for your continued support..appreciate it greatly.

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The day of the charity ball came sooner than she thought possible and two days since Lucas kissed her. A kiss that will be forever embedded on her mind for it was her very first and taken without her consent - again, by her accidental husband, Lucas. Speaking of which, she was thankful that for the past two days he refrained from talking to any female beyond what is appropriate between an employee and a customer. She saw that he steer clear away from them whenever and however he can. They were cordial with each other as well and were able to talk about the occasion tonight. Ever since she accepted the fact that she had fallen in love with the man, talking and being at the same place with him became bearable to the point that she can laugh with him around, even at his jokes - the man can be affable if he wants to.

A knock sounded at her door, and she let whoever is knocking enter without looking up from the documents that she had been studying.

"Aren't you suppose to be getting ready for later?" A baritone voice made her look up. Lucas' forehead is creased with worry. She glanced at her watch and she was instantly on her feet when she saw that it was already past noon. She searched for her phone and shrieked when she noticed more than twenty missed call from Penny, 'she will kill me!'. She hurriedly fix her table, put her things on her bag, slipped on her sandals, said a quick goodbye to Lucas and went out of her office towards her car.

'Penny will really kill me!' She kept on repeating it over and over in her head while driving. She asked Penny to help her dress for tonight for she doesn't want to look mediocre compared to everyone who were invited. She knows how everyone looks and wears their best in this kind of occasion based on the pictures that Ethan shows her everytime he attends something like this. She doesn't want Lucas to be ashamed of her as well - as his plus one.

She parked her car at the salon that she and Penny agreed to meet, and there she is, mad as hell with her.

"I'm so sorry Penny, the time flew out of my head." She apologized as soon as she reached her. Penny only sighed in resignation because of her tardiness. "C'mon, good thing I booked the whole afternoon for you." Penny said that made her exclaimed.

"What?! You booked the whole afternoon for me?" She asked in bafflement.

"Yes, I did, well, courtesy of your husband, of course." She answered nonchalantly.

"He did what?!" She asked again, more confused than before, which Penny answered truthfully.

"He actually asked me to help you for tonight through your mom even before you asked me. Alessa talked to me the day before that Lucas is asking if somebody can help you for the occasion. So, I arranged everything and booked this salon to pamper you." She said while playfully patting her face that made her laugh.

"He did this? Really?" She asked in disbelief although happy for his thoughtfulness that she smiled to herself.

They went inside and was greeted warmly by the staffs.

"Okay, guys, we really need to move fast." Penny shouted and even clapped her hands for emphasis, then turned to her and ushered her to a seat in front of a mirror. "Lucas said you should be on the road by six, so we are in a fix."

At Penny's energetic urging, everybody moved at once. After four hours of grueling and non-stop pulling, poking and probing, they left the salon with her hair groomed and beautifully manicured nails. They drove towards her parent's house where her mother is waiting for them. They immediately went to her room and helped her with her emerald gown. They just zipped her gown close when they heard a knock on the front door, Lucas is already here.

---

Lucas can't help himself but chuckle everytime he remember how Claire panicked when he reminded her of the time a while ago. He was busy working when he noticed that her car is still at the parking lot, which means that she didn't left the store yet and be ready for tonight, so he decided to go into her office, and there she was, still busy working. When he saw her scramble upon noticing the time, searching and stuffing her things on her bag, he cannot stop the warmth that spread throughout his chest. It's like they are a married couple living together with how Claire behaved in front of him, so natural, all resolved gone and in place is a woman unguarded, not wearing her mask of indifference. The situation feels oddly comforting to him - making him feel scared that he stopped dwelling further into that emotion.

He directed his mind to focus into getting ready inside Claire's office that she offered for him to use, since he cannot leave work without breaching their agreement. He put on his suit and tie, wore socks and his leather shoes. Took his things and went downstairs where he saw Bea still lingering, her back on him. 'I thought everybody left already.' He greeted her since she is standing where he will pass.

"Good evening Bea." She didn't flinch or got spooked, it's like she knows he was there.

"Good evening, Lucas." She greeted him back. With head slanted on one side as if assessing him, she asked. "You're going on a date with her aren't you?"

Lucas' brows raised at her question and he felt somewhat irritated at her. Not to give away anything, he answered innocently. "I'm sorry?"

She smiled smugly at him, as if she knows something that he doesn't. "Oh, please, the two of you are combusting everytime you are together, and you cannot take your eyes off of her as well. So it is safe for me to say that you two are dating. Don't worry, I will zip my mouth shut."

At her explanation, Lucas doesn't know if he will be glad that she approve of them - if ever they will be together for real, or to be annoyed because it looks like they've been so obvious especially him that has been very careful and insistent in reigning his emotions. Scared that he is, he opted to feel the latter.

"For the record, this is not a date, this is something that we both agreed to do for our causes, and we both hope that this will not lead to anything serious. If you will excuse me." He explained and was about to leave when he remembered something.

"Oh, and Bea, thank you for your guidance with work this past week; and with regards to the previous topic, whatever it is that we are doing, I'm sorry to say this, but...it is none of your business. Goodnight." Then turn and left but not before he saw the smirk that Bea put on her face.

He drove towards the Sullivan's home, parked outside then proceeded to knock. A female that he had never seen before opened the door and shouted towards the stairs. "Claire, Lucas is here!" She ushered him inside.

