Confrontations And Compromise

Claire's POV

What does Don Carlos want from me and why is he standing at my front door right now.

We spent that amazing night together dancing and talking and then he just vanished after getting some phone call and the next thing I know I'm seeing him with another woman through the cab window.

Does he think I'm just another one of his random girlfriends because if that's what he thinks then he has another thing coming. 

I don't do competitions when it comes to men and I won't start now.

"Big sis there's this really cute guy at the door asking for you," Violette yelled from downstairs and I could hear the excitement in her voice. "I saw him through the window and oh my god he's so handsome."

"Violette get to your room right now," I snapped at her because the last thing I needed was my little sister getting involved in this mess.

I heard her footsteps running up the stairs and then her bedroom door slamming shut. 

The sound made my head pound even worse than it already was and I pressed my fingers against my temples trying to make the pain stop.

These headaches started after the accident and they just won't go away. 

I keep thinking about that poor cab driver and wondering if he made it out okay because if something happened to him then I'll never forgive myself for causing that crash.

But right now I need answers from David about everything that happened. 

Why did he disappear like that and who was that woman he was kissing and what was he doing at the hospital anyway.

I had to accept the truth about my feelings even though I didn't want to.

The only reason seeing him with someone else hurt so much was because I actually cared about him and that scared me more than anything.

What is happening to me and what has this man done to me that I can't even think straight anymore. 

I got up from my bed and walked downstairs to open the front door because avoiding him wasn't going to make any of this go away.

When I opened the door and he stepped inside I turned my face away because I couldn't bear to look at him right then.

"Claire I'm so sorry," he said and his voice was deep and smooth and it made me feel things I didn't want to feel.

There was something about the way David spoke that always got under my skin and made me want to listen to every word he said even when I was angry with him.

I kept my eyes focused on the wall behind him and tried to ignore the way my heart was beating faster just from hearing his voice.

"Just let me explain what happened," he said and I could tell he was moving closer to me. 

"I know what I did was terrible and I want to make it up to you somehow."

I wasn't going to fall for whatever sweet words he thought would work on me because for all I knew this was just his standard routine for getting women to forgive him.

So I stayed quiet and kept looking away while he stood there talking and trying to get my attention.

"Please Claire just give me one more chance," he said and his voice got louder and more desperate. "I'm begging you to hear me out."

"Claire what's all that noise down there," my father's voice boomed from upstairs and I felt my stomach drop. 

"Don't forget you're still grounded.”

I knew I had to say something before my dad came down to investigate and made this situation even worse than it already was.

"Okay fine I'll listen to what you have to say but you better answer every single question I ask you," I whispered while finally turning around to face him. 

"And keep your voice down because I'm grounded and I don't need any more trouble with my parents."

The moment I looked at his face I felt like I couldn't move or breathe or think about anything else. 

He was smiling at me with that perfect smile and his eyes were so beautiful and his lips looked so soft that I just stood there staring like an idiot.

"Are you okay Claire," he whispered while reaching out to touch my shoulder and the feeling of his hand on me made my whole body tingle.

I got lost looking into his eyes and I couldn't remember why I was supposed to be angry with him or what I was supposed to be doing or saying.

He licked his lips while looking right at me and then he put his other hand on my waist and suddenly I remembered everything that happened at the party and how he left me standing there alone.

"Get your hands off me right now," I snapped while pushing him away from me. 

"You disappear after getting some phone call and now you expect me to act like nothing happened. 

Well sorry handsome but I'm not some backup girl you can use whenever you feel like it."

"Claire please calm down and let me explain what really happened," he said while looking at me with those puppy dog eyes that probably worked on every other woman he met.

"Before you explain anything you need to answer my questions and I want nothing but the complete truth," I said while crossing my arms. "Do you understand me?"I said.

"Yes I understand," he said.

"I've heard stories about you and I want to know if they're true," I said while watching his face for any sign that he was about to lie to me. 

"Are you the kind of man who sleeps around with different women all the time?"

He took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eyes before answering.

"Claire I owe you nothing but honesty so yes those stories are true but that's all in the past now," he said.

 "I'm not that person anymore and I promise you that."

"Those are just empty words and I don't believe you," I said while feeling my anger building up again. 

"I saw you with that woman through the cab window and you were kissing her so don't try to deny what I saw with my own eyes."

"The accident happened because I got so upset seeing you two together that I wasn't paying attention and now that poor driver might be seriously hurt because of me," I continued while pointing my finger at him.

“So don't you dare try to tell me it wasn't what it looked like."

He tried to reach for me again but I stepped back and shook my head.

"What you saw wasn't what you think it was," he said softly. "Please just let me explain."

"I'm not interested in your lies," I said. "Go tell your stories to someone who actually believes them."

"Claire please just calm down and listen to me," he said while raising his voice again.

"I am calm and you better start talking," I shot back.

"That woman came to tell me that my father had been rushed to the hospital and it was a critical situation," he said while his voice got quieter. "I had to leave immediately."

"I'm sorry about your father but that doesn't explain why she was kissing you," I said because something still didn't add up. 

"There's more to this story and you're not telling me everything."

“Start spilling immediately.”

"I have another question for you and I want the truth because I'll know if you're lying to me," I said while staring directly into his eyes.

"David Don Carlos, are you involved in selling drugs?"

"Where did you hear that from," he said and I could see anger flashing across his face.

"That's just rumors spread by people who hate my family."

"That's not an answer," I said firmly. "This is a yes or no question so answer it."

"No I am not involved in selling drugs," he said but I noticed his eyebrow twitching when he spoke.

I knew he was lying to me but I decided to keep my thoughts to myself for now and see what else he would say.

"One more question," I said after letting the silence stretch between us. "How did you find out about my accident."

"Someone who saw what happened told me about it and I felt terrible knowing it was my fault," he said while his voice got softer again. "I tried calling your friends but none of their numbers were working so I went to find your parents instead."

"I told them everything that happened including which hospital you were taken to because I needed to make sure you were okay," he continued. "I'm really sorry Claire and I hope you can forgive me."

His voice sounded so sincere and the way he was looking at me made it hard to stay angry but I still wasn't sure if I could trust him.

Then he suddenly grabbed both my hands and dropped down onto his knees right there in front of me.

"I promise I will never lie to you again," he whispered while looking up at me.

"I want to show you my world the same way you've shown me yours because I think it's time you knew who I really am."

Seeing him on his knees like that made my heart race and I felt all my anger starting to melt away even though I didn't want it to.

I pulled him back up to his feet and looked into his eyes while trying to figure out what I should do next.

"If you really want me to see your world then maybe I'll start believing your words," I whispered. 

"But right now I don't know where this is all heading and I guess we'll just have to find out together.”