Matthew smirked and leaned forward to give Clarissa a peck on the lips.
“Yeah, I was threatening you. But you agreed anyway!”
“It doesn’t count!”
“It counts to me!”
“Matthew! You are so despicable!” Clarissa exclaimed.
“Oh, you’ll see more of the despicable side of me as time goes. Trust me – you’ll be loving it!”
“I don’t want to see it!”
She was confident that she would regret it once they head back.
It would then be too late for Matthew to bring her back to that place to threaten her.
Matthew chuckled and pinched Clarissa’s chin up while he pressed her down onto the back seat. Clarissa felt breathless as they were in a dangerous position.
“Alright, I was wrong! I won’t try to back out anymore. Uncle Matthew, I was wrong…”
Matthew did not release her. Instead, he inched closer, and his gaze turned intense.
“Clare, you dare say you don’t have any feelings for me?”
“I-I”
“You’re all that I have. I know that you have feelings for me, so stop denying those feelings, and please be mine.”
It was too simple to be true for them to be in a relationship just based on feelings.
As usual, Clarissa retreated. However, Matthew pressed her chin down and gazed intently into her eyes.
“Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’d have to admit that I really like you. However, I don’t think that we should be together just because we like each other – compatibility is more important.”
“I guess it all boils back down to your initial fear of being abandoned.”
Clarissa pressed her lips together but did not deny it.
“Then, let’s head to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get our marriage certificate. Would that help to alleviate your fears?”
“N-No, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Then, what do you want?” Matthew asked coldly with his brows furrowed.
Clarissa thought to herself for a moment and dared not make any eye contact with Matthew.
She knew that she was a coward.
She was full of fears.
Honestly, even if she were to date other men, it would not reduce the possibility of a breakup. After all, not all relationships were fruitful.
As she thought to herself, she realized that she was nitpicking on Matthew.
Clarissa continued to reflect on her attitude and actions, but she could not hold herself back from reaching her arms out to hug Matthew. Then, she whispered in his ears.
“Okay, I agree to be with you out of my own will.”
Matthew finally got what he wanted. It was all under his control.
Even though she was slightly melodramatic, it was easy to control her as she had a kind heart.
He then lifted Clarissa and kissed her forehead.
“Are you serious?”
Clarissa nodded her head. “Yes, I am serious. I have no regrets because I really like you.”
Matthew could not hide his glee and prompted, “Really? What do you like about me?”
Clarissa blushed. “I like everything about you!”
“Everything?” Matthew said in his seductive voice.
He sounded so sexy as he caressed her chin.
“Tell me, Clare. What’s everything that you like about me?”
“Y-You!”
Clarissa hesitated for a moment while her cheeks blushed like a tomato.
As she was about to speak, there was a suspicious sound coming from outside the car. Matthew paused for a moment before letting go of Clarissa.
“Be a good girl and wait in the car. I have something to attend to. If you want, you can tag along too.”
What?
Clarissa looked out the window and saw several cars that stopped around. Donnie got off one of them and was waiting for Matthew.
Finally, she came to realization. She glared at Matthew. “So you were actually here for work?”
“You’re right. So smart of you!”
He kissed Clarissa’s forehead and elaborated, “This is a plot of land that Tyson Corporation recently acquired. Clare, what do you think we should build here?”
Clarissa was speechless – she felt like a fool.
What wilderness? What murder? It was all just a hoax!
That was just an excuse to threaten her. He had to be here for work anyway.
Clarissa let out a heavy sigh and pushed Matthew away.
“Don’t touch me. I don’t want to see you right now.”
She was all puffed up and looked angry. Matthew chuckled and gently patted her head before he got off the car.
Once Matthew got off the car, all the curious eyes retracted; his subordinates all tensed up.
They were wondering about the identity of the lady that was in Mr. Tyson’s car. Who is she? What were they doing inside the car earlier?
Clarissa was only able to relax after they were at a distance away. She felt relieved that they could not identify her from the outside of the car.
Clarissa played some games on her phone while waiting.
She got bored and glanced out to look at Matthew. He stood out amongst the group of people with his domineering aura. Above all, it was impossible to not notice his presence.
She could not believe that she had just become that man’s woman.
Clarissa felt as if she was on cloud nine; she immersed herself in the sweetness of a budding romance.
Even the air smelled sweet to her, she was all drowned in the refreshingly sweet scent.
“Hehe…” Clarissa chuckled to herself in bliss.
However, she could not get over the fact that he used such an extreme method to confirm their relationship.
That was…
It was so despicable of him!
But she still liked him regardless.
She couldn’t help but gave herself a knock on her head.
“Clarissa, you’re such a fool!”
“But, this is the handsome Matthew Tyson. It’s normal to be a fool in love, right?”
“He’s just another guy.”
“And he’s a charmer while I’m just a normal girl. All those women out there are falling at his feet, so how could I resist his charm?”
Regardless, that man is mine now.
She went on debating with herself. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Joyce.
“Clarissa, where are you?”
Clarissa realized that she had forgotten to inform Joyce of her leave and did not turn up for work. Man, I’m in deep shit.
“I’m so sorry, Joyce. I’ll be there shortly. I did not turn up because…”
“You’d better have a proper explanation for me when you reach.”
Clarissa needed to leave urgently, but Matthew and his men were nowhere to be seen.
The car key was still in the car, but Clarissa was a novice driver.
She was in the middle of nowhere. It would be difficult to get a cab. With that, she clenched her teeth, moved to the driver’s seat, and drove the car.
Matthew and everyone else turned their head as they heard the sound of the car engine starting.
In no time, Mr. Tyson’s car whizzed away.
Everyone was stunned as they witness their president’s car being driven away.
Matthew smirked and exclaimed, “Please continue!”
Clarissa struggled internally and decided to accelerate up to the highest speed that was acceptable for her and reached her workplace within forty-five minutes.
Once she parked the car, she sprinted to take the lift up her office.
Her arrival was welcomed by Amanda and other colleague’s smirks and ridicule.
“Who does she think she is? Does she think that she owns Tyson Corporation where she can come and go as she pleases?”
Clarissa disregarded their comments and rushed to Joyce’s desk.
“Joyce, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t feeling well this morning and went to the hospital and lost track of time.”
“Why didn’t you apply for a medical leave then?”
Clarissa lowered her head and replied, “I forgot…”
“How could you forget? Clarissa, you’re here for work, not for a holiday. Tyson Corporation is not a hotel.”
“No, I don’t mean that. Joyce. I’m sorry, I will not repeat this in the future.”
Joyce continued to reprimand her. Clarissa took everything quietly as she was indeed in the wrong. Furthermore, she lied.
As the saying goes, ‘Lucky at cards, unlucky in love.’ For Clarissa, she was lucky in love, unlucky at work.
After some time, Joyce had to rush to a meeting. Hence, the lecture was cut short. Unfortunately, it was decided that her pay would be cut, and her probation period would be extended. If it happened again, she would be fired.
Since she chose to stay, she had to accept it and gain more knowledge and experience while she was still working there.
To show her apologies, Clarissa was very proactive and even bought drinks for her colleagues.
Even though they still looked down on her, it was much better than before.
It was lunchtime, and Clarissa was at her desk, wanting to charge her phone. As she pulled out her portable charger, the car key dropped on the floor. Amanda took a glance and seemed to have recognized them. Clarissa quickly stuffed them back into her bag.
Amanda squinted her eyes and exclaimed loudly, “Clarissa, you drove here today? That looks like the key to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.”
Amanda’s exclamation attracted everyone’s attention.
