Clarissa smiled awkwardly while gritting her teeth to compliment Matthew as a kind elder.
Ellie did not notice anything out of place. She merely shook her head with a smile on her face. “Uncle Matt may seem a little cold to many people. Most of them are afraid of him. However, he treats me really well and loves me. Since you’re my bestie, he will love you too.”
Love me?
Clarissa trembled a little and felt groggy out of the blue.
“What’s the matter, Clare? Are you feeling cold? Should I adjust the temperature of the air conditioner?”
“Nah, don’t worry. Speaking of which, Ellie, I need your help to look for a reliable lawyer. I want to end the contract with Twilight Company now. Although it is expiring soon, I’m afraid that there are things I don’t understand. So, I will need to consult a lawyer when the time comes.”
“A lawyer? Sure, leave it to me. Well, I think that’s a good idea too. They’ve chickened out after what happened and didn’t even care if you’re alive. How can one be at ease working for people like these? You should terminate your contract. with them.”
“Yeah.”
Anyone would seem nice before something bad befall. Even though those people were a friendly bunch, Clarissa did not expect them to put themselves at risk to rescue her after the accident happened. However, leaving her to suffer alone when she was standing up for them was uncalled-for.
That night, she did not receive a single call from the Twilight Company.
Some people just could not stand up to the test of storms in the face of adversity.
While Clarissa was deep in thoughts, Ellie contacted a lawyer in a flash.
“Done. Stop spacing out. Since we’ve decided what to do, let’s head over now. We’ve got some spare time, anyway.”
“Huh? You’ve made the call already?”
“Yeah. Uncle Matt’s company has a group of corporate lawyers working for him. I called him just now and he asked us to head over at once.”
“What?”
I’m done for.
Soon, the two went to the J City Building. After entering the elevator, Clarissa was shivering in anxiety. With Ellie beside her, she believed Matthew would not do anything stupid.
Clarissa still felt rather uneasy the second time she came to his office.
She immediately avoided eye contact with him the moment she saw him sitting behind the large desk. Her eyes were looking everywhere except his sharp gaze.
“Sorry to disturb you, Uncle Matthew. Actually, we can just meet the lawyer outside and talk. There’s no need for us to come all the way here.”
At her words, Matthew lifted his gaze from the documents in his hand, then leaned his back against the seat casually and put on a smile. With a sharp look, he stared at Clarissa, who was trying to retract her head into her imaginary shell like a turtle.
“You are Ellie’s friend. As her uncle, how can I be half-hearted about it?”
“Haha! Clare, you are so right! I’ve told you Uncle Matt is a kind person!”
Ellie cachinnated. She did not realize that she had betrayed her best friend.
At that, Clarissa twitched her lips.
Ellie’s words gave Matthew more reason to look at Clarissa. Catching sight of his gaze, the latter instinctively straightened her back and put up her guard. A glint flashed across her eyes while her expression tensed up.
“Hmm? Is that so? Am I a kind elder to you, Clare?”
“Y-yes…”
Witnessing Clarissa’s nervous look, Ellie couldn’t help but tease the former.
“Say, what are you afraid of, Clare? Look at you getting so worked up as if Uncle Matt will eat you up.”
Oh, yes, he will!
That response crossed her mind because she could recognize a predator’s gaze in Matthew’s eyes.
He’ll definitely do that!
“Haha…” Clarissa lowered her head and played an awkward smile on her face. “Stop joking, Ellie.”
With a smile on her face, Ellie pulled Clarissa to the seat and brushed off the flippant remark she made earlier. Unbeknownst to her, the other two were exchanging menacing glares with one another. They were not joking at all.
The lawyer came into the office as soon as they sat down.
“Mr. Tyson.”
Hector, the head of the legal counsel, came to deal with Clarissa’s contract. Although she was surprised, she did not show it.
“Let’s do it over there.”
Right then, Matthew stood up and lit a cigarette up. Then, he walked toward the window and looked out outside.
Meanwhile, Hector sat at the meeting table and began his conversation with Clarissa and Ellie.
Clarissa showed Hector the digital contract that she had. After reading through, he asked her several questions, including various copyright issues she dealt with lately. As she was focusing on her stuff, Matthew slowly turned his eyes in her direction.
He was folding one arm while supporting the other one that held a cigarette between his fingers. Then, he narrowed his eyes to look at Clarissa.
Ellie lowered her head to play with her cellphone while her back was against him. So she could not see him leering at Clarissa, who averted her eyes from his invasive gaze coming from her side.
Hector was sitting opposite while facing Matthew’s direction, so the former could clearly picture the entire situation. Looking at Clarissa acting awkwardly with her face flushed, he thought he saw something interesting.
