Chapter 32

Clara's POV

"You are outside my house?" I repeated.

"Yes," he answered. "I brought you some food that I thought might help. I think there is someone else in your house. I see a shadow in the kitchen. Should I knock?" He asked.

"No," I cut him off.

Maybe Mom came back early.

I rubbed the back of my head, thinking of the next lie. I looked back at his grandmother, who smiled warmly at me.

"Listen, I'm not really at home right now. I had to stop by the pharmacy, but you can return home. You don't have to worry about me," I replied.

I started with way too many lies. Sooner or later, he was bound to catch on.

He sighed. "Okay, why don't I just pick you up?" He offered.

"No, there is no need for that. As I said, I'm perfectly fine. You can go home. Besides, I'm just about to catch a cab now." I answered.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow at work," I said.

He sighed. After that, we both said our goodbyes.

I got out of this a lot easier than I thought.

****

*NEXT DAY*

I rubbed my forehead, hoping it would make my hangover a little bit better. I ended up having many more drinks with Layla than I should have. To make things more difficult, Mother Nature decided that today was my day. Not only did I have a hangover, but I was also having cramps. My back and feet hurt. If not for yesterday, today would have been the best day to stay home.

I slammed my locker shut.

"Morning!" Ivy yelled. I nearly jumped out of my skin at her surprise.

"Could you be any louder?" I snapped, rubbing my forehead.

"Someone is having mood swings," Ivy said.

I sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just having a bad day," I answered.

"You know, you never told me about your date." She whispered.

"How about I tell you about it after work?" I suggested.

"Okay," Ivy smiled.

I had something I needed to do urgently. I needed to inform Madison that I had agreed to her deal. Hopefully, she hadn't changed her mind. Who knows what crazy thing she will be up to next? It was still a few minutes before I officially started work, so that it wouldn't be a problem.

I waved Ivy goodbye before making my way to Madison's suite.

I knocked on Madison's door.

"Come in," I heard a loud yell.

I walked into her suite.

Madison was sitting on the couch, leaning back with a glass of champagne.

She smiled upon seeing me.

"So, have you decided yet?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll do it. I'll help you keep an eye on Mr. Montenegro and tell you everything you need to know." I said. I've made far worse decisions than this one. It took everything in me not to laugh in her face or, better still, slap her.

"Good," she answered with a smile.

She placed her glass on the table, taking her feet off the couch to pick up the tabloid on the coffee table. She then turned it around to show it to me.

"All I need you to do is find out who this mysterious girl is. Use any means possible." She instructed.

I nodded.

I'm sure she would kill me if she figured out it was me.

"I'll take care of Derek myself." She smirked.

The look on her face told me that she was up to no good. I needed to figure out what she was planning and stop her before it was too late.

"You can leave now," she dismissed me.

I nodded again and turned around to leave.

I wanted to slap her and wipe that smug look off her face. Maybe it was just my hormones causing me to act out today.

I took a moment to breathe before going to Marcus' office. I wondered what work he had planned for me today.

I knocked on the door before stepping in.

He was busy paging through several documents lined up and piled on the table.

"Clara," he said, acknowledging my presence.

"Morning Marcus," I greeted him.

He looked up from the papers. "The boss wanted to see you today. He called to ask that you go to his suite as soon as you arrive." Marcus instructed.

I nodded and followed his instructions.

Was this about yesterday? He had to have known I was lying.

What if someone had told him where exactly I was? All our plans would be ruined. This wouldn't be the first time Derek had spied on me.

Without knocking, I opened Derek's door and entered the suite.

He was busy. The living room was scattered with documents and architectural plans.

I cleared my throat, grabbing his attention. "Marcus said you wanted to see me," I said.

"Clara," He said, a smile forming on his face. I noticed his dimples. Was it my hormones exaggerating everything, or did he look incredibly sexy this morning? Maybe he always looked this good with his wet hair and two open buttons.

I looked at his arms. Surely, he must have exercised those thick biceps. Instead of those documents in his hands, I wish I was the one he was paging through.

"After yesterday, I just wanted to check on you today," He said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Focus, Clara, I reminded myself.

"How are you feeling today?" He asked.

I wanted to smile at him, to assure him that my day at home yesterday had not gone to waste. I had fully recovered, but my body betrayed me as I was reminded by the cramping in my stomach and how incredibly uncomfortable it was just standing right now. I couldn't even handle my period. How would I handle being pregnant? Good thing I wasn't.

I sighed. "No, I'm not okay," I answered, throwing my hands in the air. "You have no idea what my body is going through. I feel lightheaded and nauseous.

"My back is sore, and so are my feet. My whole body feels cold, and I do not know what I want." I rambled. My voice sounded like I was on the brink of tears.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. It was all going to be alright. I had been doing this for more than fifteen years of my life.

Derek took it as some hormonal tantrum caused by my pregnancy.

He was now trying to calm me as he sat me on the couch. He added pillows to support my back, placed my feet on the sofa after taking my shoes off, and wrapped me in a warm, cuddly blanket.

I felt so much better.

"How about that?" He asked.

I nodded with a smile to show my approval.

His next move surprised me as he sat at my feet, reached his hands inside the blanket, and began massaging my legs.

I bit my lip to keep from moaning as he worked his magic.

Didn't he have work to do?

With a smile and closed eyes, I took a moment to enjoy everything.

"You know, I was thinking. " He began. His hands slowly made their way up to my ankles. "Maybe we should schedule a doctor's appointment." He suggested.

"Everything was so much better until you started talking," I answered. I was still living in dreamland.

"I'm being serious, and we need to know how the baby is doing." He insisted.

I wasn't expecting this until at least a couple more days from now.

I kicked my legs away from him as I sat up straight.

If I was going to come up with a lie, it wasn't going to work if I was under his hypnosis.

"Isn't it a bit early for that? I'm barely just a few weeks. We can visit the doctor at a later date," I replied.

"We can't put this off forever, and you need to know how our baby is doing." Derek reasoned.

"Fine," I sighed. "We'll just wait a couple more days," I answered.

He nodded with a smile. That was the best I could bargain for.