★ Clara pov
I tossed and turned on the bed, the rays of sunlight reflecting in my eyes. I wanted to sleep more; it had been a while since I had slept this comfortably.
I was busy trying to raise my small company in Europe when a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
I jolted awake, bright light hitting my eyes. Next to me, a handsome stranger was reading a newspaper.
Confused, I tried to remember how I got here, but nothing came to mind. Suddenly, I realized I was naked! "Ahhh!" I screamed.
"Wh..o.. are y…?" I stammered, but my throat was dry.
Then, the door burst open!
Before I could finish, a crowd of media rushed in, cameras flashing.
"Miss Clara, is it true you had a night with a man?"
"Miss Clara, why did you return to New York?"
"Miss Clara, are you trying to seduce a billionaire?"
"Miss Clara, is it true you came here to seduce the most powerful billionaire for money?"
"Miss Clara, why are you in his bed?"
Questions were fired to me,I was overwhelmed. I was still in a daze and I couldn't remember a thing.
"Mr. Damon..."
"Dare to ask me a question," he interjected, and I felt the intensity of his gaze pierce through them. The room fell silent.
"Mr. Damon, it's you!" a reporter exclaimed, recognizing him.
“You dare to ruin our family reputation just a single day after you returned! If this is what you have been doing in Europe why then did you return? How dare you! You don't deserve to own a company. With your irresponsible behavior.” my step mother exclaimed as she entered the room. I had just known she had something to do with this.
“During your night with my father, who called you irresponsible, why can’t I have a night with my fiancé?”
The confusion on the media's faces was evident as shame washed over Priscilla like cold water splashed on her.
“What? That's a lie!”
“Why would I lie about my fiancé?” I could see the confusion on her face as she stammered,
“But you just returned!”
“And what makes you think I can’t date from a distance?” I challenged her.
Damon’s cold voice echoed in the room, questioning the media about invading our privacy.
“How do you know I was here, Mrs. Priscilla?” I could see her losing her composure, confused and unable to respond.
Damon’s phone rang, and he quickly said, “Contact the media management. All these workers should be fired.”
I felt goosebumps as I realized this guy was no ordinary person; he had the power to fire a whole media team. With no time to think, I quickly dressed and bolted from the room.
As soon as I entered the gray mansion my father seethed with anger as he focused on the television. The screen showed me wrapped in a blanket, the caption reading:
"THE DAUGHTER OF JOHN GRAY CAUGHT IN A MAN'S BED - who she claimed to be his fiancée." I felt a rush of panic as I entered the room, knowing the storm that awaited me.
"You… you dare to ruin our family reputation? I have lost their collaboration just after this scandal!" he shouted, slamming his hand on the table.
I crossed my arms, standing my ground. "Why don't you ask your wife and daughter what they were doing in the room?"
"Clara, don't try to turn the tables. You seem to have grown a lot of wings these past years."
"Mr. Walter, I have mentioned time after time that my mother's company had nothing to do with you. As for your company’s loss, I promise to sort things out sooner.”
“Mr. Walter? Clara, is this a way of addressing your father?”
“Ohhh, my bad! That sure isn't the address for my beloved father who has left me stranded in Europe,” I shot back sarcastically.
“Clara!!!”
“I’m standing right here, Mr. Walter. You don’t have to scream,”
“I’ve had enough of your sarcasm! You can’t be a simple sweet child like your elder sister—you…”
“Step-sister, you mean,”
Our conversation was interrupted by the broadcaster who had just mentioned the loss of business collaborations affecting the Gray Business Enterprise. In a fit of rage, my father smashed the television.
“CLARA!!!!!!!!!!!” he roared, looking furious.
“Dad, I promise to…”
"You better fix this immediately or else,I would smash it down just like I did to the TV!”
"Is this a threat?" I asked while raising a brow.
"You should go back to Europe; you and Mum have always been a headache."
"Ohhh, I see." I felt really disappointed. So in my father's eyes we had always been a headache to him.
"Only when I see your fiancé and a marriage certificate would I give you back the company,”
I felt hit with cold water. The man had a dangerous aura, but I needed to save my mom's company.
I found his office in a big New York skyscraper and felt chills running down my spine when I saw him
"Marry me! I'll do anything you want," I regretted it immediately , he agreed without hesitation. My dad pushed me this far, and with a dangerous smirk, he signed the marriage documents.
"Miss Clara, anything means everything," I felt like I had fallen into my own pit.
★★★
