Finalizing The Divorce 1

Once inside, he brought out her phone and wiped it clean, setting it on the table along with his. Then got up to order some hot coffee and donuts. "Take a sip," Liam said to her. She felt compelled to obey and took one large gulp. It relaxed her dead muscles, awakening her senses now. 

"Liam," Clarissa called out. Truly, she had been surprised he was the one. Had he been following her? "What happened to the...Mr. Denis...the--"

"I passed." Liam said. "I think I'm more of a whiskey person."

For a while, they sipped their tea and ate their donut. Liam was getting bored of the funeral mood that he had to say something. 

"Hey, you can cry all day. Okay?" He said, watching Clarissa pretend like she was fine while she still brushed off tears that rolled down her cheeks. 

"I didn't do any--"

"Then why have you been crying? If it wasn't you, then let's find the culprit and punish them." Liam said. "Listen, my life sucks. Like a lot. And I might have as well given up already, but that doesn't mean you have to as well. You can be better, no. You have to be better. And get back on your feet again because, honestly, I think that's the kind of person you are. And that's amazing."

He blinked at the thought that he was starting to sound like a motivational speaker. A smile formed on his face but it was one he intended to mock himself. Clarissa didn't seem to notice, which was a good thing.

"Then what about you?" Clarissa said after a while, "why do you seem so calm? Or...I mean, you must be rich as hell. You can get another job and not face all this humiliation, but instead, you're still here." That was part of the things that made Liam so mysterious to Clarissa. He didn't act like he cared about his job, and yet, he's still there. 

If she had another option, she might as well have given up and let Desdra win. 

Liam raised a brow as if just considering the thought. "Maybe. Truth is that I just found myself here, somehow. And in trying to prove something. To myself, to, um...people I care about. But I'm not so sure anymore because it just feels like...feels like I'm just wasting my time, you know?"

There was an air of sadness in his eyes and with the tapping of his feet and his narrowing eyes, Liam looked like a totally different person. Clarissa found herself fighting the urge of resting her hand on his to assure him everything would be fine, but she wasn't even sure of that anymore. A light at the end of the tunnel? Was that not a form of delusion we tell ourselves so we don't go insane at the end of the day?

After their coffee time was over, Clarissa thanked him and found her way back home. She had called Sana who was still resting for her evening shift later that day, while Eve was still busy at work. 

"I just can't believe that bitch Desdra would do something like this." Sana said. 

Clarissa was not sure of a lot of things anymore but she was certain of one. She was not a quitter. She had made a mental list of things she wanted to do earlier on. Going back to the hospital for her final test, hiring a lawyer, Sana's lawyer to help with her divorce, and lastly, meeting up with Jared to end things once and for all. Then heading back to work the next day to reset her life. 

It was going to be a whole new Clarissa soon. A better one at that. 

*

*

After Desdra had met with Sun mi and saw that they made it out of the company in one piece, she went back to Elan's office to announce she had done her part, but he sent her away as quickly as she had just arrived. Desdra was forced to remain in her office.

"What was wrong with him?" She thought to herself. "How else am I supposed to get the imbecile on my side for fuck sake!"

She continued her work in a grumpy manner, hushing everyone that tried to speak to her or ask why she was angry. 

A while later, she got a message directly from a strange number saying it was Elan and he had requested her audience. Desdra jumped up quickly, hurried to the ladies room, and adjusted her makeup. 

"Okay, so now he wants to see me?" She stared at her low neck blouse and pulled it even lower, revealing some cleavages. "Sure, let's hear what he has to say."

Making it to his office, she had leant a few things from her past. Elan liked to be babied, pampered like he was a toddler. Secondly, he despised pretty face from the loser's team, so talking bad about him always somehow cheered him up. And lastly, she could bring out all of Clarissa's weakness, both honest ones and lies. 

"Take a seat, Desira?" Elan said, arching a brow.

Desdra was not one to be patient, but she could see the bigger picture here. She managed a smile, "You're very close, sir. I'm so honored you even remember my name at all. But it's Des—Dra. Desdra."

"Oh, that's okay. Even better. Is it like a Spanish thing or what?"

Spanish thing? This man is dumb!--Desdra heaved in a deep sigh, "uh, yes sir. My last name is Santiago."

"Ah-ha! I knew it. But you're so pretty you look like Asians." 

Asians???

"Thank you sir." Again with the fake smile. That's right. She would just have to keep this up in order to use Elan. He was the freaking CEO and if she could force herself on him, she could have the whole power in the company! Then maybe even get married to him for his wealth and divorce his ass later on. 

"What do you think we should do about that in law of yours?" Elan asked out of the blue. 

It took Desdra a while before she realized he was talking about Clarissa. She smiled as his eyes fixated heavily on her boobs, then went on. "I want you to be careful around her sir. She is like a snake. She traps men with her evil charms, and then forces them to do her bidding. She's dangerous."

"Is that so? But we're not talking spiritual here, Desira. We're talking reality. I don't believe in any god or power or magic." He inhaled deeply. "We also can't fire them all. But that girl needs to be punished. And I'm throwing this to you because you are smart and were able to bring down Sun mi's rage."

"Y-yes, sir." Desdra rolled her eyes. It would take a while before she was able to bring this man to her side. "Well, the project can be canceled, for a start. Then we can allow the public shame Clarissa. Her salary should be cut for at least three months. We should do everything we can to make her quit by herself!" Desdra concluded with a small smile that spread around her eyes.