CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Who the fuck is Blake Gray?

Why isn't he recognised as Mr Gray's child?”

“Well you see” the man shifted uncomfortably in his seat

“I've said enough, that's all I can tell you”

You don't have to worry, this conversation never happened. My family has the power to protect—

The man suddenly got up from his seat and tried to break free of his chains

He let out a loud scream

His had a demented look in his eyes

Palmer grabbed him and restrained him and Donald and stood up quickly.

“Warden!”

Donald called.

He opened the door

Several wardens entered the room and held him, but he kept struggling.

Then they tased him.

He fell unconscious and was taken away.

“Donald's breath hitched”

What the fuck just happened he asked Palmer as they walked out of the prison

“It's either he let the prison mess with him, or Hillary Gray fucked him up, fucked him up bad

So bad that he would rather fake insanity than give us more info”

Donald sighed as they got into his car

Everything he did, every risk he took was so his grandfather could see him and recognise him.

He had always walked within the constraints of Luca's shadow, always been in the background. No matter what he did, Rufus Pavilochenki always seemed to give Luca preference.

He didn't know why

But this was his chance to write his name in gold. This was the opportunity he had to make his grandfather proud.

He picked up his phone and dialed someone's number. It rang a few times, then the man he called answered.

“I'm sorry, I'm still wo—working on—”

“Fuck it. I want you to get me intel on a man named Blake Gray

Everything there is to know about him that exists”

“Yes—yes sir”

“And if you mess up this time, aside from the fact that you would be hit with an unexpected stroke of bad luck,

you will find that hacking with one third of the ligaments of your fingers gone is more difficult than it sounds”

“Am I understood?”

Yes

******************

Claire adjusted the napkin on a dinner table. It was a table set for two.

She admired her work

“I really should've been a waitress or something” she said.

She had moved in with Donald the day before Sharon's wedding. She ditched the club basically, she didn't need to dance for money

Because Donald came from a family that it's foundation on “old money”

For the first time in her life, she felt like the main character. Donald treated her like a princess

She gave him everything she had to offer in return. If he wanted to know something, she told him.

If he wanted sex, she gave him her body and soul, and she enjoyed it because she was in love

Sharon can go fuck herself. She didn't approve of our relationship because she didn't want me to have a taste of real happiness.

She didn't want me to attain the sort of power and status that she was born with

Just imagine if Donald proposed to me, I mean he's head over heels in love with me.

Imagine me being the next Young mistress of the Pavilochenki dynasty

Claire Pavilochenki, it's got a nice ring to it

There was a knock on the door. Claire giggled because she knew it would be Donald

“Good evening dear”

She said as she opened the door.

Donald muttered and almost incoherent answer as he stepped in

He looked different, out of touch with his surroundings.

“How did your day go”

As if a switch flipped, his mood changed and he was back to his usual self

He gave her a warm hug

“Did you miss me?”

He asked

“Of course I did

“I even made dinner”

Donald's eyes drifted to the table she had set

Well, let's did in

Five minutes later, they were seated, having chicken soup for dinner

Claire's attention was focused on him, but once again his mind was somewhere else

She began to feel unsure of herself.

“Donald”

She touched his hand to grab his attention when she noticed he didn't answer her immediately

“Yes Claire”

“Do you ever intend to get married?”

He looked at her in surprise

“Why do you ask that? Of course I'll get married”

“It's just that you don't seem like the kind of guy who would want to settle down easily”

Donald stuck a piece of chicken in his mouth.

They are in silence from that time

Then Donald asked a question

“How's Sharon?”

He looked a lot more interested in the conversation

“Sharon?”

“Yes, your best friend Sharon”

Claire shut her eyes tight

“It's just the two of us here, why are you asking about Sharon?”

“Well she married my brother”

“Exactly! She married him, not you

Why does everything have to be about Sharon

Claire was getting serious

Donald dropped his fork and cupped her chin

“Because Sharon is my sister in law, and as you know I care about my brother a lot. If she's going to have my nieces and nephews, her wellbeing needs to concern me, don't you think?”

Claire relaxed a little bit

It's just that you only ever want to know about her

“Do you feel insecure about it?”

Claire's cheeks turned red

“A little bit”

“Well you shouldn't be”

Donald could sense her doubt, but he had already gotten what he wanted from her. He didn't need to put much effort anymore

“I was thinking maybe we could —”

“Mrs Emilia Gray, does she visit the hospital much?”

“Why is that important right now D”

“It's a health related question. I need to know if they're are any hereditary diseases”

Claire sighed. It had nothing to do with their relationship

She was trying to suggest a date, but he had to bring up Sharon's family.

If this was the only way she could hold on to him then—

“Yes she does”

“Has Sharon ever mentioned anything about hereditary diseases”

“No, but she did say her mother had fertility issues or something”

Donald smiled.

Claire didn't know it yet, but the information she just gave him would go a very long way.

Donald was slowly beginning to piece together the puzzle, one jigsaw at a time.

But Claire's mouth was full of them

“Fertility issues you say—”