She had a disheartening conversation with Nick early in the morning and it put her in quite the mood. He said to her that he missed her so much. He realized that he couldn't accept her new life so quickly than he expected.

She felt that she broke him beyond repair with the news of her marriage. And now telling him that they couldn't see each other, shattered him to pieces. He literally told her that he couldn't live without her. Despite the fact that she didn't have an answer to that, the truth clear. She never felt the pull in her chest every time he was near her. She never felt her rapid heartbeat any time he kissed her. The fact was that, she was never in love with him.

The day he acted sinister, was two nights before she became aware of her wedding, before she exchanged rings with her husband. She went to a party with him. A college frat party hosted by the women's man, Jake Phillips, who was having 'an actual' friendly conversation with her but Nick went all cave man on him. Jake frowned at his accusations.

For first, when Jake wants a girl, he gets one but Clarissa, was off limits considering they were friends and for second, he never likes to be intimidated. Nick sounded annoying, frustrating the guy enough that they exchanged fists. She shook her head and winced at the memory.

The fact in all the drama was that there was no chance for the both of them anymore and there stopped being any when her cousin fled with her lover.

---

"Come in," Thia entered into the office shutting the door behind her immediately.

"I thought I made it clear I didn't want to be disturbed." He said to her but sighed afterwards, "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to deliver some papers your father sent, he said to go through it thoroughly." Thia told him.

"Sure, let me see." She gave him the file. "There, you can go take a break now." He told her taking his attention back to the file he was formally working on.

"Are you sure you want me to leave?" He stared at her. "I mean, your father wants the papers sent back right now."

"Really Cynthia, you can go have lunch, I'll bring him the file myself." He told her and she tightened her fist in rejection. Nevertheless, she forged a smile and went on.

She cleared her throat and started again. "I heard about your wedding-"

"You hear about a lot of things these days correct? But now I have things to do, you should really use the door." She stood up and did as he said. Shutting the door behind her, she bumped into Clarissa.

"I'm so sorry-oh it's you." Forging a smile, Thia muttered. Clarissa frowned in confusion as Thia stretched her hands waiting for the file to be handed to her.

"It's lunch time already. You must be really hungry, you should go have lunch I'll give him the papers." Thia continued.

"Personal documents, Sorry you don't really need to bother yourself."

Thia glared at her for a second or two rolling her eyes and muttering a 'Whatever' before walking away from her.

----

She opened,

The clicking of heels made him sigh in frustration.

"I thought I told you I don't need to be disturbed Thia?" He turned around and the heels stopped.

"Well I'm not Thia." He looked up immediately to the familiar voice.

"Oh, it's you. I thought it was-"

"She seems to be really pissing you off." Clarissa mentioned and he nodded it away as if it was nothing.

"I see you brought a file, well can I have a look?" He tried hoping to take her mind away from the recent discovery. He flipped through the file and a frown appeared on his face.

"Well this file....who gave you this?"

"Your sister and she said no one else should come to you but me, she didn't say why." Rissa told him and he nodded.

"You can go."

Did she make a mistake? Well, let's see; old files, personally brought to him by Clarissa? Can it be what was going on in his mind? He paused when he found a note.

'You both have been working all day. Don't you think you should have a glimpse of your wife every second?'

He closed the file and flung it to his desk just when Clarissa walked out through the door.

He didn't know what his sister was trying to do but he knew the kind of person she was and he could already feel her hovering round his relationship.

---

Daniel had gotten home quite late that weekend working out of his sleep hours. He was literally exhausted. He entered into the room and he was greeted immediately with a strawberry perfume he had gotten use to. One he had grown to like so much. He walked over to his dressing room but stopped. Retracing his steps gently, he discovered something very interesting.

She slept on the bed!

For his reason, she had slept on the bed and the sight alone made him smile. Taking off his jacket, he moved over to the dressing room.

He went to bed immediately after changing into something comfortable, too tired to even take a shower. Resting his hand above his head, he turned to the sleeping figure besides him, memorizing every features of her face with ease. He confessed that she was infact a beauty. He was upset that in all her features, it was missing out his favorite, her eyes. Blue as the sea, he would say. He was undeniably attracted to them and worse of all, he was afraid. Afraid that he was already getting himself into something that he wasn't sure he would be able to pull out later on. He turned away from her sleeping figure staring at the ceiling untill sleep overtook him.

