Lucas was never frazzled, ever since he took over the company. Not with all the competitors who will use anything to crush him. But not today, since the moment that his secretary, Ms. Sophie told him about his visitor - a certain Ms. Claire Sullivan - he felt anxious, almost to the point of biting his nails. That is why he told her that he will receive the woman in about five minutes. The exhaustion he felt at the meeting was replaced by anxiety and apprehension of meeting his wife in paper only.

It took him several seconds to remember why the name Claire Sullivan rings a bell, only when Sophie probed him of an answer that he remembered - it is the name of his bride in the marriage contract that he formulated several months ago.

He quickly took his phone out to send a message to Drake but decided against it at the last minute. He will contact his friend only after meeting the woman, maybe she's a fraud and is only pretending in order to get to him.

He pressed the intercom after a much needed time to calm his nerves and instructed Ms. Sophie to let the woman in.

All the preparation he took during the last several minutes was for naught, because his jaw slacked and he nearly fell out of his chair at the sight before him.

The woman is beautiful - no, beautiful is not the right word to describe her, ethereal is a more apt description. A flawless skin that seem to glow with the light streaming from the large windows in his office, a pert nose, a full and pink sensual lips, her eyes - the greenest he had ever seen - were framed by long lashes, and her auburn tresses with a tinge of blonde cascades her back. She's wearing a light blue dress that went below her knees making her shapely legs in full view. Her feet is clad in a strappy heeled sandal, but even with the heels she is still on the small side, maybe 5'6" at most, she will be considered small with his 6'2" frame. He studied her unabashedly while she took in his office. Only when the woman's eyes were directed to him that he stopped taking in her features and masking his expression with a scowl.

He saw her walking slowly towards him after plastering a small smile on her luscious lips. What she said as a greeting made him scowl more.

---

Claire didn't know what came over her. She just blurted all those words without thinking, which is not really her. She tends to overthink things, she will run the whole idea in her head million times over before making a decision and putting it to work or words - which she clearly missed just now. The scowl that was already etched in the face of the man in front of her became more frightening after what she said.

Locking inside the remaining courage she got and clearing her throat, she made another attempt.

"Sorry about what I blurted out, but if you are Lucas Gregory Harrison V then you must be the husband - as what this document says - that I've never had the opportunity to meet this past five years." She finished, still with a small smile on her face.

She took a step back when the man rounded his table and stopped in front of her, not because she was intimidated but because of the sudden awareness that she felt when she inhaled his scent, a mix of sandalwood and mint; and the fact that his eyes are boring into her making her inside melt. She thought she is immune to the looks of this man what's with growing up with her brothers, but clearly, he is affecting her unlike any other men she met before.

She cleared her throat again. "Are you parched?" The baritone voice made her jerk her head towards the man. "I'm sorry?" "I thought maybe you're thirsty because you've been clearing your throat several times already." Lucas calmly explained, although he knows that he is making her uncomfortable, he can do that to anyone especially during the initial meeting. He will bore his eyes to whomever he met, not saying anything for the first few minutes making them squirm until such time that he can practically see them sweat with fear and anxiety.

"Please, have a seat and we will discuss whatever the reason you came here for." Lucas ushered her towards the sofa calmly - too calm for her liking.

She saw him beeped the intercom for his secretary to bring some refreshments. After that he made his way towards her and promptly sat in one of the armchairs while propping his right foot over his left knee, making him look relaxed.

"So, what brought you here again? You said something about me being your husband, is that correct?" Lucas started, not showing any concern regarding the matter.

"Well, yes. Your name is written here on the document from the registry." Claire calmly explained while showing him the paper.

Lucas took it and scanned the content. "Yes, all the data pertains to me Ms. Sullivan."

"Please, call me Claire."

"Okay, Claire, then please, call me Lucas." He countered.

It took so much for him to stop his hands from shaking. This is not part of the plan, the woman in this document should be non-existent, but clearly, it is not.

"You coming here means that you are Claire Marie Sullivan? That all information stated here pertains to you, including your birthday among other things?" Lucas asked.

"Yes. Here is my proof." Claire answered while showing him her birth certificate. Lucas took it as well and read the content, still with a poker-face. Meanwhile, Ms. Sophie entered with their refreshments. She thank the old lady and sipped her drink slowly, she needed it as a distraction since her hands kept shaking ever since she entered the room.

