Louis' POV
She is yet to give me an answer. Actually, she did, but I refuse to take No for an answer.
After the conversation I had with her in the office, even after explaining my point of view and why I needed her to be the one, she still refused. Claire has been ignoring me.
After the conversation, where she refused to accept. She went back to her desk like nothing had happened, her fingers moving over the keyboard with practiced precision, spine straight, expression composed. But, If anyone looked closely enough, they might have noticed the way her hands trembled slightly whenever her office phone rang.
She probably thought I was summoning her to my office again. But I noticed, I noticed alright.
I let her be for the next two days, she is still ignoring me with so much determination.
But on the third day, after a phone call from my Gran, asking about my progress in finding a wife, I decided I needed to convince her further, put some pressure.
"You're quieter than usual," I said, standing beside her desk.
"I'm working," she replied without looking up.
"You've always been working."
She paused, then finally lifted her gaze. "If this is about what you asked me the other day, my answer hasn't changed. It is still a firm No."
"You haven't given me one I'd like to hear." I reply, noticing how her brows furrow and her eyes narrow in sheer annoyance. It is quite amusing to see actually.
"That should tell you something." She retorts, returning her focus to the computer.
I study her, taking my time to watch her squirm and shift uncomfortably under my gaze, "You're avoiding me."
"I'm protecting myself" she replies. "And if you're done sir, I would like to return to my work sir. As you can see I am very busy. It's not exactly a ride in the park being your secretary with your very packed schedule."
From what? From me? I don't think I made her an offer that was so unfavorable to her.
I realise the conversation is not going anywhere so I retreat back to my office.
After a few beats, I make a call summoning her to my office. From here, I can picture her rolling her eyes in annoyance. I smile a little, the thought of it oddly pleases me.
Once she steps into the office and walks towards my desk. I immediately ask, "Why won't you accept my proposal?"
"I don't make impulsive decisions," she responds immediately, visibly irritated, she lowers her voice.
"And what you're proposing isn't just… unconventional. It's dangerous."
"Dangerous how?" I ask, genuinely confused.
"Because you stand to gain everything," she said calmly, "and I stand to lose my peace."
My jaw tightened. "But, you would be compensated."
"That's not peace," she replied, stern and precise. "That's payment."
Silence stretched between us, taut and unyielding.
"I won't pressure you," I finally say.
She looked at me then, surprised. "You won't?"
"No," I said calmly. "But time isn't a luxury I have, Claire. I'll give you a few more days to think it over, you just might find my proposal helpful."
She's unaware that I know of the lie she told.
And she's not aware, I'm highly considering using it as an Ace.
Claire's POV
The pressure did not come from Louis.
True to his word, He has not asked me or pressed me for answers in the last two days. While I'm finally relieved that he hasn't. I'm silently wondering whether he took my advice to find someone else in his class to ask. I have no idea why the thought bothers me.
But no, the pressure did not come from him, it came from my friend's frequent calls wanting to know about the mystery guy I plan to get married to. Abby even suggested a get together just so I can bring him over. I have had to come up with different excuses as to why I won't be chanced to. Why my 'very busy boyfriend' will be unavailable to meet.
The recurrent requests have led me to start considering Louis' proposal.
It is just a month and I could really make good use of the money. I could easily clear my mother's home mortgage that way and still have cash to spare.
It is six in the evening and I'm done with work. After submitting a report to Mr. Louis' desk. I clock out. Packing up my things, my head pounding, tired from all the thinking and deliberation I've done. I sigh in frustration, before I hear my phone vibrate on my desk.
I picked it up to see that it is my grandma, Alice.
I smile,"Grandma?" I answer a little too quickly.
I was about to tell her about how I haven't forgotten to pick up the Chinese food he requested on my way home. But I stop as I hear her tight voice over the phone.
"Claire, baby." my grandmother's voice came, tight and trembling just slightly. "You… you need to come home. Now."
My stomach dropped. I'm now overthinking everything that could have possibly gone wrong. Mum? "What's going on? Is Mom—?"
"Oh dear, I'm fine and your mum is fine, Claire. We are both alright," she says quickly, almost desperately. "But… darling, can you just come home as soon as you can. Please."
The line went dead before i could ask another question.
My pulse spiked. Something is wrong. Something very serious, i was so sure of it. The tone Grandma used in asking me to come home, gave it out. I hurriedly grabbed my bag, shoved papers into it without thinking, and bolted from the office.
I'm almost at the elevator, half aware , half floating when I nearly collapse to the floor after colliding with someone in the lobby, i could barely register the familiar tall figure until he spoke.
"Claire? Hey… what's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost." Louis says, with concern etched across his face.
I stand frozen, my chest tight. I wanted to tell him, to explain, but the words wouldn't come. "Uh… nothing. Just… personal. I have to go."
Before he could open his mouth to respond, i waved him off and darted straight into the elevator. By the time I got to the ground floor, I've conjured multiple unfortunate reasons.
Home. I had to get home. Immediately.
I took the next cab I found on the street and headed home. My mind now a mess.
The door slammed behind me before i could even take a breath. The familiar smell of her childhood—warm bread, polished wood, the faint scent of my mother's perfume did nothing to calm my nerves. My mum and grandma were both in the living room, seemingly alright, but their expressions were… tense.
"What happened?" I asked, her voice trembling. "Mom? Grandma?"
Grandma sighed, sitting down heavily in the armchair. "It's the mortgage, Claire."
I blinked. "Mortgage?"
My mother, Daniella, looked away, swallowing hard. "I… I can't work anymore. The payments are overdue. We've been holding on, but it's… it's almost finished. There's only so much we can do."
My heart sank. Finally relieved that no one was hurt, but fear and panic pressed down in its place. "Why didn't you say anything sooner?" I demanded softly, but her voice broke, as I sit down.
Grandma reached out, holding firmly onto my hand. "We didn't want to worry you until we had a plan. But… we need help. Now."
I sank onto the couch, running a hand through my hair. The city, the office, the day, all of it faded. There were bills, deadlines, obligations but right now, there was family. And i had to figure out a way to fix this.
The pressure that broke me finally came and it came from home.
There was only one solution to this and it came in the form of a One-month contract with Louis Smith.