Chapter 18: Eighteen

MICHAEL

This obsession between Claire and me had started as a mistake, two years ago she had been newly hired as an assistant cleaner to help around the house, we were short on staffs, I came home drunk that night, vulnerable, ready to fuck anything wearing skirt and there she was, looking so ridiculously hot in that fuckable gown, she came over to clean my room, I wanted to make a move but held back immediately, I’m not the type of man who takes advantage of women especially in my drunk state but she smiled leaned in placing her fingers on my lips, and told me exactly what she wanted; to be in my bed.

She confessed she’d always had a huge crush on me, saying I’d never seem to notice her. Maybe that was my mistake, finally noticing and letting her become a part of my life.

Two years had passed, yet we were still tangled up in each other’s mess. Now she is standing outside my door, a smug smile playing on her lips and I have no choice but to beckon for her to come in, which she did, slamming the door shut behind us.

“Please sit!” I hissed pointing to the plush couch instead she crossed her arms over her chest, a defiant look in her dark eyes.

“What’s going on Michael, a few minutes ago, you wanted nothing to do with me and now you are begging me to sit? I’m not interested.”

She turned to leave but I caught her arm just in time, my grip so tight she could barely move.

“You need to let me go this instant!” Claire said softly in anger.

I slanted my eyes wondering what demon possessed her, she was acting so weird and it surprised me. “I’ll let you go as soon as you tell me what all that was about.”

“All what?” She retorted.

“You threatened me.”

She went silent, her gaze avoiding mine.

“What the hell is wrong with you Claire? Have you gone nuts? How dare you stand outside my door and say that shit?” I yelled my tone sharper than I planned.

She bit down on her lower lip, saying nothing, she always does this when she is guilty as hell and it only made anger simmer on my skin.

“Answer me!”I argued, I had released her arm now she could step back.

“I'm sorry,” she began, her tone cool but laced with something hazardous. “ I’m just done letting you treat me like trash, like I’m indispensable. I don’t understand these days Michael, one day you’re hot, the next, you are…. Just cold. I miss the old Michael, the one who used to spend so much time with me, the one who loved taking care of me, right now you are just the shadow of yourself and I can’t let that happen, I can’t lose a good thing, I have to take matters into my own hands.”

I still couldn’t believe she was trying to justify her craziness, I moved closer, close enough to catch the scent of shampoo in her hair, my jaw clenched so tight. “So, blackmailing me is your way of fixing things? You think that is going to make me change? Make me love you?

Her lips turned up in a smile, one that made my stomach churn with a mixture of disgust and impatience. “I’m not blackmailing you Mike,” she finally sat on the couch crossing her legs like she owned the place, all thanks to the freedom I’ve given her. “This is just my way of returning the energy you have been giving me for months. You want to break my heart and treat me like trash? Fine. But I’ll ruin you too so we both go down together.”

I almost laughed at her words, she sounded like a clown to me, a crazy one at that. “You need to take a chill pill, we aren’t even dating, remember? We are just messing around, I told you this from the start.”

Her eyes sparkled with something farmilair…. hurt, she seemed betrayed to hear me say this but I didn’t care then quickly she got up on her feet taking long strides towards where i stood, “No… no..that’s not true, I know our relationship wasn’t defined but I loved you and I know you do too.”

“Or maybe you have got it all wrong…”

“There was nothing wrong with us, I wish things could just stay the way they are,” she said softly gazing into my eyes. “But now you are acting as though you’ve lost all feelings for me. Like there is another girl. Is there?”

I wanted to yell ‘yes’ to her face, to also correct her that it wasn’t a girl but a lady, a beautiful one at that, and I was also obsessed with her but saying that would only make the situation worse than it already was.

“You need to stop overreacting,” I said in dismissal. I wasn’t in the right state of mind to entertain her drama.

“Right!” She smiled at me like she’d expected me to say that. “ I’m done being used and manipulated by you, I love you so much but it’s so sad you can’t reciprocate so I’m going to tell your father everything I know.”

