Chapter 5 Five

STEVE's POV

THE PREVIOUS DAY

As I walked away from the call with my hacker, my mind raced with new information about Clare. He'd revealed details I knew, but also some I didn't - like her use of her mother's maiden name to protect herself from threats. I needed to know more, and fast.

Coincidentally, I spotted Clare sitting at a small café as I strolled by. She was sipping coffee and chatting with another woman. My curiosity piqued, and I wondered what she'd be like in person.

My grandfather's words echoed in my mind: "Marriage is on the table, Stephen." I had to know if we were compatible.

I took a deep breath and entered the café. "May I sit here for a minute?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Clare looked up, assuming I was a waiter. "Yeah, sure. I'm about to leave soon. How much is my bill?"

I smiled internally, deciding to play along yet hiding my identity . "It's on the house."

"Okay, thank you," she replied, smiling.

I seized the opportunity. "Please, can I know your name, miss...?"

"Clare," she replied, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I'm Steve," I said, extending my hand.

We shook hands but Clare's gaze narrowed slightly as if sizing me up. I held her gaze, my expression open and sincere. "I couldn't help but notice you feeling a bit down, is everything okay, Miss Clare?" I asked, my voice laced with genuine concern.

My words seemed to catch her off guard, and for a moment, she looked like she was deciding whether to open up to me. Then, her expression softened, and she nodded slightly. "Yeah, I'm just...going through some stuff," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded empathetically, sensing that there was more to the story. "I'm here to listen if you want to talk about it," I said, my tone gentle.

Clare looked at me for a long moment, as if searching for something in my eyes. Then, she took a deep breath and spoke.

Clare sipped her coffee, her expression turning solemn. "I've been through a tough time in my marriage," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I stayed with someone who only used me for their own gain. I feel foolish for not seeing it sooner, for not valuing myself enough to walk away."

I listened intently, my heart aching for her. Her vulnerability was palpable, yet she exuded a quiet strength that drew me in.

"I've been trying to move on, to focus on myself," Clare continued, her eyes welling up with tears. "But it's hard when the memories linger. I feel like I've lost myself in the process. I'm trying to rediscover who I am, outside of that toxic relationship."

I nodded empathetically, understanding the pain of feeling lost. "You're not alone, Clare," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"We've all been there in some way. But it takes courage to face it, to admit our mistakes, and to move forward. You're strong for sharing this with me."

Clare's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of hope there. "So, Steve, what do you do?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I work shifts, trying to make ends meet. But I'm looking for a better opportunity."

Clare's expression turned sympathetic. "I know how that is. You should come work at Sterling Industries. I can put in a good word for you."

I laughed, shaking my head. "I don't think so. I've heard how hard it is to get in there."

Clare leaned in a mischievous glint in her eye. "Leave that to me. I'll make sure you get a spot."

As we talked, I saw that we had a lot in common. I also noticed the eyebags under her eyes and was curious about what really happened in her marriage.

"I still feel stupid for staying with him," Clare admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I reached out, my hand covering hers. "You're not stupid, Clare. You're strong and resilient. And I think we could both use a fresh start."

She thanked me again for the coffee, and coming up to talk then left. I paid for the coffee and left the premises, my mind racing with thoughts of Clare.

After meeting her, I knew I wanted to know more about this captivating woman. Maybe, just maybe, this arranged marriage wouldn't be so bad after all.

CLARE's POV

PRESENT TIME - STERLING INDUSTRIES

As I watched, the kind man from the cafe - Steve, walk up to the front desk, his confident stride and piercing gaze commanding attention. I couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.

"Hey, what brings you here?" Innocently I questioned, trying to act as aloof about my interest.

Steve smiled, the sides of his eyes crinkling. "Just dropping off my application. I took your advice and decided to apply for a job here at Sterling Industries."

I felt grateful for having made a difference. "That's great! So glad you took my advice on that one. You feel can do better and should have a more balanced lifestyle and compensation.

Steve nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I was getting burned out with the different shifts. Thanks for looking out for me."

We spoke just a little, but it felt so easy to do that I wondered about him afterward. "How's it going, anyway? Steve was genuinely feeling concerned, "You look better than you did the other day."

I appreciated his kind words. "I'm doing alright, thanks. Just trying to move forward."

Steve's expression turned sympathetic. "I can imagine. Well, I should get going. Nice running into you again."

The rest of my day cruised by without much trouble except for a few snide remarks from the employees. They murmured to one another, at least once or twice peering in my direction with a strange mix of curiosity and distrust on their faces.

Grandfather went back to the mansion few hours after showing me where I would work in as an 'intern' hours before the employees came back from their lunch break.

I could hear bits of their conversations that dripped with judgment wondering how I got in here at a late time. "Who is she, anyway?" "Maybe just more of a gold digger."

The office I was placed in gave little information of how I was hired with a unique recommendation for a few weeks but nothing more than that especially not how I got into this company during lunch break hours. Joshua was not around and Lena, his head in charge of interns helped me get settled in.

The corners of my mouth curved up, suppressing a chuckle at the banter. At every stealthy snide made, the exhilaration was nearly palpable.

No one had any idea of who I was or what I was capable of. The secrecy is what I wanted.

But for how long can I keep this secret?