Chapter 3

Chapter 3 
CLAIRE 
I TAKE OUT MY spare key to open my apartment door. Finally inside, I cried my eyes out in despair unable to come to terms with what I'd just done. I wanted to have sex with him so bad I didn't thoroughly think about what's at stake. 

"What happened?" Rebecca said emerging from my room and walking towards me.

"I fucked up beccs" I throw myself in her arms, weeping uncontrollably. 

"I saw your text, you didn't later do it"

"I did" I muffled. 

"You did? So what's the crying about?"

"I shouldn't have, I can't be friends with him again"

"Did he say anything?" She straightened me up.
"No, after we were done I ran out of the limo"

"You did it in his car?"

I affirmatively nod. 
"Damn girl you're wilder than I thought. Did you enjoy it?"

"This is not funny beccs"

"Just take a shower and sleep, you'll feel better tomorrow". She led me into the room. 



DAMON
I SAT STILL ALL THROUGH the journey back to my penthouse reminiscing all that transpired a few minutes ago. It played back on repeat. 

" we're here sir" Thomas informed 

"I'll be out in a minute" I managed to say. 

I just had sex in my car with the woman my heart belongs to and I don't know what to do next. Amidst thinking I'd cheated on Megan, Claire left hurriedly and we never got the chance to talk through it. 

It's time to follow my heart. I have always loved her and now that I have all I can to nurture my love for her, I'll win her heart and make her mine. Now the first step is to break up with Megan. 




CLAIRE

THURSDAY GOT ME FEELING like not coming to work. But the stupid meeting with the CEO I've never met made me come. Didn't want the boss thinking a lazy bone had been hired. 

I sat alone in the conference room ten minutes before the meeting. Rebecca's call came in.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

"I'll get through it"

"Better"

"Well aside from the fact that Damon will think I'm a cheap slut, I'm good"

"Darling it's not like you'll be bumping into him anytime soon so relax and give yourself a break"

"He sent me a text"

"Oh he did?? See he's not that bad, what did he say?"

"He wants to talk"

"And what did you say?"

"Nothing yet" I saw Nick come in. "I've got to go now, I'll call you later" I killed the call.

"Hi Claire, you don't look so good, are you okay?"

"Oh I'm fine, just not sleeping well"

"Ari's fault I'm guessing" he sits beside me

"Well that and other personal reasons"

Other directors walked in making it inconvenient to talk more.

"You'll tell me later" Nick said 

"Not happening" I smile

"Fair enough, it's better than you saying never" 

"It's the same meaning Nick" I laughed

"Now that's the face I want to see, laughing suits you"

We shifted our focus back to the meeting that's about to commence. Shortly after, a figure I presumed to be the CEO walked behind me to the far end of the table. I was too worn out to look at my boss's face and when I did, I froze, my pupils dilated. Holy shit Damon is the CEO? I kept my face hidden, using Nick's head to cover mine. 

"Let me formally introduce you to the CEO of our company, Ice agency and overall president of Ice group of companies Damon Ice" Bill announced and everybody applauded. 

Damon Ice??? I know him to be Damon Stanford, where did the Ice come from? 

I saw female directors fully concentrated on Damon. Love-struck I'd say.

"For the sake of employees who are yet to meet with the boss, we are all going to introduce ourselves and designation"

Oh no! My brain was about to explode. Can this day get any worse? 
It got to my turn. I didn't stand up like the others, still making use of Nick's head and hoping that Damon doesn't recognize my voice-hell- he's going to tell by my name!! 

"My name is.."

"Ms. Claire can you introduce yourself while standing please" Bill was being a bully at this point. Being the head of directors does not give him the right to talk like that. I stood up regardless, keeping my focus away from Damon whose gaze I felt on me.

"...Claire...Rutherford...designated to Actress and singer, Ari" I managed to say.

I was about to sit down when Bill said again

"Ms. Claire joined the agency eight months ago, so she's unaware of you sir" 

Sitting down, I finally summoned little courage to look at Damon. His stone-cold eyes were fixed on me, like a hurricane sent to kill me.  I was so not interested in the meeting anymore and just wanted to get out and call Rebecca. 

The meeting wrapped a few minutes later. Not wasting a second, I squeezed myself in between other directors and made my way out hurriedly.

I BARGE INTO MY OFFICE confused, ashamed and guilty. Even felt worse aware he'd know I was avoiding him. I sank into my chair dialing Rebecca's Number. She picked on the second ring.