I grinned hard, I couldn’t help it, she was naïve to think my father would believe a common maid over his son. “You think he would buy your lies? He always takes the side of his family, remember? So don’t even try embarrassing yourself.”

She tilted her head backwards, her gaze intensifying, “Of course I know your father is a deceitful man, you took after him so well, in fact I know him better than you do. Yes, he protects his family but not when it comes to money,” she looks into my eyes a wicked smile plastered on her face. “Billions of dollars, Michael.”

Right now, I was genuinely scared of what she might say next so I looked away trying to act like a hard nut to crack. “Oh please.”

“How do you think Mr Bolton would feel if he knew it was his own son's stupidity that made him lose that deal that could change his life forever?”

I froze there seething with anger, “ like I said, he would never believe a common maid over his heir, trust me.”

“What if I have proof?” She teased her voice soft yet annoying.

My heart began to race, was she being for real or not? Oh no, she couldn’t possibly be….

Before I could finish my thoughts she smiled at me and I smiled back, we both broke into loud laughter and I pulled her close by the waist kissing her hard on the mouth. She was almost breathless, if I couldn’t change her mind maybe I could distract her.

“I’m sorry Claire, I was just…. Overwhelmed, my father has been on my neck about being heir and you know how stressful it can be, and I remember my mom from time to time it just makes me sober,” I muttered against her lips. “You know I love you Claire, no one can ever take your spot in my life, you’ve been there for me in ways no one could.”

She smiled at me in a satisfied way before hugging me tightly like she hadn’t just threatened to destroy my life, it was crazy work.

“You are right, I should give you time alone, I’ll be back!” She said, pulling away, walking out, leaving me standing there like a lost zombie. Her ugly words still swirl in my head.

As soon as I heard the door close behind me my smile disappeared. And I rubbed my temples already feeling the migraine creeping in, I needed to find a way to get rid of Claire and whatever evidence she thought she had against me.

~

It’s a new day and I’m still thinking about Claire. Not her, just the evidence, she was the one person I confided in when I went behind my father's back to cancel his deal, had she recorded me secretly when I’d told her everything out of guilt? Or was she just babbling, she was desperate after all, desperate enough to do anything to keep me.

But I didn’t want things to get messy so for now I’d just play along at least until I found out what I needed to know.

I brushed my golden blonde hair and next I adjusted my tie in the mirror preparing to head out for lectures.

When I walked out of my room, I froze.

It was Adam, what the hell was he still doing here?

He stood in the hallway, dressed in a navy green suit, looking like he’d just walked out of a boardroom, far too overdressed to be just a professor.

“Morning, Michael.” He greeted, his tone laced with this fake sweetness.

“What are you still doing here? Are you homeless?” I asked rudely.

Before he could respond my father walked down the stairs smiling at both of us. “Oh! Morning my men, you’re both dressed and ready. Adam spent the night, he had too much work to finish last night.”

“That was what I was going to tell Mr Michael.” Adam cut in.

“Adam, you should take the car together with my son.”

I fought back a groan. The last thing I needed was to be stuck in the same space with Adam, the sight of him made me want to puke. But I forced a nod instead.

“Yeah,” I said coldly.

The journey to campus was… oddly quiet. Adam didn’t bother to strike up a conversation and I wasn’t in the mood for one. My mind was still hooked up to Claire’s threat.

What could she have on me?

Finally, we arrived at the class, Betty was already present but her gaze was fixed on her cellphone, she looked up and gasped when she saw us walk in.

I noticed the shock on her face like she hadn’t expected to see us together.

I grabbed a seat while watching Adam greet the class introducing himself as the head of the department.

“Good job Professor Betty but I’m afraid I need to step in for assistance,” Adam said smiling towards Betty.

She smiled back at him, but I know a fake smile when I see one.

“Thanks, Professor Adam.” She said, her tone tight.

Yet Adam didn't stop staring at her, he glanced at me briefly almost as if he was checking to see my reaction before fixing his gaze back on her.

“We’ve met before… haven’t we, Betty?”

Her fake smile faded instantly.

And just like that, I knew he was trouble.