Chapitre 18: Familiar
''You… How could you not realize it, huh?" Elvina pulled her into a dark corner, away from the eyes of the media before they could run after her.
Claire rarely appeared in front of the public's eyes but after the Cardale Family wedding, she was all over the tabloids and now the media kept an eye on all her movements just so they can catch another glimpse of her.
''Our scales cover most of our body….''
''I'm not taking your 'I'm not used to it' excuse. We've spent over a decade here already,'' Elvina narrowed her eyes, ''You should get used to it by now.''
Claire squirmed under her sister's piercing glare, ''It's your fault. You rushed me so much that I literally skipped everything. I haven't even done any makeup.''
Elvina sighed, ''So much for always being careless.''
She took off her mask and placed it on Claire's eyes.
The dazzling white mask did not go well with her matte black dress.
''Now, turn around.''
Claire obediently turned around and Elvina tied the straps of the mask before adjusting her hair.
''There reporters outside have spotted you already. Nobody knows my relationship with Slayer. They will come after you, the CEO,'' Elvina nagged.
Claire coughed, ''I did not expect them to be here. This was supposed to be a low-key masquerade party thrown by some mysterious man on his birthday.''
''Whatever,'' Elvina rolled her eyes, ''You are wearing black so it should be fine. Just don't get captured.''
The loud music was still on as both the sisters stepped out of the dark spot and peered through the crowd, ''Where are we meeting him?" Elvina whispered.
''Room 906…'' Claire kept looking around.
Meditation. She was going to opt for it soon to calm her chaotic mind.
''Clairy, calm down…'' Elvina grabbed Claire's hand and asked her to take deep breaths, ''Are you sure about the room number?" Her sister slipped on information like these in urgent times.
''Of course,'' Claire massaged her forehead as she looked at the crowd, ''Let's get there fast.''
Elvina nodded.
Her gaze shifted to a huge crowd gathered at the entrance.
She stood on her tiptoes.
She was wearing heels but she could barely see anything.
''What is it?''
Claire tugged at her hand.
''No, I think I saw someone familiar,'' Elvina lowered her head, letting her long hair cover her face, ''Let's…''
''President Delaney…''
Both the sisters stiffened when they heard the 'clicking' sounds of the camera.
From the corner of her eyes, Elvina scanned Claire from head to toe, ''What the heck!" she cursed under her breath when she saw the exclusive Louis Vuitton bag in her sister's hands.
There was only one of them in the whole world and this artistic piece was owned by the CEO of Slayer, Claire Delaney and reporters remembered such stuff as kids memorizing the alphabet.
No wonder they recognized her so easily.
Elvina snatched the bag from her hand, ''Quickly run.''
"Alright,'' Claire adjusted the mask on her face, ''But you..''
''Come on, sister. Did you call me here to die?'' Elvina winced looking at the swarm of reporters from the corner of her eyes, ''You are still fine. Look at me, a married lady, what am I going to do if my reputation is ruined? Run!"
''You still have the nerve to joke!" Claire snapped, taking hurried steps towards the elevator.
''Since I am joking, laugh!'' Elvina mumbled under her breath, ''Even if we die, let's die beautifully.''
As the elevator door opened, both of them were about to step inside but there were reporters in the elevator too.
Elvina was dumbstruck. Were all the reporters in this huge city having some sort of get-together today?
She pushed Claire towards the staircase, ''I'll be there soon.''
Near the entrance of the luxurious nightclub, Archer was answering the reporter's questions.
''President Cardale, why was the inauguration date postponed for so long? As far as we know, the Cardale Empires took over this grand property 1 year ago and the club was ready to be inaugurated last month…''
''I had to delay it because of my marriage,'' Archer smiled.
''How do you feel now that things did not turn out like how you had expected?" Another reporter asked and the mass quietened down, believing the question to be phrased in the wrong way, ''As in.. the bride was replaced…''
The reporter stuttered, ready for the man to snap or call his bodyguards to deal with them because his question, sure as hell sounded offensive.
He was so excited about this exclusive scoop that he phrased it in the wrong way.
But contrary to their expectations, Archer's reaction increased the validity of his reputation of being a 'Saint'.
