A million thoughts were coursing through Clarissa's mind but they all resulted to the same answer. She wanted to get as far away from Jared as possible. Facing him now would only ruse old memories and make her angry. Besides, people didn't need to relate her to Jared right on her first day at work!
A car pulled over just as Clarissa was thinking, and a smile spread on her face as she hurried and hopped in. It was none other than Eve who had saved her.
Jared was still smiling at her until he saw a car park in front. It vexed him, but got even angrier at the way Clarissa jumped into the car like she was purposely avoiding him! He gritted his teeth and began to run after the car, yelling her name loudly. When he couldn't catch his breath again due to exhaustion, he paused midway, cursing out loud.
"So you have been cheating on me!?" He got more angry. "Damn you, Jared. You've been a fool all this while! But who the fuck is the man trying to steal my wife from me?"
*
*
That evening, Liam promised himself he wouldn't take more than two shots, and yet, he was already on his fifth shot. Now, he was considering whether to order a glass of beer or not. But he almost knew he couldn't since they were watching him.
Life was not going well for him. Underneath the supposed 'playboy' jovial traits he gives off, Liam was suffering inside with no one to save him. The water was overflowing him, and he was drowning. Yet he knew he would have to man up and start swimming to save himself. But now, he was drowning...
"Seriously?" Said a voice from behind. She marched forward and pulled out a chair to sit beside him.
"Someone is there--" Liam started to say but the lady cut him off.
"--well, that someone can fuck off because I'm here now."
He brought his gaze up to meet hers. Apparently, he was not drunk as he'd imagined to be. Maybe he should really order the glass of beer.
The lady before him was a slender brunette with big brown eyes and small lips dotting her round face. Chloe Sanchez was supposed to be a cute angelic sweetheart, but she was a thug. Liam could confidently say that because they had been best friends since kindergarten.
"Oh my goodness, Liam. You are messed up, you know that?" Chloe turned to the bartender to fetch her something strong.
"Gee, I didn't know that, Chloe. Thanks for telling me." Liam rolled his eyes, fixing her a blank stare. He gulped down the rest of his drink and signaled to the bartender for another one.
"What is wrong with you, Liam? I have been begging for a conversation, I mean, what are you now? Liam Hemsworth?"
Liam frowned and his brows creased. "Who the hell is that guy?"
"Stop running from me, Liam." Chloe ignored his question. She must have been thinking that Liam was so drunk he didn't know who the Hemsworth brother was.
Liam sighed, "I ran so many miles from the city, and still you found me. What, are you stalking me, Chloe?" He flashed a raised brow.
Chloe studied him for a while, sipped her drink, then began twirling her hair. It was something she did whenever she felt nervous and Liam could spell that right out the moment he saw her.
"No. You are not discussing that with me right now. Can't you just leave me alone for one night to be miserable?" His voice suddenly switched to an unfriendly one.
But Chloe was more stubborn. "Liam, that's how things will be. You can't change it. I mean, am I that horrible that you won't even give this marriage a chance?"
Liam stood up tensely. He tried not to move around or reveal any sign of how frustrated he was. He turned back to Chloe who forced her gaze firmly on her drink, not sparing Liam a glance.
He spoke in a low tone now, choosing his words more carefully. "Chloe, I have known you my whole damn life. You're like my sister, fuck, you're my only friend. The thought of me getting married to you is not even on the list of things I ever wish to accomplish in my life. Chloe, we've talked about this! Can't you just move on, or something?" His movements were restless but he needed to make himself clear to her!
Her lips drew in tightly, wrinkles appearing between her arched shaped brows. "Still, this is what we need to grow both families--"
"--what we need? I don't need any of this. Are you sure this isn't what you need?" Liam said slowly. "Are you sure this isn't you being selfish as always, Chloe? Whatever it is, I'm not getting married to you, so give up already."
At first when he heard he would be getting married to Chloe, they both laughed and shrugged it off. Then suddenly, it was all Chloe could think about. For months now, Liam had tried to make sense of his feelings, telling her as politely as he could that he didn't see himself getting married to her because she was just a friend to him.
But Chloe wouldn't listen and kept on planning a wedding that he had clearly refused. She would go over to his family with gifts, acting like she was already his bride. He wondered why she had decided to throw her shame right outside! Chloe was a selfish friend who made everything always about her. Liam was sure she was insisting now on the marriage because of something that she wanted to achieve. He didn't know what, but he also didn't care.
All he knew was that he would not be getting married to her.
Chloe stood up, her chin tilting forward. "I want you, and I'll stop at nothing until that happens. I'm going to have your babies, Liam."
His eyes narrowed and his nose squeezed in disgust. But he said nothing and watched her leave. Someone stood next to him.
"It's time for you to leave, young master--"
"--stop calling me that in public," Liam flashed the man a warning look.
"Sorry, sir. The private jet is ready. You shouldn't be more drunk than this. Let's go." The man, Jerry, Liam's right hand man said.
"Sometimes I wonder who the boss is." Liam muttered to himself. "Fine. Enough of being pathetic for one night. We go again tomorrow." He stood up and went with Jerry, knowing he would have settled the bills. Liam felt bad as he watched Chloe storm off. Before, she would have considered his feelings, would have asked why he was in such a messed up state. Comforted him, like the friends they used to be. Now, he didn't know who she was anymore.