128.
David’s POV.
As Claire and I leave the elevator, I feel the tension becoming palpable. I can’t find it in me to respond to whatever greeting my employees send my way.
Claire’s heels make uncomfortable sounds as it hits the floor.
My posture rigid, I swing the door to my office open and walk inside.
I hear Claire slam the door shut behind her.
Before I can reach behind my desk, she rushes to me, holding my arm.
In that moment of surprise, I turn around only for Claire to smash her lips on mine.
Her teeth cling strongly to mine. It’s all I can do not to barf.
The fuck is she doing? I wonder to myself while gripping the back of her hair and pushing her off of me.
In disgust, my hand swipes over my lips, wiping the trails of her kisses.
I pant, doing everything I can to hold back my rage and sheer eagerness to lash out at her.
“Claire, need I remind you what boundaries are?” I say so calmly. She might think that’s how I am on the inside but no, I’m nothing but calm.
She breaks into a laugh that flares my anger more.
“Claire. Let this sound as a warning.” I boom, my anger and disgust surfacing. “Don’t ever lay your hands on me. Those days we did that? They’re over…”
“Why? What makes them over, David?” She barks, much to my surprise.
Ignoring her, I walk around the desk and sink into my seat.
“David, I divorced my husband because of you. I hope you know that?”
“I have no idea. Besides, we never agreed you should do that.” I offer nonchalantly.
Claire brittles.
“Nonsense! David, I fell for you the moment I saw you. Craved you like I craved food. And you pretend like you don’t know?”
“Claire, mind if we schedule this for some other time?” I ask, my voice firm as well my gaze on her.
“Never. This has to be discussed here and now.”
What the heck is giving this woman the fucking courage to talk back at me? I wonder.
“Claire, I advise you to leave or…”
“Or what? You’ll hit me or abuse me like you do?”
Her last sentence flares in my mind like a high drug and I find myself rising on my feet.
“Excuse? What in fucking hell did you just say?”
“Which one? The hit me part or the abuse part?”
I ball my hands into fists. Losing it.
“Claire, please leave.” I plead because my rational sense is on a thin line now. I might do something crazy if that woman refuses to comply.
“David…you know, I only knew you as a man that divorced his four wives. A man that’s every woman’s wet dream. A womanizer. A mogul. But…I never knew you as a pedophile!”
“Claire…!!!” I bark.
“What the fuck were you thinking fucking your foster daughter?”
That…that has my eyes wide.
“Did you say…?” I mutter but she cuts me off.
“Oh, yes, David Truman. The truth is out in the open. So much for being a ward to that small girl. Who knew when you started raping her? Abusing her?”
The color drains from my face.
I knew it.
The foreboding was there that this shitty meeting won’t end well.
“Imagine what the world will say when news about you and that poor girl hits the news. Imagine what people will say when they find out you’ve been abused from when she was under you. That you’re a pedophile.”
This…is was my fucking fear from the beginning.
To think it’s all happening now.
Tongue-tied, I imagine all that I stand to lose. My empire. Reputation. Business.
And vera.
I imagine myself being at a court trial and in prison.
What the hell do I do?
My heart skips several beats as this woman before me spits venom.
“I’m sure you know the whole implications, David.”
“I’m not what you accuse me of, Claire.” I croak.
Just then, she searches for something and quickly brings out her phone.
Thumbing through the screen, she faces the phone in my face and my eyes go owl-wide at the pictures staring at me in reel.
That’s me and Vera…in the hotel’s garden. Before the fountain.
Pictures of our intimate moments.
I can’t get them out of my mind.
All I see is me holding her waist, sliding my hand through her spine while I stroked her heat.
The way my face contorted as the pleasure wriggled through me as I took her….
Hell!
I’m fucked. Big time.
There’s no way in hell I can defend myself. Nothing.
“I hope this explains the fact that you’ll lose everything about you once this picture makes it out there, David.”
Broken, weak, I ask. “Claire, don’t do that.”
“Only on one condition, David.”
Peeking up at her, I see the glint in her eyes.
“What?” I ask, hopeful.
But the devil is always ten steps ahead.
Claire gravitates towards me, standing toe to toe with me as her eyes gaze up.
Then, she lets out.
“Make me yours. And I promise you, the media will never smell these pictures, David.”
My whole world turned dark at the words she said.
Her request is one too heavy to carry out. I thought she’d demand ransom but no. She wants me to marry her.
But then what about Vera?
How in hell will she take the news?
I’m fucked because I know this time around, I’m going to break my promise to her. To them all.
Before I can think twice. Thrice. My head moves in a nod. And a victorious smile takes up the corner of Claire’s mouth.
*
*
*
Later that night.
This dinner night is impromptu. One I never planned to organize. But I needed to do it because Claire wanted it.
She wanted to invite Vera and make it known that she’ll be my wife.
