"Clara Delevon, you are the craziest woman I have ever met! I am very grateful that I never fell in love with you!" Arthur said firmly.
"I don't mind, Mr. Arthur. Whether you like it or not, we will eventually get married. I don't mind if you don't love me because I don't believe in love anymore," Clara explained with a smile.
'Strange, didn't she used to revere love? Why has she changed now?'
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" replied Clara.
"That black sedan... did my grandfather come to pick you up?"
Clara chuckled. "Why? Are you jealous?" she asked, leaving the room without answering.
"Hey... you haven't given me an answer! Clara! Clara! Miss Clara Delevon!"
Clara returned to her desk, her steps steady and confident, while her coworkers were convinced that she would be fired and leave Arthur's room with tears of sadness... and regret.
When Clara left Arthur's room, a bright smile was clearly visible on this beautiful woman's face. Her coworkers were stunned by Clara's attitude, some of them even whispering and glaring sharply.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Clara with a broad smile. She then sat down at her desk and opened her cell phone.
"Why are you still sitting here! Isn't it..." Ami, one of the Ruby Hotel staff who had hated Clara since the first day she arrived, approached her with an arrogant attitude.
"Isn't that right, Miss Ami? Oh, about that video?" Clara asked with a big smile. "You'd better learn properly if you want to bring someone down, Miss Ami! Never start a fire if you don't want to get burned," Clara added, ignoring them.
'Tsk, damn it! Who the hell is behind this bitch! Why can't I touch her at all?'
"Why is everyone gathered there? Get back to work! You're not paid to gossip!" Arthur's loud voice broke the silence in the room again. "Ami, this is your cell phone!" Arthur approached one of his staff and handed her the device, but his eyes glanced at Clara, curious about what this woman was doing.
"Thank you, Mr. Arthur," said Ami, a little flirtatiously.
'What is she doing? Who is she calling?' thought the man.
"Get back to work and don't make any noise!" he ordered.
Clara glanced back at Arthur after he left her workplace. She smiled slightly and typed on her phone, "Your beloved granddaughter seems to be becoming obsessed with me, Mr. Reinhard."
(Is that so? Good if that's the case! By the way, can we meet for lunch today? I have something interesting for you, Miss Clara.)
"What is it, Mr. Reinhard?"
(It doesn't feel right to say it in writing. How about we meet?)
"Okay, tell me where I should meet you."
(Bungalow Restaurant, just say you're my guest)
Clara quickly deleted the message she had just received.
'At least I have a strong supporter behind me. I'll take care of Arthur's business later.'
***
When lunchtime arrived, Clara was seen rushing away from her desk. This aroused suspicion among her coworkers. Ami, who hated Clara's presence, kept looking for ways to provoke her friends until Emily got fed up with her.
"I can't stand Clara's attitude anymore!" Ami said curtly, narrowing her eyes at her rival.
"Me too!" replied several of her colleagues.
"Don't you guys have anything else to do? Why are you so happy to meddle in other people's lives? Don't you each have your own tasks?" replied Emily casually.
"Of course you're defending her! Are you her dog? Are you that slut's lackey?" Ami sneered.
"What did you just say? Her dog?" Emily, who was usually quiet and obedient to Ami and her friends, fought back this time and stared defiantly at the woman in front of her. "Don't forget, Ami! I know your darkest secret! I've kept quiet all this time because I couldn't be bothered with you! But if you touch Clara, it will become my business!"
"You!"
"Hey, Ami, stop... if Mr. Arthur hears us arguing, we're done for!" said one of her friends, pulling Ami's arm.
"Don't get cocky, you four-eyed woman! I'll definitely get even with you!" threatened Ami.
'What a crazy woman!' thought Emily.
"Hi,"
"Clara, where are you going?" asked Emily, quickly changing her expression.
"Lunch," Clara replied.
"It doesn't look like it's here?" Emily asked, looking at the beautiful woman in front of her carrying a famous brand bag.
"Hmmm. I have an appointment with someone."
"Let me guess! Your boyfriend?" Emily chuckled.
"Take a guess," Clara challenged.
"I'm not good at guessing—"
"Thank you," Clara said suddenly.
"For what?"
"For your attitude toward me earlier with Ami."
Emily fell silent. Her face turned red.
"I didn't know you were paying so much attention to me, Miss Emily."
"Because I can't stand Ami and her friends anymore. Several times they did the same thing to me as they did to you," explained Emily.
"Really?"
Emily nodded. "The table you're sitting at now has had so many people come and go. They often get teased by Ami! That woman wears many masks!" said Emily angrily.
Clara nodded. "Okay, I'll make a note of this for later."
"What do you mean?" Emily looked confused.
"Nothing, it's okay. I'm leaving now, I'm late!"
Clara quickly walked out of the room. When the elevator opened, she accidentally bumped into Arthur who was about to leave.
"Where are you going?" the man asked coldly.
Clara just looked at him without answering.
"Are you mute?" Arthur asked again, this time with a more piercing gaze.
"Oh, Mr. Arthur wants to escort me?" Clara teased with a chuckle.
"Don't be cheeky! You're just an employee here! Remember your status and position!"
Instead of being afraid, Clara approached him and flicked her slender fingers at Arthur's face. "What are you doing?! I warn you, don't mess with me!" the man threatened.
Clara continued to stare at Arthur for a few seconds. Without blinking, the two looked at each other as if they were exploring each other's feelings.
"I know I'm beautiful, but please watch your eyes," Clara teased.
Arthur approached Clara, cornering the beautiful woman, lifting and leaning his right hand, surrounding Clara's body. "I do like beautiful and slightly naughty women, but not cheap and promiscuous women like you! Do you still have the nerve to meet me after what happened two years ago? I wonder if you gave your body to my grandfather?"
SMACK!
Clara lost control of her emotions. A hard slap landed directly on Arthur's handsome face. With wide eyes, she said, "If it weren't for your grandfather, you would be a homeless bum, Arthur Volkskrant!"
Clara turned around and repeatedly pressed the down button on the elevator. When it opened, she immediately closed it while Arthur was still feeling the heat of Clara's slap.
"Hey, you bitch! Open it! Open the door!" he shouted.
Unfortunately, while the two were arguing, someone had been watching and recording them the whole time.
"This is going to be the hottest gossip in town!"