“That’s it, Ms. Quigley. There’s no big issue here, so you don’t have to worry. You may contact me when your contract expires. I will go with you.”
“Alright. Thanks, Mr. Graham.”
With that, Hector nodded his head to Matthew and walked out of the office.
At that moment, Clarissa shot a glance at Ellie, who was playing a game on her cellphone. Then the former bit the bullet ad headed toward Matthew.
“Uncle Matthew, that’s all for today. Thanks for your help.”
Matthew stretched his hand with a smirk on his face and touched Clarissa’s face out of the blue. Surprised by what happened, she drew a sharp breath and turned her head to stare at Ellie, who concentrated on the game intensely.
Before Clarissa could relax herself, Matthew closed in on her and put his hand across her waist. As he leaned forward, they were within a hair’s breadth of touching each other. It was too close for comfort. They could literally feel each other’s breath.
Clarissa’s face turned ashen at once. In her silent struggle, she heard him speaking in a clear voice.
“I must accept your gratitude. How do you plan to thank me?”
In fear, Clarissa bent her head to look at Ellie, then turned back to glare at Matthew. As she was struggling to break free from him, she used eye contact to convey her intention. However, he paid her no heed and continued to harass her. He even lowered his head to sniff at her neck. As a result, her body was stiffened in terror.
“U-uncle Matthew, I don’t know what is it that you want…”
Suddenly, Ellie remarked, “Oh, seriously? There’s nothing to be thankful for. We’re a family. Don’t act like strangers.”
Her words nearly shocked the living daylights out of Clarissa.
Nevertheless, Ellie’s eyes remained on her cellphone as Clarissa turned in her direction.
“Still, you can cook Uncle Matt a meal! Damn it! I’m dead…” Ellie exclaimed as she lost the game that round.
After that, she stood up and spun around, only to see Clarissa, who already broke free from Matthew’s grasp and stood at a distance away from him while lowering her head to hide her panic.
Then, Ellie continued, “Uncle Matt, not only is she a talented woman, but she’s also great in cooking. Well, I’ve only had it once. Clare, when will you be free to prepare a meal for me again? Then, Uncle Matt can tag along. Haha…”
“Oh? Is that so?” Matthew queried in an excited tone.
Clarissa smiled awkwardly. “If you don’t mind, then I’ll prepare a few dishes and serve you a meal.”
“To serve me, okay?” Ellie commented.
Clarissa chuckled. “Of course, you’re included too.”
If Ellie doesn’t come, I will never serve him.
“How about tonight?”
Ellie drooled as she thought of Clarissa’s cooking.
Just as Clarissa was about to answer, Matthew said with a smile, “Mind if I take a rain check on that meal? I have an appointment with someone else later.”
“With who? Is it a woman?”
Ellie immediately brightened up and scrutinized Matthew. She frowned at the sight of his smiling face.
“No way! Is it really a woman? Shermaine? It can’t be. She’s still filming at the film studio, so she can’t be here. If it’s not her, then who is it? Well, whoever that person might be is not important as long as it is not her.”
Ellie let out a smile and continued, “Uncle Matt, what’s the meaning of all this? I don’t get it. Are you seeing another woman or Shermaine?”
Whenever Ellie questioned him regarding this matter, he would remain silent.
However, he did not evade the question this time and replied, “Those are fake news.”
“See, I knew it! There’s no way a smart and hunky like you would fall in love with a woman like Shermaine! Right, Clare?”
Boohoo…
Clarissa was crying inwardly.
Why do you have to involve me? Ugh! I feel like escaping from this place as soon as possible.
“It’s inappropriate for us to comment about Uncle Matthew’s love life, Ellie.”
“It’s alright. If you have an opinion about my relationship, feel free to shed light on your point of view.”
Matthew stared at her intently, leaving her no room to dodge the question.
“Haha…”
Clarissa pretended to chuckle like a child.
Noticing Clarissa’s embarrassment and awkwardness, Ellie pulled the former along and took their leave.
Clarissa finally felt relieved after she exited the J City Building.
Shortly after she enjoyed the taste of freedom, her phone rang.
Noticing that Ellie turned over, she quickly covered her screen and answered the call.
I just removed Matthew from the blacklist and he’s calling me already. Look at the time and place.
“Hi!”
Every inch of her body froze up in tension. Matthew let out a titter on the other end of the line. Upon hearing that, chills ran down her spine.
“Clare…”
Clarissa bit her lips in response and remarked preemptively, “What’s up, Uncle Matthew? Ellie is beside me. She must have missed your call. Are you looking for her?”
At her words, Ellie turned to look at her. Before she handed her phone over, Matthew warned in a deep voice, “Clare, do you want me to tell Ellie how I kissed and hugged you?”
“Ahem, ahem!”
