Chapter 76: Chapter 76

The sound of heels clashing with the floor echoed. With each step, they got closer and left a trail of a soft perfume scent that could captivate. Just like herself, looking flawless in a knee-length dress. It snugly wrapped her graceful figure, but she covered it with a knee-length long coat. She still cherishes the gaze directed at her, giving her a sense of self-worth in her line of work that isn't cheap. It's not just about flaunting her body or the clothes she wears; it's not that.

She's visited here several times before, sparking numerous gossip accounts that freely speculate about their intimate relationship. The words out there ache her heart, but she keeps on smiling. She neither confirms nor denies the assumptions, yet she can't ignore that they're growing closer day by day. Added to that, the beautiful wedding day that she envisions is about to become a reality.

She doesn't care if Sebastian's wrath will be aimed squarely at her. She's braced herself to accept everything, but she's ensuring that the wedding happens. No matter what kind of marriage they'll have in the future. She'll even beg at Sebastian's feet. Call Clara the dumbest woman in all of Indonesia, but love has indeed shattered her reasoning.

"Sorry, Ms. Clara. Mr. Sebastian is in a meeting."

Clara pauses. "Is that true?" She lowers her phone while replying to a message from her manager about the upcoming schedule. "Mr. Vino said that Mr. Sebastian isn't busy anymore. He can see visitors."

The receptionist who halted the steps of the top model recognized as Clara looked a bit nervous. Somewhat afraid to repeat what she was instructed to do days ago.

"If Miss Clara comes, don't allow her in. No matter the reason. Got it?"

At that time, it was Vino, Sebastian's personal assistant and confidant, who relayed the message and warning. Could anyone argue? No. If Vino gave an order, it meant the boss wanted it.

"Sorry, Ms. Clara. Mr. Vino is also in a meeting."

Clara clicks her tongue. "It can't be. Or, tell Vino to come here. I have an urgent matter."

The receptionist bows their head further, more confused than ever.

"Hurry!" Clara urged impatiently.

There was nothing he could do but comply with what Clara wanted. He quickly left his desk and headed towards Vino's room. Meanwhile, Clara opted to sit in the waiting area, a place she typically never entered. She felt a bit annoyed that it's become so difficult to meet Sebastian now.

Sebastian responded to Clara's message with the shortest possible words, and she understood. Sebastian was busy. However, since last Friday, not a single one of her messages was answered. Even her visit to the apartment had no response. Sebastian wasn't there.

Could he be out of town? But where? Besides, she visited on a weekend. Access was blocked, which meant Sebastian intentionally avoided her visit. But why? She needed to talk. Also... oh, Clara was truly anxious, recalling her hurried trip on Sunday. Ensuring one thing: Fathia was still there. Busy with her flower shop.

She fervently hoped that her worst thoughts wouldn't come true. Fathia returning. Unnoticed and escaping her supervision. Because Laras's words heavily implied that. Oh God! She needed reassurance. Hoping fervently that from a distance, she would spot Fathia still there.

However, hope was just hope. Fathia wasn't there. Even her odd friend was absent. Hitting the steering wheel until her palm hurt was something she did on impulse. She didn't care about the loud horn; she wasn't paying attention. She hastily headed back to New York City and began to think.

Meeting Sebastian at the apartment wasn't possible. So, she switched her plan to Monday before lunch to talk. There were many things she needed to confirm, including... this worst possibility that she wasn't prepared to know.

Fathia was back and under Sebastian's protection again.

She shook her head gently, pushing away that dark thought. No. She couldn't dwell on that. She came here to discuss their wedding. Right. That was the right thing to do, even though her heart was already swaying with doubt at ninety percent.

"Ms. Clara," Vino greeted warmly. Behind him, the receptionist from earlier let out a breath. "And you, just keep working. I'll see Ms. Clara myself," Vino said, earning relieved nods from the staff member. Clara caught onto the conversation and began to adopt a suspicious stance.

"Where's Sebastian?"

"Sorry, Ma'am. Mr. Sebastian is still busy with his meeting. Your presence has slightly disrupted his concentration."

Clara was taken aback. "Seriously, Vino? Are you messing with me?"

