Clara's smile

Chapter 1: The Package.

POV Narrator.

The alarm clock rings 7 am and Clara gets up eagerly to go to her class at Oxford University, where she was awarded a scholarship 4 years ago for her excellent projects on the development of the human body and science. As the little rays of sunshine stream in through a window, the brown-haired, grey-eyed girl allows herself to be touched by them as she heads to the shower only to discover a note on the bedside table.

'Hey gorgeous, last night was good, but next time bring more alcohol tolerance to have a great time, love Sam'.

'I hate drinking' she mentions. Her carefree expression changes as she notices a wet umbrella under Luci's bed to her roommate, but she proceeds to get ready, she avoids putting on eye shadow just showers and combs her hair up in a bun, then dresses in her uniform of white blouse and dark skirt. Then she hurried taking her purse and cell phone, even though her classmate maintained a strict discipline at class time, Clara had her methods to be one of the first to arrive.

"I must hurry if I want to get there first." Class did not start until after 7:45, but Professor Emily, who taught anatomy, had students line up outside the classroom and anyone who didn't follow her rules was banned from entering. On her way out, she stumbles over a small box, but she is in such a hurry that she puts it in her bag and leaves for the university.

Once in the hallway, Clara is ready to take off her heels to run after ignoring a call from her brother, her hands were loaded with books and at a fast pace. Some see her running with a certain charm with her uniform of dark skirt and white shirt with a nice blue ribbon on the neck and her lips painted pink, of course she is a young woman of about 19 years old, that made her the youngest among her classmates of course she graduated at 15 years old from high school, she was a bright young girl who apparently had all her future written in the palm of her hand.

With a quick gesture, Clara grabs her small handkerchief and dabs her forehead to stand behind the last young lady in line who was already rolling into Professor Emily's classroom. She could not help but stand up straighter when she caught the teacher's eyes on her, already in her seat her thoughts were outside of class solving math problems under her desk as the anatomy book rested on top of her legs, of course she understood that subject perfectly.

"Miss Spencer", called the teacher. Clara felt a small twinge in her stomach.

"Yes, Professor Emily", she replied instantly with serenity.

"Can you illustrate for us how the heart does its function in the whole body?". With a half-smile, she steps forward.

"Yes, professor", replied to Clara. As she walked to the front with a sheet of paper.

"I did an essay on the heart and how it works in the human body, can I read it?" asks Clara.

Professor Emily could not hide her surprise, and that was because Clara did pre-essays on all the simple topics she found in every book. She was so intelligent that she did not need long sleepless nights to finish a project or an exposition because she observed the topic once and already had a complete analysis; while she read her essay, there was an air of disapproval from the teacher and her classmates in the atmosphere. Envy that everyone could hide in Clara's eyes because they always pretended to love her except the teachers, when she finished reading the class was already ending, then Clara took her things and left.

Having some spare time, Clara sat down in the library to finish her theory about DNA, a work she had devised while she was eating a chocolate with her older brother during the last vacations. Tomas, her older brother, wild and without a career, was in Spain undertaking a party business there, but his constant gifts and money transfers to their grandmother Felicia, grandfather Andres and younger sister, said he was dedicated to more than just parties, he was an open book with his expensive gifts, but very reserved with his business and personal life.

'Strange dark green' Clara suddenly thought as she looked at her little ring that of course her brother gave her, but the ring itself reminded her of what mood she was in, dark green? She had her thoughts scrambled when she remembered the package on her doorstep, but immediately she was transported back to the night before where Sam, and she were dancing, and he was carefully touching her bottom, at that she reacted and opened her purse to look at the package.

'From John' a shudder ran through Clara completely, this was not for her because her brother's assistant never sent her any shipments, she didn't open it and just put it away. Her concentration had already gone to her brother, so she called him, but he only sent it to the mailbox. She immediately got up, grabbed her things, and went to her room.

"Love, there you are!" Sam, her boyfriend, was suddenly chasing after her.

"Hey, what's up?" answers Clara.

"Not a kiss for your love, baby".

"I'm busy, love, so why don't I see you later?"

"Wait, is it because of the 9 o'clock thing?" says Sam to her.

