Eyes on me?
Was he stalking me again?
The more I stared at him, it then occurred to me that he actually told me he would keep an eye on me;
"Please be careful. I'll send some persons to keep an eye on you so nothing happens."
It was when he dropped me after our date back in California.
"Since you don't want to leave him, I have decided to include myself in the triangle." He informed me and gave a knowing smile which I didn't like.
"Is that necessary?"
"It is very necessary, Arleen." He stressed his words.
"I don't want to be a part of this or be caught in it…." I tried to refuse but he interrupted.
"Well, I'm afraid you're already caught up in it darling. You're even a big part of it."
Now this was getting scary.
"You shouldn't have told me any of it in the first place." I glared at him.
"You were curious and it's a good thing you know." He grinned.
I was beginning to not trust Clifford anymore.
"I'm not a threat to you, Arleen. Why would I harm someone I'm head over heels for?" He gave an innocent look as he asked and I scoffed.
"How about I sign a contract with you never to tell anyone what you showed and told me." I suggested.
"Even if you told someone about it you would be helping me," he smiled and it frustrated me further.
"What exactly do you want from me, Clifford? And don't tell me nothing because I know you have a motive here. Are you planning to use me?" I glared at him.
"Use you? What would I gain in using you?"
"You tell me." I threw the question back at him because I wasn't finding it funny anymore.
"Even if I were to use you, you would gain a lot." He indirectly answered the question and I sniggered.
"Gain what? Being your woman?"
"Being my woman has nothing to do with this. That's different." He moved close to me and asked something I never dreamt of.
"Would you like the idea of taking over Drew Klazit?"
Silence settled in as I gave him an incredulous look. I knew it was possible but he was going too far.
"You're taking things too far, Clifford."
"Do you really understand the gravity of what I revealed to you?" He narrowed his eyes at me.
"I do, but I don't want to be a part of it." I refused once again.
"Fine! Time will tell," saying that, he moved away from me.
It was at that moment I saw the man from earlier who had brought me to Clifford walk along the hallway outside the area we were in….but he wasn't alone.
Beside him was Damion who glanced through the glass wall as they approached the slid door leading inside.
Before they could walk in, I caught Damion frowning and it made me begin to think things.
Did he recognize Clifford?
Why was I even worried when Damion didn't know how the delivery guy looked in the first place.
The young man made way for Damion and he walked in without hesitation. Our eyes locked briefly before he shifted it to Clifford who was openly staring at me.
Once he had taken his fill, he shifted his attention to Damion and stood up to welcome him warmly.
"It's so good to finally meet again, Mr Damion."
As they shook hands, I noticed how Damion gave a strange look. I could also see shock in his eyes.
"I don't know why, but I feel I should still introduce myself properly. I'm Clifford Edson." He introduced himself.
I held my breath as I watched Damion closely.
What he did made me even feel worse. He looked at me with wide eyes before looking back at Clifford who was smiling like it wasn't a big deal. Actually, he was behaving ignorant.
"Clifford Edson?" Damion repeated.
"That's right." Clifford nodded and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
This was the first time I was seeing Damion openly express how shocked he was to a point he stood frozen as if trying to digest everything.
"Your secretary is a lovely woman and I admire her. I don't know if she told you but she had personally met me to suggest partnering with you."
My eyes nearly fell out as the look of horror covered my face.
What exactly was his aim in all this? Why was he further dragging me into their problem?
Damion slowly shifted his gaze to me in bewilderment. It made him speechless.
All I could do was smile and mask how I truly felt.
"How?" That was the first question he asked and it was directed at me.
What was I supposed to say now?
"I contacted his assistant," I lied fluently.
Facing Clifford, Damion smiled and quickly fixed his expression.
"It's such an honor to meet you, Mr Clifford. I'm just overwhelmed with lots of emotions right now."
"I understand. Please have a seat." He offered Damion a chair close to ours but nearest to where he sat.
Without asking if he wanted one, Clifford went ahead and poured Damion a glass of wine.
And out of respect, Damion took it and nodded in appreciation.
The air was getting thicker and thicker as I grew frustrated.
"I should let you two discuss, please excuse me," I wanted to leave so I excused myself.
"That's not necessary. Please stay. You're also a part of this," Clifford cunningly stopped me and I groaned internally but smiled and sat back down.
When I looked at Damion, I found him watching me very closely and it was then I knew I was in trouble.
He knew!
But what exactly did he know?
Did he know who Clifford really was?
Was he just being suspicious?
Did he suspect that I was hiding something?
Well, regardless of whatever it was that he knew, I would still be in trouble.
"You're really lucky to have this young lady as your secretary. It makes me want to steal her away from you."
My senses came alive at Clifford's words and as if to add to my plight, he glanced at me while smiling.