Chapter 97

Clara's POV

"You are dating Marcus, my old boss?" I said in disbelief. "That's who you were hiding?" I asked, amazed.

Ivy's face went pale as she tucked her phone into her pocket. "It's a different Marcus." She replied dismissively.

"Didn't you say I knew him? I had no idea you had an eye on our boss this whole time." I answered.

"Fine," she sighed. "We've been going out for some weeks now." She admitted.

Now that she had confirmed it, I couldn't help but wonder how that could have happened.

Why Marcus? All I could think about was that he was the person who gave me all the grumpy customers just because I was good at my job. He was the reason I first encountered Maddison. If not for him, maybe I would have never crossed paths with Derek.

How did that happen? Wasn't he on the verge of firing her?

"You can't judge me right now, and you weren't straight for the big boss." She said, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"If anything, I should be used as a case study of why you should not date someone you work for," I answered.

She sighed. "Don't be so dramatic," she answered. "If both Derek and you talked about how you truly felt and how everything happened, you'd probably both be on a beach somewhere making babies." She answered.

I shook my head at her. "Wasn't he gay?" I asked, still in disbelief.

"Believe me, he is not." She answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

I still couldn't picture it, and I didn't want to. I didn't hate the guy, and I just hadn't expected it. He was definitely a better candidate than the ex-boyfriend who broke into her apartment, stole her furniture, and then sold it.

"I guess as long as you two are happy," I managed to say.

Ivy jumped into my arms for a hug.

We then returned to the kitchen, where Mom laid out some snacks, and Katy was busy doing the macarena. I had no idea people still listened to it.

I finished the rest of my champagne in a few gulps.

Ivy was interrupted halfway through her grandmother's story when we heard our doorbell ringing.

Katy was the first to jump up and run to answer the door.

Katy returned to the kitchen with her hands behind her back as if she had just been caught in a crime.

I was about to open my mouth to speak when I saw who was walking behind her.

It was my dad. It still feels weird acknowledging that. He held a shoe-size box wrapped in red ribbon and paper.

I hadn't expected him to be here. Had Mom invited him?

I sat frozen on my stool as I watched him walk in. Mom immediately stopped what she was doing, too.

"Good day, everyone," he greeted. He then turned towards me. "I didn't get the chance to stop by yesterday, but I wanted to drop this." He smiled awkwardly. He held the box to me, which I accepted. "Happy birthday," he added.

"Thank you," I answered.

Realising now I probably should have changed out of my pyjamas. He was stylishly dressed in a black tuxedo and looked ready for the office.

"Maybe we could have dinner together at some other time," he offered.

"I'd love that," I replied.

I couldn't avoid it forever. I needed to deal with it. And maybe with time, we could get to know one another. Perhaps it wasn't his fault either that things happened this way.

"Good," he answered. "I won't bother you anymore, and I'll be on my way." He announced. "Have a good day." He added with a smile.

He then left the house. Mom walked him out.

Maybe I should have invited him to stay. But it's probably better this way. You can't just magically form a relationship with someone.

I stared at the box in my hands, contemplating whether to open it now. Before I could open the box, Katy tagged my arm as she pulled me to the living room. "Come, let's dance." She said,

***

I woke up the next day with a splitting headache. I hadn't drunk that much, but I didn't respond well to alcohol.

Ivy was lying beside me on my bed with her arm crossed over to my side. Katy was sleeping in the middle, her foot an inch away from my face.

I pushed some hair strands out of my face, feeling the dried-up bits of cake left in my hair.

Last night, Mom decided it wasn't good enough to eat the cake, and she smeared it all over my face.

I managed to crawl out of bed without waking either of them and then headed straight to the shower, hoping it would help with my headache, too. After my shower and getting dressed in sweatpants, I took the last two tablets we had felt in our medicine cabinet for my headache.

This would probably be a problem, especially when Mom and Ivy woke up. I decided to make a trip to the drugstore. I left a note on our kitchen counter saying I'd be gone for a while. I might as well grab a coffee and use the time alone to reflect.

I wore my hoodie over my head as I left the house.

I hadn't almost forgotten just how relaxing walking can be at times. It can help to relieve you of anxiety and all your negative thoughts. I was lost in a daydream as I continued walking. Exactly why I hadn't expected it when a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me into a corner of the street. There was a hand placed over my mouth as I used all my strength to try and fight back.

I was about to get kidnapped! My mind yelled in panic.

"Please don't shout," a voice said.

Wait, I knew who that was.

What was Waylen doing here? My mind registered.

My body relaxed for a moment as Waylen's grip on me loosened. I pushed him back, and he fell on the tar.

"What is wrong with you?" I yelled, staring at a frightened Waylen on the ground. I was almost tempted to kick him where the sun didn't shine, almost.

"I didn't mean to scare you like that, and I just wanted to talk to you." He answered, sitting upright on the ground.

"So, you thought it was an excellent idea to drag me into a corner?" I retorted.

"I didn't mean to," he answered.

I took a few steps back as he picked himself up. A few people were walking on the opposite side of the road. Hopefully, he wouldn't be dumb enough to try something right now.

"Look," he paused, dusting the dirt off his hands. He walked towards me.

I held a hand out in front of him to stop him.

"You were good for me," Waylen continued. He looked up to stare into my eyes. "I want you back. You saw how that rich prick treated you, and I know you deserve better. No one could ever love you as I do." He added.

The nerves of this man. After everything he has done, he still has the nerves to think that he could return and everything will be forgiven. And to think that for so long, I allowed him to manipulate me.

"What you have for me is not love, nor do you blackmail them to get what you want," I answered. "Despite knowing that Derek knew the truth, you both decided to make a fool of me," I replied.

"He forced me to be there; otherwise, I wouldn't have done that to you." He answered quickly.

"He forced you?" I repeated in disbelief. I don't think Waylen needed convincing to follow Derek's crazy plan. Both of them are better off staying out of my life.

"Well, no, but you know I'll never miss an opportunity to be around you." He answered. "I was jealous and wanted that rich prick to be away from you. Now that I think about it, he seemed a little too obsessed. You should probably get security cameras around your house. I love you, and I miss you. I know we can be the happy us we used to be." He added. He stepped closer to me. I guess he thought he could not get comfortable with me.

"If you ever come near me again, I'll make sure you are locked up for harassment. I don't want to see you anywhere near me again," I warned.

"I'm sure you don't mean that. I can assure you that I have changed." He answered.

"I meant every word," I answered. "If you ever see me on the street again, just walk by and pretend I don't exist, or else I won't be held responsible for whatever happened to you," I added.

I saw a sorrowful look flash across Waylen's face. For the first time, I might have just successfully threatened someone.

I wasn't going to continue being bullied by him anymore.

He gave me a look at what I hoped would be his final goodbye. He stared down at the road before walking away. I waited till he disappeared at the end of the street before I continued walking.

I sighed in relief. At least I had one less problem off my shoulder.

My phone rang instead of my pocket. I saw that it was a phone call from Mom.

She had probably noticed I wasn't at home.

"Hello?" I said, answering the call.

Before I could hear her response, my phone slipped out of my hand as a black van stopped before me, nearly dumping me.

Everything happened so fast. Two men stepped out, both with masks over their heads. It was when I had finally registered what was happening when one of them grabbed me by my arm, the other holding my legs as I tried to fight back.

The guy holding onto my hand placed a cloth over my face, causing me to lose my strength before I finally passed out slowly.