"What? Hey, I am leaving yes" she gave him a quick kiss and left, leaving Sam grimacing, but still looking handsome with his blond hair and slender figure.

Clara opened her locker door to put her bag in and leave for math class. As she walked, she could see the package lying on the floor behind her, and she was in such a hurry that she did not notice that she dropped it when she was putting her books in and taking out the math book. Two hours into the class and the midterm was over.

"There, you have to help me with my science project, I'm lost", said an urgent Luci.

"I told you I would help you where were you after 9 o'clock last night? I didn't see you in bed." But Luci's expression became expressionless as lost.

"I went horseback riding, you know I love it, come on let's have lunch" that did not make any sense.

After lunch Clara watched all afternoon advisories and projects for her thesis she already had in a few months, after a quick shower at 3 pm Sam found her again to give her a note and a kiss as she said she had to go with the team to train. Already past 8 pm, an exhausted Clara could be seen from a full and busy day; out of her thoughts and somewhat fluttering the package shape became visible in her thoughts and she thought about how strange it was.

Already out of the shower and not feeling like dinner again she found herself alone and in the dark in her room, as she threw herself on her bed she tucked herself in and tried to recreate what the soft feel of Sam's hands on her skin felt like, but tiredness was stronger than her curiosity and she slowly closed her eyelids.

Again, the sunlight made its opening in her window, and she was startled to see a bewildered Luci sitting on the edge of her bed.

"What is this?" asks Luci.

"A note from Sam" Clara replies to her.

"Oh, well, hey, the guys are asking if you want to come to the lake" Luci said as Clara stood up.

"Yeah, okay Luci" as she looked at the piece of paper from Sam, she discovered that Luci had a slight smack on her cheek.

"This was nothing, girlfriend, I was on the bleachers of the field, and suddenly, I looked straight ahead and fell, haha" sounding zero convincing Luci picked up her makeup and began to touch up.

"Don't let any man take advantage of you, Luci, in any way, ok?" said Clara, as she sat on the bed after putting on her shoes and taking her friend's hand.

"Of course, friend, you know I don't let myself be touched".

Then she looked at her watch, and it was already 7:30, late enough to get to chemistry class.

"We should go, we're going to be late!" with a blink they both left the room and in less than two seconds, Clara came back for Sam's note, as she was usually running, she was carrying her chemistry books and her little purse. On the way, she notes Sam's words.

'I want you to be mine at the lake, tell me yes, beautiful.'

An air of warmth came over her face and even more so as she sees Sam in front of her taking her in for a hug and lifting her up, then gives her a light kiss on the cheek. At that instant, she smiles at him and leaves hurrying, it was obvious she was living in a little fairy tale with Sam who she was very fond of after 1 year of dating.

"Did anyone see me?" says a little blushing Clara.

"No, cutie, just me, don't worry", answers Luci.

Already in Chemistry class and at her desk very concentrated writing, Clara looks up when she sees the dean's assistant come in and says something to the teacher.

"Miss Clara, could you come to the front please?" says the teacher.

"Yes, tell me", she says as she stands in front.

"The dean requests you, please go with the young lady", Clara nods as immense concern takes over her.

Once in the dean's office her face hardens as she sees several people standing around the dean's desk and as she sits down, she cannot help but look at the package she received yesterday at her residence, what was that package doing in the dean's possession?

"Mr. Arthur, good morning", Clara spat, but the dean's countenance was not good.

"Miss Spencer, can you tell us what this package was doing in your possession?"

"It was on my doorstep, sir, I always receive mail from..."

"Open it, Luisa", says the dean without letting Clara finish, suddenly the secretary opened the package to reveal some handcuffs, a vibrator, and a small bag with a white powder that the secretary took.

"That's not...", Clara tried to say.

"Quiet please, yesterday we did a drug test on your package, and it came back positive", exclaims the dean. Clara's expression and countenance became rigid and pale.

"But, sir, that package", says Clara.

"It has your name on it says: for Clara Spencer, then isn't it yours? I do not know what you wanted to play at, but it wasn't at all profitable to you. We will wait for you at the admissions office at 4 pm to finalize your expulsion" says the dean and a stomachache invaded Clara, then without saying anything she took her things and left to the campus courtyard, she was in shock.