----

Saturday was lonely for her. She was seated at breakfast with her sister in law. Daniel had left for a business meeting a little far from home with Frederick and Kara, she was more or less into her fashion business.

"Why the long face Clarissa? For goodness sake he just left not too long ago." Clarissa blinked out of her trance in surprise and Audora smiled at her.

"Okay, spend some time with me then. Since you can't take your mind off him, maybe a little shopping will help."

Clarissa nodded before replying with a 'sure'.

-----

"Why would she even think of running away Henry, that's unlike the Clara we know." Austin stated as a matter of fact.

"I guess we don't always know people to the fullest bro." Henry replied with a shrug and Austin just shoved his hands in his pocket before looking around hoping to find interest in other mall items.

"I wonder how he must be faring, I better pay him a surprise visit sometime, don't you think?"

"You should. I heard Clarissa's a beauty by the way, I'm not sure he can resist for long..."

It was the fourth dress Clarissa had put on that looked magnificent on her.

Audora gave her a thumbs up admiring the dress in approval. When she decided to take her new friend out shopping, she sighed up for a gorgeous looking dress that fit the beauty very well, enough to get her brother's jaw to drop in amazement.

"Will this do?" Clarissa asked. "I admit the dress is a pretty one but-"

"But nothing sweetheart, you look gorgeous." She said with a knowing smile, a smile that no one could read.

Why does this look like she was asking for trouble? Clarissa sighed in defeat and Audora clapped her hands excitedly. "I'll just go pay for these, you just wait here." Audora said to her and was given a smile in return.

......" I just hope she's better." A faint voice was heard and when she turned to look in the direction of the voice, she saw a brown headed guy who got lost typing a message on his phone. His friend walked away from him but her stare didn't waver from him hoping she knew the face somewhere. He noticed this quickly and he didn't waste any time in returning the gesture.

She laid her items in her closet before walking down to her vanity table and taking off her earrings. The day was stressful trying out different quality gowns for the anniversary but it was worth it. She finally found one that was breathtaking, a gown worth to the dollars they spent on it. Holding her top to get rid of it, she froze as her eyes locked with those green ones. Her breath hitched in her throat and she put the shirt down on impulse. She didn't know he would be back today; maybe the meeting lasted for only a few hours for him to have made it home today.

"Hey, we need to talk." He hesitated before adding, "I'll be at the pool when you're done." She nodded in reply letting him walk away from her.

There he stood, in front of the pool obviously lost in thoughts. She couldn't help but feel nervous at the thought of what he was going to say. What if he wants to tell her that the relationship could never work? Besides, he is in love with another and he could guess the same for her. She sighed; she was definitely the only one over thinking this.

"Daniel," He didn't bother to turn to her because he was well aware of her presence even before she called out his name. "You said you wanted to talk?" The silence for a moment was almost deafening but he spoke anyways.

"What do you want for this marriage?" He started off. What was she to say? She wanted them to behave like a normal couple? That would sound hilarious to him. He would think her to be desperate. "People can't afford to see us like this; certainly they would know this is all bogus." She patiently waited to see if he had something else to say. Instead, he turned to look at her.

"I know you must be feeling sophisticated already, this wasn't what you wanted. But the truth is, we do not always get what we want." He paused looking for the right way to say this to her. "Mom and dad's anniversary is in a few days and I wanted us....I mean dad wanted us to pretend everything's okay between us for once."

Clarissa frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means we get to behave as if we are together for the anniversary."

"Okay." He raised a brow. "Let's say I agree with you. What happens next? What happens after the anniversary? Are we going to still pretend or what? Are we going to still pretend like everything is alright when it's not?" She scoffed when he couldn't give an answer.

He said, "It is as difficult for you as it is for me."

"Really?" When he said nothing else, she chose to walk away from him crestfallen that he couldn't even make his own choice. Everything wasn't right, she wondered how long till she exploded with all the pent-up feelings within.

