Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Marriage

"You're hired,"

As soon as Gabe Clyborne said that, he began to march out, leaving them all behind. He looks so tough with that body and blank with his face. She cannot deny what Candice told her. Yes, he's handsome. What you see in photos is what you also see in person. Everyone is still in awe after hearing how he hired her.

Her eyes remained at him, watching him leave and go back to the mansion. It will take her a long time to accomplish this mission. Gabe Clyborne is hard to read. He's a closed book and that is what she discovered on their first meeting.

"You got what you want," Leo said and now gave her a tiny smile.

"David," the man she fought with, introduced and even offered his hand to her.

She glanced at his hand for a second before she accepted it. In order to accomplish her mission, she should not just get the Clyborne's trust towards her but all the people who are on their side. That way, she will be able to play under their noses without them knowing.

"Annalise," she uttered again. David's eyes were glued at her. He was definitely captivated.

"Follow me, I'll tell you everything you have to know about your job." Leo said and now started to go back there. She quickly followed him and finally entered the mansion of the Clyborne clan.

"I'm going in," she mumbled and simply touched her watch.

"It's a piece of cake to her," her father commented while keeping an eye to her location.

"This mansion is owned by his parents. But then, they barely go home here. They are staying in the States," Leo explained. It seems like this man knows Gabe Clyborne that well. He was not even addressing him in a professional way but in a casual way.

As her feet invaded the mansion, she felt like she just entered the enemies' base and her life was in danger. The fact is, as soon as she accepted this mission she knew that her life was in peril.

"He comes to the company at 8 am, so at 7 am you must be prepared with the car because he hates being late, understand?" He asked and looked back at her. She nodded immediately before they continued entering the mansion. Her eyes began to roam around the house. There were tons of picture frames hanging on the wall. It was all them, the Clyborne clan. There are also extensive stairs coming to the rooms upstairs.

"Also, you will be the driver and his bodyguard as well. That is to ensure his security. He barely trusts people so he doesn't want a lot of their men coming with him," she nodded. She knew it the moment she saw him. He does not trust people easily.

"Am I gonna stay in his company until he finishes his work?" she asked, not because it would be tiring but because it was an opportunity for her to use her keen eyes inside their company.

"Yes, of course. You're the bodyguard so you have to stay where he is. Unless he tells you not to," he replied.

They walked by in the kitchen. There were maids who were busy cooking around. Leo didn't stop from walking and it seems like this is the way to the garden behind the house.

"You will be staying here and you can go home if there's an emergency with your fami—"

"I don't have a family," she said and cut him out. Leo froze and looked at her with surprise. He was indeed stunned by what she said but Larisa was the best in acting and portrayed her role.

"I mean, my parents died when I was young. And I don't have any relatives anymore," she explained.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately.

That's it. She got him that quick.

"No, it's okay."

"Anyways, you'll be staying here and you have to coordinate with me because the two of us will be with Gabe wherever and whenever he is."

"Copy that," she uttered.

"Okay, good. For now, you can check your room and bring your things there. It's upstairs, at the end of the hallway. The front room in the corner is mine," he explained well. She simply nodded before she went upstairs to her room.

But because she is Larisa Valestine, it's not just her motive. She walked really slowly, remembering all the rooms and figuring which one was Gabe's room.

"Is it this one?" she mumbled when she saw a door with the letter 'G'. She was about to touch the letter on it when it suddenly opened that stunned her. Her eyes widened a bit and her heart almost jumped out of her chest when Gabe came out of the room and saw her.

She froze and was lost for words.

D*mn it!

She was cursing so hard in her mind.

"What?" Gabe asked blankly like a grumpy grandfather.

"Nothing, sir. I was on my way to my room," she said politely, talking to him formally.

"Drop the formality," he ordered and left her there.

She took a heavy sigh and was able to breathe comfortably as soon as he left.

Her watch vibrated, which only means that her family is trying to speak with her. She immediately ran to her room.

"I'm here," she said and sighed.

"Tell us what happened!" Candice said.

"Well, I challenged one of their mens to fight with me. They don't want me to be the bodyguard because I'm a woman but I was able to prove what I can do," she explained while changing her clothes.

"Anything that you notice?" Lucinda asked.

"Nothing yet, Mom. But Gabe Clyborne is a close book and he does not trust people easily. His parents barely go home too based on his assistant," she discussed tiredly and threw herself on the bed. Good thing they have a comfortable bed.

"That's a good start, Larisa. You've done well," her father said. She smiled thinly with that praise.

After resting for a while, she got back to work and went downstairs. There were no shadows of Gabe Clyborne. He's probably in his room right now.

"She was amazing, don't you think?"

"Yeah! She defeated David. I can't even defeat this jerk,"

"We underestimated her too much," it was Leo, talking and having some food with the other men earlier.

"Annalise," David called that made them all look at her.

"You're so loud," Leo mumbled to them.

"Have you eaten? Join us," David invited her to the table. She raised her eyebrows, deciding if she should join them or not. But because she has a mission, of course she must join them.

"Have a seat," Leo said politely. He was a bit mean earlier.

"Thanks," she said. David gave her a plate and the utensils to eat.

"We are like this when his parents are not here. All of us are close to them because they do not just treat us as their workers, they treat us as a part of this clan." Leo explained beside her.

That is why their loyalty will remain to the Clyborne. She can see that to them, especially David and Leo.

"Gabe has been stressed these past few days," Leo mentioned that drew her attention to him so fast.

"He's always stressed with everything," David uttered.

"No, this is a huge one." Leo said and they all went closer to each other. She was only watching them not until they all looked at her, waiting for her to go closer to the table as well for what he was about to say.

She awkwardly did what they did with no choice.

"He's getting married," he whispered and all of those men even gasped.

"What?!"

"His parents have been arranging her with someone…I forgot the last name of that family. Leon…Len…What do you call that?" He was trying to remember the last name of the family that he will be tied with.

"Leondale?" Larisa guessed and they all eyed her.

"Yes! The Leondale clan!" Leo exclaimed and finally remembered it.

The Leondale clan is one of the most powerful clans.

"He will marry their heiress so his parents might go home soon," Leo added to the story.