"Don't tell me you're still stuck up from last night Claire" she was quick to say

"Damon is my boss, he is the CEO of ice agency" I felt my skin shiver 

"The fuck! Tell me you kidding"

"I wish I was, God beccs I really fucked this up on a hundred"

" so he's a multi-billionaire, you just fucked a multi-billionaire!!!" She yelled 

" what do you mean?"

"If you're right, that means Damon Ice is your boss"

"You know him?"

"Duh he owns half of New York- pull up the internet"

I put my phone on loudspeaker, drop it on the table then typed Damon Ice on the search engine from my computer. 

"It's him! That's Damon-ice"

"Claire he's eng..." I cut her off

"Engaged to Megan Statham" the words came out in a whisper as I saw a picture of them loved up on TMZ

"You know her?"

"Yes," I managed to say. Damon and Megan? Mitchy's knock on the door brought me back to focus.

"There's a call from the CEO's office that you report there ma'am"

I can't see him, not like this. I had to think of an excuse fast.

"Report back and say I'm out, that....i...went...with Ari for her wardrobe appointment with the designer" I grabbed my phone, car keys and bag.  Mitchy knew not to question my orders so she walked out and I followed suit. 

I called Ari while I walked out of the building. 

"Hey there superstar, tell me you're on your way to Marco's"

"I just got here Claire" 

"I'll be there in a.."

"What you're coming? Don't you trust your designer?"

"I want the best for you sweetie that's why I'm coming, don't want you convincing Marco to let you wear something I don't like"

"You mean the agency.."

"That's one of the perks of being a celebrity, see you in a bit"


DAMON 
I RESTED MY BODY BESIDE the table in my office waiting for Claire. Too much has happened and I wanted to clear the air, seeing that she'll avoid me till the end of time. 
Susan, my secretary walks in to inform me Claire was out. I understood what she was doing, I didn't say anything last night after what happened and I think she got the wrong assumption. 

"Did her assistant say where?" 

"Wardrobe appointment for Ari with Marcos for the ASMAs"

"Oh, you can leave Susan" I made sure she left before dialing Claire's number knowing fully well she won't pick up. I sent her another *we need to talk* message for the umpteenth time. Hopeful she'd reply and if not, time for plan b. I need to know what's going on in her God damn mind caring less that she's also my employee. She's been working here for one seven months and I had no inkling. I had been praying for us to meet again oblivious of the fact that she was under my nose all along. I blamed myself for not being frequent at Ice agency instead I'd focus on my other companies leaving the latter in the hands of a manager. 

There's so much I want to tell her.

"Send me the address to Marco's," I told Susan over the intercom. Wherever she runs, I'll go.


THOMAS PULLED UP IN FRONT OF Marco's office, i was about alighting from the car when i saw Claire come out talking over the phone. I sank back into the chair, taking a deep observation of my new Claire. Fully aware that the sex made things awkward between us, i was not ready to back down. I've loved Claire from afar since High school but i grew up believing that Money nurtures love. It had hurt me back then when Claire would talk about guys she liked in school making me extremely jealous and almost confessing my feelings for her. I worked very hard to become a billionaire because of my love for Claire, hoping that someday I'd go back to her and tell her how i feel but i fucked up with Megan-big time- all i just want to do is talk to my stubborn Claire. I got down from my Bugatti falling into Claire's sight. I saw her freeze in as much as she tried to conceal it but her eyes gave her away. 

"You've been avoiding me Claire, i had no choice but to come down here" i straightened my suit jacket.

"I've been busy and i need to head back inside" she gestured her right hand at the building. 

"How long are we going to keep up with this awkwardness Claire?"

After a few seconds of silence, she finally walked towards me.
"I'm sorry Damon, it was a big mistake on my end, i shouldn't have done it and now i know our friendship has been jeopardized because i wanted to..." She held back, biting her lower lip but i knew what she meant without her saying. 

I wanted to say a lot of things, i was prepared and now that I'm facing her, i can't find the proper words to explain myself and salvage the situation.

"I didn't know you were engaged, Damon, "

I felt a huge blow to my face. 

"Hell i didn't even know you own Ice agency, i didn't know a lot before...you know"

"You're making it seem like i don't have a say in this, we did it together.." She cut me off again -stubborn claire-

"I need to go" she hurried back inside before i could say anything and without thinking, i followed suit. 

