Chapter 5 of My First Love, My Worst Mistake

Clara's POV

The glass walls of the conference room felt like a safe place compared to everything going on in my head.

Dozens of transaction records, financial reports, and audit files were spread across the table. Sitting across from me was Dr. Daniel Mercer.

For three straight hours, we worked mostly in silence. The only sounds were our keyboards and the occasional quiet comment whenever one of us found something strange.

Working with Daniel felt like getting fresh air after being trapped in a smoky room. He didn't use fancy words, pressure me, or try to impress me. He was focused and calm, going through the complicated financial records with ease.

Around 1:45 AM, I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my temples. A dull headache had started behind my eyes.

"Take a breath, Ms. Bennett," Daniel said softly.

I opened my eyes and found him looking at me through his silver-framed glasses. He had pushed his laptop aside and was watching me calmly.

"I'm fine, Dr. Mercer." I forced a small smile. "Just tired."

"Call me Daniel," he said gently as he reached across the table and handed me a bottle of water. "And you aren't just tired, Clara. You've been running on adrenaline since you walked through those elevator doors. Your shoulders are tense, and you haven't taken a proper breath in hours."

I blinked.

"Is it that obvious?"

"To someone trained to notice things? Yes." A small smile appeared on his face. "Look, the audit breach is under control for tonight. We're done. It's almost two in the morning, and you shouldn't be taking a cab home in this condition. Let me drive you."

I hesitated.

Julian's face immediately came to mind.

But when I looked at Daniel, standing there so calm and steady, I felt something I hadn't realized I needed.

Safety.

"Okay," I whispered. "Thank you, Daniel."

The ride back to my house in his clean, quiet car was peaceful. He didn't ask personal questions or push me to talk. He simply played soft classical music and let the silence calm me down.

When we reached my building, he got out and opened the door for me. He even waited until I was safely inside the lobby.

"Get some sleep, Clara," he said warmly before returning to his car.

I unlocked my apartment and stepped into the dark foyer.

The silence of the living room surrounded me.

On the small table near the entrance, beside the vase of lilies Julian had brought earlier, was a folded piece of cream-colored paper.

Julian was gone.

I picked up the note.

His neat handwriting covered the page.

'Emergency client call came through, my love. Didn't want to disturb your work. Sleep well'. — J.

I let out a tired sigh and sank into a chair.

At last, exhaustion won over my fear.

I dragged myself to bed and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

___

The next morning at Sterling & Croft, I sat at my desk trying to catch up on my regular work.

But my mind kept going back to the financial records from the night before and the quiet sense of safety I'd felt in Daniel's car.

At 11:00 AM, the normal office noise was suddenly interrupted by gasps and excited whispers.

A courier in a sharp black uniform walked into our department carrying a huge bouquet of two dozen red roses.

In his other hand was a black velvet box tied with a gold ribbon.

"Clara Bennett?" the courier called.

My face heated as everyone around me turned to look.

I slowly stood.

"Yes, that's me."

"Sign here, please."

I signed the digital screen, and almost immediately, three of my female colleagues rushed toward my desk.

"Oh my God, Clara!" Sarah said excitedly, staring at the flowers. "Who sent these?"

I untied the gold ribbon and opened the velvet box.

Inside, resting on a silk lining, was a heavy brass key attached to a leather keychain.

An address was stamped onto it.

It belonged to one of the most expensive apartment buildings in the city.

Under the key was a handwritten card.

'No more draft loan forms or misunderstandings, Clara. I bought us a penthouse downtown. This is for our fresh start. Move in with me tonight. Let's build our future together'. — Julian

"A key?!" Sarah gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "Is that a penthouse key?! Girl, you hit the jackpot!"

Before I could even process what was happening, Nora rushed into my cubicle.

She pushed past the other women and stared at the brass key.

"Holy crap, Clara!" she said, grabbing my shoulders. "He bought a penthouse for you two?! Are you serious?!"

"Nora, wait. It's too fast—"

"Too fast?" she interrupted, pulling me away from the others and lowering her voice. "Clara, the man is spending his money to prove he's serious! He's giving you a penthouse! Do you know how much a place like that costs? He wants you to build your whole life with him!"

"I still have my own apartment, Nora. My savings, my accounts—"

"Which you should start putting together if you're moving in with him," Nora said quickly. "Where are you keeping your money right now anyway? Still in that treasury fund? You should let Julian manage it once you move in. It's time for a fresh start, Clara. You need to let go of the past."

Between Nora pushing me, Julian's constant romantic gestures, and my own desperate wish to stop being afraid and trust the man I once loved, my guard finally came down.

"Okay," I whispered, holding the brass key tightly.

"Okay. I'll go tonight."

_____

At 7:00 PM, I stood inside the beautiful living room of the downtown penthouse.

Large glass windows showed the bright city lights outside.

Julian was waiting for me.

He wore a crisp white shirt with the top buttons undone, looking handsome in the warm light of the room.

The moment I walked through the door, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close.

Then he kissed me.

"You came," he whispered, smiling. "You're finally here, Clara."

We went inside and he poured two glasses of expensive red wine and handed one to me.

We stood near the window and raised our glasses.

"To us," Julian said softly, looking into my eyes. "To our new beginning."

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Julian's phone vibrated on the kitchen island behind us.

He didn't seem interested in answering, but when he looked at the screen, his expression changed.

He placed his glass down.

"Excuse me for a moment, darling. I have to take this work call."

"Go ahead," I said with a small smile.

JULIAN'S POV

I walked quickly toward the hallway near the master bedroom, making sure Clara couldn't hear me.

I pulled out my phone and looked at the caller ID.

Victoria.

My jaw tightened.