Chapter 2: Separate Lives.

Narrator POV

Clara headed for the admissions office at 3:55 pm with a piece of paper in her hands and hurrying her pace. An atmosphere of indifference and tension flooded the admissions office as Clara sat waiting.

"Positive for cocaine, Miss Spencer, take your things and leave the institution", says the admission clerk.

"Just a moment sir here I have the paper that says that I did not receive any package in my name let alone in my locker", mentioned Clara as she stood up from her seat.

"Excuse me, but it was in your possession, and it said your name, the police told us that it was not enough to raise any accusation, but it was enough to remove you from this institution".

"But sir, I..." says Clara.

"Be thankful that you are one of the best otherwise, you would only receive a letter notifying you of your expulsion" the manager tells her harshly.

Clara could only cry inwardly, as she walked down the office hallway, the secretary took her arm.

"Hey girl, something he didn't mention to you and that is that if you show who got you into this you can get your scholarship and stay here back", the secretary whispers to her, sounding convincing.

"If that were true, how long would I have?" looks, with a hurt expression, Clara to the secretary.

"You have 30 days".

"Thank you..." With a bad countenance, the elegant and bright young girl had collapsed, suddenly, she only had someone in mind, her brother and she would go to pay him a visit.

In the city of Valencia, Spain was a young man fond of order and classical music, sitting in his office and skillfully typing away at two computers with his headphones on. Alex, a spectator of life who could only opine as he believed that many more emotions, besides intimate relationships, were going on before his eyes, while he was looking at some papers his secretary suddenly enters.

"Mr. Alex, if you have a moment, it's important, Mr. Rodrigo keeps calling asking about the investments in the buildings on the east side" his secretary tells him.

"Annie, put me through quickly," he said as he picked up the phone with an annoyed expression.

"Rodrigo, how are you? I was going to call you as soon as I got some business taken care of but tell me what you need so urgently.

And on the other end of the phone.

"Alex, I need to know how much budget we have for the opening of those two buildings on the east side, they have already gone....

"Yes! I know, Rodrigo, it has only been two days since you mentioned it at the board meeting, and they have approved it, thank you for your patience, which is quite a lot" he sounded sarcastically, and before the other side could object.

"Alex, but..." says Rodrigo.

"Look, little gnome, my purchasing team works hard you know, this little whim is not the only issue to deal with, that's why it's called a department because it manages multiple accounts and purchase orders, but I'm not here taking your call to tell you how I work. What I want to tell you is this, you longed for budget you will have it in three days so stop bothering my secretary". Alex abruptly hangs up as he puts his hands on his desk and with difficulty looks at the keyboard, noticing that something is missing, but he could not remember what.

He grabs his mints, removes his headphones, and walks out the door.

"I'll be on the 20th floor, take my calls, I'll be back in 15 minutes", he said without even turning to look at Annie, as he slammed the door behind him.

A man too young for his status in a multinational company with over 1500 employees in the area, but he from a very young age knew what he wanted to be and focused on it until he got it, he is the youngest of 5 brothers, this 21-year-old onlooker had already graduated as a purchasing analyst and in the evenings he was doing a minor while leaving the office late. His bearing and last name said he belonged to one of the wealthiest families, and his fine shoes made him noticed throughout the office.

As each step, he took, he melted the girls in question with his deep brown hair and skin as light as snow, tall and slender. Alex felt he had a steppingstone to success, as he longed for his promotion, after 3 years of demanding work being first an apprentice and then working his way up the ladder, which would make his peers envious of him. In the men's room on the 20th floor, Alex enters and as he enters one of the cubicles his first sight was Tatiana, the president's secretary, standing and slightly leaning to the side.

"Two minutes late, Alex", says Tatiana mischievously.

"Some idiot wanting to walk all over me on the phone", says Alex, as he unstraps his leash.

"That put you in such a bad mood?" and with a mischievous expression, she unbuttons her blouse.

