The week had the employees who worked at the Quinn Corporation headquarters putting in extra efforts to ensure that no mistake was made in the final design of their latest advancement in technology. Having worked overtime and days of taking office work home, Clara and her friends could finally say they deserved a girls' night out.Except it was also the first time they were sleeping over at Clara's place and had decided to making it an indoor activity in the condo. It was one of those nights which promised catch-up on months of gossip and secrets which had probably been preserved since prom night. And they were making the most of it."My my, I just want to live here!" Brenda stated in her usual excitement, having failed to get over the beauty of the condo although she had been there quite a number of times. She lay on the custom-made De Angelis sofa which was covered in an Edelman leather with a metallic theme which suited the rest of the design.Everything in t

Andre Quinn was in an irritable mood. It was the first time Clara had witnessed his dissatisfaction with Gonzalo considering the latter's meticulousness and efficiency. He had submitted the reports of the preparations being made for the launching of the products on Monday morning, just the same time that Clara had come to his office bearing analysed statistical documents in her work tab which stated the budget proposed by the account department. But Andre had rejected Gonzalo's at a first look, asking if he were slacking off for some reason. There hadn't been any professionalism in his voice, but plain upfront coldness which he hadn't exhibited in a long long time. Or perhaps never. "Get the punctuations right, this isn't a kindergarten. Edit and submit it to me by afternoon." He had virtually flung Gonzalo's work tablet on the table before turning to her, as though she were the next fish to be grilled and eaten. Her heartbeat had been at the risk of sending her on the floor with t

It was almost midnight and Clara lay in her bed unable to sleep.What did that brief contact mean? Was Andre staging another of his manipulation games? Why had she reacted to it so much? Why did he affect her even though she knew he was bad news? Why was she awake thinking of him when she had to be up in less than six hours to prepare for work?She rested her head against the headboard, pulling the duvet over her body. She needed to get rid of these... feelings or whatever they were before they started to eat into her slowly. For the first time, she wished she were attracted to Leon because he would have been the best distraction from what was going on inside her. A wave of guilt surged within her as she imagined using Leon as a mere distraction. No one deserved to be used in that way even if it were limited to her thoughts. But she had made another physical contact with Andre and all it had done had been to remind her of that time at the stri

There was no need wondering how exactly she had slept for eight hours; she had literally passed out after tossing restlessly in bed the night before. Albeit she knew it was useless coming to work anyway, Clara hated to think of Mr. Quinn imagining she was slacking off or worse still, unprofessionally going after the client she had been placed in charge of.Well, if she were to be sincere with herself, the reason she banged her head softly against the elevator wall had little to do with what he would think of her on professional levels. It had everything to do with the moment they had shared.Shit. What was she doing seeing it as a moment? Had she learnt nothing from dealing with Andre Quinn or was she simply into masochism without being aware of it? Clara straightened as the doors opened, and stepped out making her way towards Andre's office."Good afternoon, Ms. Lynn." "Good day, ma'am." Two young men who could pass more a

"She has to shoot a series here in New York?" Andre was mortified, evident in his voice which had ridden a pitch higher.Luca nodded, his eyes nothing short of seriousness. There were years of pent up frustration in his client's attitude which had driven him to pay Luca thrice what other private investigators received. The consequence was that he had to be at Andre's beck and call whenever he needed him irrespective of the time. Like now, it was almost ten o'clock on Tuesday night and here he was, in a VIP room of a club with Andre.The receptionist had given them a sly look when they had walked in, as though they were a couple or something. It didn't help that Luca was a fine specimen; exuding masculine charisma which complemented his pretty face."Who is sponsoring the movie?" Andre asked again, flipping through pages of the paper Luca had printed out which contained information on Marie Claire, the woman Andre had been tracking obsessively for years. When it