Claire's POV
I let out a sigh when I finally stepped out of the cab, which took me to the apartment I shared with Elena. Well, it has been difficult, but I have made it back in one piece.
I drew in a breath before shoving the door open as I stepped in, and Elena stood in front of me.
"Tell me you got the job." I was tempted to laugh, but I chugged that down; it wasn't the time for that.
"I did," I answered, a bob accompanying it, when she punched into the air before racing to the fridge, where she snatched two bottles of Budweiser beer as she crept over to me.
"And this is for the go-getter I have as a friend." I let my hands wrap gently around the bottle, forcing a smile on my face at that, when she halted.
"Am I overthinking things, or are you unhappy? I thought that was what you had always wanted?"
"It is," I answered, bobbing.
"Then?"
I sighed before dropping onto the couch. "Not when it turns out your boss is the one you had a one-night stand with the night you went looking for your ex-boyfriend, and he turns out to also be your ex-boyfriend's elder brother." I relayed, waiting for what she would say.
"Wait!" She yelled, placing her bottle gently on the table. "Tell me you are joking. Is the universe toying with you or something?"
"I sincerely wish it were, Elena, if it were, I would have preferred that."
"Oh my heavens, it all seems to have come from a soap opera because what the hell? And how is he in bed?"
"Elena!" I yelled, she was never going to change, was she?
"Oh, please, Claire, you were with the CEO of Machlina, why am I not lucky enough to be the one?" She had both hands pointing at the ceiling as she questioned.
"You wouldn't want to be in my situation, Elena. He wants me to come to work tomorrow, and I really don't want to anymore. I don't think I want to be there, not after everything that has happened."
" Why?" She rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me he is the cause? Wales? You aren't that stupid, are you? I know that because I have never had a stupid friend, and you aren't about to be like that now."
" But..."
"Oh, my innocent Claire, are you running away from him because you never thought it would be possible?"
"Elena," I mouthed out, shocked and scared that she could see through me. Like always.
"Then I am right. Tell me, how was it? I bet it was so good seeing how you can recall every single thing that has transpired, even when you had that thing running through your system?"
My fingers laced with each other at her words. "I will do anything, Claire, and you should grab the opportunity you have. Why do you look so down Don't tell me you are feeling remorseful because he is Wale's brother?"
" I can't help it and..."
"Please, don't start right now. What Wales had was different but you..." Her palm cupped her face. "You were with the CEO of Machlina, who happens to be his elder brother as well. How about you take that as your revenge and go to work? You are single and..."
The door creaked as Wales stepped in. His eyes were glued on me while he made his way over. "Claire, Claire..." he called out when I stood up, trying to walk away when Elena shook her head.
"Listen to what he says and go ahead with whatever you want. I will always be here, no matter what you decide to go with, okay?" She waited for a nod, which was only when I did she walk away.
"If I had known you wanted an internship at Jerald's firm, I would have helped you get one; it would have been way easier for you to get one; he would have done me the favor. He does whatever it is I ask from him."
"Luckily for me, I was able to get that without your help, and I am not sure if I will ever need it again. Besides, you never mentioned him, but I can recall letting you know several times that I needed to work at Machlina, but you never helped, so what would be different?"
"I didn't? I can't recall you telling me that, but it is great that you are working there. There is no one else I would have wanted you to work with if not him. The fact that he is family and isn't attracted to ladies is bound to make it even easier for me to be rest assured."
"He doesn't seem that way to me." Elena intercepted. She has her back leaning against the couch with a book in her palm, which I knew she wasn't reading because I haven't heard a page being flipped over.
"He looks like the opposite." She winked at me while I tapped on my chest at her words.
" You don't have to worry about Jerald; he is a workaholic, and he doesn't have a thing for ladies, at least not yet."
"Hmmph," Elena scoffed, and I glared at her because I could see what she was doing. If Wales had been intelligent enough, he would have been able to catch on, but maybe this would be to our advantage.
"My bad," she mouthed at me
"It isn't in your place anymore to act all nice with me, Wales, you have lost that right already, and I am done with you. I don't want anything to do with you, and you should leave." I had my fingers pointing at the door as I waited for him to walk away when he sat down, peering at me.
"I know I was wrong Claire, but I promise I will never do that anymore."
"This is different." I reminded him.
"I know I was wrong, and I should have asked you, but you know that you would have brought up classes and trying to read. I didn't want to distract you, and I am sorry that won't repeat itself anymore, okay?"
He shook his head. "I swear on everything I own, I will be a better man for you, and I will never cheat on you anymore."
"A better man?" I questioned.
"Yes, for you. For us. I will be that for us."