"What's it to you?" he exclaims indifferently, taking her breasts with skills and starts sucking them, while, his fingers go under her tight skirt, with the other hand he unzips and pulls her up, then meets her wet and eager pantyhose to flip her over and introduce his member to her. She just leans against the wall and covers her mouth to avoid her screams of pleasure. He rams her harder and presses her hips into him, the act over, Alex takes the condom and flushes it down the toilet.

"You sure were stressed, weren't you, baby?" says Tatiana as he watches her.

"A little" says Alex, leaving the cubicle to wash his hands "and don't call me baby, it sounds ridiculous, come out in 5 minutes" he finishes saying and walks towards the door to leave.

A guy with immense potential, but with an arrogant attitude towards everything that didn't allow him to do his job, that job he had fought so hard for. Then his phone rings. Secretary Annie.

"You have a conference in five minutes."

At the conference, Alex spent two hours explaining to the financial experts the budget for the company's top event. It was the tour of promotions and recruitment of new staff for the opening of other offices in England, he looked so controlled and perfect in the way he spoke and expressed himself, certainly he worked hard and was no eminence, but his discipline and constancy made him the man he was with his perfect order this man was certain to be on the right track.

"Excellent Alex. I will see you on Wednesday to finalize everything related to logistics", says German, one of the experts, shaking his hand as they leave the room.

"Of course, German, count on it", said Alex with a satisfied expression.

The afternoon passed between meetings, calls, tables, and numbers Alex was getting ready to go home and while he was putting on his jacket, he observed through his window how it was night, and the cars were just passing one after the other.

"Sir, your car is ready". Annie told him as she handed him his papers.

"Thank you, have a good night", Alex replied. Already at home he took a shower and had dinner, the clock read 10 pm and suddenly the doorbell rings, as he sees who it is he opens the door.

"What are you doing here, Luis?" he mentions, a little tired.

"Brother, I had a meeting near here, you know, at the restaurant we once went to with mom, and I was late, I really don't want to take a cab, can I stay?" mentions Luis and without letting him answer he went into the apartment and sat down on the leather sofa.

Luis, the middle brother and the one she trusted more than the others, was a tall and handsome guy with glasses, wearing a simple accountant suit. Rushing to make a life for himself in the big city, but so far, he was only beginning to carve out his foundation, something his brother had done already 1 year ago.

"Ok, but you have to leave early tomorrow morning with me, I have a lot of work to do at the office". Alex tells him.

"Ok Alex, I will get up early with you, but please tell me you have something to eat, besides salad".

"Haha, you know I won't, I won't order a pizza like the last time you came either" smiles Alex.

"But brother it's just a pizza with beer, and it's for a while, besides how long has it been since you've had a conversation with your favorite brother" Luis tells him.

"If you want to order it for yourself" Alex finished hesitantly.

"Alright, let's do it".

"Cheers" they both said with a glass of water and a beer.

"I think I'm going to get promoted this time" said Alex as Luis took a sip of beer.

"If you say so brother, besides, you work hard for that company, it's the least they can do.

"I got into a big project" Alex tells him, taking a sip of water.

"Be careful, too big things can destroy your focus and lead to your downfall" Luis replied as Alex looked at him.

"I've always wanted this and here I am almost reaching for the stars" Alex says.

"You should reflect that in your work, and you will see that everything will work itself out" Luis told him as he smiled at him.

Already prepared and ready, Alex was heading to the office and a strange feeling in his chest was bothering him since last night while he was talking to his brother, as he was going up the elevator a message came to his phone.

'Gerardo's department left all the documentation.'

Already entering his office...

"Mr. Alex, this cart of papers is the documentation that Gerardo sent from the 15th floor" said Annie and as she closed the door, she stared perplexed at the cart with so many papers, suddenly, she dropped her things only to discover a message from Rodrigo on her computer.

'I need the budget because my superiors are pressuring me.'

As his expression grew harder, he entirely ignored the message and focused on his new paperwork.

"Mr. Alex" came in saying Annie.

"Please not now, Annie."

"Excuse me, Mr. Harold requires your presence in his office."

"Ok" Alex replies.

Chapter 3: Change of plans.

Narrator POV

As he walks to the boss's office, he wonders what was so important for him to call him.

"Sit down Alex" the boss says to him.

