PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(126)
Claire’s hands trembled when she removed the cup from the coffee machine. Everything was against her; even the coffee tasted bland in her mouth. She had no sense of anything. She felt numb, even though she had rationalized that she needed to put one foot in front of the other, one day at a time, and soon he would be a distant memory.
“Oh Claire, there you are,” Willow said as she breezed into the kitchen. “I need to go to the other side of town with Bryan. Do you think you can catch a ride with Chance?”
Claire sputtered on the coffee. “Can’t I borrow one of his cars instead?”
“You know you don’t know your way around yet,” Willow reminded her. “Let Chance take you.”
“I’m sure Chance has other things to do,” Claire said. “He can’t be bothered babysitting me. Besides, all I need is a GPS and I’ll be fine.”
“I bet, but I just asked Chance and he said it was fine,” Willow persisted.
“Well, maybe you should have asked me if I’d like to go with him.” Claire placed the cup in the sink with most of the coffee in it and walked out of the kitchen.
“Hey, is everything all right?” her mother asked.
“Just peachy,” Claire said, flashing her mom a fake grin.
***
Claire saw Chance on her way out, and she could tell he had heard the conversation between her and her mother. She glanced up at him as he stood there, gripping the golden handles of the staircase railings and staring right through her.
“Good news; there is a BMW in the garage that no one uses. He says you can use that as much as you want. It does have a GPS so I suppose you’ll be okay,” Willow announced “I will be fine,” Claire said as she took the keys from her mother and walked out.
When she got into the car, she couldn’t stop the tears from coming. She gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, and poured out all her sorrow on the cushioned covering.
When she sat up, Chance was watching her. She quickly brushed her tears away, straightened herself, and turned the key in the ignition. He was still standing there when she drove out, but she was sure when she got back he would be gone.
***
Claire buried herself in her work. She rarely saw Chance, and when she did, he kept his distance except when they were forced into odd situations like Bryan’s birthday party. It would be an epic event with half the world invited; what was supposed to be a semi-private event had turned into something closer to a grand coronation. The dining room and the hall had been transformed into gigantic rooms filled with chocolate fountains, crystal statues, ice sculptures, and an array of food.
Claire put on a red silk dress after spending hours trying to figure out what she wanted to wear. When she reached the landing above the ground floor, she almost wanted to turn around at the sheer number of people invited. Guests poured through the doors after dark, and Claire couldn’t avoid them even if she wanted to. Besides, Bryan had been so generous to her thus far, and she wanted to celebrate with him.
She scanned the room and came across Chance, who had just walked in with a woman on his arm. Claire noticed that even though the woman hung onto Chance, he was trying to find a way to get her off him. He was rather unsuccessful as the girl latched onto him. Claire watched them for some time before deciding there was no need punishing herself by watching Chance and his numerous women. She decided to mingle with some of the guests and introduce herself. She entertained conversations with strangers, but it was soon clear to her this was not her scene. She grew bored quickly and was relieved when Bryan rescued her from another band of middle aged women who batted their eyes at him.
“Happy birthday, Bryan,” Claire smiled as she greeted him with a kiss.
“Thank you, Claire.” He embraced her briefly. “I’m happy your mom and you are here.”
“So is your party always this big?”
“Oh no. Last year it was smaller because it was on my yacht, and the year before that…hell, I don’t even remember,” he laughed.
“Well, I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything, but what can you give the man who has everything?” she asked.
“That was my dilemma,” Willow said as she came upon them. “I almost got him a sweater.”
Claire laughed at her mother’s words, and the three chatted for a while before Bryan had to excuse himself and Willow’s book club partners turned up. Claire was left with nothing to do and no one to talk to, so she grabbed another champagne from a passing attendant and went out on the back patio. She leaned against the wall and watched the clear sky above, and as her mind started relaxing thanks to the twinkling balls of stars, she heard someone come up behind her. Claire turned and saw the woman who had come in with Chance.
“Claire, right?” she asked with a smile. Her smile was anything but pleasant; her lips curled as if to mock Claire. Her eyes searched her, assessing whether or not she belonged. She was an attractive woman, but not overly so, and as for first impressions, she looked great.
“Who’s asking?” Claire asked aggressively, her glass before her.
“Penelope,” the woman smirked and held out her hand. Claire didn’t budge. “Okay, then.” She rested against the wall next to Claire.
“How can I help you, Penelope?”
“I saw the way you were looking at him.”