Vino chuckled softly. He pulled out one of the chairs in front of the woman who was now glaring at him disapprovingly. The disdainful sighs and remarks displayed were genuinely amusing to Vino. "Why would I mess with you? I don't even have time to play around with you."

"Vino," Clara hissed sharply. Her eyes were signaling her real battle readiness. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that if Clara Jasson had to show her claws, it had to be done elegantly. Especially when dealing with this infuriating Vino.

Ever since she first encountered the man before her, Clara had been looking at him unfavorably. His gaze seemed mocking yet belittling. She disliked it. Truly. If she could, Clara would erase Vino from Sebastian's life. Patience. Yes, Clara needed patience. To have Sebastian, remove Vino, and live happily with her beloved. That's it. That's all she wanted.

"I want to meet your boss. Not you."

Vino simply nodded nonchalantly. "Sure. I understand."

Clara chose to wait with an air of antipathy, staring straight at the man who refused to wipe that sickening smile off his face.

"But Sebastian can't be seen, Clara."

"Even if I want to talk about Fathia?"

Vino, who always maintained a composed demeanor and was not easily intimidated, just smiled back. Being accustomed to dealing with Sebastian, not to mention the Sebastian who never played around when it came to asserting pressure, taught him a lot. Especially when Vino had to handle a series of problems related to the Azure Group while Sebastian managed other aspects.

He was used to it. When the name Fathia, a person whose whereabouts Vino was aware of, was brought up in their conversation, Vino remained relaxed. This actually seemed to further infuriate his conversation partner.

"Your boss must be interested."

"Sorry, Miss Clara. Didn't we find out? Wasn't Miss Fathia buried?"

Clara's hand clenched tightly. Her grip on the handle of her bag tightened. "Just call him, Vino. I'm still patient when it comes to dealing with you."

"Oh, that's necessary, Ma'am. You have to be patient when dealing with me because that's what you need right now." Then, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor as Vino moved. He stood up, grinning in a way that made Clara furious without mercy. She really wished she could smack Vino's head for his behavior. Especially...

"Because in the future, it seems like you're going to keep being in touch with me."

"In your dreams!!!"

Vino didn't laugh. The grin disappeared; his playful expression gone. It was replaced immediately by a look that Clara found hard to decipher. Especially when the man approached Clara without hesitation. The space between them narrowed so much that Clara could feel Vino's breath against her face without permission.

Was Clara scared? Worried? Not at all. She didn't even shift her seat or edge away in fear. She chose to challenge whatever Vino might do to her.

"We'll see, Clara," Vino said, and in a somewhat insolent manner, he touched her cheek with a finger coated in a light touch of aftershave. Gently, with a sense of significance, and as light as a feather. "Never forget, you'll need my help later on."

Then... Vino walked away without hesitation, leaving Clara dumbfounded by his recent actions.

"JERK!!!"

***

Did Clara give up? Of course not. She had to make sure of one thing. There was only one way left for her to do it. Wait for Sebastian at the café in the lobby of his apartment. And send a message that quickly got a response from him.

If only she had tried baiting Sebastian that way, she would have done it since yesterday. But that method was just like surrendering herself to have everything revealed the moment Sebastian met her.

Clara S: Are you really trying to avoid this? After knowing that Fathia is still alive? Should I tell the person who's after Fathia? So that the staged incident at the campus repeats itself?

It didn't take long for Clara to get a reply.

Sebastian A: Lobby cafe, 7 o'clock.

She closed her eyes briefly after reading that reply. She still had hope that Sebastian wouldn't be as angry as his shadow. She sipped her coffee latte while waiting. Because truly, her desire to simply unwind at her regular mall was no longer there. Everything dissolved as her fear heightened moment by moment, knowing their meeting time was rapidly approaching.

And it's true. As Clara looked at Michael Kors on her right, the figure she was waiting for appeared at the cafe's entrance. A face she hadn't seen for almost two weeks, yet still just as enchanting as the first time she realized she was in love.

