Clara was searching for things to wear when her mobile phone rang. She was busy looking at the dresses to wear to meet Evelyn.
She ignored the phone, but the continuous ringing annoyed Clara. She walked to get her phone, which was lying under the heap of her clothes.
With much effort, Clara finally held her phone in her hands. She looked down at her phone in irritation, but soon, frowning lines on her lips were replaced by a small smile.
'Oliver.'
A warm feeling swept into Clara's heart. Clara forgot how irritated she was just a second ago as she hurriedly picked up the call.
"Are you ready?" Suddenly, a smiling voice sounded from the receiver.
Clara was filled with happiness as she took a few seconds to recover from it. Clara focused on Oliver's words to understand their meaning.
"Yes," Clara answered subconsciously. She looked down at the dress in her hand.
"I am waiting downstairs," Oliver said in a low voice. His voice was filled with a chuckle, making Clara blush.
"What are you doing here?" Clara questionably asked.
Clara was unsure about what Oliver was doing here. Clara knew she had to go and meet Evelyn today, but what was Oliver doing here.
It was then that Clara suddenly realized that Evelyn and Oliver were cousins.
Clara smiled at her thoughts. She was thankful to realize it soon, or her mind would think that Oliver was stalking her.
Seeing that Clara was not replying, Oliver asked, "Let's have lunch together before I drop you at Evelyn's place.
"Hmm," Clara hung up the phone and moved fast to get ready and go downstairs.
As soon as Clara saw Oliver's car parked outside her main gate. Clara strolled outside, just to see Oliver standing outside his car, waiting there, looking straight at her home.
As soon as Clara met Oliver's eyes, her heart glittered.
Today Clara was dressed on a simpler side to avoid getting noticed. Even though it was true, Clara sparkled like a star in her own ways.
Clara's wore a plain A-line cream dress reaching her legs.
A brown pointed-toe pump graced her feet. A Prussian blue coat dangled on her shoulders.
Clara's face was void of any makeup, but her eyes were gleaming with a smile. In Oliver's view, Clara's eyes resembled a cat's. Beautiful and elegant.
Oliver was so lost in Clara that everything around him blurred out. Seeing Oliver in such a state, Clara giggled. It was a new feeling which Clara wanted to treasure.
As soon as Clara came near Oliver and touched his arms to bring Oliver back from his world, sparks flew.
Clara could feel all of Oliver's muscles. Firm and powerful, making Clara's hands tremble. Oliver's body fell in the category of lean but built. She always knew Oliver's physique was good, but experiencing it first handed was a whole new occurrence for her.
Clara's eyes snapped at Oliver's, as he pinched her chin to make her look at him.
Red stained Clara's face. Clara's body burned with desire. She wanted to move further, but she wanted to restrict herself.
Oliver enjoyed the uncertainty dancing on Clara's face. His eyes held her as he moved forward. But before anything could happen Clara snapped out of her trance and said, "We are running late."
Oliver refused to release Clara, as she tried to step away. Oliver tried to calm his mind before finally letting Clara go.
Oliver understood Clara's concern. He knew Clara liked him, but it was far away from love.
'Few more, Just a few more feelings to cultivate.'
Oliver sighed and guided Clara to her seat. All the way through, Oliver tried his best to avoid looking at Clara.
As soon as they reached, Layla noticed Clara. It was hard to ignore her former friend. Clara's blond hairs touching her cheeks at points was a melody to watch.
Today Layla was meeting one of her brokers here to consider the houses to move into. Layla's spine straightened.
Layla felt her stars were against her these days. She did not know why she encountered Clara here. But to Layla's surprise, Clara was not alone. Along with Clara was the man Layla remembered.
It was the same man Layla saw the last time with Clara. Layla wanted to know the relationship between the two. Somehow Layla felt they had grown closer than before.
As Clara and Oliver passed Layla, Layla tried to hide her face. Layla surprised herself with her own actions. Her heart swells with anxiety, and her mind becomes unfocused.
