3.

Clara did not know what was happening at first. All she knew was that someone had a tight grip on her arm. She turned around and looked up with a retort on her lips—and fell into steely blue eyes.

It's him.

She froze in place with those big bright eyes wide and anxious. His face only a few inches away from hers. He was so tall, he towered over her. He looked even more breathtakingly beautiful than in his photo. His skin was flawless. Every feature was defined and sharp like it was carved from the granite.

"Clara." The man spoke in his deep voice and sent her brain into a tailspin.

She shook her head and gently shoved his hand away. His brows drew together in confusion as she left him standing there in the middle of the dance floor and went straight to the restroom.

Once inside, she shut the door hard and leaned against it with her eyes closed in utter disbelief.

She was instantly overwhelmed with insecurity. How had someone like him, with a face like that, been talking to her for the past three weeks. Sure she had seen his photo before but he was even better looking in person. It felt surreal.

Taking a few steps towards the sink, she ran the cold water, needing something cool against her heated flesh.

Why am I acting like this? We're just friends. She convinced herself.

Must be the alcohol. With the way she had acted just now, she was certain Xane figured he had mistaken her for somebody else. She regretted not acting normal and saying hi to him like a normal friend would.

******

Xane rubbed the back of his head as he watched the woman leave the dance floor abruptly. He was certain it was her. With hands in his pockets and shoulders hunched, he walked back to the VIP table, where Leandro and Tyler were studying him with tilted heads and narrowed eyes.

"What was all that about?" Leandro asked when Xane had slumped into the soft cushioned chair.

"It's her. But she acted like she don't know me," he said, pursing his lips.

"You mean the woman you've been texting?" Tyler asked, gaping at him.

"In a big city with so many clubs around the area and you met her here? What are the odds," Leandro chuckled softly.

"She didn't recognise me," Xane muttered.

"Maybe it's because she don't know you,"

"What do you mean?" He asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Tyler explained further. "Like I've said earlier. Maybe she's not the person you're really talking to. Somebody must have used her photo and made you think that it's her."

Xane dismissed his brother's admission. His eyes wondered back to the dance floor as he watched her girlfriends walking to their table and sipping on their glass of liquor.

Once again, his eyes landed on her when she was back at the table with her girlfriends. He pulled out his phone from his pocket, his eyes never leaving her, afraid that she might be gone again.

(1:30am) Xane: Why did you run away?

He sent her a text and leaned back in his chair, watching her every move. He wanted to know if she was really her or he had really been catfished, just like his brother assumed.

His intense gaze on her felt like a laser beam, like a predator ready to spring on its prey. She had taken her phone out from her purse. Her lips parted as her eyes fixated on her phone. Her eyes grew wide at first. And then she looked around wildly, clutching her phone to her chest, as if trying to find someone in the crowd. She placed the back of her hand on her cheek, trying to cool her flushed face before turning her attention back to the phone.

I knew it.

This time, his lips slowly curled up into a wicked smile and his eyes light up with mischief.

******

Clara told the girls that she was tired and had called an Uber home. Zaphire insisted on seeing her leave safely.

"You sure you're okay? You look like you're about to pass out." Zaphire patted her shoulder when they exited the club.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Go have fun with them." Clara reassured her with a smile.

"My Uber is here." She waved goodbye to Zaphire and got into her Uber.

Clara pushed her apartment door open and kicked off her high heels by the foyer. She caught her reflection on the cheval mirror by the door.

She regretted wearing this black dress. It was too tight and showed too much of her curve. She felt insecure.

Her phone started ringing and her heart stalled when she stared down at the screen.

Xane.

She inhaled deeply and patted her chest lightly before answering. Before she could say anything, that distinctive velvety voice sounded in her ear.

"You didn't reply to my text." He stated, his deep voice was the kind that is so very easy to fall in love with.

"Well, I..." Flustered now, Clara didn't know how to respond. Was it a good idea telling him she didn't know it was him? That'd be stupid. It was too obvious. Maybe she could act like it wasn't her? Pretend she wasn't there tonight. But he would know when they meet.

"I'm sorry. I didn't expect to see you there tonight. It just caught me off guard," Clara laughed nervously over the phone.

Xane had followed her as soon as he saw Clara left the club. He had wanted to see if he could bump into her outside but she was fast. He saw her getting into an Uber as soon as he stepped out.

"So it was you then?"

His long legs sprawling in front of him as he reclined in a squashy leather sofa, Xane looked up at the huge canvas which dominated the wall above the blazing log fire, and gave a slow smile.

"Yes," Clara sighed and added. "Look I'm sorry. How about I buy you breakfast? My treat!"

Xane frowned over the phone as he had heard the word breakfast. Breakfast felt more like what friends would do. And she wanted to buy him meal too? His jaw clenched tightly as he thought that Clara was already drawing the line between them.

"Breakfast?"

"Yes. After a morning jog at the park," Clara blurted out and instantly regretted as she had let the words come out of her mouth.