The face hadn't changed much, just that... those eyes were looking even darker at Clara. As if the woman was ready to be sentenced with a blink. Sharp and unwavering, it was like facing an interrogator who was ready to deliver judgment. Clara nervously swallowed her saliva.

"Been a while?" Sebastian asked as his backside greeted the chair right in front of Clara. She really wished she could smash the pretty face in front of her. To unleash all her anger and... oh my God! How could she have been so thoroughly deceived?

Following his every whim, not protesting much about anything related to Clara, including her personal relationship with the model. Even she... oh, dear, she really wanted to curse the stupidity she had to square multiple times over because of how she opened herself up to this woman.

Who had clearly been deceiving her!

Seriously! Sebastian deserved a trophy for being the dumbest man ever.

"No. I ordered coffee for you. Wait a moment, I'll call the wai—"

"No. I don't need coffee," Sebastian quickly interjected. "What do you want to say, Clara? I'm patient for now."

"Why the rush, though? We could talk at your apartment, right? This is a private conversation."

Sebastian was clever. "You should know why nobody's visited here since earlier."

Suddenly, Clara realized something. Maybe due to her preoccupied mind, she hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings. She closed her eyes briefly, and it turned out that Sebastian had set this place up for private conversations with her. Without Clara being allowed to enter his private area again.

"Why?"

Sebastian furrowed his brow.

"Why can't I go up? Are you hiding something from me?"

The man snorted. "Yes."

"Fathia?"

"None of your business."

"Right, isn't it about Fathia?"

"Even if you don't want to tell me what you're hiding, Clara? Remember, my patience is limited."

Clara gazed at Sebastian with slow tears welling up. "You don't want to thank me, Sebastian? I," Clara pointed at her chest without hesitation. "I saved Fathia in case you forgot."

"And why did you lie!!!"

Clara jolted. Throughout her time knowing Sebastian, she had never heard this seemingly rigid man raise his voice like this. Even when he scolded Fathia, his tone had always been normal.

"I hate being lied to, Clara. My trust is valuable. Plus, you know who Fathia is." Sebastian's hands clenched tightly. His jaw tightened. His sharp gaze locked onto the woman in front of him. "Answer!"

"Is this the response I get from you, Sebastian?"

Sebastian closed his eyes. The thunderstorm within him was so strong it was begging to be released. Which Sebastian knew, would be something Clara liked. He was angry. Furious. And that led him right back into his twisted thoughts. Thoughts where Sebastian didn't know what Clara was really planning. Anticipating was the best he could do, especially after Vino's warning.

"What do you want?"

A smile started to creep onto Clara's face amidst her fear. She cleared her throat briefly. Adjusted her seat which had slid back a bit. "I don't want us to cancel all the plans that are already in motion."

Again, Sebastian's hands clenched tightly. Fathia was right. He had changed. Transformed, wrapped in the beautiful exterior of a woman sculpted by God. Flawless. Impeccable.

"As a response, because I saved Fathia's life. I hid her safely. Not without reason, Sebastian. She's in danger. You should be grateful I managed to save her. If not?" Clara paused her words for a moment. Analyzing the expressions of the man across from her.

Sebastian is clever, full of strategy, his moves are always calculated. He can't be easily brought down with a single action. Clara has to use a lot of cunning to ensnare him. No matter how dirty the method, Clara doesn't care. She's already dived into the mud. Why not just go ahead and execute all her plans, even if they're full of twists and turns? The most important thing is achieving her goal.

Having Sebastian.

No matter how loudly Laras's voice echoes in her head as a warning.

"Or else, you'll truly witness her funeral."

"Clara!!!" Sebastian is suddenly enveloped in genuine fear. No. No. He doesn't want that to happen.

"I'm right! I'm stating the facts that exist! Am I wrong? No, Sebastian. I'm not wrong!" Clara's voice suddenly rises. The heaving of her breath leaves Clara panting. Her gaze challenges Sebastian.

"You should have protected her, right? You failed, Sebastian. Failed." After calming down the powerful emotions within her, Clara speaks again. Full of persuasion.

"Marry me. Fathia will be safe because almost everything is about to be revealed, right? But you can't forget one strong fact that's disturbing your heart. You... are a failure."