"Thank you, Mr. Harold and tell me what you need me for" Alex replies concerned.

"I am informed that something is not going well in the budget project for the two buildings for the east zone".

"Excuse me sir?" Alex was confused.

"It was what Rodrigo's department told me this morning, what's going on, can't you handle the work, is it too heavy for you, are you stressed out?" asked the boss and suddenly Alex felt a bit exalted.

"Mr. Rodrigo, you just let me know that information a couple of days ago," Alex tells him.

"Rodrigo informed me that he sent you that information a week ago".

"Sir, which is false" Alex tells him, shocked.

"Alex, calm down," says the boss.

"I told you on the phone sir to stop rushing us. Our department has a lot of work that was before and cannot be neglected, but I mentioned to you that in three days you would have your budget."

"Excuse me, but that budget as you tell them are part of the expansion project we need some support and I see that you are not in coordination with the other departments, I have received several complaints from many of your colleagues, just seeing your tone of voice is enough to tell you that you are not fit for the position I was going to assign you."

"Sir, I..." says Alex.

"I don't want to listen, you have been very privileged, but I will not tolerate this lack of interest in the job Alex, I feel you need to leave for a little while."

"What? Mr. I" says Alex.

"No Alex now we will have losses of money and time because of your ineptitude, it has been enough, you are on suspension besides it would be a good time to be with her don't you think?" finished saying the boss.

A collapsed Alex, crumbling under the circumstances, made his way down the hallway and slowly, ignoring Annie, entered his office. As he closes the door an air of consolation and despair sweeps through his body to stroll across the brown carpet until he reaches the window, at that instant a woman in bed and in poor health floods his thoughts.

Sitting on the edge of the bed with a pillow in her hands, Clara, with her mind elsewhere, looks worried, for her to be expelled or suspended meant that she would no longer enjoy the benefits of the campus or the prestige, in addition to the shame of not finishing and graduating being so close to the goal. So close to her medical degree, but she knew this was all a misunderstanding, and she was going to work it out.

"How are you, honey?" says Luci to her, as she walks in the door of her room with two cups of Tea.

"I feel terrible, but I will try to get over it, I can't afford to cry or decay right now because I..." says Clara, but the instant she was about to tell her friend what she had planned to clear her name she looked her in the eyes and felt she shouldn't do it, instead she just averted her gaze and got up to continue packing her things.

"Honey, but you can stay here even if you don't have a scholarship while you find a job" she replies with an air of concern, of course Luci was from a good family she only had to make one phone call and her father would fulfill her every wish. That remarkable concern was not for Clara but for herself, for when Clara left it was going to cost her twice as much to learn and pass on to the teachers if she did not use her influence.

"I can't, I have to go see my grandparents, besides, you are far enough along and well enough without me" Clara replied as she placed the last pair of boots in her suitcase.

"But you are my friend, besides, imagine how boring everything will be without you or Sam" Luci tells her while giving her a back hug with her arms around his neck.

Sam will stay in the same place, but what the fuck did Luci have to say about that to her what does she care if he went with her or if they both got engaged, what does Luci care about? Clara thought immediately, grabbing her friend's wrists, and pulling out of the hug.

"Why are you mentioning Sam, can't he do with his life what he wants?" she said to Luci as the doorbell rings and Luci with a worried expression says:

"I'm going..." leaving Clara with the word in her mouth, the relationship with Sam was something of little time, they had been 1 year, and it did not go beyond intense kisses, besides, she always felt that something was missing in that relationship, and it wasn't exactly sex.

"Clara, honey. a girl is looking for you, her name is Andrea, do you know her?"

"No, but I'll see what she wants" Clara answers.

"Hi, you must be Clara! Nice to meet you, Andrea, I am from the student committee" greets the reddish-haired girl as she extends a hand to Clara.

"Nice to meet you" Clara says to her, while smiling at her with amazement.

"Can we walk? I have something important to tell you".

"Yes" Clara answers him, and they leave as she puts on her jacket.

"I wanted to ask you; did you get expelled for drug possession?" says the girl Andrea with curiosity.

"Hey, I think it's bad enough to be making a joke out of it" Clara tells her as she lightens her pace.

