He answered the call and in the next second, his head darted to the direction his brother's car had just taken with dilated pupils and he quickly stopped a taxi.
______
" Carl, I want to stop at the department first, " Clara said and turned to him after they arrived at the company. She needed to thank Derek for the gift.
Carl frowned slightly and stopped the car. " Who do you want to meet?"
" M..My friends" she stammered with a grin, not daring to meet his gaze and started unbuckling her seat belts.' Hmph, jelly jar. How did he know that I wanted to meet someone.'
Carl stared at her fake smile and his frown deepened. he was about to say something when his phone started ringing and Clara sighed in relief.
He answered the call and after listening to the voice from the other end, his expression turned dark and nodded a reply then hung up the call.
" Don't go anywhere. okay,? wait for me inside__ I'll be back in a few hours.
" Okay." Clara nodded with a smile then walked out of the car and bid him goodbye.
She heaved a deep sigh and watched until his car was out of sight, then turned back and skipped inside the company.
" Wow Clara, you look beautiful today."
" It's so nice to see you again__ after a very long time."
" Yeah, I thought you were fired... Hehe."
" Clara, have you heard__?"
" Of course she has heard__ she's the CEO's assistant you know."
" Clara..., we are so sorry for misunderstanding you."
" Yeah, we thought you wanted to seduce the CEO."
" You are a very loyal colleague__ hehe, now that we're all the same, no more disputes... right?"
' Hmph, hypocrites.' Clara ignored the employees and continued walking toward the elevator. ' but what did they mean by we're now the same?' She frowned slightly then shrugged and entered the elevator which took her directly upstairs.
When she reached the department, it was still the same with the employees and they quickly gathered around her.
" Clara, why didn't you tell us before."
" It was such huge news."
" Tsk tsk tsk... It's such a pity."
" We thought you were going to__ Argh! just forget. It's for the best."
" Hehehe, Clara, remember we're friends right?"
" Yeah, don't forget to send us the invitations."
Clara stared at the employees with knitted brows and sighed again. Just what are they talking about? And why did they suddenly change their attitudes toward her?
She groaned inside then spotted Ben among the crowd and quickly walked toward him.
" Ben, where's Derek, " she asked hurriedly while her eyes darted around with a frown.
" Derek?" The guy also frowned and shook his head." He's not here yet, " he replied.
Clara nodded and quickly made her way toward the elevator, after squeezing through the pestering employees.
Inside the elevator, she sighed in relief and her thoughts wandered to what the other employees have said. ' what is going on? and which invitation are they talking about?'
She was still lost in her thoughts when her phone started ringing and she quickly pulled it out of her bag.
" Hey, Clara." Mira's voice came from the other end.
" Mira... I forgot to inform you about Jack's engagement... You'll go, right? Your invitation is with me," Clara said cheerfully.
" Oh..., okay." Mira nodded from the other end and she frowned.
" What is wrong?" She asked worriedly.
" Didn't Big Brother tell you..." Mira gasped.
" Huh? tell me what?"
" Oh, I guess he hadn't told you. . ."
" Mira? What is it? Just tell me." Clara sighed and wondered why she was keeping her in suspense.
" Clara, just remember that Big Brother loves only you. okay?__" Mira sighed and continued." I'll come to your apartment tomorrow."
Clara's frown deepened and silently listened to the beeping sound from the other end. she glanced down at the phone while having a very bad premonition in her heart then sighed and walked out of the elevator.
When she walked past the secretaries, it was still the same and even though they were whispering, she could still hear some of their conversations and her heart thumped rapidly.
Her footsteps quickened as she hurried toward the door, to process everything that she had just heard.
" Huh?" She gazed at the door which was already opened and wondered if Carl had already come back.
' I need to calm down.' She chanted inside then splayed a smile on her face and pushed the door open. However, in the next second, her smile was wiped off and her expression turned dark.
" Oh, I didn't expect you to be this shameless. . . what are you still doing here?" Vivian chuckled and slowly stood up from the couch then sauntered toward her.
" Clara, or whatever you're called... Don't you get it? Why do you keep bothering Big Brother? I thought I've warned you already, to stay away from him, " she added calmly and folded both hands in front of her.
Clara scoffed and walked past her then dropped her bag on the couch. " What brings you now... Any more lies? I'm all ears, " she turned to her calmly and also folded her hands.
" Lies..., Lies " Vivian chuckled and slowly brought out her phone then dialed a number and set it on speaker.
" Hello Auntie, " she said sweetly and a woman's voice instantly came from the other end.
" Vivian dear. Where are you? Why did you suddenly leave the house?"
" Auntie, I have to take care of some issues, " Vivian replied sweetly while emphasizing the word issue as her gaze was fixed on Clara.
" Alright, come back quickly... Your father and grandfather are already here and Carl will arrive at any moment__ we have to prepare for your wedding," the woman said anxiously.
" Alright, Auntie. I'll be right back."
She cut off the call and chuckled again while her gaze was still fixed on Clara.
" I don't need to waste my time here. Here, you're also invited... As the CEO's assistant which you would only be." She retrieved a card from her purse then tossed it in front of her.