جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

CLAIRE:Theo looked me straight in the eyes, his expression unreadable. “Don't get into trouble. I'll pick you up tomorrow evening for a dinner date.”I nodded, turned around and walked into the salon, Jennifer trailing behind me.“Claire?” A girl in uniform asked as soon as we stepped into the salon.“Yes,” I responded with a nod, wondering how she got to know my name.“Alpha Theo informed us you were coming.”“Oh!” I responded, not knowing what else to say.“Welcome ladies,” she greeted politely as she approached us. She was just about my age and had a pleasant personality. She ushered us into a special section of the salon. Jennifer and I were treated like VIP.We were offered soft drinks which we gladly accepted. I sipped mine while my nails were being done.Jennifer had to wait for the hair stylist to finish with a client before attending to her. By the time we were done, it was already 9: pm.We stepped out of the salon together and called a cab. I tried calling the cab driver t

THEO'S POV:It has been weeks since Claire stopped coming to work and the atmosphere at Valmont Corporation had grown heavier with each passing day. The air felt thicker. Colder. It was as if Claire had taken the warmth with her when she left.She was supposed to be here. In her lab coat, with her hair in that messy ponytail that always seemed to slip loose when she got lost in her work. Instead, her desk sat abandoned, her scent fading with each day.And it was my fault.Since I asked her to stay home after the masked harassment, productivity had taken a nosedive. The drug research project — the one she’d poured her heart into — was stagnating. I had promised her I would set up a mini-lab in her apartment so she could continue the research in peace, but after the incident with the masked intruder, the idea became dangerous.We had agreed to stay apart for a while — for her safety. It killed me. But every time I imagined her wide brown eyes filled with fear, the decision made itself.

CLAIRE'S POVWithout thinking, I turned on the shower, hoping the warmth would wash away the ache in my chest. As the water ran over me, I closed my eyes and let my mind wander back to all the little moments—the way Theo would smirk when I said something sarcastic, the way his eyes softened every time he looked at me.I missed him. Desperately.I stepped out, wrapped myself in a towel, and padded to my vanity. I dried my hair with a towel before using the blow-dryer. After that, I applied my body lotion and every other skin care product I used.The act of applying my makeup felt like a mission. Every stroke of my brush was a silent affirmation: I was going to see him. I wasn’t sure what I’d say or even why I was going. I not only needed to see him. I wanted to confront him about his hiring Daisy to take my place at Valmont.I wanted to also find out if they had started seeing each other. Call me crazy if you want but I needed to secure what was mine.I wore a light cream blouse and tu

THEO'S POV:I sat behind my desk at Valmont Corporation the next morning, staring blankly at the untouched coffee in front of me. It had long gone cold, mirroring the pit in my stomach. I'd barely slept a wink last night.Every time I closed my eyes, Claire’s face flashed behind my lids—the pain in her eyes, the way her mouth trembled before she turned and bolted from my home.I rubbed my temples and leaned back in my chair, exhaling sharply. "Damn it," I muttered under my breath.She wasn’t answering my calls. Not last night. Not this morning. Not even the text I sent apologizing. I had even gone to her apartment but she wouldn't answer the door.And why would she? The woman she saw me with was the reason my mother wanted Claire out of my life so badly. Hell, I had always been wary of Daisy too. I never liked her—not that way. She was my mother's pawn, a beautiful, strategic piece in Luna Roanna's persistent attempts to control my life.I never should've brought Daisy home. Never sho

THEO'S POV:As soon as I ordered Daisy out of my office, my phone began to ring. I glanced at the screen and saw Bob's name. I hesitated for a second, then picked up."Hello?""Hello, man," Bob's familiar voice came through. "What's up?""I'm managing," I replied, rubbing my temple. "How are things with you? And Raquel?""She’s fine," he said. "Sending you her greetings."I leaned back in my chair, the tension in my shoulders still tight. "Tell her I said hi."There was a brief pause before Bob continued, "So... are you and Claire fighting?"I went silent, unsure how to respond. My fingers tightened around the edge of my desk."That bad, huh?" Bob chuckled lightly. "You don’t go this quiet unless it’s something serious."I sighed. "Yeah. Things haven’t been great.""Care to share, or do I have to drag it out of you like back in college?"I allowed myself a small, bitter smile. Bob was one friend I could tell anything. We have been that way since our high school days. "It’s complicated