Claire's POV

A hand clasped across my mouth as I tried to stop myself from screaming out. It was what I had wanted, all I had wanted. An internship with Maclina's tech company was the stepping stone to the career I had to build.

I had also heard rumours about how I would be made a full-fledged staff member if I did well enough, which I hoped to do. I really wanted to make this work for that girl who had been told she wouldn't amount to anything.

Our stories sound alike. Although he had wealthy parents, he had struggled to make sure that he created a name for himself, and he had done just that. Within. Within the span of two years, Maclina was a giant tech company with major prototypes and patents, which they oversaw.

Throwing a fist in the air, I threw a glance at my surroundings, tiptoeing to the balcony, which had an infinity pool attached to it. I swallowed, willing myself to be calm as my dream to own an apartment just as fine as this wasn't so far off.

I have seen talks about it, but seeing it in itself was spectacular. The office had tables leaning against the wall, with a keyboard attached to a MacBook.

My fingertips ran on then while I tried to fight the urge to ask where the others were when he strutted in, dressed in navy blue pants and a beige top to match.

I swallowed when he glared at me, piercing through my soul with those Hazel eyes. I threw my eyes away, glancing back at the marble tile, not wanting to believe that there was a possibility that he was the one who had been with me last night.

There was no way that was possible; he would be the last person I would ever run into in the streets of Texas. Besides, we really didn't run in the same circle, so that was out of it.

Letting out a gush of air, I listened to what he said. "That is yours. You should be able to handle an iPad, right?" I shoved how condescending his tone was, focusing on the issue at hand.

"Yes,"

"Good, then let's go."

His gait straightened as he sauntered past me toward the elevator, while I was left with no choice but to keep up, as his legs were endless and I was painfully slow.

I let out a sigh of relief when he halted, just enough for me to catch up with him before he got into the elevator. The air clenched when we were in so proximity to him. I noticed how huge he was, and how I paled in comparison to him.

"Stop staring, that's rude." He uttered just before the elevator dinged, and I stepped out after him.

The car opened with a click, and I slipped in after him, trying so hard not to touch the interior. Wales had a fine car, but not this fine.

I couldn't bring myself to confront him; maybe I wasn't any better since I had sex with a stranger the night before.

"It wouldn't be that great if you keep zoning out." His voice drifted out, slamming me so hard.

"Mr Jerald."

"Jerald." He turned to me.

"What?"

"Let's drop the title, call me Jerald, and I will call you Claire as well."

"But why?"

"Enough with the questions. I expect that you will be at your best while we are there. Don't make me regret employing you."

"Is there something you want me to do aside from taking notes?"

"Watch, ascertain, and point out the flaws as well. It is camouflaged as a late brunch, but it's more than that."

"I get that."

He drove in, stopping right outside a restaurant which lay on the outskirts of town, and I gulped in, wanting to believe it was some kind of luck that seemed to have run out because I frequented this place with Wales whenever he was in a good mood.

He got out at the same time I did, brushing his fingers slightly against mine before we walked in. I stood transfixed to the ground, a bit thrown out of place when he gazed back at me.

Rushing after him, I sat beside him when he did. A pale man with salt and pepper hair sat, both hands on a crab as he sucked in noisily on it. I muffled my speech when Jerald greeted me, then sat down afterwards.

"Good afternoon." I greeted him after him, wanting to take a seat, when a glare from Jerald had me standing upright. So cruel.

" Jerald, who is this?" His eyes lingered on me, running through me intensely before he wiped his fingers with a tissue.

"My secretary, Claire. Claire, this is Mr Owen."

" A pleasure to meet you, Mr Owen." I summoned up the nicest smile I could conjure, hoping that he would buy into it even when I was so displeased. What was wrong with my taking a seat? My legs were beginning to ache.

"Well, well, I never knew you had a secretary this young. Why haven't I met her before?"

"She was newly hired, and by me," Jerald answered. It took everything in me not to throw my fist at Mr Owen because he was the type who couldn't keep his lust to himself.

I wonder if he knew that I could smell it all the way from here, that he wanted me, and somehow, I really hoped Jerald would get him off.

"Well, well, I'm guessing this is going to go easier than I had expected."

Jerald slipped his phone out, handing it over to Mr Owen.

" You asked for this, and that's it. If we come to a conclusion today, I will come over myself to show you a presentation on how it works."

"You have done that already, Jerald, and there's no need to say the same thing over again; it makes it boring." His lips curved into a smirk before he ran his eyes over me once more, ogling me.

My hands fistened as I tried to get how irritating he was acting out of my mind. My eyes turned to Jerald, who I was so sure knew what was happening, but he was silent. What exactly was he doing?

"I am ready to sign the contract right here and now. I will have my assistant make a transfer right now. I know what you are capable of, what your work is capable of."

" And?"

" I am going to save you a whole journey of coming for the presentation and throw in a million if you do what I want."

The air crackled with tension because before he could say it, I knew, felt it and was sure Jerald did as well because he turned to me, his orbs endless before he tore them away, and I found myself wanting to tell him not to do that, not to throw me to the wolves.