"Oh, no, sorry if you felt offended, I just want to check if I can support you" finishes saying the girl with freckles on her face and glasses.

"How could you do that?" replies Clara, stopping.

I studied your record last night and I observed that it is impeccable, graduated from high school in only 4 years, excellent conduct, creator of the theory of the central nervous system, activist at the beginning of the career, high grades and the most interesting thing in these 4 years in the faculty you have not been attributed any fault by the general direction".

"Yes, I know that, but all of that is brought down by what they found yesterday.

"Just tell me, what did they tell you in admissions when they gave you the expulsion letter?" the girl told her, and Clara's eyes moistened.

"That's just it, the expulsion letter" Clara's cell phone started to ring, it was her grandmother Felicia but seeing it was her she ignored him.

"Hey, calm down, I didn't come to harass you, I know you want to be alone, but I wanted to help you because I see that you are at the end of your career and, it is very painful to end up like this, if you could mention me some other detail that..." the girl tells her.

"The secretary told me that I had 30 days to revoke that, proving that I had nothing to do with it" answers Clara.

"That's it, there it is, it's one of the articles of the rules of the institution" mentions Andrea while she starts to write down quickly.

"I sincerely appreciate your support, I know this should be with police and everything to prove my innocence, but I will try something different" while hesitating to tell her I look at her and gave her an air of confidence that I had not seen in 4 years "I'm going to go look for the one who did this to me, I think I know who it was".

"Really?" Andrea says to him.

"Yeah, I wasn't going to tell you, but you're the only one who has mentioned the word 'support' here" Clara tells her.

"I believe you, since you don't have many trusted friends".

"What do you mean?" says Clara.

"I'm just telling you to watch out for everyone around you" and raising an eyebrow made Clara understand that everyone knew something was wrong with her surroundings.

"Well, thank you, Andrea, you helped me with remembering the good things". Clara says as she shakes his hand and turns to leave.

"Take my number, for anything here we are the student association to help you".

"Thank you!" exclaims Clara, as she was walking and then many ideas were going through her head, like the time she found her friend in the lakeside forest with two very funny fellow Chemistry students with no shirt on and them with no pants. Somehow, she tried to believe that there was no trap involving her brother, but she would see that in a few hours, when she found herself at the apartment where she would do one of her tour-style parties to see the sights of Spain. With her bags in the cab and a lonely looking Luci at the door, Clara set off on her way.

"To the airport please" said Clara to the cab driver and with a tired expression, the cab driver nodded.

"Everything will go according to plan" Clara thinks inside the cab, but then a message from Sam catches her attention.

'Hi beautiful, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye to you, but in the group where I'm living they forbade me to see you, I also think we should allow ourselves a good time to reflect our academic and personal priorities, I still love you, but I need to graduate and being with you will prevent me from doing it, with love Sam'.

Clara's eyes moistened as she replies:

'Dear Sam, I didn't know you admired your team group so much where you live without paying, of course I will leave you alone because you are already one step away from finishing your degree and the final project you will present I remind you that I did it practically for you, I have nothing left to say but congratulations and that for my part this is over we are no longer boyfriend and girlfriend then thanks for nothing'.

While she leans her head on the seat, Clara tries not to cry, but the only thing she feels at that moment is a deep impotence, since she feels used and devalued for not belonging to anything anymore.

Already at the airport, passing all the security measures, Clara finally gets on the plane that will take her to Spain. Clara, a little tired, places her bag on the top of her seat. Suddenly, the euphoria and euphoria that she felt three hours ago faded little by little, she places her headphones from side to side and the melody of Swan Lake fills her mind, then her eyes close, and she falls deeply asleep...

She dives into a small place, where peace dwells in her dreams, a beautiful blue lake takes shape and with the tip of her finger she touches the surface, fullness, and calm in total silence, then a soft voice says:

"Hey, get up you are soiling your blue jacket" tells her, the figure of a young man kneeling in front repeatedly utters those words to her. She is on the ground and only sees her right hand, then when she touches her cheek she can see a mole on her wrist in the shape of a walnut, slowly she looks up, but she cannot see it because she wakes up in her plane seat, and it is already dark.