"Are you crazy?" Clara shouted angrily.
Avi and Kevin both raised an eyebrow. Did Clara just curse at Alex banks. Clara had had enough of people playing her so she didn't care anymore. "Fine I'll take down the video, but on one condition" Alex said. This was definitely his opportunity to have this girl. "Okay, what condition?"Clara asked finally cooling off. "Let's make a deal, be my girlfriend and I'll take down the video"Alex said leaving everyone shocked. Alex was clearly proposing to Clara. "You can as well leave the video on the internet" Clara response brought disappointment to all in the office. Even Kevin expected her to say Yes. She pulled Avi's arm and turned to leave. "What if I help get revenge on that bastard?" Alex said not wanting to miss this opportunity. Clara turned to look at Alex, her face was lit up indicating that she loved the idea. "What are you getting at?"Clara asked "Jeremy works in my company, I could fire him and even blacklist him if you want. Jeremy's family isn't going to stop bothering you, I'm the only one who can help you "Alex banks said trying to sound very convincing. Kevin shook his head, the almighty Alex was nearly begging just for a girl. "I can also help you "Avi said not wanting to feel left out." Alex banks signalled Kevin and Avi to leave. After they left,He continued. "I'll help you get back at Jeremy and his family. I'll also sue his girlfriend for defamation." "Fine, I'll do it. I'll be your whatever." Clara responded. "You can text me anytime to meet up,so I can know more about you." Clara added. "Okay beautiful " Alex said. Clara rolled her eyes and said"Don't call me that you shameless man ". Alex laughed, he loved it when Clara tried to act stubborn. "Don't you have a job?"He asked. "I don't have a job, I just sit around all day doing nothing" Clara responded with a hint of sarcasm. "Should I offer you a job?" Alex said trying to impress Clara. "You fool,I work from home as an author, publisher and editor." Clara said and walked out of his office slamming the door. Alex banks smiled, that girl is so wild. ****** "What did you two talk about?"Avi asked as they got home. "Nothing much, I agreed to be his girlfriend and told him we had to meet up to get to know each other." Clara said. "That's all?"Avi asked. "Of course, that's all. What else were you expecting?"Clara said. She looked closely at the dirty minded Avi and pinched her cheeks. "Stop being dirty minded Avi "Clara said. "I'll go take a shower now" ***** Clara got out of the bedroom and wore her nightgown. She took out her laptop and opened it. She had been busy all day and didn't get the chance to review the file forwarded to her. As she buried her head in her work,her phone rang out. She looked at the caller ID,it was an unknown number. She hesitated before she picked up the phone "Clara speaking,Who are you?"Clara asked. "It's your new boyfriend." Alex said. "Alex??” "Yes,it's me. Did you already go to bed?"Alex asked. "No, I'm working." "Look out your window" "Why?"Clara asked. "Just do as I say" Clara got up and looked out the window. She saw Alex waving at her. She laughed"What are you doing here?" "I just wanted to see you one more time before going to bed"Alex said. "Then , you should've done a video call. Why come all the way here?" "I just miss you that's all, good night "Alex said and waved Clara goodbye.**AT ALEX BANKS OFFICE** Kevin walked into Alex's office,"Your mother is here to see you"He said. "Send her in"Alex banks said. James knew well that Alex banks didn't like it when family members come to visit him at work. "How dare you make your mother wait at the reception, Alex"Anna shouted as she entered the office. Anna Banks was Alex's mother and she was always nagging. "You know why I'm here right?"Anna Banks said, trying to cool off. "What is it this time Mom?" "The video that has been circulating the internet,can you explain that?"Anna Banks asked. "There is nothing to explain mom" "What do you mean by nothing to explain. who is the girl in the video?"She asked. "She's my girlfriend". Alex banks said smiling,he knew what his mother's next reaction would be. Anna Banks gasped in shock,"Girlfriend!!Since when were you serious enough to have a girlfriend". Alex banks was always fooling around with other girls which made her really upset and worried, now
Every body in the conference room looked at him. Was he really leaving in the middle of a meeting? "I've got somewhere to be so finish up without me"Alex banks said and rushed out the door, leaving the people dumbfounded. **AT THE BANKS MANSION** "I'm talking to you and you're not showing any concern"Anna shouted at Robert Banks. Robert Banks was Alex's father. "We shouldn't meddle in our son's private life. You know how he is, jumping from one girl to the other. Let him do as he pleases"Robert Banks said. "You men are always like this can't you just understand my worry. That girl doesn't even have parents and she ran off on her wedding day" Anna said. "There's all sorts of rumour about her, people say she's just a gold digger and I don't expect better from people like that". Anna Banks added. "You haven't even met her yet". Robert Banks said, all these talking was already tiring him. "Do I really need to meet a girl like that? She is going to be like a stain on my son's rep
