Clara stood in her spot like a frozen statue, trying to gather her thoughts after what she heard.
'Move into his cabin' she thought and her eyes grew larger and she quickly retreated." But I already have a cabin" she said.
"That isn't your cabin. It's Austin's cabin that you are sharing. Your place is here in front of me" Adrian said shamelessly, averting his eyes from her shock one.
He, himself couldn't believe his own words. Something that happened inside the lift stirred up his sensitive emotions toward her and his heart began to yearn for more.
He didn't know why but he wanted to know what happened to her in those four years and why she wasn't living with her parents. What changes occurred within her that every time he stood closer to her, she tried to push him.
He wanted to know everything and find the answers from her. He was devastated when he found that she escaped with some other man and was only with him because he provided her with luxury.
If that were the case then why isn't she with the man whom she eloped with and why isn't she wearing a ring to flaunt her relationship status?
He had so many doubts, that he wanted to clear and the person who would answer him was standing in front of him... Clara Mathew.
"Are you going to waste your time standing there Miss Mathew? Be quick" Adrian's deep voice snapped her out of her frozen state and she bobbed her head vigorously before she turned and walked out of the room.
Watching her run out like a scared kitten a smile crept on Adrian's lips and he reached his hand to make a call to Austin a call.
Austin who stepped out of the It department office after Adrian asked him to interrogate the team member discussing a few things about the designs was shocked to see his boss calling him on his cellphone.
"Yes, boss" Austin's cheerful voice greeted Adrian and he kept walking the corridor heading towards his cabin
"Arrange a desk for Miss Mathew within ten. She is moving in my cabin " his words made Austin stop his track and he blinked his eyes grasping the words he just heard.
'In my cabin' he thought and heard Adrian once again," Be quick" stating he ended the call leaving Austin in shock.
"Miss Mathew... in Boss's cabin" he mumbled and suddenly felt a chill thinking what kind of torture was boss planning to give the innocent girl.
For Austin, Adrian was that lone lion who liked to maintain distance from everyone, especially the opposite sex. But since Clara's appearance, he started to see the change in him from that instant.
Not only did he select her as his personal assistant but also went on digging for information about her personal life, as if he wanted to know everything about her.
Though it wasn't in a wrong way, something changed inside Adrian and it was clearly visible in the way his boss behaved around the girl.
Could it be boss has started to have a liking towards Miss Mathew, he thought and his stupor faltered slowly replacing into a pleasant smile and he quickened his step to follow his boss's order.
****
Stepping into her cabin which was soon going to be her former cabin, Clara heaved out a sigh, dropping her shoulder in defeat.
All the way here she kept on thinking about what was Adrian up to and why he wanted her to shift into his cabin when she already had one.
Did he want to get back at her for what happened inside the elevator, she couldn't help but think of the same thing.
Adrian's behavior changed like a switch button turning on and off and she couldn't fathom what was going on with him.
Standing there for a while, she took a deep breath and looked at her desk. It had been only a day since she used it but now, she was being demoted straight to her boss's cabin. It was too unsure to believe but it was happening to her.
Picking up her stuff, she placed them into a rectangular box and stepped out of the cabin. She was so enjoying her time accompanying Austin who was a mood changer, often making her smile at his silly jokes.
But now, she had to look at her boss's grumpy face and spend her time glancing at the watch hoping it tick fast and the day ends soon.
*****
[Mathew Mansion]
Sitting around the huge rectangular table, Alexander was having his breakfast along with Racheal and Regina while his eyes scanned the newspaper as he kept reading the headlines.
"How is your shoot going?" he asked folding the newspaper and turning his attention towards Regina.
"All good Dad," she said and continued eating the food.
Alexander bobbed his head and rested his hand on either side of the plate," Clara is back and I have decided to forgive her"
Regina choked the food she ate while Racheal kept her face neutral showing no sign of shock on her face.
"B-but dad, did you forget what she did" Regina snapped.
"Gina..." came Racheal's voice who had been sitting quietly, rested the spoon back on the table, and glanced at her daughter.
Regina quickly shut her mouth and looked away sulking at Alexander's words. Once she was silenced Racheal then turned to look at Alexander who kept his face straight showing no reaction, which quite surprised her.
"Honey, are you sure you want to take her back? Aren't you worried about your reputation and what if in these four years, she turned out to be worse than she was back then? Do you want to risk your position again" Racheal tried to lure Alexander by bringing up the past incident but was silenced by his intimidating glare.
"People change. Did you turn socialite just after you got married to me" he taunted her making her lips twitch in awkwardness and she pulled away her eyes from him.
"I have already made up my mind. Clara is my daughter and she had full right to stay here" he declared and wiped off his lips before he walked away from there.
Regina clutched the spoon in her hand before slamming it on the table in anger," How can dad favor her mom... and that too after all these years"
Racheal too didn't expect Alexander to change his mind towards his biological daughter whom they somehow managed to get rid of their lives. But Alexander's sudden change of heart made her doubt what happened to him and that he was ready to take her back.