"Well... Guess what?" The female employee gazed at them excitedly and everyone's attention was instantly piqued, including Clara and Derek.
"What is it?"
"Yes, tell us."
"Well..." The female employee chuckled then lowered her voice after glancing at Clara.
"There will be free Dinner at the place and everyone is invited from the company... Hehe, you know it is owned by... 'you know who'." She lowered her voice while saying the last sentence and everyone at the table instantly understood her words.
She was referring to the CEO.
"Wow... free dinner!?" Ben's eyes widened in excitement.
"And the whole company is invited?... That is great!" Harry exclaimed in wonder and the female employee quickly nodded with a grin.
"So are you all coming?" She asked eagerly and Both Ben and Harry including Derek nodded.
"Yeah."
"Of course."
"We wouldn't miss it for the world."
They replied concurrently, then their attentions turned to Clara, who had been silent all along, and nonchalantly eating her food.
"Clara, aren't you coming?" The female employee asked with furrowed brows and Clara slowly shook her head with a slight smile.
"No, Linda, I'll be very busy." She replied, remembering the countless comics she had to draw, as she had already snagged a contract online. 'Hehehe.'
"Huh?" The female employee narrowed her eyes and pouted. Too bad she couldn't ask about what happened between her and the CEO. There's really something fishy going on.
"Linda, how did you know about the invitation?" Derek finally asked after giving Clara another glance.
"Oh... Hehehe." The girl chuckled, after turning her attention to him and she tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear. "It's on the company's online forum of course... didn't you guys notice it?" She replied softly while blinking rapidly as her gaze was fixed on Derek who instantly looked away.
"Geez... Linda."
"Cut it off..."
"Argh!!! You've totally ruined my appetite."
Both Harry and Ben scowled at the girl and she scowled back with a pout.
Since she couldn't get to talk about and admire the CEO, at least she could admire someone else. Seeing that even Clara was kicked out of the CEO's office, her hopes were completely shattered.
"Derek, I think Linda likes you." Clara who was totally oblivious to the girl's malicious thoughts chuckled then whispered to Derek who was sitting close to her.
"Huh?" Derek glanced up at the girl whose sweet gaze was still fixed on him, then she batted her eyelashes again. He quickly muttered an excuse then stood up and left the place awkwardly, leaving his half-finished food behind.
"Shit! Clara, what did you tell him?"
Ben glared at the girl who was still chuckling.
"And you Linda, better back off now... We won't allow you to taint our innocent friend," Harry snapped and the girl rolled her eyes.
"Clara, you're truly a good friend, I've misunderstood you in the past." She turned to Clara and smiled sweetly then stood up, also leaving her food, and hurriedly walked in the direction the guy had just left.
"Huh?"Clara chuckled and shrugged, wondering the kind of misunderstanding the girl was talking about. She turned back to her food nonchalantly and continued eating.
" Tsk tsk tsk Clara, I can't believe how dumb you are."
"Yes, Clara... How can you do this to our friend?"
The guys scoffed again and also turned back to their food. Their friend obviously likes the girl, too bad she was too dumb to see and was even selling him out to another woman.
Clara ignored them and continued eating her food with a slight smile, remembering that she had to go home later and continue making more money.
*****
Later that day, Clara dragged her leg back to the estate after the taxi dropped her at the gate.
A huge smile was plastered on her face as she thought back to the email she had received earlier from Derek's friend, who was going to be helping her with the comics while they share the profits.
She chuckled and started skipping toward her apartment while singing money in her head.
Still lost in her thoughts, she suddenly paused and a slight gasp escaped her lips while staring wide-eyed at her apartment whose lights were all turned on.
'W...Who could it be?' Her heart thumped rapidly as she remembered that she had given a spare key to Lara for emergency purposes.
' And Lara would certainly be at the hospital right now.' She thought in confusion while glancing down at her wristwatch.
She quickly took out her phone and dialed Lara's contact, hoping it was not burglary as she had just walked past the security men who were highly alert on the gate, a few moments ago.
Her heartbeat increased and she splayed a hand on her chest as she listened anxiously to the ringing sound of the phone.
"Lara?" She sighed in relief after the call was picked from the other end.
"Clara, what is wrong." Lara's voice sounded busy. "Did something happen?"
"Lara, I think there is a burglar in my apartment," Clara whispered while walking away from the apartment whose lights were still on, and she could also notice a figure through the living room window.
"What!?" Lara gasped from the other end then hurriedly muttered, "What are you waiting for? Quick, Inform the securities."
"Yes, yes." Clara quickly nodded then heard Lara gasped again.
"Wait, Clara... Urgh, I totally forgot... You have a visitor and I was in a hurry to leave for the hospital so I gave him your apartment key..." Lara's busy voice sounded again and she instantly hung up the call.
"Huh?" Clara stared down at her phone with furrowed brows and wiped the beads of sweat that had started trickling down her forehead.
"Who could it be?" She thought out loudly then cautiously walked toward her apartment and slowly pushed the door which was already opened.
Walking inside, her frown dissipated as she heard giggles from the doorway, and the voices obviously belonged to her babies.
Her expression brightened, and she quickly changed her shoes and skipped inside the living room.