~ PALMS HOTEL ~Clara stared outside the curtain looking across the street with a smile on her face, when Hardin had called her two hours back to meet up somewhere she had been overwhelmed with joy.Never in a million years did she expect that Hardin would actually call her, and not just to talk to her over the phone but to meet up with her in a hotel room.It could only mean one thing, he was finally developing feelings for her after all those years of trying so hard to get his attention and affection, she had decided to go commando in a tight knee-length gown that showed off all her curves, she even went ahead to use red lipstick instead of her favorite pink.This was her opportunity to show him yet again what he had been missing since the last time they had been intimate, she checked her phone wondering what was holding Hardin up, she was tempted to call him and ask him, the last thing she wanted to hear was that he was unable to show up because of a meeting or something impromptu.
"Like?" Hardin said. He came out of the bathroom patting his face with a hand towel as he stared at Clara, was that what she wanted to tell him? Was that it?"I think we would...""We both know I am not interested in dating anyone and even if I was it wouldn't be you Clara, I am not attracted to you sexually.""We could talk about this when you are sober.""I am sober right now, we already talk about this, I am not into you Clara, that doesn't mean you are not attractive or beautiful but I....""But what? Why don't you want to give me a try? Give us a try, out of all the girls that you have been with, I have been...""Leave Clara please, I need to rest and this is the last thing I need right now."~ PRESENT TIME ~The last he remembered was drinking that wine and the next morning she was in bed with him naked, he remembered kissing her and touching her breast but he wasn't sure he was in the right frame of mind, he suspected that she spiked the wine because even in a drunk state he wa
"Fine," Octavia muttered. She reached for the toasted bread in front of her as Alex signaled his bodyguard to step back as he was already close to Octavia and ready to drag her back to her room."Being stubborn doesn't suit you Tavia.""Don't call me that ever," Octavia warned placing the tip of the bread at her lips and taking a bite, the only person who called her Tavia was Keir, he had been the first to start calling her that and it sounded better when he called her that. "Even after leaving him for two months, you still love him? isn't that pathetic? Why did you leave him if you knew you were still in love with him?"Octavia stared at him without saying a word, she didn't owe him any explanation for her actions, she had every right to do what she had done, it was obvious Alex had never been in a proper relationship to understand the dynamics of it."It's funny that you ended up with him, I had a soft spot for you back then, I even discussed it with Keir but I guess he never told
"If you can't do it, then just leave," Alex said."It's your friend we are talking about here, Hardin, what if he finds out about this?" Clara asked. She had not imagined in a million years that Alex would say something like this, how was she going to sleep with him? She wasn't even attracted to him and if Hardin were to find out about it, she knew Hardin wouldn't be pleased to hear that she had slept with Alex."I thought you wanted to seduce him," Alex asked closing the distance between them. He places his thumb on her lower lips with a smirk on his face. "or have you changed your mind?""I haven't, I want Hardin.""Hardin is a hard catch and if you really want him like you say you do then you need to prove to me how badly you want him," Alex said. "When Hardin is finally yours, it isn't like you would even remember this moment," Alex pressed on, but with the look on her face, he could tell she was going to agree to it. She had not stopped him from touching her so far and she wasn't
Clara walked into the kitchen where some maids were cleaning up, she stared at them repulsively as they bowed their heads to her surprised by her presence, it was unusual for guest to come into the kitchen but they had seen Miss Clara once or twice so they knew their master must have allowed her since his bodyguard was following behind her. "Don't just stand there, get me something to drink.""Juice or water Ma'am?" One of them asked."Juice?""Let me get the wine," the other responded immediately rushing to the fridge to get one of the wine, while the other rushed to get a clean wine glass. "Leave it on the counter and get out," Clara ordered. "Ma?""You heard me, or are you deaf?" Clara asked."No ma," they both replied doing as she had ordered and leaving immediately with their heads bowed, it wasn't a new thing for them to be ordered around by guest."We don't have much time Clara stop fucking around and find out," Clara heard Hardin's voice on the device connected to her ear.
"Charles," Clara yelled banging on the door, how had she been so dumb to not see that he had been playing her, she got carried away by his looks and thought he would really help her and disobey Alex's order. "Charles," she yelled again banging the door, "you fucking piece of shit," she cursed. "Let me guess, he locked you up somewhere," Hardin voice finally came on, he had been listening in on their conversation and trying to picture what was going on between them, he was surprised that Clara had it in her to seduce someone. He always suspected her to be a fiesty girl, but listening to it first hand was interesting to him. He had wanted to warn her against it but he could tell she was finding it difficult to concentrate on listening to him and doing as she pleased. "The crazy bastard," Clara cursed. "Is it an open space?""It's a basement leading somewhere, hopefully not to my death," Clara rolled her eyes angrily as she turned around going down the stairs carefully. She had left
Octavia and Clara looked at each other hesitantly, wondering if they should risk crawling through it. The basement had turned out to be a dead end and this could also be one but with no other options available to them, they had to decide quickly."So?" Hardin voice came up again this time worried, Clara knew better this time, she knew Hardin wasn't bothered about her but Octavia safety and what Keir would do if Octavia wasn't out of there as soon as possible."It's a tunnel, dark as hell," Clara said turning her phone torchlight on while Octavia rushed to get the candle on the nightstand that was already lit."This is our only option," Octavia said."You have to take it, it might lead to somewhere safe," Hardin said. "Is anywhere safe in this house?" Clara rolled her eyes staring at Octavia who was already figuring who was talking to, it wasn't Keir, it was Hardin. "Shall we?" Clara added accepting her fate. They peered inside and noticed it was a tunnel. Without hesitation, they go
"That sounds quite detailed," Charles chuckled. "The door would have been locked when you got here and you would be forced to go back but I secretly got the key....so there is nobody waiting to take you back and lock you up.""I don't believe you.""I don't think we have time to be chit chatting, I will rather go out this door than back into that tunnel," Octavia said. She had been locked up for close to three days or so, she wasn't exactly keeping track of time but she didn't want to spend one more second in that basement or Alex's room. "Good choice," Charles said, opening the door for them."We should make a run for it," Clara whispered to Octavia, she didn't trust Charles to keep to his word, this for all they knew could be one of his tricks yet again.Octavia stared at Clara and like they could read minds they both dashed out through the door as fast as their legs could carry them leaving Charles chuckling behind them as he watched them run down the hallway and out the building.