"Some time with your secretary, she leaves with me, and you get your money, and I get the application and all, what do you say?"

Claire's POV

My heart thudded so hard, each beat faster than the last. I gulped in, urging and willing myself to think, not to pay attention, but how exactly was that possible?

The last thing I would have been unable to fathom would have been this happening, and right on the first day of work, was the universe playing some odd tricks on me? Or was this how the rich play around? With people's lives like they were worth just cash to them?

My finger dug into my palm, rage coursing through me as I waited to smack the iPad across his face, let him know how much of a fool he was, but somehow I stood, waiting for what was going to be his response.

"Well?" Mr Owen waited, his eyes lit with anticipation, as if he knew Jerald wouldn't be able to reject that.

A million dollars, that was what my worth was to him, what he saw me as; I should be happy, should be glad that at least I wasn't a meagre sum in thousands.

Jerald let out a cackle before looking at me.

"My secretary? Is that how much your daughter is worth to you as well?"

"... You shouldn't say that." Mr Owen grunted, letting out a chuckle which lay on his lips, "The last thing you should do is bring my daughter into this, do you even know what I am capable of?"

"That is the reason why I am doing this. You should have known what I do to people who don't stay true to the contract we have in the first place." He shrugged, grasping the handle of a knife which laid on the table as he brought down its edges, running it on the table, the noise permeating the air.

"Stop that." He pleaded, both hands against his ears, but Jerald continued, leaving dents on the table which I was so sure would amount to hundreds of dollars.

"Please stop." Mr Owen begged as he kept running the sharp edges of the knife on the table before it clanged against the table.

"This should serve as a warning to you, the last thing you should think about is placing any of my employees as a front in our contract. It was a mistake, and I will take it as such, which will also amount to my not going ahead with the contract. Leave."

Mr Owen's eyes widened as he turned to me before getting up.

"Treat your misophonia while at it, or it wouldn't be the last time this happens."

Chills ran down my arms, a complete contrast to the feelings I was supposed to be having. I should be running for my life, deciding not to work anymore, but not when he had done it for me, protected me.

" I'm sorry." I apologised, my head averted to the ground. If he had known this would be the outcome, he would have made me stay back.

" It's fine."

" It's not." My stomach growled, his eyes roved over me pathetically before he gestured at the chair in front of him.

" You should sit and have something."

" I am fine."

" If you are going to talk, then do so when you're filled up, conserve your energy, and speak afterwards."

"Fine." I placed the iPad down on the table, my eyes staring at the damage that had been done.

"A French toast with juice should be fine." My voice came out in a whisper.

"I didn't expect anything else from you. You made the right choice." He snapped his finger, leaving me glaring when I blurted out;

"Your hand," my eyes widened like saucers as I slipped a hand across, wanting to hold his when he held me back. " You are injured."

"And so?" His response came out cold.

" It needs to be treated, and if it isn't, it might be contaminated. You have to make sure that..."

An employee. My employee, that is what you are, you aren't the first, and you aren't going to be the last either."

"Has anyone told you how rude you are? All I was doing was showing that I care."

"Which pretty much isn't needed at the moment, thank you. Your food should be here in a minute, you should eat and then..."

"Claire...?" A voice whispered.

My hands fiddled with the skirt I had on, not knowing how to face him.

"Claire, I have been trying so hard to reach you. You don't have to believe what happened last night, I mean, that wasn't me, I would never hurt you."

I scoffed, trying so hard not to believe that he saw me as a fool.

"I saw you."

"That wasn't me. I would never..."

"Wales, what are you doing here?"

"Jerald?" Wales's eyes sparkled as he turned to my boss. "Big bro, what are you doing here? I never imagined you would be here in thousands of years."

"Well, I came in here for a business meeting and..."

"This is Claire, my gf, the one I told you about. I can see you've already met, but how?"

Small world, small fucking world, because how was it that I never got to know Jerald was his brother?

"Ex-gf," I corrected.

" Come on, Claire," he bellowed when I stood up.

"I am at work, Wales, and this isn't the right time to do this. I don't want to talk about this right now. I will be waiting for you right outside, Jerald, after you are done catching up." My tone came out gruff.

I wasn't going to lean into the guilt I felt because he had possibly done worse, but all of these that had happened seemed so soon, and I needed to process them all.

My steps quickened, and I could make out Jerald, who had placed a hand on Wales, who had tried to approach me, and although I would have loved to know what it was that he had said, I pushed that off as well, waiting for when he would step out.

The car clicked, and I got in before he could, my eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"And here I was thinking you would be the only one who cheated, well, that makes for two of you. I guess."

"You don't know anything about our relationship, just because you turned out to be my ex-bf's brother doesn't mean I have to accord you the respect that I would have, our relationship is over, and..."

"Are you going to lie that you don't recall? Last night?" he stared at me, his lips curled into a smile.

"Or are you still going to pretend that you don't recall a thing? You actually want me to believe that you came to work in my firm because it is some kind of dream of yours? Like you don't want to sue me?"

My mouth fell wide open, lips parted as my palm turned sweaty. "What...what...are you talking about?"

