Chapter 2

David could barely make out what was going on around him. He lifted his head, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a napkin to wipe his face. He glanced around, relieved that no one was looking at him. Claudia had also gone. He clenched his fist for a while, breathing heavily and lost in thought.

He quickly took out his phone and made a call, sounding as if he was giving an order or instruction about something.

“We are all here, sir,” Donald said. He was tall, athletic-looking, and had a fierce expression on his face, with a deep baritone voice. It was obvious he was one of David's employees or private bodyguards.

There were five men and a smart-looking woman with golden-tinted hair and very long eyelashes. They all seemed confident and Donald looked like the leader of the group.

“Great,” David said.

“You must not miss any part of the instructions,” he continued. “I want to know everything about her, her background, where she lives, what she does for a living. Her parents and where they live, people around her, and every single action she does daily”.

David took a deep breath and gave them a commanding signal with his hands and they all left quickly as if they would get into trouble if he signaled twice.

David also left, walking towards his Chevrolet Camaro, getting in and driving off.

He lit up a cigarette, inhaling and puffing it out so fast as if he was in a race with someone to see who could smoke faster. Now his heart was racing faster as if he was starting to feel the pain of what Claudia had done to him. He had never been rejected before.

He drove down to Malibu Lagoon State Beach to cool his temper or at least have some fun. He had never been rejected by any woman. In most cases, women threw themselves at him and even when he had to be the one to woo them, he did it so easily.

There were fewer people at the beach, which made him love it even more, perhaps because it was expensive, so not many people could afford it.

He decided to do some surfing before relaxing and looking at nature and admiring it. It was already getting late, the time being five thirty in the evening, and he decided to walk around the other side of the beach before heading home.

He gawked at the scantily clad women and it was as if he had been vexed from the start. He couldn't believe he was leaving all of them for Claudia and she dared to downgrade him.

He waved away his worries and drove straight home.

Claudia was at her apartment. She had taken a shower and was wearing a bathrobe. Her hair was tied up as she sat in the living room, sipping her coffee and reading a book.

She had been distracted, unable to concentrate on the book. She dropped it on the table and put her face in her hands, her elbows resting on the table.

She remembered David and how the strange man had walked up to her and said she was his last. Her face had gone pale when she recalled pouring a drink on his face, she was starting to regret that.

She quickly tried to push the thought of David out of her mind. She didn't know him and it wasn't her business. As she reached for her book, her phone started ringing.

She grabbed her phone and answered it. "Hi Mama, how are you doing?" She said, already knowing why her mother was calling.

"Baby, we are not doing well. We should be retired by now, but instead, we are still working hard. We should be placed on an allowance, all our mates are already receiving their monthly allowance from their children. We are not only taking care of ourselves, we are taking care of you too. It's been six months since you lost your job... when will you..."

"It's okay Mama, I'll get a job soon," she said, her lips pressed together to keep from crying. "It's okay Mama. It's okay Mama," she repeated until she fell asleep on the table.

"Congratulations Claudia, you are now employed as one of our staff. Please feel free to resume soon," the email read.

Claudia was flabbergasted. It had only been a few minutes since her mother had reminded her and she had already gotten a job. She jumped around the room, screaming with joy, until she tried to celebrate with her glass of wine and then.

"Grrrrrhhh," the glass fell to the floor and shattered. Claudia stood up immediately, staring at the pieces on the floor. It was her coffee cup that had fallen; she had dozed off in the living room and it had all been a dream. Her hands pushed the cup on the table.

She let out a loud hiss, disappointed that it had only been a dream. She got up from the chair and went to the bedroom.

David had taken his shower, and everyone in his mansion knew he had had a bad day. They were used to the cold atmosphere even on days he was happy, he was still mean, they could tell he had had a bad day because he was extra cold today. He was always cold anyway.

"Your meal will be ready in 30 minutes," the chef said, but he ignored her.

"No matter how bad your day is, you shouldn't go hungry," she added, her head bowed, her fingers twiddling, not knowing what David's reaction would be.

She stood there waiting for a response but didn't get one. She left, not looking too disappointed.

David turned his face after she left, a myriad of expressions written on it, especially a heartbroken look. It wasn't his fault he was like this; he didn't have to appear weak in front of anyone, anyone at all, not even himself.

He tried to console himself that everything was alright and was about to go to the patio when his phone rang and he answered it.

"Hello boss," he heard Donald say over the phone. "We have Claudia's parents."