"My mom?" Louis frowned. "Blair, are you sure my mom wants to meet to talk about something? I have a feeling this is not going to be a good thing. But I will accompany you if you are sure to go there."
"No need," Blair said. "Just drop me here. Axel was on his way to pick me up. We are going to your mother's house together."
Louis ignores Blair's request. He refuses to drop Blair on the way. Louis insists on driving Blair straight to the Barneys' mansion.
Louis' car stops in the driveway of the Barney family's mansion. From the opposite direction, Axel's car also stopped simultaneously. Their cars were facing each other.
Axel and Louis glanced at each other behind the wheel, respectively.
Blair saw the tension between them. She immediately exited Louis' car and approached Axel in a hurry.
"Let's go!" Axel said as he took Blair's hand.
"Go? What do you mean to go?" Blair was confused.
"Yeah, what do you mean to go? Earlier, you said you were on business with my mom here? That's why you asked Blair to come here. We had to cancel the lunch event."
Axel gritted his jaw as he glared at Louis. Meanwhile, Louis just looked at Axel casually and in control.
Blair was between the two men. Blair had a feeling that an uproar was about to break out. She tried to take Axel away from Louis.
"Why did you bring my wife to lunch without my permission, Louis?"
"Is it wrong to invite sister-in-law to lunch? We're on business. There's nothing for you to worry about, Axel."
"You…"
Axel was ready to attack Louis. However, Blair moved quickly and held Axel's chest as hard as possible with both hands.
"Please, Axel," whispered Blair. "Let's get out of here."
Axel also gave in to Blair's persuasion. He still glared at Louis and led Blair into his car. They left the courtyard of the Barney family's mansion.
Only Louis still lives there. He stood before his car, watching Axel and Blair walk away.
"So he told Blair they had business with my mom? It was just an excuse to keep me away from Blair and cancel our lunch."
Louis smiled exasperatedly.
"Okay, we'll see how far your game will go, Axel? At first, I had almost no interest in getting involved, but I saw something special about Blair."
Louis took out his cell and called someone.
"Could you help me find some information about someone? I will send the data that I have. Find out as much about her life and background as possible."
Inside the car, Axel still had a sullen face. Blair just sat quietly beside Axel and didn't know what to do. Even talking seems pointless. Axel looked so angry and annoyed.
"What are you doing with him? Have lunch? You said it worked! You two even went to the movies together?"
Axel nearly screamed as he said all of this to Blair as he continued to drive.
Blair kept quiet and stared at the busy street before her.
"Answer me, Blair Tanzel! Don't ignore me!"
"I have nothing to answer, Axel Barney. Because of the contract we agreed on, we are not allowed to interfere in each other's personal affairs. There is no obligation for me to answer all of your curiosity earlier.”
***
Clarissa is enjoying alone time in her apartment. A courier just came and delivered a package for her. The package was sent by someone without an identity – both name and address.
Smoking a cigarette and standing by the window, Clarissa placed the package on the table after opening it.
"This is interesting. Without needing me to work hard, all the answers stepped independently and came towards me."
The phone in Clarissa's apartment rang. She smothered the embers of her cigarette in the ashtray and walked over to the phone.
"It's me, Louis. Can we meet for a bit?"
"Louis? Why did you call my home phone?"
"You turned off your phone on purpose. I've tried to reach you on the cell phone many times but never connected. So calling the apartment is a last resort. Can we meet now? There's something I need to tell you."
"Well, fine. Today I am happy, and I will share this happiness with you. Where will we meet?"
An hour later, Louis and Clarissa sat opposite each other in a Japanese restaurant closed by partitions. Louis deliberately chose that place because it could give him some privacy. He was very careful that no one gossiped about him.
"I was slightly surprised when you said you wanted to meet at a Japanese restaurant. Do you have a different appetite now, Louis?"
"I just want a new atmosphere, Clarissa."
"So, what do you want to talk about? You're not usually in such a hurry to meet me."
Louis took out a small box and handed it to Clarissa. He placed the gift box on the table right in front of Clarissa.
"What's this? You want to propose to me?" Clarissa tries to seduce Louis.
"No," Louis replied casually. "The other day was your birthday, right? This is just a little too late gift. Maybe nothing too special."
"May I open it?"
"Of course, you have to open it. I prepared this present especially for you."
Clarissa opened the box. The shape resembles a jewelry box. Inside is a brooch with the initial C taken from Clarissa's name. The brooch is made of gold and diamonds.
"This is very beautiful. "
"I considered–should I give it to you? You know I love you so much, Clarissa."
"Louis…"
"No, Clarissa! Please hear me today. I always listen to you every time you talk. Let me do the talking today."
Clarissa was silent and listened to whatever Louis would tell her.
"Clarissa… I don't love you for what you have. Just like you thought all along. I also didn't approach you because of my greed. I really, really love you. That's why I keep telling myself to be patient. Even though I know you don't care about me, I'm hurt."
Louis smiled sadly and moved his body slightly to make himself comfortable. Clarissa also drank the water that had been provided by the waitress.
"But," Louis continued. "I don't want to do it again."
Clarissa gasped. She stared at Louis in disbelief. Clarissa put her sake glass back down.
"Even though I love you, I am more valuable than you. Now, I want to learn to love and respect myself. I will no longer chase and expect you if you can't return my feelings. Now I will protect myself."
Clarissa smiled stiffly. There was a streak of disappointment on her face though very faintly.
"Clarissa, I appreciate the friendship and little kindness you've given me so far. I really appreciate it. I will never forget any of that, either. Now, I can meet you with a comfortable heart."
Louis really looked at Clarissa with carefree eyes. There are no more passionate feelings of wanting to have Clarissa. He had just broken free from his obsession with winning Clarissa's heart.
Clarissa wanted to say something, but Louis stopped her.
"Sorry, Clarissa. I just want to be heard today. I don't want to hear anything from you. I hope we can still be good friends after this."
Louis hastily left Clarissa as soon as his goal was conveyed. Someone was already waiting for him outside.
"Boss," said the man. He wore all black and hid his face with a mask. "I have obtained the information you need. It's all on this flash drive."
Louis received a flash disk before the man left on the motorcycle.
Clarissa secretly watches Louis' suspicious encounter with the stranger.