Chapter Thirty

(One Week Later)

He watched from a distance as Clarissa tied her hair in a messy bun. She began her steps back into her office immediately and so he waited. When she was just at arm's length, he pulled her to himself swiftly turning to trap her against the wall hearing nothing more than a gasp.

"What are you doing? let go," She said almost in a whisper.

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm making you forgive me." He answered for her and she sighed. "Are you seriously going to continue ignoring me? When will you talk to me again?"

"Daniel, you need to stop this, we are not doing this now—" she was interrupted when he locked his lips with hers. Swift with his motion, his breath fanned her face.

"I can't let you stay mad at me. For God's sake I am losing my mind here let's forget what happened. I was stupid and I swear I won't do it again, forgive me."

"Daniel—" He locked his lips with hers again and her breath hitched in her throat.

"I don't want to hear any other thing except to accept my apology. I'll make up for it, go out with me tonight." His breath fanned her face. "Or else..." His kissed down her neck.

"Daniel stop it! For goodness' sake someone might see us!" She shrieked fighting the urge to moan as his lips landed on the line connecting her neck and shoulders.

"Let them see. I don't care." He dropped a feather like kiss just there on her shoulder when she said nothing. His eyes met hers again and his lips broke out in a smile.

"I'll take that as a yes. My treat, I heard it's beautiful at night." With that he walked away.

***

"...now you listen to me," Kara stated forcefully.

"Stop this madness immediately. My son isn't signing anything over to you."

"Give me what I want and your family won't suffer. I'm going to send you that parcel and you're going to make your son sign them. I need them signed by this week ending at worst. I gave you three days the last time but you didn't comply. This time Kara, everything should be done properly." Roberto answered before hanging up.

To be nervous was an understatement compared to the state she was in. She paced in her room for a while before sitting on her bed, burying her hands in her hair.

She failed to notice that despite her slightly opened door, her son-in-law hadn't left for the station yet.

***

She giggled when Daniel wrapped his hands on her waist preventing her from leaving. She wanted to buy something of her own and she insisted on him not coming with her. He locked lips with her again pulling her closer before letting her go.

It had been like two hours that they had spent together and he had gotten her to loosen up the first 30 minutes. He smiled at the thought wishing nothing would jeopardize whatever he had reformed. He found himself staring at a beautiful necklace that was been displayed for sale. It's simple beauty, illuminated by the light. He found himself walking into the store. He stared at the necklace; there was no way she wouldn't love it.

"Welcome sir," a lady said. He wasted no time in pointing at the necklace.

"That one, how much does it cost?"

He paid for it and walked away before she caught him, purposely ignoring the people that gave him double-takes and those that recognized who he was.

He took the necklace from the box at which he came and placed it in his pocket before walking out of the store and dumping the box in a waste bin almost as if he hadn't gone anywhere.

"Daniel," he froze at the sound of her voice. He cursed when he recognized who the feminine voice belonged to.

Why today?!

"I need to talk to you," She spoke after some time. But he resumed his steps and began walking from her. "Daniel please wait, it's important."

"Look Clara, you need to stay away from me."

"I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important." She breathed out. "It's about Clarissa, she's in—"

He raised his hand to get her to stop talking. "I don't need to hear anything from you. You broke ties with your cousin and me when you decided to run away with her boyfriend. What even gave you the guts to show your face here?"

"Daniel, you don't understand, she's—"

"I said, enough!" She froze. "Haven't you caused enough. We were better off without you. I don't need you ruining what I just fixed."

"For God's sake, can you just listen to me?!" She blurted out in frustration. He shook his head and she paled. "No, no come back Daniel you are going to have to listen to what I have to say!" He continued his steps away from her. Then he suddenly stopped.

"Please," Clara requested. Daniel's eyes darted to the arms that were now wrapped around his stomach. "Hear me out."

"Get your hands away from—" He paused when he met the eyes of his woman. Clara followed his stare and quickly let go on seeing her cousin. This wasn't how things were supposed to turn out.

"It's not...it's not what you think," Clara tried but Clarissa didn't know what to believe anymore. Daniel watched as her features turn to one of hurt and anger. She walked to them slowly, failing to notice the crowd that had begun to gradually form on the streets.

"You—" Clarissa's strides increased but Daniel was quick enough to hold her to himself before she could do anything.

He hushed at her, "I swear it's not what you think!"

"Let go Daniel, let go of me now!" And he did, slowly.

She scoffed. "I can't believe this, this cannot be happening." She said more to herself than them. Clarissa looked from her husband to her cousin. Shaking her head in disbelief, she walked out on them and into the car.

Daniel stole one last look at Clara before heading to the car. Just like that their date had ended in chaos and it only took an angry woman, a frustrated man, and the other woman who stared at their car as it drove away from her.

***

Darius watched as Clarissa ran pass him on the stairs in tears to their room. His eyes followed her movements stealthily until he heard a thud, to signal that she had shut the door in anger.

He stuck his hands in his pocket as he waited. Daniel decided to climb up the stairs at that time and just like he did with Clarissa, he watched until the door was shut.

Was she making a mistake? She paced in the room till she heard the room door lock behind her then she turned.

"What the hell was that out there?" Clarissa blurted out.

"Nothing was going on,"

"Are you seriously lying to my face Daniel? I know what I saw, she was all over you."

"Here you go again, I swear nothing was going on, believe me."

"What you saw wasn't the truth. I swear she just hugged me. When I tried to shrug her off, you appeared and everything else happened—"

"I need an honest answer from you Daniel. Do you like her or not?" She asked him calmly.

"Of course I don't."

"But we flew over to California so you could see her," she said and he paled. He didn't remember telling anybody that. How did she know?

"Who told you that?" He muttered.

"I don't know, okay?! I'm just saying. After everything that has happened, I'm beginning to think that is the reason you decided to accept that deal in the first place." She sat on the bed combing her hair with her hands.

He actually contemplated telling her the truth. He wanted to say that what she was guessing was correct.

"At first,"

"What?" She raised a confused brow.

"That was my intention at first—"

"Daniel," she got up once more.

"I wanted to just have a talk with her, nothing else but I didn't do it." He said despite her interruption.

"Oh my God, Daniel," she wiped her tears in anger. "I can't believe you'd actually—" she paused then said, "You know what? Maybe you should go have that talk with her and maybe you two can be together again!"

She tried to step away but he held her hands trying to stop her from leaving.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"How could you do this to me?!" She resulted to hitting his chest and on the second hit, he gripped her fist in his.

She groaned in frustration wanting to step away from him immediately. But the minute she managed to push him away against his will, she recoiled from the force and the newly imported Italian vase placed on the night stand shattered on the floor, again.

But then, that wasn't the problem. She covered her mouth to avoid what was forthcoming.

She was about to puke.

His eyes widened in shock but before he could make a move on her, she was already running for the bathroom. Her eyes dilated in realization.

No! It couldn't be possible, she couldn't be pregnant!