Chapter 5 (5)

San Francisco

"I don't understand what are the Michaelson's doing here?" Clark tutted facing Nicole. "That's even what am trying to tell you. Dad and Mom forbade me from informing you secretly that they would be bringing the Michaelsons when you finally arrive because they knew you wouldn't want to come," Nicole implored apologetically.

"So I guess that's all Dad sees me as. Someone who he would use to fulfil his business wish," Clark blurted out angrily. "Calm down brother, you can't go down there in this state, you will scatter the whole place," Nicole said.

"Maybe the whole place needs to be scattered for Dad to understand the pain am feeling for what he is doing for me," Clark barked wildly as he waltzed out of the room. "Clark, Clark!" Nicole called out to Clark waltzing behind him...

San Jose

Jane waggled into Sarah Hillary's mansion with Jenna. They both entered the lounge room where they met Sarah who welcomed them warmly and offered wine to them which they accepted.

"Hope your journey wasn't that stressful?" Sarah enquired curiously. "Oh, it wasn't that stressful, though it was long because we had enough gas to bring us here despite driving us to work," Jenna groped Sarah's hands amicably.

"Ooh, that's great so we will begin the hangout now if it's okay with you too," Sarah announced with euphoria. "Yes, it is," Jane approved unilaterally as she glanced at the message from her Dad and Mom on her phone telling her she needed to get home now. "Ooh yes of course right away," Jenna added.

"Alright then, we will just have a nice meal first under the shade outside near the garden," Sarah waggled with them as they all headed for outside. Jenna suspected something was wrong and signalled to Jane who signalled back that they would talk about it privately.

"So what's wrong?" Jenna whispered surreptitiously. "It's my Dad and Mom, they want me to come home to San Diego by tomorrow, and I know it's about getting me married off," Jane said with indifference.

"Damn! So what are you going to do now?" Jenna inquired. "Well, I would just go, but I discover that that's the real reason they want me to come, I would return to San Jose, so for now let me just enjoy the moment of the hangout," Jane's face beamed in elation.

"Sorry for keeping you guys waiting. Let's eat Texas barbecue for starters," Sarah announced with a broad smile after retreating from her phone call. "Hey!" Jenna said excitedly.....

San Francisco

Clark overheard the hearty discussions downstairs as he climbed down the stairs towards the lounge room. "Clark, control your anger, remember that's not who you are, don't let it get the best part of you," Nicole waggled behind Clark groping him amicably and in an imploring manner, trying to calm him down but Clark ignored her.

"Hey, Clark do you remember my friend Jacob Michaelson? He is also a partner with our textile company and he came with his family," Reymond said with elation upon sighting Clark when he finally got down the stairs.

"Jacob meets my son, Clark," Reymond chuckled amicably. "Clark this Jacob, then his wife Rose, then their daughter Samantha who you will be getting married to," Reymond added.

Clark felt a wave of fury rising within him but reminisced Nicole's irrefutable words and somehow tried to control himself. He looked at Samantha and saw that she was pretty but still hated the fact that he was being forced to marry someone he didn't want to. "Alright Dad, I need to be somewhere now," Clark uttered succinctly as he exited the house.

As Clark exited the house, he glanced at his cell for a message from Joseph to hangout sending him details of where he was working as a caterer.

Clark waggled into the restaurant elatedly. He knew he would be in good hands to forego his anger. "Hey, Clark how are you doing?" Joshua's lips curved into a broad smile as they both shook hands. Clark glanced around the inside of the restaurant.

Clark saw that it was beautiful and the staff had a white and orange uniform including Joshua who welcomed him. "So, have you settled?" Clark enquired curiously. "Ooh yes, I'm in an apartment. Honestly, my job is paying me well," "That's great,"

"What about you?" Joshua enquired. "Yes, am at my family mansion," Clark massaged his temples callously.

"Guess what, bills on me," Joshua announced "No, I will pay," Clark insisted. "Hey, I invited you here, so am the one giving the treat, don't worry when it's your turn to treat me, I won't be able to argue about it," Joshua argued in an amicable polemic manner.

"Alright, so what are we eating," Clark said sitting down on one of the round tables. "Cobb salad," Joshua said placing two plates of Cobb salad on the table and returning to his duties. "Thanks, Joshua, but you brought a plate for two aren't you eating?" Clark's face beamed with curiosity and suspicious facial expression.

"Yes, about that it's both for you two," Joshua said indicating Hannah's presence.

"I think have lost my appetite," Clark rose briskly. "Am sorry, am so sorry, I didn't know what came over me, I was filled with hate," Hannah implored apologetically trying to prevent Clark from leaving the restaurant.

"I would leave you two to discuss it out need to work," Joshua waggled out of their presence back into the kitchen with a whimsical glint on his face.

Hannah sat down on the seat opposite Clark who also sat down. "I was trying to understand why you did what you had to but later on you made it hard for me to understand further," Clark began.

"Am sorry. My husband Desmond cheated on me with another girl and we have been married for seven good years. I always snap when something brings back such memories and that's why I reacted such a way," Hannah retorted.

"Well, it's okay," Clark smiled broadly.

"Seriously? Have you forgiven me?" Hannah enquired. "Yes, Hannah," Clark said with a stern expression.

"So how have you settled in San Francisco," Clark stroked his chin in a calculative manner.

"Ooh, got a small apartment that am staying in right now," Hannah face beamed with a smile.

"That's good," Clark massaged his temples.

"And you?" Hannah enquired. "Well, I settled at my family mansion," Clark's countenance changed as he spoke and Hannah noticed it. "Anything the matter?" Hannah enquired.

"I see you two have made up," Joshua said joining them at the table. "Yeah, thanks for your help," Hannah said. you won't believe that my parents want to force me to marry because of business reasons. To marry someone I don't know or love," Clark said facing them both.