"The fraternity party, are you going to act like you don't recall what we did? Talking about how no one else has made you feel that way before?"

My heart panted as I took in gasps of air, flicking my head to the side, my eyes parted as they flooded in, his eyes had been the only thing I had taken note of, his eyes.

"No," I blurted out, my hands fiddling with the locks as I tried to push it open.

"No? Are you still going to lie to yourself?"

"Let me out," I screamed, pushing the door when he did.

"Report to work tomorrow at nine. Don't make me wait." His words hit me when I had a hand on the open door, before shutting it in his face.

Claire's POV

I let out a sigh when I finally stepped out of the cab, which took me to the apartment I shared with Elena. Well, it has been difficult, but I have made it back in one piece.

I drew in a breath before shoving the door open as I stepped in, and Elena stood in front of me.

"Tell me you got the job." I was tempted to laugh, but I chugged that down; it wasn't the time for that.

"I did," I answered, a bob accompanying it, when she punched into the air before racing to the fridge, where she snatched two bottles of Budweiser beer as she crept over to me.

"And this is for the go-getter I have as a friend." I let my hands wrap gently around the bottle, forcing a smile on my face at that, when she halted.

"Am I overthinking things, or are you unhappy? I thought that was what you had always wanted?"

"It is," I answered, bobbing.

"Then?"

I sighed before dropping onto the couch. "Not when it turns out your boss is the one you had a one-night stand with the night you went looking for your ex-boyfriend, and he turns out to also be your ex-boyfriend's elder brother." I relayed, waiting for what she would say.

"Wait!" She yelled, placing her bottle gently on the table. "Tell me you are joking. Is the universe toying with you or something?"

"I sincerely wish it were, Elena, if it were, I would have preferred that."

"Oh my heavens, it all seems to have come from a soap opera because what the hell? And how is he in bed?"

"Elena!" I yelled, she was never going to change, was she?

"Oh, please, Claire, you were with the CEO of Machlina, why am I not lucky enough to be the one?" She had both hands pointing at the ceiling as she questioned.

"You wouldn't want to be in my situation, Elena. He wants me to come to work tomorrow, and I really don't want to anymore. I don't think I want to be there, not after everything that has happened."

" Why?" She rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me he is the cause? Wales? You aren't that stupid, are you? I know that because I have never had a stupid friend, and you aren't about to be like that now."

" But..."

"Oh, my innocent Claire, are you running away from him because you never thought it would be possible?"

"Elena," I mouthed out, shocked and scared that she could see through me. Like always.

"Then I am right. Tell me, how was it? I bet it was so good seeing how you can recall every single thing that has transpired, even when you had that thing running through your system?"

My fingers laced with each other at her words. "I will do anything, Claire, and you should grab the opportunity you have. Why do you look so down Don't tell me you are feeling remorseful because he is Wale's brother?"

" I can't help it and..."

"Please, don't start right now. What Wales had was different but you..." Her palm cupped her face. "You were with the CEO of Machlina, who happens to be his elder brother as well. How about you take that as your revenge and go to work? You are single and..."

The door creaked as Wales stepped in. His eyes were glued on me while he made his way over. "Claire, Claire..." he called out when I stood up, trying to walk away when Elena shook her head.

"Listen to what he says and go ahead with whatever you want. I will always be here, no matter what you decide to go with, okay?" She waited for a nod, which was only when I did she walk away.

"If I had known you wanted an internship at Jerald's firm, I would have helped you get one; it would have been way easier for you to get one; he would have done me the favor. He does whatever it is I ask from him."

"Luckily for me, I was able to get that without your help, and I am not sure if I will ever need it again. Besides, you never mentioned him, but I can recall letting you know several times that I needed to work at Machlina, but you never helped, so what would be different?"

"I didn't? I can't recall you telling me that, but it is great that you are working there. There is no one else I would have wanted you to work with if not him. The fact that he is family and isn't attracted to ladies is bound to make it even easier for me to be rest assured."

"He doesn't seem that way to me." Elena intercepted. She has her back leaning against the couch with a book in her palm, which I knew she wasn't reading because I haven't heard a page being flipped over.

"He looks like the opposite." She winked at me while I tapped on my chest at her words.

" You don't have to worry about Jerald; he is a workaholic, and he doesn't have a thing for ladies, at least not yet."

"Hmmph," Elena scoffed, and I glared at her because I could see what she was doing. If Wales had been intelligent enough, he would have been able to catch on, but maybe this would be to our advantage.

"My bad," she mouthed at me

"It isn't in your place anymore to act all nice with me, Wales, you have lost that right already, and I am done with you. I don't want anything to do with you, and you should leave." I had my fingers pointing at the door as I waited for him to walk away when he sat down, peering at me.

"I know I was wrong Claire, but I promise I will never do that anymore."

"This is different." I reminded him.

"I know I was wrong, and I should have asked you, but you know that you would have brought up classes and trying to read. I didn't want to distract you, and I am sorry that won't repeat itself anymore, okay?"

He shook his head. "I swear on everything I own, I will be a better man for you, and I will never cheat on you anymore."

"A better man?" I questioned.

"Yes, for you. For us. I will be that for us."