When I was inviting Vera over earlier today, the words hardly left my mouth. My heart was too heavy.
Irene is going in and out of the kitchen, gathering the dishes she prepared and arranging them on the dining table.
Beside me, is the seething man, Andrei.
He’s just as mad as I am about the whole thing.
“I always knew that bitch is evil. But to think she used those pictures against you?” Andrei barks but I can’t even look at him because my head feels too heavy.
“All I need is a solution, Andrei,” I mutter, swirling the wine in my glass. “How do I make Vera understand?”
“Boss, I suggest…”
Before Andrei could finish, Claire made her way into the dining room.
She’s with her daughter and nanny.
Wow, just wow. Never knew the woman loved that child of hers this much.
“Baby…” She says, coming over to me. Andrei strikes her daggers with his eyes as she circles her arms around me.
“Welcome. Help yourself.” I manage, but inside I’m an inferno of rage.
“Where is our guest, David?” Claire asks as she sits down.
“Still on her way.” I sputter with indignation.
My eyes are pinned on her phone. Only if I can lay my freaking hands on them.
“Don’t even bother, babe. Because I have the file stashed elsewhere.” Claire says, as if she’s reading my mind. “Isabel darling, meet your new daddy.” She faces her daughter and says.
“My daddy?” The poor child asks, looking at me.
I wave tentatively. “Hi.”
She stares at me with her doe-eyes.
“But mommy, where’s my daddy? He’s not my daddy.” The girl shrieks, turning back at Claire.
“Listen to me, Isabel. He is your new daddy, okay?”
The girl nods, fear in her eyes.
Fuck, everything about Claire’s bad. Everything.
The sound of footfalls comes from the living room and I quickly exchange glances with Andrei, knowing who that is.
I rush outside to meet Vera, wanting to briefly explain things before Claire notices.
“Vera…” I call, rushing to meet her halfway.
“Babe. Why did you…call me here?” She melts into my arms as I hug her…preparing for the war that will erupt between us as I break the news.
“I have something to tell you.” I snap.
“Me too. There’s something I want to tell you.” She smiles hopefully and puts her hand into her bag.
“Listen, Vera. This is way more important…” I tell her.
“No, wait. Babe. This is more important. Please hear me out…” she rushes the words.
I’m unsettled, the need to gush this news out fills my mind.
“Vera…” I call in urgency but before I can say more words, Claire emerges.
“Oh, if it’s not Vera. We’ve been waiting for you since.” Her disgusting voice booms.
Vera raises her head with an envelope in her hands but I don’t pay attention to it.
Claire crosses the distance between us and sling her hand around my waist.
Vera’s forehead creases as she watches us.
“What’s going on here?” She croaks, watching between me and then Claire.
“Oh, babe you haven’t told her yet?” Claire asks with arched brows as she gazes up at me.
“Tell me what?” Vera asks, her eyes growing misty.
“Oh, allow me to clarify, Ms. Vera. Your foster father and I…are getting married.” Claire giggles.
With furrowed brows, Vera looked at me for confirmation.
I open my mouth, wanting to get the words out but it’s heavy.
Eventually, I mutter. “She’s right, Vee. Claire will be my wife.”
I know when Vera’s world turned dark as mine did.
I know the moment her hope in me crashes.
I know when she realizes I’ve broken her trust, that’s the moment a single tear rolled down her cheek in rivulet.
“You’re getting married…” Is all she mutters, clutching at her heart.
Mine breaks too but the reminder of heavy evidence that could be used against me makes me stand firm on my feet.
My heart sears as well as my eyes.
“Oh…you’re…getting married!” That’s the last string of words she says before turning on her heels and skittering off.
Before she crosses the exit, her envelope drops from her hand but she makes no effort to bring it back up.
“Pathetic!” Claire huffs. “Let’s go back, babe. Young girls of these days, want men way older than them.”
I don’t hear the babble Claire’s spilling all through the dinner. The atmosphere rippled with hatred, anger, tension.
Immediately we finish and Claire leaves, I know it’s my time to go to Vee.
I grab my car keys, hurrying outside but as I reach the exit, my eyes fall on the envelope again. Something pushes me to grab it and I do, reading the contents.
“Shit!” I curse as I read the doctor’s report. Andrei’s voice echoes around me.
“What’s wrong?” He asks.
“Vera’s pregnant with my child!”
Andrei curses and at the moment we’re both driving to her apartment.
Getting out of the car, Andrei and I hurry up through the elevator and I dart to her door, pulling it open.
“Baby…” I call, going into the dark hallway. “Vera,” I call again but no response. No signs that she’s there.
“David, over here!” Andrei calls me from the kitchen and I rush over there, only to see him with a paper.
“What’s that shit?” I spit, grabbing the paper.
My eyes scan the words.
“Don’t come looking for me. Nor my child. It’s over.”
That’s when I know that she’s truly gone.
To be continued…