''Fate has its ways,'' Archer interrupted the reporter, his smile growing wider, ''And my wife is my priority. One hour of not seeing her makes me anxious. Now if y'all will excuse me. I need to finish my work soon so that I can go back to her. I'm certain that she is missing me to death,'' he winked.
The reporters burst out in laughter at his playful words.
Archer raked his fingers through his hair and stepped inside the club.
''Click from the right side…''
''Yes... Did you see the scratches on his face..?''
''President Cardale and his wife are surely in love…''
''It's truly like a fairytale,'' the female reporters sighed dreamily.
''Ahh… He is my dream boy!''
Archer was at a little distance from them when he saw another crowd gathered near the private elevator.
And his eyes focused on the figure in white who stepped inside the elevator.
It was only for a brief moment that she caught his attention.
'She looked… familiar.'
...
''What the heck!" Claire was breathless by the time she reached the top floor.
She pressed her hand on the door of a suite as she panted.
Just as she was about to raise her head, her ears picked up the sounds of the approaching footsteps.
She noticed the swarm of reporters from the corner of her eyes.
''Dammit!" Claire was about to step inside the room.
''Excuse me…'' A deep masculine voice sounded from behind.
Claire turned to look at the man.
He was... a breathtaking sight.
A pair of hazel eyes looked straight at her.
But she was not in the headspace to appreciate his beauty.
''I was one step away from escaping from these leeches. But you came in the way,'' she placed her hand on his neck, her other hand twisted the doorknob which was not opening at all, ''So now, you are going to pin me against this door and pretend to kiss the hell out of me,'' her fingers gripped his collar and she pulled him closer.
The man's eyes widened.
What just happened?
He… Was he just so effortlessly dragged by a woman? In that split second, he felt the intense strength in her light grip.
When he did not make his move, Claire took a step closer to him and she cupped his face, ''I'll compensate you,'' she said before capturing his lips with hers…
''President…''
'Dammit! Did they still recognize me?' Claire was about to pull back from the man when the door behind her opened with a click.
Her footsteps staggered but suddenly she felt an arm curling around her waist.
The man placed the key card inside his pockets with his other hand.
She glanced at the muscular man standing in front of her.
His strength felt like iron and countless dirty thoughts flashed in her mind at that moment.
A body like this… will it feel good being crushed under it…?
She looked at his chest. He was wearing a black shirt, his sleeves folded.
Claire gulped.
''President Delaney…''
She could hear the reporters' voices slowly disappearing in the air as her attention shifted to the man in front of her.
''Woman, are you trying to seduce me?" The man placed his hands on the wall, trapping her between his arms, ''So far, you are doing a great job.''
Claire's back hit the wall. She looked into his hazel eyes in the dim lighting of the suite.
''Are you sure it's her? Why would she run?''
''I saw her face when she stepped out of the car. Even though she is wearing a mask, I can recognize her. There must be something scandalous given how she ran.''
''She is there with a man…''
''This is going to be a good catch.''
''She was here… This door is open…''
''In my defense, I was not seducing you. I just need a kiss,'' she wrapped her arms around his neck, ''…To save myself from this situation.''
The sounds of approaching footsteps were heard and before she could react, the man grabbed the back of her neck before capturing her lips.
He took her bottom lips between his teeth and her nails dug into his neck.
He grabbed her wrists before pinning her hands above her head.
Claire closed her eyes as his fingers slid down. He grabbed the back of her neck before angling her head.
A faint scent of mint wafted off to her nose.
The door opened with a 'bang'.
She pressed her palms on his chest, leaning closer to him.
''Is she here..?''
''Check properly…'' The reporters outside went into a frenzy while looking for her.
But before the door could open completely…
''Do you want to die?" Claire heard a domineering voice above her head.
The man with 'good kissing skills' turned to look at the reporters from above his shoulder.
His thumb stroked the skin on the back of her neck.
Her heart skipped a beat. Is this how it feels to be protected?
She knew he was not protecting her and this was just what the situation called for but no one has ever done this for her before.
It felt weird… And nice.
The reporter, realizing that they were intruding on a private moment, turned around and left.
It would have been impossible for them to barge inside the room if not because of the fact that today, the nightclub was completely high in the birthday bash of an enigmatic big shot.
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