Chapter 34: Claire’s POV
Chapter 34: Claire’s POV
I stared directly into Jordan’s eyes and waited for some sort of explanation.
“The idea wasn’t for anyone to get hurt. After I saw how sad you were, I thought hiring you would help you regain your confidence and it meant I’d be able to spend more time with you. And then I saw your work and I was genuinely in awe and I saw the opportunity for my company’s Salvation.” He shrugs as if this was reason enough to steal my work, publicly auction it and then butcher it to harbor funds.
“Jordan, I’m really shocked. I never thought you’d have to be a person that I watch my around too.” I say as I look directly at him.
back
“Claire, I never meant to hurt you. I’ve loved you since college..” I stare at him in disbelief and try to recount what he had just said to me. This is how you’d treat a woman you “loved“? You exploited me for money and tried to tie my hands so that I couldn’t leave.
“I think your idea with love is infatuation. Running after or fantasizing some things that just can’t be. I’m sorry.” I say as I look down at my hands.i was disappointed in what he had done but I was more disappointed in myself for letting it happen.
“But we can be. We’ve had fun Claire. I can make you happy and you can help me rebuild my company. It’s not impossible.” He says as he tried to grab my hands. He grabs them out of desperation rather than Leo grabbing them while trying to steady my en ons. A tell–tale sign that I had been blinded by idea of my potential independence and blinded by the pain I’ve endured the last couple of weeks.
“I think it’s best we remain strangers. I don’t trust you with my work and I can’t have a relationship with someone I don’t trust either.” I get up to leave and feel Jordan grab my wrist.
“So that’s it? I pour my heart out to you and beg for your help and you’re just going to leave?” He looked almost mad. Desperation was eating away at him. This wasn’t about me. This was about what he was losing.
“Please let go.” I ask as I feel my wrist start to hurt. I didn’t want to cause a scene but I did feel a a little intimidated. He squeezed my wriest a little tighter.
“What about my blueprints?” He asks with a determined face. He was trying to sway things in his favor. He didn’t care about me. He cared about what my departure would do to his business.
“Jordan, let go of me!” I pull my wrist away and lose my balance. I bump into someone’s chest and turn to see it is none other than Leo. I would say that I was grateful to see him but I can see the look on his face. He had witnessed the whole ordeal and from the way he stood – he didn’t like what he saw. Jordan looks up at Leo and for a second, I see the color drain from his face. Either Leo was the one to have bruised his neck or he was planning to do far worse.
“Claire, I’ll escort you home now. Go wait in the car.” He says without taking his eyes off of Jordan.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 34: Claire’s POV
“Leo, it’s okay. Let’s just leave.” Jordan may be a lot of things but leaving him to hash things out with Leo was more punishment that he could bare.
“Go wait in the car.” This time it came out as more of a command and his voice had deepened. I think better than to try my luck and stay back to witness what might happen. I scurry to car and wait until Leo returns.
“Is everything okay?” I ask Leo as he opens the car and gets in quietly.
“Yes, everything’s fine. I’ll take you home.” I notice the swelling of his knuckles and go to grab ice for them from the wine cupboard in the vehicle.
I hold the ice to his hand as I hear him give the driver Jasmine’s address.
“Thank you.” I say quietly as I check on his knuckles, examining for any that might be broken or displaced.
Leo leans in and kisses my forehead gently. He then sits back and watches as I examine his hand.
Chapter 34: Jordan’s POV
