Benson stood outside her room with his head down, feeling embarrassed after witnessing an unpleasant view in front of him.
Clearing his throat, Benson said politely," Young miss, it's already noon you are yet to have your brunch"
Benson was more like a manager to Regina who kept reminding her about her schedule. Being an actress she had to follow a certain diet to maintain her physic and look presentable on the screen.
Listening to Benson's words, Regina turned to see the time and gasped in shock," I slept so long" Citing herself she dashed into her room and woke up the man sleeping on her bed peacefully, asking him to leave the house before anyone could see him.
Regina knew her mother must be out for some social gathering and her father would return soon from his business trip. Before he sees him, she wants to let him go.
Quickly getting up, the man rushed out of her room making sure he wasn't seen by anyone except by the servants who wouldn't open their mouths against their young miss.
"Ask someone to clear this mess" Regina instructed lazily and walked into the bathroom to take a shower.
Shaking his head in disappointment, Benson instructed one of the maids to clean Regina's room before she stepped out after taking a shower.
He missed the old essence of the house which looked more lively before these two ladies came and changed everything.
By the time Regina stepped out of the bathroom, her entire room was cleaned and kept neat. There wasn't any sign of foul play present in her room which would lead her parents to doubt anything.
Getting changed she walked out of her room when she heard a loud honk. Sensing it was her father's car, she put on a smile and ascended down gracefully watching Alexander enter the house.
"Daddy..." sprinted to her Alexander Regina welcomed him.
Embracing her into a warm hug, Alexander kissed Regina's head and pulled back.
"Why does my daughter look so weak?! Benson hasn't Regina eating properly" Alexander looked at Regina observing her petite body before averting his attention on Benson.
Benson pursed his lips looking at Alexander and then at Regina who gave him a warning glance.' Don't you dare utter a word' that's what she conveyed through her sharp eyes making Benson lower his head.
"I am sorry Master" Benson apologized as he couldn't answer the truth in fear Regina would come after him once Alexander was away.
Alexander didn't stretch the topic any further and accepted Benson's apology. He knew Benson was a man of words and there was no doubt he would doubt his loyalty toward the Mathew family.
"You carry on with your work. I'll excuse myself" said Alexander walked away and so did Benson before Regina came warning after him.
Alexander reached the first floor of the mansion, heading toward his room when his steps halted in front of the door which had been locked for years.
His head darted at the closed door and his eyes softened. It was Clara's room which he locked the day she walked out of the house or say, he threw her out of the house.
Alexander never thought Clara would step her feet outside the mansion but since the day she left, she never returned.
His eyes welled up recalling the incident and with his head down he walked away from there as the memories of his precious daughter began haunting him once again.
Entering the room, Alexander made a call to one of his informers who happened to see Clara in city M.
"Get me every little detail about her" instructing the man Alexander ended the call and heaved out a sigh.
It had been four years since he had last seen his daughter. After she left, he thought she would go to her maternal grandmother's house but when he inquired them, they said she didn't come to them.
Now that she was finally back, he would make sure to keep a tab on her life and if possible ask her to return to his side.
****
[Clara's Apartment]
After finishing the dinner, Clara made a call to Abby. She was still skeptical as to whether informed her about her new boss who was none other than Adrian Emerson.
Clara knew Abby would immediately ask her to resign and even compensate for her but she wasn't that selfish to involve her friend in every problem she couldn't face.
It would be better if she didn't tell her about Adrian and did her job as his assistant for the time being. She had things to look after and if she acted immaturely then how was she supposed to pay the bills?
No!.. She can't tell Abby about Adrian until she finds the person behind the letter.
"Hello precious" Abby greeted Clara with her sweet yet playful voice snapping her out of her trance.
"So, how was the interview, and did you get select," she asked crossing her fingers and hoping for a positive response.
Clara smiled finding her actions cute and nodded her head," Yes I did and they want me to join from tomorrow" Keeping her expression and voice neutral Clara didn't let Abby see through her concern.
Abby squealed with joy feeling happy for her friend. She knew Clara had the potential to work through everything and she was very much confident that she would get the job.
They both continued chatting for some time when Clara asked," Did you talk to him?" she was a little hesitant but still she wanted to know.
"He seems to understand your situation Clara" Abby passed her an assuring smile taking over her anxiousness and she smiled in contentment.
"Thank you so much, Abby. I didn't know how I would have handled the situation without you. Just let him know I will be by his side in no time"
" Did the air in City M change your mindset? Why do you keep thanking me? It makes me feel like I am a stranger to you" Abby didn't like it when Clara kept thanking her for something she would gladly do for her.
"Okay fine now don't get upset over me" Clara tried to change the mood.
"Hmm... now go to sleep. Tomorrow is your first day at work. I don't want you to blame me for getting late" Tucking her tongue out in a teasing manner Abby smiled and ended the call before Clara could yell at her.
"Stupid!" looking at the closed screen Clara sneered. She knew Abby sometimes likes to pull her leg which annoys her to the extent that she wants to punch her but then, she was the only friend and family to stand by her side in those difficult phases of her life.
Brushing off her thoughts Clara placed back her phone on the side table and lay on the bed.
Tomorrow was her first day at her job as an assistant. She had promised herself that she wouldn't let Adrian's presence disturb her life as she would purely keep the relationship professional.
She didn't want to recall her past and let it affect her job. She was back in this city for some reason and before she found her answers, she wouldn't let anyone invade her path not even Adrian.
Closing her eyes shut, Clara hoped her days as Adrian's assistant would pass quickly and with Abby's help, she would be able to find the person who would prove her innocence.
With that hope, Clara drifted off to sleep but unknown to her there was this one person who couldn't even blink his eyes as his mind was entirely occupied by her.
Adrian sat on his chair like a throne with a glass of drink in his hand recalling the incident that happened just before he saw Clara's name on the candidate's list.
Clara Mathew, the name on the paper drove him curious and envious at the same time. He wanted to see whether the name he read belonged to the same girl he was thinking about.
And his doubt was confirmed when he saw her walk inside his cabin through the big glass wall he was looking at with his back facing her. His blood began to boil watching her as she answered the questions.
She sounded so confident and even looked mature enough to stay grounded at the same time. She was the daughter of a renowned businessman who would get anything she wanted at the snap of her finger.
Then, why was she going around finding a job?
Adrian gulped down the entire drink. But, he was glad that he met her or else the betrayed he felt back then, how would he come to make her suffer for that?
The corner of his lips curled into a vicious smile as he began scheming for how he would make her pay for the pain she gave to him.
"Welcome to my world Clara" he muttered as his eyes darkened and his smile vanished.