Chapter 36

Clara's POV

"Morning, Marcus," I greeted.

"Morning," he answered. He handed me several lists, some containing contact information and others with lists of items like food, drinks, and decorations.

"We are hosting a party for a guest this weekend; I need you to call these suppliers and ask them if they'd be able to deliver these items for the event." He explained.

I nodded and then followed his instructions. I sat down to begin my work; I already had a telephone at my desk.

Talking to suppliers was not as easy as I thought. It was hours of negotiating and switching between suppliers, hoping I'd get a better deal. Marcus was busy on his computer, occasionally giving me a look that said, 'Good job'..' In the end, it worked out.

I leaned back into my chair, happy to know I had completed my task.

"Clara," Marcus spoke. "We have a guest leaving today, Mr. Leonardo Pierce." He said. That was the guy who saved me from my stepfather the other day. "I need you just to make sure that everything is in order, that he didn't leave anything behind, and if anything is broken or missing in his suite, I need to know about it so it can be replaced before our next guests arrive. Last time, Maggie couldn't get that right." He instructed.

Marcus needed it done now.

I nodded and then followed his instructions. I took an elevator to his suite; I remembered the room number from the last time.

I knocked on the door, but no one answered. He had probably already left. I used my card to enter the suite.

"Hello?" I called out. I was met with nothing but silence.

It didn't look like anyone was there.

My phone vibrated again. 'Are you avoiding me?' Another text from Layla read.

I wasn't going to be able to ignore her forever. She wasn't used to being ignored.'I'm coming there now.' Her next text read.

That scared me. I didn't want to see her now. It was just better if I spoke to her over the phone.

I pulled the phone to my ear after calling her number. She answered on the first ring.

"Clara," she said, sounding relieved. "I thought something had happened to you. Why weren't you answering my calls?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, I've just been busy." I lied.

"Well, I'm glad you are okay. We have to work now. I have a plan that will finally get Madison out of both of our lives. How about a setup? If my plan works, Madison will never step foot anywhere near Derek again. He will never want to see her again." She said,

That sounds like it involves more lying. I didn't want to do that anymore. Derek didn't deserve this.

"Listen, I've been thinking. Maybe it's just better if I come clean about everything. I don't want to lie anymore," I said.

Derek has been nothing but kind to me. It felt like I was taking advantage of that. As for Madison and Derek ending up together, I didn't think I had anything to worry about because he didn't seem interested in her.

I'd never know if he kissed me because he truly felt something for me, or maybe he was doing it because he thought I was having his baby.

"Are you backing out on me right now?" She asked, her voice annoyed.

"No, I just don't think that Madison is truly worth all of this trouble. I don't want to lie to Derek anymore." I answered.

Layla sighed. "You are falling in love with my son, aren't you?" She asked.

I took a pause. Was I?

"It's not like that," I answered. "Derek seems very invested in his baby. It will break his heart when he finds out I've been lying to him all along. That I'm not having his baby or any baby at all." I said.

"I see where this is heading. I hope that whatever Derek gave you is truly worth betraying me like this. I thought we had a connection." She said,

I sighed. "Layla, we should just end this thing now before it gets complicated any further. He is your son. You know he's going to hate us when he discovers the truth. It's better if we end this now before he gets too attached," I said.

"You mean before you get too attached?" she asked.

I sighed. I wasn't winning this argument. Maybe she had a point.

Just then, I saw Leonardo emerge from the bedroom, and he stared at me dumbfounded. He was in shock. His jaw dropped, his one hand holding a toothbrush as he continued to stare.

Had he just heard my conversation? But how much of it?

I thought no one else was there.

"Layla, I'm going to have to call you back," I whispered into the phone.

I pulled the phone from my ear, hanging up the call.

"Good day, Mr. Pierce. I thought you would be out for the day." I said.

'Calm down, Clara,' I reminded myself. This didn't have to be awkward. Maybe he hadn't heard anything at all.

"Just one question," He paused. "Is this the same Derek who owns this hotel?" he asked.

So, he had heard my conversation.

"I can assure you that it's not really what you think. It's a completely different person. It's not really who you think it is," I said.

"Okay," Leonardo answered. "I can confirm that once I've spoken to Derek myself. I can also speak with his mother, Layla. His father and I used to play golf together." He folded his arms, waiting for my next response.

This time, I was truly trapped. I wasn't that much of an expert at lying to help me escape this situation.

"Are you ready to talk to me?" He asked. He then gestured for me to take a seat, much I could say to get me out of this one. I should just come clean. At least if he was going to judge me, he might as well know all the facts first.

I sat down, staring at my feet and avoiding all eye contact. I felt like a kid who was about to be scolded.

"So," I began. From then onwards, I was pretty much a rambling mess. I explained every detail of the story, starting from the night Waylen knocked Derek out right up to everything happening.

He listened intently to every word. I hated that I couldn't tell what he was thinking. He kept his hand on his cheek with his leg crossed over the other.

"Look here, I've seen many of these things to know it doesn't end well. You should tell him the truth now before it's too late." He spoke.

That was a better reaction from him than I could've hoped for. At least he didn't use words like whore, liar, cheap and opportunist.

I wanted to speak, but he cut me off by raising his hand.

"I'm not here to judge you or even tell Derek on your behalf. I trust you'll do the right thing." He spoke.

That was easier said than done. At this stage, I don't think I will have the heart to tell him the truth.

We remained quiet for a few minutes. I just kept staring at my feet while planning my next move.

"I think I'll leave now," I announced. I stood up to leave.

"Okay, I just hope you will do the right thing." He said.

I nodded. "I hope you have safe travels," I said. At least he was leaving. I'd never have to experience the shame of facing him again.

"Actually," he paused. "I think I'll extend my stay. I have an old friend to catch up with." He said.

I nodded, faking a smile before turning to leave.

Great, he was staying for a while. At any moment, he could decide to change his mind and tell Derek the truth. Maybe I just had to beat him to it.

I closed it and continued walking down the hallway.

My options were narrowing. Eventually, I'd have to tell Derek the truth.

Maybe I could tell him about what happened without ratting Layla out, but then he'd investigate how the doctor possibly got the fact wrong that I wasn't pregnant.

I wasn't ready for what he would do when he found out the truth, but soon, it wouldn't be my choice whether he found out or not. He'd start wondering why my stomach wasn't growing.

I heard loud sounds coming from down the hall. I continued walking in that direction.

"Help!" A scream followed soon after.

It sounded like Madison's voice; it was coming from her suite.

Without thinking, I rushed to her penthouse.

Her door had been left open.

I stared, horrified by the fight breaking out in the living room.

I noticed three guys wearing masks. They were all dressed in black. Two of the guys held onto Derek while the other punched him in the gut.

Madison was lying on the ground, her clothes torn as she broke into tears.

The one guy looked at me, frightened that I had seen them.

All three guys instantly became aware of my presence as they looked at each other, frightened.

I was in shock, still not able to move.

Derek was thrown to the ground by the two guys, clutching his stomach in pain, his face bloodied.

I noticed the other guy limping as they tried to plan their escape.

"Let's move," one of the guys said.

I panicked as the three men rushed towards me to get to the door.

One of the men grabbed my arm before slamming my back against the wall. I hit my head in the process. My vision became blurry. The man let go of me, and I slowly started to fall to the ground.

The next thing I noticed were blurry images of three men rushing out of the suite.

"Clara!" Derek yelled.