The next day, Clarissa exited Twilight Company with the chief editor, Jane White. They were on their way to meet with the director and investors of The World.
Clarissa would rarely attend such lunch meetings. She was but a homebody, and a very beautiful one at that.
Given her beautiful looks and reputation as a best-selling author, the men in the room couldn’t help themselves from leering at her, putting her on the spot as they shifted the topic to her.
Clarissa excused herself from the private room. Her face blushing because of the alcohol. After splashing cold water on her face to cool down, she started racking her brain for an excuse to leave first.
As she exited the restroom while sending a text, she looked up and realized she had gone the wrong way.
She was just about to leave when she heard a voice in the corner.
“What is it that you don’t like about me, Mr. Tyson? Why can’t we give this relationship a try? I’ve loved you since the day I met you. Even if you don’t like me now, you’re still single. Give me a chance, please?”
Clarissa listened as the woman sobbed. My heart would have melted if I were a man.
Yet the man remained silent.
“Matthew!” the woman shouted.
Clarissa stopped short, only to see Matthew walking out from the corner.
The woman had caught up to him and was hugging him from behind.
“You…” The woman froze at the sight of Clarissa.
“Clare!” Matthew called out abruptly before Clarissa could feign ignorance and walk away.
Her legs gave way, and she almost fell.
The woman gave Clarissa a hostile once-over.
Matthew’s lips curled into a smirk as he distanced himself from the woman and cast Clarissa a suggestive glance.
“Come here, Clare,” he ordered, allowing no room for rejection. Yet his tone sounded somewhat gentle.
Damn it!
Clarissa could feel that the man had something sinister up his sleeves.
“H-Hello, Uncle Matthew.” She let out an awkward chuckle. “What a coincidence.”
“Uncle Matthew? You’re Mr. Tyson’s niece?”
“Um… Yeah.”
“Come here,” Matthew repeated.
“Uncle Matthew, I’m here with some friends, so I’ll just…”
Clarissa had barely taken a step when Matthew approached her in large strides, embracing her while caressing her waist with his fingers.
He tugged his lips into a wicked grin at her expression.
“U-U-Uncle Matthew…” Clarissa stammered, wanting to push him away. However, his action and her term of endearment only made them look as though they were flirting with each other.
“Why are you still calling me ‘Uncle Matthew’?”
The woman’s expression clouded over as she shot Clarissa a death glare.
She seems to be in her twenties. And here I thought he’s a mature man who is not into young girls like the others. Guess I was wrong.
“I didn’t know you’re into this, Mr. Tyson,” the woman mocked.
“No, no, no, you must have misunderstood. I-”
Matthew tightened his grip around Clarissa’s waist, forcing her to shut up.
“You know, I’m a man too, Ms. Cole. The man you love is not the real Matthew Tyson.”
“Do the Tysons know about this niece of yours? Is she even qualified to be the daughter-in-law of the Tysons?”
“I’m afraid that’s none of your business, Ms. Cole.”
The woman turned on her heels and marched off.
Clarissa looked up at Matthew with a frown. Before she could even open her mouth, he had already let go of his hand and stepped back. His gaze began to settle.
His sudden change in behavior shook her.
“Mr. Tyson, did you just…”
“Let’s go,” Matthew cut in and strutted off.
Clarissa pulled a face at Matthew behind his back. She could only admit that she had used up her luck and would have to move out of the Tyson residence as soon as possible.
“Clarissa, what took you so long?”
The chief editor had come out to look for her and thinking that the tall and handsome man beside her was just a customer, she pulled Clarissa by the hand and dragged her back to the private room.
“Mr. Knight has been looking for you, Clarissa. I think he fancies you. Actually…”
“I gotta go, Jane. My friend is here to pick me up,” Clarissa cut in, then turned to Matthew, whose back was facing her. “Wait for me, Uncle Matthew. You’re going too fast…”
It was Clarissa’s turn to use him this time.
He stopped in his tracks and looked back.
“I gotta go, Jane. Tell them I’m sorry, will you? Bye,” she said hastily, then jogged up to Matthew with an innocent smile.
There was a flicker in his eyes, but he said nothing as they exited the restaurant together in silence.
While Matthew got into the car, Clarissa took out her phone to call herself a cab when his voice sounded.
“Get in!”
“Huh? Oh, it’s okay. I’ve already-” Clarissa swallowed her words at the man’s piercing gaze.
She opened the door to the back seat and sat far away from him.
“Where to?” “Oh, anywhere is fine, so long as it’s convenient for you.”
“I need an address!”
“To the Tyson residence,” Clarissa said sheepishly. “I’m gonna pack up and head to a hotel.”
“Is it uncomfortable living at the Tyson residence, Ms. Quigley?”
“No, it’s not. I don’t want to be a nuisance to the Tysons. You all have been very nice to me and I appreciate that. However, I’ll be staying in D City for quite some time for work. I don’t think it’s appropriate that I prolong my stay here.”
Matthew remained silent.
It wasn’t until they arrived at the Tyson residence did Clarissa felt relieved.
“Go on with your day, Mr. Tyson. Goodbye.” She flashed a polite smile, wanting to send him off.
“Pack you stuff!”
“What?”
“You’re going to a hotel, aren’t you?”
“Oh, just carry on with your work, Mr. Tyson. I can manage.”
Matthew shot her a look, leaving Clarissa no choice but to get her suitcase from the room and back into his car.
Upon arrival at the hotel, she said, “Thank you very much, Mr. Tyson, and so sorry for the trouble. Goodbye.”
Goodbye. Let’s not see each other again!
Matthew said nothing this time. But there was something about his gaze that made Clarissa feel uncomfortable.
“Goodbye,” she beamed, waving her hand.
Clarissa had just settled down in the hotel after sending him off when she received a call from Hilary.
I knew she wouldn’t let me off that easily.
“I was wrong about what happened last time, Clary. I shouldn’t have forced you into getting married; I just wanted you to live a good life. Will you forgive me?”
“Is that all?”
“Well, uh, I was hoping that you would get along with your sister since you’re not familiar with the city and don’t have any friends here. She has offered to bring you out to meet some people. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet people from her circle, Clary. Just give it a shot and go see the world. There’ll be a dinner party the day after tomorrow. You can go with Yvonne.”