Clara woke up midmorning the next day. It was Thursday and she didn't have anything to do. She went downstairs and saw Avi reading a magazine, "No work today"Clara asked Avi. "Nah,I quit my job yesterday"Avi said. "Great, let's go have fun today"Clara hippied. "I said I just quit my job, shouldn't you be sorry for me?"Avi said. "I didn't ask because I'm very sure you quit your job because you were bored" "You're right, that work was just paper work and more paperwork and more paperwork,Arrgghhh" Avi groaned, she looked like she could tear anything apart. Clara took a few steps back. "Let's just leave this house and go have fun "Clara suggested. "You're right, we'll go to the park,then the shopping mall and a very nice restaurant "Avi said. "That sounds like an expensive fun and I'm currently broke" "How dare you say you're broke when your boyfriend is a billionaire? Just call him and ask for money " "No" "I'll call him for you "Avi snatched Clara's phone and dialled Al
"What are you doing, Clara?"Alex Banks said pulling her arm. "I'm leaving" Clara said. Alex Banks pulled Clara to the car. Inside the car, Alex Banks hugged Clara's waist and pulled her closer to his chest. He looked deep into her eyes and leaned in closer,close enough that Clara could feel his hot breath. Clara tried hard to avoid his gaze. "What are you not telling me Clara?" Alex Banks asked again. "It's nothing really"Clara replied. "I can tell that you're lying, Clara"Alex Banks said and let go of her. Clara tried to get out of the car but it was locked. "Open the door,I want to leave"Clara said with tears welling up in her eyes. "You're not leaving till you tell me what's going on" "How many girls have you met before me?"Clara asked. Alex Banks was surprised by the sudden question, "What do you mean?, you're my girlfriend Clara, I'm not seeing any other girl" Clara looked at Alex Banks, she felt like slapping him right now, "Let's break up, Alex" "What,Why?!!
"I just asked you a question,Alex" Clara said. Alex Banks looked at her, he left the room and locked the door. "He just locked the door. Oh my God, I've been kidnapped"Clara said. ****** IN ALEX'S STUDY "I need to know where these pictures came from"Alex Banks said, he picked up the whiskey glass and poured himself another shot of whiskey. Kevin looked at the pictures scattered on the table. The girls in the pictures were all Alex's ex girlfriend, Alex broke up with some of them and some just left on their own. "You should stop drinking now. I'll find out who sent these pictures"Kevin said. ***** Avi looked at the time,it was already midnight and Clara wasn't back yet. She decided to give her a call. Clara had finished taking her shower and was submitting a review on her phone when Avi's call came in. She picked it up and cried, "Clara, what's wrong?,why are you crying"Avi asked. "I've been kidnapped,Avi"Clara said and walked to the window. "What do
"I'd prefer you to call me Clara"Clara told the butler as they got to the dining room. "Okay ,Clara" Clara looked at the exotic dishes on the table. "Is all these food just for me?"Clara asked. "Yes,Clara. The boss asked us to prepare all of this as he didn't know which one you'd like"James said. "Why don't you join me?"Clara invited James. "We're not supposed to eat on the dining table,so please excuse me"James said and left the room. After Clara had finished eating, the maids came to clear the table. Clara recalled the previous night, she didn't see any maids. She called out to a maid who seemed to be supervising the works of the other servants. "You there, what's your name?"Clara asked. "Me"the maid said shivering. "I just asked for your name, it's not like I'm going to eat you or something"Clara said and signalled her to come closer. The other workers watched curiously. "I'm Rose"She said as she walked closer to Clara. Clara gave her a warm smile which made her feel
Clara looked at Alex Banks in the eyes. She grabbed his face and reassured him. "tell me and I promise you, I'll not tell anyone else. I'll take your secret to my grave" Alex Banks laughed. "I'm not my father's biological son, I'm just like a stand in"Alex Banks explained. "Sooo, it's not much of a big deal"Clara said smiling. "What!!"Alex Banks said. "I'm not going to break our deal just because you're not a rich heir. but you just said you loved me and that can't be possible because we met few days ago"Clara said. Alex Banks was surprised Clara didn't want to talk about it. Most girls left him when they found out that he wasn't the heir of the Banks. "I've liked you for quite a while"Alex Banks said. "So you were my secret admirer"Clara asked playfully. "Of course "Alex Banks pulled her closer and kissed her. Before Class could process what was going on, Alex Banks had already pinned her to the wall and captured her lips. He kissed her slowly making it captivating . C