Seeing Clara smiling and giggling along the way sparked a little jealousy in Layla's heart. Kyle was never this loving with her. Maybe they were comfortable with each other, but Kyle hated even the slightest display of affection.
Layla now believed Clara's words. Clara did move past Kyle. Clara's eyes twinkled, and her face lit up in delight.
Clara and Oliver sat behind Layla, who was separated from them by a thin partition. None of them could see each other, but Layla could still hear softened voices from behind.
Clara was unaware of Layla's presence, but Oliver had long seen her here. He had observed every action Layla did, from trying to hide herself to the envy in her eyes.
Oliver's lips formed a curve. He wanted Layla to suffer for hurting Clara at their last meeting. He unconsciously looked at Clara's wrist.
'The marks are gone,' Oliver's heart softened.
Oliver enjoyed looking at Clara. Her smile, her eyes, her expression, her anger, everything surrounding Clara attracted Oliver towards her.
"Why did you come today? I thought you were busy?" Clara inquired as she put the salad into her mouth.
Oliver did not want to scare Clara. What was he supposed to say?
'I don't want you near Kyle?'
Oliver still remembers seeing Kyle working at IL. He knew it but seeing it with one's own eyes is a different feeling.
When Oliver heard Clara would be visiting Evelyn in the company, anxiety filled his heart. 'What if Clara saw Kyle there? Does Clara know Kyle works at IL? What if her buried feeling for Kyle resurfaced.'
Due to his insecurities, Oliver worked the whole night simply to accompany Clara. But it was something that Oliver could not display yet.
"I always have time for you." Oliver moved forwards. Clara's eyes widened as she saw Oliver's face enlarging.
Clara's body went stiff. Oliver smirked. His fingers touched Clara's mouth to rub the seasoning stuck there.
The simple action made Clara breathless. Her heart was on the verge of collapsing.
Oliver's words and actions were a complete blow to Clara's soul. Oliver's single sentence was proof that he was interested in her. Clara always knew Oliver treated her special.
Clara was the one who took the initiative to like someone. Being on the receiving end was a completely different feeling. Clara's mind was numb, but her heart was beating faster than usual.
Seeing Clara's wide eyes, Oliver's face lit up with a smile. He knew Clara lacked loved, and he wanted to be the only person to give her that.
Oliver wanted to be the only anchor in the vast ocean on whom Clara could lean on.
On the other side, Layla was started. She never knew Clara would get along with someone so well apart from Kyle and Alexander. Maybe Layla had only seen Clara with the two boys that she never thought Clara could be comfortable with anyone else.
But when Oliver said those words out loud, it was like a strike of thunder hitting Layla's soul. She never thought Clara would be fortunate enough to meet with a person like Oliver. A man who did not shy away from his feelings.
"Come, I will drop you at Evelyn's company," Oliver said in a low voice.
Layla was baffled. Did she hear it right? Clara was going to Evelyn's company? Layla's mind started working in all directions. She knew if Clara went to the company where Kyle works, it was likely that they would meet at some point.
This realization irritated Layla. She knew Clara had moved on, but was afraid of Kyle's reaction to Clara. Kyle had not met Clara since Dave's reception. What if seeing Clara now brought out some buried emotions?
'What if Clara's ignorance brought back some fond memories from their past?'
This question was breaking Layla from within. Layla wanted to hold on to Kyle and hide him away from any distractions.
Layla's broker was babbling something, but it fell upon deaf ears. Layla was preoccupied with her own thoughts. Layla knew she should not call Kyle as it would bother his work. There was a chance in a million that Clara and Kyle would run into each other. But a chance was still a chance no matter how scarce.
Layla took out her phone and started calling Kyle. After a few unanswered calls, Layla's breath quickened. Layla was annoyed and anxious.
Layla ignored the person in front of her and walked out of the restaurant just to see Clara and Oliver speeding out in the car. Layla's mind was unstable as her heart was in a dilemma.
Layla's hand tightened around her phone. Without looking back, Layla went to IL Group.