I answered.

"What do you want, Victoria? I told you I was dealing with an important client tonight."

"Client negotiations?" Victoria's voice came through the phone, sharp and suspicious. "Is that what you call it, Julian? I'm at our house looking at the joint credit card statements! Why did a private courier charge five hundred dollars for flowers this morning?"

"It was a corporate gift for an investor's wife, Victoria. Don't be ridiculous," I snapped. "I don't have time for your paranoia."

"Are you cheating on me again, Julian?" she hissed.

Her voice shook with anger.

"Because if you are, I swear I'll call the debt collectors myself and tell them exactly where you keep your offshore accounts! You remember who signed your business loans!"

Anger rushed through me, but I controlled it.

Victoria could be dangerous when she felt trapped, but she was easy to control if I acted like the tired, overworked husband.

"Victoria, listen to me."

I lowered my voice.

"I'm drowning in work trying to keep this estate running. I'm working day and night to clear those debts so you can keep your lifestyle. Stop making things harder for me. I'll be home late. Don't wait up."

Before she could respond, I ended the call.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

Then I fixed my shirt, took a deep breath, and pushed the anger away.

I replaced it with the warm, loving expression Clara expected from me.

I walked back into the living room.

Clara was standing beside the sofa.

She looked innocent and trusting.

And, more importantly, she had enough savings to solve the financial mess I was in.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

"Everything is perfect now that I'm back with you," I lied.

I walked toward her, took her wine glass, and placed it on the table.

Then I gently held her face.

"You are so beautiful, Clara. Tonight, we start fresh. No past. No regrets. Just us."

I leaned down and kissed her.

The kiss deepened, and she relaxed in my arms.

I led her toward the master bedroom.

And that night, beneath the silk sheets of the penthouse, we ended up having sex.

CLARA'S POV

The next morning..

Morning sunlight came through the thin curtains, filling the room with soft light.

I stretched and reached across the bed.

The space beside me was empty and cold.

Julian was gone.

I sat up and pulled the sheet over my bare chest.

Memories of last night came rushing back—his touch, his words, and the promises he'd made.

A small smile appeared on my lips.

Maybe things really were changing.

I wrapped myself in a robe and went downstairs to the kitchen.

A beautiful breakfast had been prepared on the kitchen island. Fresh pastries, orange juice, and hot coffee were waiting for me.

Beside them was another note from Julian saying he'd had an early board meeting but would see me that evening.

I ate quickly before heading to work.

For the first time in a long while, I felt hopeful.

Maybe I'd been too suspicious.

Maybe we really were starting over.

When I arrived at Sterling & Croft, the morning passed slowly.

But something caught my attention.

Nora's cubicle was empty.

By noon, she still hadn't arrived.

Worried, I pulled out my phone and sent her a message.

Clara: Hey, Nora! You're not at your desk. Is everything okay? I'm getting worried!

A few minutes later, my phone buzzed.

Nora: Hey babe, sorry! Woke up with a terrible fever and chest pains. I'm actually at St. Jude's Hospital getting checked out. Don't worry!

My heart dropped.

Nora was my best friend.

I immediately went into my manager's office, asked for an emergency half-day leave, and grabbed my coat.

Twenty minutes later, I walked through the glass doors of St. Jude's Hospital.

I found Nora sitting up in a private room with an IV in her arm.

"Clara! You came!" she said, putting her phone down.

"Of course I came!"

I pulled a chair beside her bed and took her hand.

"Are you okay? What did the doctor say?"

"Just severe exhaustion and a mild infection," Nora said, waving her hand. "Nothing serious."

Then she smiled.

"But enough about me! Tell me about last night! Did you go to the penthouse?!"

I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face.

"I did. And Nora... it was incredible. Julian was so sweet. We talked about everything, and we... well, we spent the night together. I think I'm finally letting go of my doubts."

Nora's eyes lit up.

"I knew it! I told you he was the one! So, did you guys talk about combining your money yet? Did you give him access to your main accounts?"

I blinked.

Again, she was talking about my money.

"No, not yet. We were focused on us."

"Well, don't wait too long," Nora said quickly.

"I'll get us some fresh water from the hallway dispenser," I said, wanting to end the awkward conversation.

I stepped into the hallway and filled two plastic cups at the water station.

As I turned around, a tall man in a dark suit with white coat walked past the nurses' station.

"Clara?"

I stopped.

Standing in front of me was Dr. Daniel Mercer.

He looked neat and professional, with a tablet tucked under his arm.

"Daniel?" I said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm on the advisory board for the hospital's risk management committee," Daniel explained with a warm smile. "What about you? Is everything alright?"

"My best friend was admitted because of exhaustion, so I came to see her."

"I hope she gets better soon," Daniel said.

He paused and studied me through his glasses.

"You look much better than you did last night, Clara. Much more relaxed."

"I... yeah."

I felt my face warm.

"Things are settling down."

Daniel nodded.

"I'm glad."

He hesitated for a moment.

"I was actually wondering... if you're free this weekend, maybe I could take you out for a quiet dinner? No financial audits, no work talk. Just dinner?"

My heart skipped.

Standing there with Daniel, I felt that same sense of safety and respect I'd felt the night before.

But then Julian's face came to mind.

Our night together.

The penthouse.

His promises.

I swallowed.

"Daniel, you're wonderful, really... but I'm actually seeing someone. It's getting serious."

Something unreadable crossed his face for a second, but he quickly returned to his calm smile.

"I understand. He's a very lucky man, Clara. If you ever need anything, my door is always open."

That evening, I returned to the penthouse feeling peaceful.

Julian wasn't home yet, but his leather messenger bag was sitting on the study desk.