He couldn't pinpoint what she really wanted. It couldn't be what he was thinking. She couldn't possibly be wanting chances with him. He had thought of the possibilities once, but no, he wouldn't be deceived by assumptions only. He had been broken once and wouldn't know how to repair the next.

___

Thia had gone into the office for the nth time in the last thirty minutes. She was his private secretary and all but Clarissa couldn't help but get the itch. Seeing her shirt buttons open, exposing her cleavage, the conclusion was quicker than she expected. Something was definitely going on, something interesting enough to put a smile of achievement on Thia's face when she came out of Daniel's office before going in the last time.

"How about tomorrow then?" Daniel raised a brow before throwing the file that he'd been holding on the table.

"For someone who claim to be mature, you behave quite like a child...too curious. Don't you think you should stop with the gestures already? I'm not interested."

But she was bold enough to play with his tie and press further into him.

"You should be careful, I could fire you. The only reason you are still here is because you begged for this job once do you remember. So, I advice you take your hands off me immediately." She paused with her lips ever so close to him. He was getting to her, her expression had began to change to worry and her courage was beginning to fade.

"I was just, I'm sorry i-" She tried but she knew more than to stay another minute. She moved away and quickly adjusted her skirt. When she began to walk away she paused at the sight of the figure that stared at the both of them in disbelief. Thia turned back to Daniel hoping to see something maybe indecision but his eyes were locked with Clarissa's so she walked away from the office. While he, waited for her to make a statement at the scene so he could tell her it wasn't as she thought but there was none from her. She looked away from him praying the burning sensation in her chest would go away. She tried telling herself that the reason she was probably upset was because, she had hopes for them. She felt an itch but an itch could ruin the whole thing for her eventually.

---

What did she think of him now? He groaned when he recalled her taking an excuse claiming to not feel well and went home. She was probably running away from him, avoiding him. She couldn't even meet his stare at the meeting. He had to clear things up really fast. Surely, she isn't meant to think that way of him but the fact that she did, made him worried.

He gripped her wrist when she attempted to walk pass him in the kitchen. "About today," he started.

"It was nice wasn't it?" She interrupted, but he shook his head at her reply. That wasn't what he meant.

"Are you two love birds going to stand there all day or come eat dinner?" Audora called out and she used the opportunity to release herself from his hold and walk away leaving him to sigh in exhaustion.

Now this, was definition of difficult!

The conversation between Audora and Daniel stopped as soon as Clarissa entered the dining once again. It made her feel as if she had interrupted something very important but Audora gave her a warm smile to ease her discomfort and confusion. Daniel groaned inaudibly as Audora stepped on his foot after a while, bringing him to order. He hadn't even agreed to whatever she was suggesting and she was already concluding. This was what he should avoid without hesitation but Audora wouldn't let him. Once again, he refused to budge. Audora's smile became pronounced when she stepped harder this time making him yelp.

Clarissa blinked in confusion. "Are you okay?"

"Sure. Sure, I'm fine." He replied before sighing in defeat. Walking over to her, he took her hand in his and walked out of the place. While she, stunned to the core, followed him leaving Audora to smile in success.

---

They continued the car ride in silence. After a while, she couldn't take it anymore. She was hoping he would at least say where they were headed or give her a reason for taking her away from home but it seemed as if he had no intention of doing either. She stole a glance at him but his attention was mainly on the road.

She sighed. "Are you going to tell me where we are going?"

He told her, "Relax, we're only going to visit my grandmother's grave. I don't know why my sister insisted that I take you along and really, I don't want to know but I would appreciate if you give me my space when we get there."

Oh, so that was what that scene was all about, now she understood. At least he wasn't asking for too much. All he was asking for was space, she could do that.

"That won't be a problem, I'll do just that."

He was already too upset with himself that he had forgotten their normal tradition to visit her yearly because he was too preoccupied with work.

As the aspiring CEO of JK groups, he has piles of files waiting to be attended and he couldn't spend anymore time wallowing on empty thoughts and allowing himself get distracted. He stole a look at her before looking back at the road.