"It baffles me how my name is written there, when in fact, we don't know each other. I'm thinking, maybe, this is a prank of sort or something." She stated after putting back the glass of juice on the table. Claire feels as if she's the only one worrying about this situation. The man infront of her is just sitting calmly, as if they're just discussing the weather.

"How did you came to discover this?" Lucas asked her, still too calm for her liking. 'Does this man ever worry or frazzled?' Claire thought to herself. She cannot see or notice a single thing from his demeanor that shows whatever he is thinking. 'Urgh! So, frustrating.' She thought to herself.

"Well, it so happens that I went to change my card because the edges are already chipping. Then, the lady on the desk asked me if I want to change my status as well since they will give me a new card and all. So, I said that I will not change any information especially my status since I know that I'm single, but the lady insisted that I am married based on the document shown in her monitor - that's how I came to know. I also asked for a copy." Claire finished her explanation out of breath.

"Okay, so how did you find me?" Lucas asked while raising his brow inquisitively and returning the paper to her. She kept first the papers in her bag before answering.

"Actually, I did not, my bestfriend did. In fact, she searched the Google in order to find you."

"So your bestfriend knows about this?" "Who else?" He added when she nodded her response to the first question.

"No one." She sighed. "Look, Mr. Harrison -"

"Lucas, Claire, call me Lucas." He interrupted her with a hint of smile.

"Well, Lucas, I just want to ask if you have any knowledge about this?" A terse second went without Lucas giving any reaction, so she hastily added, "Because we both know that we have never met before or we know the existence of each other before this meeting." Her brows crinkled when a second passed that eventually turn into a minute before she saw Lucas taking a deep breath.

'What's with the sigh?' It's as if she is missed something.

Lucas is at lost for words, he doesn't know how to get out of this mess that he created several months ago.

He cleared his throat before opening his mouth - and closing it again. He cleared his throat again for the second time and decided to speak up, he was about to open his mouth when he was interrupted.

"You should drink first, maybe your throat is parched." He saw Claire gesturing the glass of water in front of him

"I'm sorry?" It took him by surprise, she threw his own words at him this time.

"Well, I mean, you have been clearing your throat twice now -"

"I very well know what you mean Claire." He interrupted her.

He sighed and cleared again his throat before proceeding. "I really don't know how to break it out to you. But I think, you should hear me out first without interrupting me or giving any comments especially a violent one."

The last part made Claire's brow rose quizzically. "Okay, I will hear whatever you're going to say first before interrupting or giving any comments." She conceded before she sat, back straight and prepared herself for anything that he might say.

Lucas stand up and walked back and forth in front of her, like the way she did outside while waiting to meet him. Several seconds passed again as she waited patiently for him to start. "Actually I know about that document or the fact that we are married." She was about to say something but Lucas gestured his hand for her to stop and to remind her the promise that she made awhile ago.

She nodded in understanding. "You very well know that I am a billionare of my own and that I am already at the marrying age, and because of this my grandmother, with the help of my mother, is now pushing me to get married and start a family." He started while still walking, one hand on his hip while the other is rubbing his nape. She saw the weariness on his face, as if the very idea of marriage is a heavy burden to him. Although she wanted to comment, she kept her mouth shut.

"And with all the pressure that my family is giving me, I decided to made up a marriage contract and to just inform my family that I am already married." He gave another deep sigh before continuing.

"The data of my wife on the marriage contract are all made up, a fake one - but clearly, that is not the case, for you are here, claiming that you are the wife that I know I only made up." He finished, gesturing a hand towards her.

It took her several seconds in order for her mind to grasp the truth that was thrown at her. 'He made it all up using my name?'

"Yes, I did, I didn't know you exist or the fact that everything written on the contract were true - I did not intend to." She gaped at him. 'Did I said that out loud?' "Yes, you did actually." He answered with a small smile.

She should have been dazzled with the smile that he is wearing now, but it was overshadowed with the fact that this man in front of her had used her name and data for his own devices.

After she absorbed everything he said she stood up, eyes blazing about to spit fire, fists both tightly closed and eventually shouted. "What?! You did what?!"

'And I am about to be burn in hell.' Lucas thought.

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What do you think will happen after this? Please write your comments and insights, it will be highly appreciated. I'll be looking forward to it.

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-blue