"I know you think that I have something going on with Thia," he started after a while. Her silence showed that she didn't want to talk about it. Like he said, she thought, they were only having a public relationship, not something real so others will not dig up their dirt when they weren't looking. So why does it matter to him?

He sighed. "You should know I'm not that kind of person," He paused but she still didn't utter a word. "You have to believe me."

"It still wouldn't matter if I did, would it?" She finally said failing to meet his stare. "You said to act together in public, what if it wasn't me but someone else that was at the door, what would they think?"

"I know what you saw and trust me, there was nothing going on. I happened to be distracted to even notice her come in. I mean she did say she knocked but I guess I was too occupied to notice. The next thing I knew, she was all over me, I'm telling you nothing happened."

She met his stare hard. "That wasn't what I saw-"

"And that's because you were there at the wrong time, you saw things different from what was happening!"

Clarissa looked away from him. "Well, you could tell the same thing if it was another person at the door."

He cursed. "Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? Look, it's one thing to force you to marry me then it's another to betray my vows to you." Has he ever given her an iota of doubt? No. Even when he was engaged with to her cousin, she didn't see him hang out with other girls...well other girls except her. She could say she was.... convinced?

She found his eyes again which never left hers waiting for her to say something to ease his worry at least. He never knew she was struggling with catching her breath that seemed to hitch each time his husky voice was involved. Not knowing why but his eyes did something extraordinary to her, something she could very much explain, something she had always experienced every time she linked hands with him. As much as he saw it as a friendly gesture, she left it that way. She subconsciously ogled him, taking in every features of his face before her eyes landed on where it wasn't supposed to, his lips.

When she met his stare again, dancing in them were amusement. But the truth was clear, not only her got lost in his charm. His amusement started to fade when his got drawn to hers too. His Adam apple bopped as he swallowed nervously leaning slightly...

She didn't really expect what happened next. She sneezed-

"Let me warm you up." He said acting as if the staring contest never happened. He pulled her back to him planting his chin on her head returning to the comfort of that strawberry scent. She shut her eyes tiredly and he didn't even know when his eyes began to shut too.

---

The morning fast approached and the morning rays from the sun woke her from slumber. She was too tired to lift her lids.

Soft mattress,

Hairy legs...very very hairy legs. She wanted to rub them all day.

Wait a sec.....

She opened her eyes at once only to meet the chest of a muscular someone.

"Shit!" She pulled away as fast as she could and she heard him chuckle. It was then she met his stare. There he laid, magnificently propped on an elbow just staring at her in amusement.

"Morning to you too,"

She gulped as she clearly remembered her rubbing her legs against his hairy legs. On impulse her eyes darted to his legs only finding him in boxers and T-shirt and when they found his eyes again, her stare met his again only to meet the cocky smile he always carried around.

"How did we...you know....how did we get here?" She tried before clearing her throat.

"You sleep quite deep. I got the call and we got a lift." He answered with a shrug and she nodded.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with an expression she noted as concern. She sneezed in reply and he chuckled.

"Clearly not alright." He concluded.

"I thought about taking you along with me to see a friend but it's still cold out and you should rest." He told her as he sat up from his pose and got out of bed. She saw his muscles flex and she looked away.

"Who is this friend of yours.....that you're going to see?" She asked curiosity getting the best of her. She was literally expecting him to just ignore her but surprisingly, he didn't.

"Austin, an old friend just flew into the country after a long time, i might as well pay him a surprise visit." Her eyes dilated in recognition.

"The brown head, hazel eyes?" He returned to her from where he was picking out a shirt and khaki shorts.

"Yes, and how do you know him, have you two met?" Daniel raised a brow at her obviously not expecting her to know his best friend so soon.

Except they had a connection...

She once again looked at him meeting his curious stare. "Yesterday actually, when I went to the mall with your sister. We talked, he seemed pretty nice and funny too." She answered with a smile forming on her features at the memory. She clearly remembered being introduced to one other Blondie, what was his name again? Henry, she recalled, perfect! Daniel had really nice friends.

"Should I be worried already? How long did you guys talk?" He said walking away from her going back to the dressing room to get ready for the day. She could sense a change in the atmosphere even though she couldn't see his face any longer.

"No, not that long....we just talked." And she got no reply after that.

Confusing,

Did what she said upset him?

Applauds...

The congregation applauded them until they took their seats. As young as Frederick could get, he was handsome, looking a lot like his breathtaking son and Kara, wasn't looking any less.

Daniel, on the other hand, had climbed up the podium to welcome everyone to this auspicious occasion. It was made grand and the welcomed guests were wholly wealthy that one couldn't help but feel very courteous and if possible, nervous too.

"Good day everyone, I'm glad you could all make it. I welcome you all to the 13th anniversary of Mr. Frederick Thompson and his wife, Mrs. Kara Thompson...."