It was already evening when Clara managed to get out of bed. Her body was sore from the sex. She got up,put on her slippers and went downstairs. Rose had already set her dinner and was preparing to leave. The other two had already left for the day. "Rose,why don't you join me for dinner tonight?" Clara said to Rose. "But the boss doesn't allow us"Rose said, she didn't want to get fired. "He won't do anything okay, I'll talk to him"Clara said with a big smile on her face. "Seeing you smile like this means you've made up with the boss" "Yes, we've straightened things out"Clara said. "Clara, do you like the boss?"Rose asked. Clara was taken aback by this question. "I,I mean it's just one sided love. He wants it but I don't"Clara replied. Her expression gloomy. "You shouldn't do that to the boss, he's already been through so much"Rose said pitifully. "You're making it sound like I'm the guilty one here. He asked for it and I want him to help me get back at my ex's family"
Chapter 80: The Choice That Awaits.The next morning arrived with an unsettling calm. Clara woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window, the early light streaming through the curtains and painting the room in soft hues of gold. She turned over in bed, her mind clouded with the weight of everything that had been happening lately. The emotional rollercoaster with Alex, the growing distance between them, and the constant pull of Maddox’s words—it was all so much to handle.She lay there for a moment, eyes closed, allowing the silence to wash over her. But soon, the reality of the situation crept back in. The unease she’d felt for days hadn’t gone away. In fact, it had only deepened.Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She reached over to grab it, her heart skipping when she saw the name on the screen. It was Alex.---The Message:"Clara, I need to see you. We need to talk. Can you meet me for lunch today? I want to fix things."---Clara stared at the message
Chapter 79: The Tension Beneath the Surface.The morning sun crept through the large windows of the penthouse, casting long beams of light across the plush furniture and sleek lines of the modern living room. Clara stood by the window, coffee cup in hand, her eyes tracing the skyline as her thoughts swirled. The city beneath her was buzzing, alive with the energy of a new day, but Clara felt an unease she couldn’t shake. Her mind kept returning to the conversation she had with Maddox the day before. His words lingered, like a shadow in the back of her mind, refusing to fade.She didn’t want to admit it, but his words had gotten under her skin.Was Alex really as committed as he seemed?Clara had always trusted him—had always believed in their bond—but after hearing Maddox speak so convincingly, she found herself questioning things she never thought to question before. Maybe it was the way Maddox had spoken to her, so calmly, so assuredly. He’d known just what to say to plant that seed
Chapter 78: The Unraveling GameThe city below stretched out in a tapestry of glittering lights, the night sky obscured by the towering buildings that seemed to touch the heavens. Inside the sleek, modern office, the cold glow from the windows cast long shadows on the polished floor. Maddox leaned back in his chair, the quiet hum of the air conditioning the only sound in the otherwise silent room. His eyes were fixed on the files spread out before him, each one representing another calculated move in a game that had been years in the making.Maddox had always prided himself on his ability to stay three steps ahead of his competitors. His rise in the business world had been relentless, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and control. But there was one thing—one person—that had always eluded him: Alex Banks. The man who had everything, the empire that seemed untouchable, and the woman who had stirred something in Maddox’s heart that he thought was long buried. Clara.He could almos
Chapter 77: New BeginningsThe morning after their tentative reconciliation was nothing like Clara had expected. She woke up to the sound of rain tapping against the windows, soft and steady, as though the world outside was breathing in sync with her own conflicted heart.She had expected the night to weigh heavily on her mind, but instead, there was a strange sense of calm. Alex’s words, his touch, his promise—everything lingered in the quiet of the room, a soft warmth that eased the tension that had built up between them over the past weeks.As she sat up in bed, her gaze wandered to the half-empty space beside her. Alex was gone, but it wasn’t the absence she feared. It was the quiet certainty that he was still there, in the sense that he hadn’t left her, and that, despite everything, she hadn’t left him either.She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. It was still early, too early for business, too early for anyone to be stirring in the office. But there was something about t