With his' confusion, she supplied the answer without being asked. "Oh, I'm Penny, your wife's bestfriend. Nice to finally meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Then he shook her hand.

His attention was caught by his wife standing by the stairs, already wearing a coat. He was mesmerized by her beauty for her makeup emphasized her features. He cleared his throat and offered his arm to her that she instantly accepted. "Let's go or we will be late."

"Goodnight ladies." He said goodbye to Alessa and Penny. But before they went outside Penny said something that made him think. "Prepare to be amazed later. Bye!"

---

"What did Penny meant when she said that I should be prepared to be amazed?" He cannot stop himself to ask Claire during the ride towards Manhattan.

She thought for sometime before answering. "I don't know. Penny is like that, she's bubbly and always teasing."

Lucas just let it go. He stopped in front of the hotel where the ball is being held, though his company is responsible for the event, his grandmother was the one who is in charge of the whole occasion. He gave the keys to the valet and ushered Claire inside. Uniformed ushers and usherettes took their coat. His back on her so when he turn around, he caught his breath at the sight of her that speech abandoned him. He only got his voice back when he heard Claire's voice. "Lucas, are you okay?"

He answered in a dark mood. "What are you wearing?"

---

Claire got uncomfortable when she saw that Lucas is staring especially when he asked the question. The confidence that she tried so hard to muster left her. Penny and her mother won her over this gown which she insistently refused to wear. It is an emerald, sleeveless gown with a sweetheart neckline and a long slit on the left side which shows her full legs when she walks, her feet is clad in a silver, peep-toe strappy heels with embossed glitters that shimmers when light hits it. Instead of feeling down with his remark, she opted to hold on to that self confidence that wanted to leave.

"It is a gown, isn't it?" She asked then smiled sweetly.

With her answer, Lucas' face grew darker.

"Yes, sweetheart, I know that you're wearing a gown. Don't you have any other gown to wear?" He remarked with furrowed brows. He knows that he is being an a** right now especially the way Claire's face fell. He took a deep breath and took her hand, put it into the crook of his arm and ushered her inside towards their table. "I'm sorry and please forget what I said." He apologized while they are walking. He noticed that several people are watching them especially the males. He thinks that maybe they are just admiring the beauty that his date, but he didn't expect the real reason why, her shapely leg is in full view while walking because of the long slit that her gown has. He groaned inwardly and uttered a silent prayer for him not to loose control of his temper caused by the males presently gawking at his wife. Times like this makes him want to shout out to the world that the woman in his arms is already his - yes, he felt possessive of her, who won't?

He introduced Claire to his grandmother and mother who are already sitting at the table. Good thing nobody is with them yet, for everyone is still roaming around the place, so it is not difficult for him to do the introduction.

"Sweetheart, I want you to meet Helena, my grandmother and this is my mother, Anne. Grandma, mom, this is Claire, my wife."

---

Claire reached out her hand for a shake, but his grandmother opted for a kiss on the cheeks which she readily complied with a smile. She also did the same with his mother. She thanked him when he pulled a chair for her after the introduction.

Though his mother is welcoming, she felt a discomfort towards his grandmother who keeps on giving her a scrutinizing stare. Lucas may have felt her uneasiness, for he took her hand and squeezed it, leaned down towards her and whispered on her ear.

"Relax, she won't bite, she is just assessing you." She took a deep breath and nodded. Good thing the emcee took the stage and started the event, that made his grandmother took her eyes away from her. For if not for that, she may have vomitted on the table for how frazzled she felt.

The program went well, an auction was held to help the foundation that focuses on orphaned and abused children as well as women who suffered domestic violence. Lucas and his grandmother gave their speeches towards the end and prior to the main ball. The food was exquisite as well, the menu was French, though not her favorite, she cannot fault the chef for the superb meal. Through the course, Helena kept on asking her simple questions that she answered truthfully as much as she can without giving away anything. She felt it went well not until she asked one question that made her almost choked on her food.

"Aren't you pregnant yet?" With the question and her bouts of silent coughing, Lucas gave her a glass of water and asked if she was okay, she only nodded her answer, he then turned to his grandmother to chastise her discreetly.

---

"Grandma!" Lucas doesn't know how to react on his grandmother's query. He's been listening intently on the conversation inconspicuously, though he has been talking to the man on his left, his ears are on attention especially if Claire becomes uncomfortable with the probing that his grandmother is doing. He stared pointedly on Helena who only asked "What?" innocently. As if she did not meant anything she said towards his wife, who's been trying hard not to cough out loud and catch everyone's attention.

He can only pray that they will not meet after this, for if they will, he knows it will be very difficult to escape the web of lies he's been weaving since the beginning. As if everything is not discomfitting enough, another voice came that he almost swore loudly.

"Hello, everybody. Lucas, good to see you again." Amanda's sickly sweet voice got everyone's attention especially when she smacked her lips on his' that he heard everybody's sharp intake of breath, particularly his wife.

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This woman is starting to get into my nerves..I'm so affected..lol! Are you affected as well?

I am sorry, I need to republish this chapter for I made a grave mistake, this chapter came before the chapters fourteen and fifteen..😥

Thank you for reading everyone..hope you like the chapter. Any comment(s) and insight(s) are welcome. Kindly vote and share, it will be much appreciated.

-blue