls on the table.
"Clara."
"Don't...", I found myself looking up at him with a glare. "Don't call my name. You lost that right a long time ago."
"I..."
"Why are you doing this? Why now? You made it very clear that you wanted nothing to do with me."
"I had no choice."
"Bull-f*****g-shit."
"I would never..."
"No", I raised a hand, stopping him. "I'm not going to sit here and watch you spew lies. I'm a business woman and the only reason I agreed to work on your project was because I saw potential. There were no emotions attached. So, if you got any crazy ideas, you should put a pause to it."
My outburst had the desired effect, shutting him up.
"Excuse me", I gathered my stuff, attempting to leave.
Dominic's hand clasped around my wrist. The point where our skin touched felt hot, like it was burning and sizzling. He must've felt it too as he instantly released my hand, raising his hands in surrender.
"I'm sorry."
I was too stunned to speak, instead, I settled for watching him.
"Can you just sit? Please?"
"What do you want?"
"Five minutes. That's all I ask for."
Despite my head protesting, I found myself settling back into the chair.
"Five minutes."
Dominic scooted closer. "I know you found someone else, Maxwell Hunter, right?"
My lack of an answer was enough for him.
"Maxwell isn't the best guy."
It was obvious that Dominic was being deliberately careful, attempting to approach the situation with a bit more caution but I was unable to find it in me to care. I was upset and the more he spoke, the more I found my emotions running high, clouding my judgement.
"What are you accusing Maxwell of this time?"
"I'm not accusing him", Dominic defended. "I'm just trying to make you see the reason."
"Reason?"
"Yes. He's manipulative and a liar, Clara. I know it isn't in my place..."
"You're right. It isn't in your place. You have absolutely no right to tell me what to do with my life!!"
"Clara!!"
"What, Dominic?", I glared. "I'm not the same naive girl you knew years ago. Stay the f**k away from me and Maxwell. We have a healthy relationship and I'm not going to sit here and hear you dissect his character."
Dominic was growing frustrated from the way his fingers repeatedly ran through his hair, his brows furrowed as he stared at me with a mixture of annoyance and gentleness.
I met his stare head on.
"What will I do before you believe me?", he groaned.
"I don't know. Maybe you turn the hands of time and ensure you don't break my trust again. That'd be f*****g gold."
"You don't have to trust me to believe my words, Clara. You know that."
I scoffed. "So what? I should trust you more than the guy I'm in a relationship with?", I huffed out. "What am I even doing here, sitting and listening to your bullcrap?"
"You know me and you know I'd never lie to you."
A dry laugh escaped my lips. "You asshole!! You basically carried my trust and wrecked it in a million ways. That ship has sailed."
"Clara!! Listen to me."
"Your five minutes is up", I raised a brow, gathering my stuff. "Have a wonderful day, Mr. Dominic and I hope we never have to sit facing each other again."
Despite his calls, I walked off but not before hearing his promise.
"I'll find a way for you to believe me, even if it means getting the evidence myself."
It took a while before I calmed my heartbeat. Regardless of how much I hated him, I knew Dominic. He'd never lie just to get an edge over another.
There was an element of truth in his words but I wasn't ready to consider that possibility. I couldn't bear the thought of Maxwell hurting me, I wasn't sure I was prepared to face it.
So, I did what every other person who was blinded by love would do. I chose to look the other way, act like everything was picture perfect.
Maybe if I pretend long enough, the moon goddess will pity me and make it go away. Unfortunately, at the very back of my mind I knew that a day was fast approaching when I would be forced to face every confrontation I was running from.
But for today, I'd live in feigned ignorance.
- Writer
