Chapter 3: Then stay (pt1)

Chapter 3

It was already late in the afternoon when Simone arrived at Clark Realty, the address written inside the folder Lorenzo had left for her. She had nearly gotten lost since it was her first time visiting the place. The trip had taken almost three hours because of how far it was from where she came from. That was why she couldn't help but feel relieved when she spotted the name Clark Realty displayed near the top of the towering building. At least she knew she had come to the right place and hadn't wasted all that time and effort.

Simone took a deep breath as she looked up at the towering structure, asking herself whether she was really going inside to speak with Jonathan and return the money and the land title. Earlier, she had been determined not to accept what he had given her. But now, a part of her couldn't deny how much Jonathan's help could change her life. On top of that, for reasons she couldn't quite understand, she felt nervous about facing the man.

Only one thought finally convinced Simone to make up her mind.

The twins.

Her brother was right. Jonathan Clark should never have any connection with them again. He could never be allowed to take the twins away from her.

With that thought firmly in mind, Simone walked inside. The security guard let her in without any trouble, even though he had never seen her before.

The moment she stepped inside, Simone couldn't help but admire the elegant, modern interior of Clark Realty. Right at the entrance stood a massive LED screen displaying a slideshow of the company's logo, followed by images of the numerous buildings owned under Clark Realty. One particular photo featured a man whom Simone assumed was the company's founder.

The combination of cream and brown tones gave the lobby a bright yet luxurious atmosphere. The Clarks owned several resorts, hotels, and restaurants both in the Philippines and abroad. Even the entire building she was standing in belonged to the Clark family.

Simone found it hard to believe that Colleen's ex-husband was this wealthy.

No wonder Jonathan had handed over money and a land title as if they were nothing.

And perhaps that was also why her brother was so afraid that Jonathan might eventually take an interest in the twins.

For someone like Jonathan Clark, getting whatever he wanted would probably be effortless—whether people liked it or not.

Simone shook her head.

She shouldn't be standing there in awe of the place. If anything, she should be worried.

She immediately walked toward the reception desk.

Three receptionists were busy assisting the long line of visitors who had come to request appointments or seek permission to meet different executives inside the building. Despite there being three of them, Simone still had to wait until several people had been accommodated before one of the receptionists finally turned her attention to her.

"What can I help you with, Ma'am?"

Simone returned the woman's warm smile. "I'm here to speak with Mr. Jonathan Clark."

"Do you have an appointment, Ma'am?” Simone awkwardly shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. You'll need to schedule an appointment first. OJC doesn't meet with anyone who doesn't have one."

"OJC?"

"Owner Jonathan Clark, Ma'am."

The explanation made Simone feel slightly embarrassed for not realizing what the initials meant.

She nodded before asking how she could book an appointment and how long the waiting period would be.

"Well, Ma'am, we currently have fifty-one pending appointment requests for OJC. If you schedule today, you'll be number fifty-two on the waiting list," the receptionist replied with a professional smile.

Simone's eyes widened.

She could no longer force herself to smile back at the woman, whose cheerful expression seemed like it was part of her job description.

"Fifty-two? That's... really far down the list."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. A lot of people request appointments with OJC. Each request still has to be approved by his secretary. If you could leave your contact number, we'll call you as soon as a schedule becomes available."

Disappointment washed over Simone, followed quickly by irritation.

Jonathan had confidently told her that if she wanted to return everything he had given her, she had to hand it back to him personally. Yet getting an appointment with him was nearly impossible.

Still, there was nothing she could do. She didn't want to cause a scene or force her way inside. In the end, she simply filled out the necessary information to request an appointment.

As she was writing down her contact details, she noticed a familiar man walking past.

Lorenzo.

She immediately excused herself and called out to him.

He turned around at once and stopped. "Miss Simone?"

She hurried over, and Lorenzo walked toward her as well. The moment his eyes landed on the folder she was carrying, he instantly understood why she was there.

"Miss Simone, why don't you just accept what Mr. Clark has given you?"

She shook her head and held the folder out to him. "I already told you I don't need any of this. Can't you just take it back? That way I won't have to wait forever for an appointment with your boss."

Instead of accepting the folder, Lorenzo clasped both hands behind his back. Simone nearly frowned at the gesture.

"It would be better if you come with me instead, Miss Simone. You can speak to Mr. Clark personally."

Her eyes widened in surprise. She glanced at the receptionist before looking back at Lorenzo. He smiled reassuringly, making it clear that he was serious.

Wanting nothing more than to return the money and the land title before finally going home, Simone accepted his offer.

She noticed the people waiting in line at the reception staring at her. She was about to enter the building's restricted area without an appointment.

A wave of guilt washed over her. It felt unfair to everyone else who had patiently waited their turn. Still, she reminded herself that she hadn't cut the line. Lorenzo had been the one who invited her.

As they walked toward the elevator, Simone couldn't help but notice the sheer number of employees working inside the building.

Everyone looked polished and professional. Most wore formal business attire, while others were dressed in tailored suits. Even the janitors pushing their mops wore neat, well-pressed uniforms.

Suddenly, Simone felt terribly out of place.

She was only wearing a simple blouse paired with tight jeans. Compared to everyone else, even the janitors looked more presentable than she did.

For some unknown reason, she suddenly became nervous.

Would Jonathan Clark see her the same way?

But...

Was that really something she should even be worrying about?