Daniel wasn't oblivious of the stares he was getting. He wasn't supposed to be the centre of attraction yet the ladies never fail to notice his attractive physique and alluring voice. He had met the stare of one of the hundreds but failed to hold it for it drifted over to those with captivating blue eyes. For a second there, he made no move to look away making people anticipate his next words. He just gave a silent sigh and concluded.

"I'm indeed grateful that you all came to celebrate with us and so, i implore you to make merry for as long as you stay." He said finally before receiving a round of applause.

For one third of his way back to his seat, his eyes were on her. For goodness sake, her dress would have been less revealing and her lipstick mild. It was like she was bent on seducing him today. He shook his head at his incoming thought. What if she wanted to? It couldn't be possible. Still, if she were to make a move, he wasn't sure he would find the courage to refuse her. She was looking perfect in that red dress with that split running up her thigh. It made him want to....he looked away from her, praying he was able to occupy his mind with something else.

She looked away too, in a rush to calm the unsteady beat of her heart. Her eyes landed on someone else in the process, the eyes she thought she could forever avoid.

---

Clarissa stood, staring at herself in the mirror, taking note of who she had become. A girl with a man every lady had their eyes on. Was this what she really needed? The last time she took a proper look at the mirror, she was still a teenager. A teenager who wanted to enjoy every bit of her teenage life but never forgetting that she was also the same girl that let her parents decide everything for her, mainly because she never had the courage to tell them what she actually wanted. She was also the same girl that let herself make a mistake even though she knew what she was doing was totally wrong.

Loving her cousin's ex wasn't what she foresaw, particularly when her cousin hadn't had her fill with him. Yet, she couldn't help it. Her sister Mia was right. She had a knack for taking things that belonged to other people. Mia said this on their fifteenth birthday when the boy they were both crushing on got to give Clarissa her birthday gift way before her. Mia had made a mountain out of a molehill considering that she practically liked him first. It made them almost never get along. Unfortunately, Mia died 4years later, on her way back from the United States where she applied for her degree. The plane shattered and exploded on crashing that they never discovered any bodies.

Clarissa turned to the sound of the door opening, her mom walked in. Lisa paused after shutting the door taking in her daughter's state before she plastered a smile on her face and walked towards Clarissa.

Clarissa never missed out the way she dressed. She must be feeling so proud that her daughter was infact a billionaire. Her dress stood out, she would have thought it to be more expensive that hers but considering the dollars Audora spent, she doubted.

"Darling, I missed you." Lisa said pulling her daughter in for a hug. Clarissa shut her eyes and welcomed the hug. Even if her mother had persuaded her into something that changed her life for the 'least best,' it had been long since she hugged family. She couldn't help but immerse herself in the comfort of her mother's arms.

"Mother," she finally said. "How was your trip to the Philippines?" Lisa finally released her hold on her walking to the sink next to her.

"It was fun. How is it going over here? I mean to say, are you alright?" Clarissa forced a smile.

"What can I say? Things aren't that bad mom." She turned fully to her mother and said; "For now I'm okay, I mean things haven't gone bad, I'm managing?" She shrugged.

"You worry too much my dear, everything will be alright."

"That's the problem, why wouldn't I worry? It's my life we are talking about here."

"What do you mean? Why would you worry? 'This' is every girls dream!"

"That is the problem mom, I never wanted this! You did all this and didn't for once think about how I would feel about it."

"How can you say that? Of course I thought about you and that is why I suggested it. Didn't the decision I made change your life for good? Look at you looking pretty and all that. All I did was for you, you should be grateful."

"I understand what you did mother, and I am grateful for that but can't you see that this is what I've being trying to avoid, this kind of relationships, I know it's going to work." Lisa frowned. "What if Clara comes back and-"

"She's never coming back! Don't you see, life has given you an opportunity, I only wish you could see it."

---

"Are you alright?" Daniel asked her.

She forced a smile on her face and replied; "Yah, never felt better." It was then he was convinced that something wasn't right and he couldn't be wrong about this.

"If you say so then." He answered. "Do you want to dance?" She thought she hadn't heard correctly. Right now the guest applauded his parents as their music ended. It was now time for them to take the stage. He stood and held his hand out to her and she took it with hesitation, following him to the dance floor.

"You know, I like your choice of gown," That got her to finally stare at him and she did something that he always seem to like, she blushed.

"Oh, I'm glad you like it-"

"Let me take a guess, Audora picked it for you?" He guessed and she cracked a smile. He took her away from him with the length of his arm only for her to come back to him with her back against his chest and his hands around her waist. He breathed in her addictive perfume and smiled too.

"Yeah, she said you were going to like it." She confessed with her face slightly turned to his.

They moved, swaying gently to the music. "Well I won't lie I do love the dress." His hands tightened on her waist just as his thoughts got drifted away to her lips. She allowed him take in her scent as she felt the need to arch into him. She unfortunately locked eyes with Austin who couldn't contain his grin at the both of them. But just as Daniel noticed, he took her back to face him.

"I don't want you staring at anyone but me." He stated not taking his eyes off her for a moment.

"Even though he's just a friend." He finished.