Chapter 4: Naked (pt1)

Chapter 4

Jonathan kept glancing at his wristwatch while sitting through a meeting with the board members regarding their new investor. His mind was barely in the conference room, because he knew that while he was trapped in the meeting, only a few walls and floors separated him from Simone, whom he had left waiting in his office. He tried to focus, but for some unknown reason, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Just earlier that day, Simone had come only to return the financial help he had offered for his late wife. In Jonathan's opinion, she deserved that help. He had purchased a memorial lot for Colleen after discovering through his sources that she had never owned one. If she had, he would have known because of their joint properties. He also found out where Colleen would be buried and learned that the lot had been reserved for her, it wasn't yet fully paid for—it was being purchased through installments.

He had only learned all of this that morning after asking Lorenzo to investigate. Jonathan immediately instructed Lorenzo to buy the memorial lot and hand Simone a check. It was only a small gesture on his part, yet Simone still refused to accept it.

To be honest, after what had happened the previous night, he hadn't expected her to accept his gift so easily. What he hadn't anticipated was that Simone would show up at his office that very same day.

And that was bad for him.

For reasons he couldn't understand, Simone—and the little boy she had called Lohan—had occupied his thoughts ever since he left Colleen's wake the night before. He had even found himself wanting to return despite being driven away by everyone there, especially Simone. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was because Colleen had still been his wife. He wasn't sure. That was why he decided to help financially instead. He had sent Lorenzo instead because he knew his desire to see Simone again was wrong. He shouldn't be feeling that way.

Unfortunately, Simone was now sitting in his office—the very woman he had been trying to avoid.

"What do you think, Mr. Clark?"

Jonathan shifted his gaze from the large presentation screen  in front of the long conference table where the new investor was standing beside it. Sitting at the center of the table, he had the perfect view of the presentation as she explained the company's proposed investment project.

He cleared his throat and forced himself to give the meeting his full attention.

This is exactly what I was talking about, he thought. If I keep thinking about Simone, I won't be able to do my job properly.

When the meeting ended, Jonathan was the first to leave the conference room. His secretary followed behind him, along with his cousin Matteo, who also served as one of the board members.

"You look distracted. Is it because of the woman waiting in your office?" Matteo asked.

Jonathan didn't answer. He simply continued walking down the hallway toward the elevator while adjusting the buttons of his gray blazer. He had no idea how Matteo had learned Simone was in his office. News certainly traveled fast around the building.

"Joe, does Regina know about this? You know how jealous your girlfriend can be."

Jonathan let out a deep sigh before finally looking at his cousin.

"Matt, there's nothing to tell her. Simone is just sitting in my office. Nothing's happening between us."

Matteo laughed. "Really? Didn't you notice her incredible figure? Her beauty? Her posture? Come on! Are you seriously telling me she's just sitting there? You don't want to..." He raised an eyebrow, leaving the rest unsaid.

Jonathan understood exactly what he meant.

Matteo wasn't wrong.

Simone had arrived wearing nothing more than fitted white jeans and a cream-colored blouse, yet even in such simple clothing, she was breathtaking. Just as the first time Jonathan had seen her, her beauty had immediately caught his attention. Her features were naturally elegant—almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and soft pink lips. She didn't need expensive clothes or jewelry to stand out. Her natural charm was more than enough.

"If you're not interested in her," Matteo continued, "then why don't you introduce her to me instead?"

Jonathan rolled his eyes and stepped into the elevator as soon as the doors opened. Matteo followed, while Jonathan's secretary silently pressed the button for their floor.

"She's Samuel Alvaro's sister," Jonathan explained. "She's only here to get the documents she needs for Colleen's burial."

Matteo nearly choked on his own saliva. "What? Seriously?"

Jonathan kept his eyes fixed on the floor indicator inside the elevator, refusing to look at his cousin's stunned expression.

"Seriously? Then why did you even let her in? Wait... Samuel Alvaro was the other man, wasn't he?"

