Mia hugged Clara tight and said, "Look, we can't just live off the old money. You gotta stick close to Mr. Percy. Marry him, and we're set for life with all the cash and fame we could dream of."
Clara nodded, eyes sparkling with excitement.
The next day, she was itching to get to work.
She rocked a red pencil skirt, flawless makeup, and killer black heels. Honestly, she looked more ready for a night out than a day at the office.
As Clara hovered by the CEO's office, Abigail Rodriguez, another secretary, asked, "Clara, you need something from Mr. Percy? Just go in if you do."
Clara hesitated but was about to step in when Nolan walked out. She grabbed him, a bit frantic, "Nolan, I've been MIA for a few days. Mr. Percy won't be pissed, right? And about that wine party, it was Diana who..."
Nolan pulled his hand back, giving her a cold stare. "Clara, Mr. Percy knows you had stuff to handle. Now that you're back, just do your job. Nothing happened at that party. Ms. Spencer covered for you."
He left out the part where Charles forced Diana to go and gave her a hard time.
Nolan checked his watch, saw he was running late, and took off.
Clara stood there, fuming with jealousy.
That witch Diana! No wonder she came back with the will and even got her thrown in jail.
She just wanted to cozy up to Charles at the party. Even after the divorce, she couldn't chill.
No wonder Charles despised her.
But Clara worried that Diana's pretty face might catch Charles's eye again if she kept showing up.
So Clara took a deep breath and decided to make her move. She fixed her hair and pulled her neckline lower. Her cleavage peeked out, popping against her red dress.
With a knock on the door, Charles's voice came from inside, "Come in."
Charles looked up and saw Clara. He remembered she hadn't been around since her run-in with the cops.
Seeing her today, it seemed she was out.
Charles asked, "What's up?"
Clara walked up to him, her perfume trailing behind her.
But Charles found the smell gross. He frowned, covered his nose, and motioned for her to back off.
Clara sniffed her arm, confused, but stepped back, looking hurt.
She retreated to the door, about 15 feet away, and Charles finally didn't smell that overpowering scent.
"Mr. Percy, I'm sorry. It's my fault for getting locked up, leaving you without a date that day." Clara hung her head, her shoulders shaking a bit.
Charles crossed his arms on the desk, his tone flat. "It's fine. You can go now. This isn't your problem."
Seeing he was about to dismiss her, Clara pressed on, "Mr. Percy, I know Diana still has feelings for you. That's why she did this. I apologize on her behalf! I'm sorry."
She bowed deeply.
Sure enough, Charles got annoyed at the mention of Diana. "Don't bring up Diana in front of me. Why are you apologizing for her? Just go," he said.
Seeing she'd hit her mark, Clara straightened up and was about to bounce.
As long as she kept badmouthing Diana to Charles, he'd hate her even more.
"Wait," Charles called her back.
Clara turned around, all smiles. "What's up, Mr. Percy?"
But Charles didn't even glance up, just said coldly, "Don't wear that perfume again. It's gross."
Clara's smile froze, and she awkwardly bolted from the office.
She almost ran into Abigail, but luckily, Abigail caught her before she could fall.
"Sorry, Clara. Someone downstairs is looking for Mr. Percy. The phone in the CEO's office is busted again, and I was rushing to tell him. Didn't see you coming out. You okay?" Abigail explained.
Clara steadied herself and waved it off, but hearing Abigail's words, she had a hunch it was Diana.
So she pulled Abigail aside for the scoop.
Abigail, being young and straightforward, spilled everything, "The caller was a woman. She said her last name is Spencer, and she's the head of the Spencer Group. She's got something important for Mr. Percy."
Clara frowned and gave Abigail some advice, "Abigail, Mr. Percy's super busy. Anyone who wants to see him needs an appointment. You said she's a woman. What if she's one of Mr. Percy's admirers? If we bug him, he might get mad. You know what I mean?"
Abigail thought Clara made sense and nodded.
Seeing her words hit home, Clara continued, "How about this, don't tell Mr. Percy. I travel with him a lot and know some of the big shots. I'll go down and check on this Ms. Spencer myself. If there's a problem, I'll send her packing."
"Thanks, Clara. I'll leave it to you then!" Abigail, relieved, went back to her desk.
Clara, with a smug grin, took the elevator downstairs, ready to face Diana.
Downstairs, in the reception room, Diana was chilling, peeling an orange, the scent filling the air.
The two receptionists kept sneaking glances at her and whispering, "Who is she? Mr. Percy's girlfriend? She's really pretty."
The other one cut in, "No way, Mr. Percy's got a wife. Don't start rumors. I don't remember her looking like this."
It wasn't their fault for not recognizing Diana. She used to come to the company overly dressed up, bringing lunch for Charles in a thermal container.
But Charles always tossed it.
After Juniper passed away, Diana lost her support and didn't dare come to the company anymore.
Now, Diana wasn't wearing any makeup. She'd been eating and sleeping well these past few days, with a healthy glow on her face.
At this moment, Diana was focused on peeling the orange, her slender hands under the sunlight, looking like a painting.
Clara saw this and was fuming. 'Playing the innocent card, huh? So what if you have the will? You still gotta beg Charles not to let the Spencer Group tank,' shethought.
Diana raised an eyebrow when she saw Clara.
Diana said, "Why are you here? Where's Charles? You got out of the police station? Only locked up for a few days, what a shame."
Clara nervously looked around, making sure no one heard Diana's words, then hissed, "Diana, shut up! This isn't the Spencer Villa. How dare you cause trouble here."
Diana couldn't be bothered to argue and barely lifted her eyelids. "I'm here to talk business with Charles. You're not him. Don't waste my time. Get lost."