I was currently staring at a 6-star skyscraper hotel.
People sure do have a lot of money, I sighed.
Actually, I was just stalling. I didn't want to meet Clifford. Why? I don't know.
"Ma'am?"
A man in black suit approached me and I lowered my gaze to meet him.
"Are you Miss Arleen?" He asked.
"Yes," I slowly nodded.
Did Damion tell them I was on my way?
"Please, this way. Mr Edson is expecting you."
Of course he was.
With reluctance, I followed the man and as we entered the hotel, I was greeted with what they called pure luxury.
I wanted to look around but I couldn't, I had to comport myself.
Five other men in black followed us closely as we made our way to a specially reserved elevator. Why I say so was because of how it was heavily guarded.
Not a word was spoken as the elevator took us to the sixth floor.
Getting there, I was directed to a very comfortable but well guarded space. The place was built in glass and before I could enter the area, I had already sighted Clifford sitting on a Green chesterfield leather chaise sofa with a magazine in his hand.
However, seated beside him was Beverley Coleman who was casually speaking with him.
Her smile was radiant and she was wearing a Cindy lace bodice pleated dress and it was onion purple in color.
I caught Clifford smile as he briefly glanced at her and she nodded while laughing. To make matters worse, she softly slapped his shoulder.
The scene was giving friends and something more.
What are you doing, Arleen? I reprimanded myself.
The glass door slid to the side on its own and I stepped in right after the man who led me.
Could it be that the man was Clifford's secretary?
At that moment, Clifford looked in my direction and his eyes twinkled in delight. Did I read that properly?
"Arleen!" he cheerfully called out my name and stood up from the sofa to greet me properly. What a man!
Beverley frowned in confusion as she darted her eyes from Clifford to me.
Before I could get to where he was, he was already on his way to me and on getting close, he embraced me.
My eyes went wide as I blinked in shock. Weren't we supposed to act like we didn't know each other?
"I've missed you," he whispered into my ear and kissed my cheek, adding to my plight.
Since his back was facing Beverley, he couldn't see her reaction.
From confusion, her expression turned to shock and annoyance.
Wait! Was she into Clifford?
Pulling away, Clifford held me on both arms as he took in my appearance.
"You look elegant as always."
This was the reason why I didn't want to see him. His words did things to me I couldn't approve of.
"Thank you," I smiled.
"Please, come sit with me, let's talk."
As he guided me to where Beverley was seated, I saw her give me a weird look.
"You know her?" She finally asked what I was expecting her to ask.
"Of course, we've known each other way back." He announced and it turned out he wasn't lying.
Who would've thought the delivery guy would be someone this famous and wealthy.
Thinking back on our brief meetings, I nearly cringed in shame because of the way I acted.
Whenever he came by to deliver things to me, I would be in an unfortunate situation and he always came through for me. He was like my knight in shining armor.
We would chat briefly and crack jokes whenever he came by until I moved to a new apartment. It was a sweet memory.
But finding out who he really was made me subconsciously begin to act well. I could not behave how I used to with him, it would feel uncomfortable.
Beverley couldn't digest what she was hearing and seeing.
Now that I knew she was into Clifford, I felt slightly relaxed.
"She's actually the one who approached me to partner with Mr Damion."
I snapped my head in his direction with a look of horror covering my face.
That's a HUGE lie!
"She did?" Beverley slowly inquired as if it was too much for her to digest.
"Could you excuse us for a moment, Beverley? I would like to speak to her alone."
"Is that necessary?" She blatantly asked and it further confirmed my earlier thought. She was into him.
"It is," he calmly said and it took Beverley a while before she stood up. But before she left, she eyed me up and down as if wondering what Clifford found in me. How funny.
"Please sit," he offered and I didn't hesitate to do so.
I sat right where she had sat on while he, the same place he sat on earlier.
And as if on queue, a well polished lady brought in a bottle of wine while another lady behind her carried a tray of fancy wine glasses.
Once everything was set on the glass table before us, they left us to ourselves.
The man who had brought me was nowhere to be found but the five men in black who looked like bodyguards were on standby but at a good distance.
"Have you thought about it?"
His question came out of the blue as he poured the wine into two glasses. There were three glasses in total.
"Yes."
Picking them up, he handed one to me and made himself comfortable while having a sip with his eyes locked onto mine.
"And?"
"I don't think I can leave the company," I answered.
"Why is that? Is it because you love him?" He gave me a look like he could read deep into my soul.
"I'm currently dating him."
A cool silence passed through as Clifford kept staring at me without looking fazed.
"I know, Arleen. Have you forgotten that I have eyes on you?"
(Don't forget to add to your library <3)