"Hello Mr. Ice" Marco greeted me extending his arm, i met it with mine halfway. 

"Afternoon Marco"

"Glad to have you here sir"

I simply nod.

"To what do i owe this pleasure of having you here sir?". 

I was half attentive to what Marco was saying. 

I finally saw Claire come out from a corner in the large room alongside Ari who I'd personally signed to the agency a year ago.

"Hello Damon" Ari greeted 

"Doing good i presume?"

I felt  Claire fury, her fiery gaze on me like thunder. 

"Yes i am. Come to check up on me? I am already feeling lucky with Claire being here which has never happened, she always sends her assistant but today she's here"

" I'm just doing my job Ari and since we have the final pick, i need to head back to the office, where's your ride?" She asked Ari totally blowing me off. Typical Claire.

"Section c, I'll call Greg to bring it out here" Ari excused herself to make the call.

"May i speak with Ms.Claire alone?" 

"Ok sir, in the meantime do you want coffee or tea?"

"I'm okay" 

Then he left. I watched Claire closely, she was either too ashamed to even look me in the eye or doing it on purpose. 

"I liked it"-i blurted out but didn't care-"and I'm sorry about the way i handled it..." She cut me off again

"I have to go. Bye Ari!" I caught her wrist before she walked past me.

"Give me a damn minute Claire, I'm trying to resolve things here" 

"It's okay Damon, I'm good."

"Then talk to me Claire, please don't go all bitch mode on me like you used to"

"I'm not going bitch mode, I'll meet up with you in your office in two hours"

I let her wrist go

"Thank you" 

She left. 

"How are you finding the agency?" I asked Ari while she walked towards me

"Amazing, thanks to Claire. She's more than just being my Manager and all things showbiz, she's my rock and I'm so glad the agency kept me under her supervision"

"That's good to know"

"Will you be coming to the ASMAs?" 

"To cheer you on of course"

My relationship with Ari is quite different from all other signed artists because we have a relationship beyond work. I'd met her on the streets performing for a few dollars, she had the hustle aura, which was a fresh breath for the agency considering the fact that we had silver-spooned entertainers. I personally signed her then kept her under Nick pending the time we hire a new director to be in charge of her. I didn't know the person they hired was Claire because i didn't bother myself with the interview process instead i trusted it in the hands of HR and the Manager. 

"Greg's here, enjoy the rest of your day Damon" she hugged me then left. I left almost immediately. 


CLAIRE

"So are you going to see him?" Rebecca asked 

"Nope" i bluntly replied 

"You are making this harder than it looks Claire, what are you so afraid of? He's not even bothered bestie, you are the one making an Oscar out of this." she hissed and if i didn't know better, I'd have concluded my best friend was taking Damon's side. 

"I'm ashamed" i finally admitted 

"There's nothing to be ashamed of"

"I feel like a slut"

"That goes without saying" she giggled and i felt like smacking her over the phone.

"Really beccs?"

"Go see your prince charming and don't you fucking message me saying otherwise, bye" she hung up on me. 

I took a deep breath, seeing that the two hours I'd given has elapsed, i slide my pumps on before the intercom rang.

"Susan from the CEO's office called to remind you about your appointment with Mr. Damon, she asks if you're on your way" Mitchy informed 

"Tell her ill be up in a minute" i dropped the phone back to its cradle before standing to tuck my silk blouse properly into the skirt I'm wearing.  I was about leaving my office when my phone rang. It's from my daughter's boarding school. 

"Ms. Kate..... What?!!.... I'll be there"

I'd just received the worst news. The school bus had an accident while coming back from an excursion and my daughter is not responding to treatment. Tears fell down from my eyes uncontrollably as i managed to walk without tripping to my car, driving off like a mad woman. 7-year-old daughter, the result of my past mistake is in coma.

"God please save her, take me instead, but please save her" i drove on, against traffic lights not caring if i had an accident myself. I managed to send Rebecca the hospital address.

An hour and half later i got to the hospital address sent to me. I located the ward my daughter is in only to find two nurse cover up a body. My daughter's body.

"Why are you covering up my daughter?" 

I didn't need to be told, the situation already explained itself but i didn't want to believe. 

I walked over to the bedside. 

"Why is she not on oxygen? Why is she not on any drip?, why is she not talking to me?" I was losing it, asking questions that obviously had an answer. I felt an arm on my shoulder.

"We lost her ma'am"

My whole world was spinning, spinning so hard, i fainted....