Chapter 76: Unraveling TensionsThe moonlit night had barely settled when Clara entered the penthouse, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The sounds of the gala still echoed in her ears—the laughter, the clinking of glasses, the hum of conversations. But as she closed the door behind her, the buzz of the outside world seemed to vanish. Inside, everything was still. Everything was charged.Alex sat on the edge of the leather couch, his sharp silhouette outlined by the dim glow from the chandelier. His jacket was discarded, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, exposing the tension in his posture. He looked like a man at war with himself. But Clara wasn’t sure if it was with her or with something deeper.Her gaze flickered toward the empty space beside him on the couch. “You’re here,” she said quietly, her voice more unsure than she intended.Alex didn’t answer right away. He was staring at his hands, his fingers moving as if he were mentally organiz
Chapter 75 — The Gala: Unmasking the ShadowsThe grand ballroom was a spectacle of shimmering lights and glimmering elegance, a stark contrast to the dark thoughts that plagued Clara's mind. The night of the gala had finally arrived, and despite Alex’s reassurances, she couldn’t shake the unease that clung to her. She had seen it in his eyes—his quiet determination that he was shielding her from something, but tonight, she was all too aware that the world around them was watching.She and Alex had arrived earlier in the evening, gliding through the crowd, their presence magnetic. Every eye turned when they entered—Clara in her silver gown that caught the light with every movement, Alex in his sharp black tuxedo, a man of power and control. Together, they were a force, a perfect picture of wealth and status.But despite the beauty surrounding her, Clara’s mind kept wandering back to the small, almost imperceptible gestures she had picked up over the past few days. Alex’s phone calls th
Chapter 74 — Shifting SandsThe night was quiet, an eerie calm that felt almost unnatural after the whirlwind of the past few weeks. Inside the penthouse, the gentle hum of the city below seemed to fade, leaving only the low, rhythmic sound of Alex's breathing as he lay in bed beside Clara.Clara’s fingers traced slow circles on his chest, her mind wandering despite the quiet peace between them. The gala loomed just days away, but tonight felt like a moment to pause, to let the world slip away for just a few hours.Alex's hand found hers, intertwining their fingers, as if sensing the shift in her mood. His touch was warm, reassuring. "You’re thinking too much," he murmured.Clara smiled softly, but there was an edge of something darker in her expression. "I just... I’m wondering how we got here."Alex raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. "You mean to say, how you ended up in bed with a billionaire who has a penchant for being overprotective?"Clara laughed,
Chapter 73 — A Whisper in the CrowdThe soft melody of jazz floated through the upscale boutique as Clara ran her fingers lightly over the racks of shimmering dresses.The gala was only days away, and despite Ivy’s enthusiastic insistence that she would find something perfect, Clara still felt a little out of place surrounded by the glittering fabrics and luxury labels.Ivy trailed after her, arms full of selections she deemed "absolutely necessary to try on.""Come on, Miss Vale," Ivy teased, holding up a deep green gown that looked like it belonged on the red carpet. "You’ll be the most beautiful woman there."Clara laughed lightly, but her heart warmed at Ivy’s earnestness."I think you’re a little biased," Clara said, taking the gown and heading for the dressing room.As she disappeared behind the heavy velvet curtain, Ivy lingered near the mirrors, flipping absently through her phone.The boutique’s front door chimed softly.Two sharply dressed men entered — neither looked like t
Chapter 71 — Shadows from the PastThe morning sun flooded through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, casting golden light over the world Alex Banks and Clara Vale were slowly rebuilding. The scent of fresh coffee drifted through the air, and soft music played in the background — the quiet, beautiful rhythm of a life Clara never thought she’d have.She stood by the kitchen island, still in her silk robe, stirring her coffee absently. Her mind was elsewhere — half on the chapter she was writing, half on the way Alex had seemed... distracted lately.Nothing overt. Nothing she could accuse him of.But Clara could feel it — the slight pauses, the way his eyes sometimes drifted toward the window like he was searching for something unseen.“Hey, dreamer,” Alex said, walking in, crisp and magnetic in his dark grey suit. He kissed her cheek, lingering for a second longer than usual, like grounding himself.“You’re late,” Clara teased, nudging him playfully.Alex chuckled lowly. “I