---

It was sunset and the view from there was quite beautiful. She found a place to sit just before the water and she caught herself admiring the sky. She smiled to herself loving the view of that particular evening. Just sitting there and doing nothing got quite tiring and so, she let herself think away.

Sighing loudly, she wondered what her cousin would be doing. She should be having lots of fun with her lover now compared to her. This is karma taking turns on her. When she decided she needed a distraction from Daniel, she went ahead to date Nicholas, the guy that always wanted her attention. She thought she could forget about the moments she spent with Daniel but the result was quite unsettling.

Times like this made her remember every detail of it, the times her cousin stood him up. He wasn't the rude and bossy kind of person for his billionaire status, and that was why she fell so quickly. Thinking of it now, Clara ditching him so many times, could have been signs. Signs that she couldn't pull through with the marriage.

Here she was now, in a wedlock with the guy she was secretly crushing on, what does fate have in store for her? Her thoughts gradually drifted to Nicholas. She wondered how he would be feeling. She hadn't seen him for quite a while now. Had he given up on her and sorted a new life for himself? Maybe he already accepted the fact that she couldn't be his anymore.

She smiled when she realized she had been playing with her wedding ring unconsciously. She stared at the ring lovingly silently wishing that their relationship could be normal. She pulled it out and it slipped through her fingers and fell right into the water.

She cursed, "Shit! This cannot be happening to me why does it have to be the ring?!"

She panicked. What should she do?

She thought about it for a second before taking off her shoes and diving into the lake even though she knew that there was only but a slim chance of getting it back.

She combed her hair in frustration when she emerged all soaked, she cursed again.

"Rissa?" The tingles that erupted everytime he mentioned her name was something she couldn't comprehend. Forgetting that, he was there quicker than she expected and now, there was no better excuse for her clumsiness.

His eyes widened on seeing her in the lake when the heavens were already threatening to pour than rain.

He shrieked. "What in heavens name?!"

"I lost it, I lost my ring to the water. One minute it was in my hands and the neck it's in the water. I can't believe I let it slip."

"Get out of there, you're going to get a cold!" She was already shivering and so, she complied and got out of the water.

"You lost it, we'll get a new one, you shouldn't come down with a cold because of it."

It was worth it!

What made her put on a hopeful smile was that, he cared.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know what you were going to think-"

"I left you for sometime and look at what you've done to yourself." He sighed before saying, "let's go home already."

---

"How cold are you?" He asked but mentally face palmed himself for asking such a question.

She replied still, "Very." She hugged herself hoping to rid herself of a little cold.

"Just wait a bit, we'll soon be there." He stole a glance at her hoping he could drive fast before she freezes to death but it was like today, luck just wasn't on their side. His eyes widened as the car slowed down until it came to a stop.

"What went wrong now?" He looked at her mentioning, "I'll be back, give me a minute."

She gripped his arm. "But it's cold out,"

"I'll be alright," he told her before walking out of the car.

Few minutes later he had come back completely drenched from the rain. "There's something wrong with the battery. Plus we have a flat tyre, I'll try and see if I can get Noah to come give us a lift." He said to her but she didn't even have the strength to alter a word of reply to him.

He just didn't know how to help. Right now, all he could do was assure her that she was going to be okay. She had taken off her wet clothing and wore only his white sleeve shirt which seemed to have impressively cover half of her thighs.

"I couldn't get any signal." When she sneezed he knew her cold was a bad one.

He thought for a moment just staring at her wouldn't help and so, he joined her at the backseat.

"What....what are you doing?" She asked as she watched him dry himself with a towel he always leaves at the back of the car. The towel she had used... but that didn't stop his shivering. At that moment, he was more concerned about her.

"I heard once, body heat works," she couldn't believe her ears. "You shouldn't mind because you're literally freezing and I can't let you freeze to death." He said to her gently placing her head on his chest.

Growing fond of his shirtless body, she snuggled closer enjoying the feel of his body on hers. If this was one of those 'once in a lifetime thing,' she should at least make the best of it.

He smelled her hair, rude, yet he was addicted already to the strawberry scent it carried. He had once thought about holding her, so this was how it felt.

so comfortable....