A morning jog? Seriously? You can't come up with something better? Clara cursed inwardly.

Her thoughts were interrupted by his soft laugh.

Fine. I'll play your little game if that's what you want. Xane thought.

"See you tomorrow morning then beautiful," he said softly and hung up.

Clara gawked at the phone for a few seconds and raised her eyebrows.

Beautiful?

She walked towards the cheval mirror once more and checked herself in the mirror.

Is he blind or what?

Clara had never been called beautiful. She never thought she was too. She had always thought she was rather plain. Not at all beautiful.

******

Entering the park, a slight breeze rustled the leaves making them fall to the solid ground one by one. It was a Sunday morning. The park was barren except for an elderly couple feeding the ducks and a couple of fellow joggers breathing in fresh morning air.

Clara had worn a dark grey leggings and a white cropped hoddie that revealed the lower part of her sports bra. They had decided to meet at the nearest park that they both lived. To her surprise, Xane lived only a few miles away from her.

Her heart started racing when her eyes landed on Xane who was already walking towards her and grinning. He looked very different compared to last night. Especially his hair. His golden hair was gleaming and tousled, as if he'd run his fingers through it when he'd been fresh out of the shower—and he wore a plain dark grey hoodie paired with the same colour running shorts. He was outstandingly handsome and robust, intimidatingly masculine and Clara felt the sudden spiralling of nerves.

"This is not a date Clara," she whispered to herself before waving at him.

"So here you are," he said.

"Here I am." she shrugged a little awkwardly.

He let his gaze drift over her. He was pleased when he saw how casual she had worn and that she had no makeup on, as if she had no intention of pleasing him. Her hair looked a little messy in a ponytail. He had been used to having women who tried too hard to please him and Clara was something else. Maybe a morning run as a date was not too bad after all, he thought.

After their run, they had decided to grab breakfast at one of the closest cafe near the park.

"I heard their pancakes were really good," Clara purred after they had settled down at one of tables next to the wall, which offered a view of the street beyond.

For a while, they just stared at each other in silence, trying to figure what the other person was thinking. They had occasionally stolen glances at each other during their run earlier.

Xane cleared his throat and decided to break the silence. "Do you do this everyday?" Referring to the morning run.

"Yeah! It's one of my favourite things to do before starting my day." She said sanguinely and continued, "my mind will clear and I will be able to face whatever may happen that day."

"I get that now," his eyes gleamed as he gazed at her in adoration.

"How about you?" Clara gave the waiter a half smile and thanked him when he served their coffee.

"I work as soon as I wake up," his tone was casual and took a sip of his coffee.

"Your boss sounds like a real tyrant," Clara frowned and it earned a smirk from Xane.

"Why's that so?"

"Haven't you heard of-" She was cut off by a familiar voice behind her.

"Clara?"

Clara's breath caught in her throat and her heart started rapidly accelerating. For a brief moment, she pressed her eyes closed. She hadn't heard of that voice in a long time. She would have broken down in tears if she had seen him anywhere a few months ago.

Why now? Why here? Out of so many places and time, he had to be here now.

"Clara?" Jack said again. "I can't believe it's you,"

Clara forced a tight smile to Xane as she slowly turned to face the man who had almost caused her to lose control of her life a few months ago. He had his hand wrapped around his girlfriend's waist.

She's even prettier in person, Clara mused.

"I didn't expect to see you here. How are you?" Jack asked casually, acting like they were friends.

How am I?

He was the last person she wanted to hear that from.

"Never been better," Clara scoffed. "Look-"

"Baby... who is she?" The woman next to him asked, interrupting her. She raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows insolent query and placed her manicured hand on his chest.

"Oh... she's my ex," Jack replied flatly and smiled down at his girlfriend. He then turned to Clara, "this is my girlfriend... Sasha."

"Oh? That ex?" That woman's eyes glittered when Jack nodded and she observed Clara from head to toe, her unpleasant face made Clara felt like she was a dirt now.

What did she mean by that ex? Clara asked herself. He was the one who hurt her but now she made it sound like he was the one who got his heart broken.

Clara clenched her fists so tightly that she could feel the pain and she was sure her hands were red now.

No. She would not let them get to her.

He had done enough.

"Who's that? Your boyfriend?" Jack suddenly turned his gaze to Xane who was sipping on his coffee.

"He's my friend. So if you would please-" she implored, desperately hoping that Jack and his partner would leave. It was already humiliating enough to meet her ex here and she did not want to involve Xane in this mess.

"Not yet," Xane interrupted and earned a frown from Jack. He slowly stood up from his chair. Sasha's jaw dropped at the sight of him. Clara did not blame her though. He was one handsome man. He towered over all of them, even Jack.

"Huh?" Clara turned to look at Xane in confusion.

"I'm not her boyfriend..." Xane paused for a while and added. "Yet"

Author's Note—

Do comment and let me know what you think! <3