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

Jonathan stepped out immediately, unwilling to answer any more questions. He knew Matteo would only argue with him once he learned that Jonathan had been the one to offer Simone help in the first place—the very reason she was now waiting in his office.

"Yeah, he's the one," Matteo muttered to himself.

When Jonathan glanced back, Matteo was shaking his head in disbelief while glaring at him in annoyance. Instead of following him out, his cousin remained inside the elevator and waited for the doors to close.

Jonathan simply shook his head and continued toward his office. It was probably for the best that Matteo had finally stopped pestering him.

Before entering, Jonathan gave his secretary a few instructions regarding his schedule for the rest of the day. Once she remained outside, he opened the office door.

His eyes immediately searched for Simone.

He found her standing beside the large floor-to-ceiling window, quietly gazing at the rain outside. Only then did he realize it had started raining. She hadn't noticed him come in and remained with her back turned toward him.

Matteo's teasing words suddenly echoed in his mind.

Without meaning to, Jonathan found himself looking at Simone's figure. She had a naturally attractive silhouette. She didn't need revealing clothes to appear sexy. Her fitted jeans alone accentuated her graceful curves. What made her even more beautiful was that her body was well-proportioned—neither overly voluptuous nor exaggerated—allowing her to look elegant no matter what she wore.

Jonathan cleared his throat as his mouth suddenly went dry. He loosened his necktie, feeling strangely warm despite the cool air-conditioning in his office.

Damn.

The mind was far more dangerous than the eyes or the hands, really.

Hearing the sound, Simone turned around. She blinked in surprise before quickly recovering.

Jonathan stood frozen as she slowly walked toward him, her arms wrapped around herself.

He wanted to stop her. He didn't want her getting any closer.

"Mr. Clark," Simone greeted softly. "It's raining, and the sun has set. Has the person you sent called yet?"

Her slightly sleepy-looking eyes searched his face, silently asking questions. Jonathan noticed how expressive they were. Her eyes revealed far more than the rest of her face ever could. They were beautiful.

Jonathan quickly looked away before he memorized every detail of her face. If he stared any longer, he feared he would never forget her.

He took his phone out of his blazer pocket and frowned when he noticed a missed call from his housekeeper. His phone had been on silent during the meeting.

He immediately called back. After only three rings, the maid answered. Jonathan glanced back at Simone. She quickly looked away, as though she'd been caught watching him.

"Sir!" came the voice from the other end.

"Where are the files I told you to find?" Jonathan asked.

"They're not on your desk, sir. I've already checked."

"Did I say they were just on the desk? Did you check the drawers? The shelves?"

"Sir... that's the only place I was able to search," his maid replied nervously.

"Why?"

"Because I told her to stop looking."

Jonathan squeezed his eyes shut the moment he heard his mother's voice.

"Why are you there, Mom?" he asked, rubbing his temple.

Jonathan had lived separately from his mother for years, but she still showed up at his house unannounced to supervise his household staff. He had repeatedly told her it wasn't necessary, but she always insisted that until he remarried and had someone to manage his home, she would continue taking care of it herself.

Eventually, he had grown too tired to argue and simply let her do as she pleased.

"As usual, son. Then I heard you're looking for Colleen's file. Why? Are you planning to contact her new family and hand it over to them?" His mother's voice was filled with judgment.

"They'll need those documents for her burial."

"For all I care, let them deal with it! They managed to survive for six years without those papers. They can figure it out now, too."

Before Jonathan could respond, Jolina ended the call.

His jaw clenched. If she hadn't been his mother—the woman he still loved despite everything—he would have cut ties with her long ago because of her constant interference in his decisions.

Simone studied Jonathan's face curiously. She hadn't heard the conversation, but she could clearly see the frustration written across his expression.

"Mr. Clark?" she called gently.

Jonathan looked back at her and let out a quiet sigh. For a brief moment, he considered telling Simone the truth about the missing documents.

Instead, another idea came to mind. "Come with me."

Simone raised an eyebrow. "Where?"

"To my house," Jonathan answered. "We'll look for the documents you need there."