It had been two days since our date night. And to be honest, it was the best. I was glad Daniel didn't plan a typical date which involves candle night dinner, beach dinner, or other things. I was glad he planed it in his way, a date full of fun. And not to forget the blissful night spent in the bed. I didn't know what came into me that I acted so boldly. Thinking about the night always makes me blush.

"I don't think it would be good for you to go to the event with a red face."

"Huh?" I got startled when I heard Trish's voice.

"I'm talking about the blush." She smirked and bobbed her head to the mirror. I looked at my reflection and found my face red as a tomato.

"Umm... It's... Umm." I tried to speak but nothing came out of my mouth.

"No need to give an explanation 'cause I know the reason." She winked. I shook my head and sat straight and singled her to do my hair.

Trish had come to the penthouse to help me dress up for the Fitness event focusing on self-care through exercising. The event was organized in a gym so I was asked to wear a sporty outfit as I would have to lift some weights and would do other exercises. I even had to give healthy eating tips.

To be honest, when Evan told me about the event I laughed hard as I found it ironic. Daniel had broken my strict diet plan by always convincing me to eat greasy food and now I was asked to give healthy eating and fitness tips.

And when I told this to Daniel, he too laughed out loud and asked me to quote a particular line at the event which is,

'To remain fit you don't have to cut any kind of food from your diet, you just have to do regular exercise.'

"Here, all done," Trish said when she finished putting my hair in a high ponytail. I stood up from the table stool and looked myself in the mirror. I was wearing a crop top, a high-waist sports legging, and sports shoes.

"Perfect," I mumbled as I completed my look by putting a cap on my head.

"As my work is done here, I'll get going to my studio. Bye, Eloise." Trish gave me a side hug and left.

Trish and Evan had been very supportive, they were managing running back and forth between their apartment building and Daniel's penthouse tower without complaining. Though Daniel offered them an apartment in the same building as ours, they refused. They didn't want to shift their well-settled home to another apartment. And I couldn't agree more.

Evan came in a while and we both left for the venue in separate cars. Jimmy drove me to the venue. Outside the gym, the media again surrounded me.

"Eloise Nicole, is it true that you didn't agree to work with Rick?"

"Why Rick said in the interview that he has already hired you?"

"Was Rick lying? Or are you lying?

"What is the deal between you and him? Why are you avoiding giving answers?"

"We want to hear it from you!"

I stopped. Evan and Jimmy who were walking either side of me too halted their steps. I removed the black shades from my eyes and faced the media.

"My manager, Evan has already cleared all the things to you. There is nothing left for me to say. Thank you."

Saying that I resumed walking towards the gym. I sighed in relief as soon as the organizers closed the doors of the gym. Only a few media members were inside who were strictly ordered not to ask any personal question.

By the time the event ended it was ten past five in the evening. The event took almost four hours to end as many health-related topics were discussed amongst the audience and some exercise tips were given by me and other trainers. And I most certainly did not forget to quote Daniel's lines about health and food.

After the event, Evan and I separated our ways as I didn't have any other event to attend. Jimmy drove me home but before that, I stopped by at Leena Antonio's office and asked her for more time to give my answer as I hadn't read the contract yet. Thankfully, she understood my situation and agreed to give me one more week.

Jimmy accompanied me to the penthouse then I asked him to head back home.

"But Miss Nicole, Mr. Adams isn't here yet. How can—"

"Jimmy, I'm home now and I'm safe. Daniel will be home in an hour or so. You too go home and take rest."

After a few more minutes of persuading, he left. I then called Daniel.

"Hey Daniel, I'm home and I've sent Jimmy home too," I said as soon as he picked up the call.

"Why? He's your bodyguard, Eloi and I too will arrive late. How will you—"

"Hold on, Daniel. You appointed him to guard me when I'm at work, not at home. And you're acting like I'm a kid! Don't you remember I had lived alone back in my apartment that too without a bodyguard?" I said a little louder.

"I do remember, Eloi but...." He heard him exhale a sigh. "Okay fine. Take rest, I'll be back soon. Love you."

"Love you too and be back soon." I hung the call.

I then freshened up and changed into comfortable clothes. I sat crossed-legged on the couch in the living room, sipping the orange juice, and was flipping the pages of the fashion magazine I had placed on my lap when my phone went off. I picked it up without looking at the caller ID and held it against my ear.

"Hello, Eloise."

My body involuntarily jerked at the familiar voice that came from another side of the line. Detaching the phone from my ear, I brought it before my eyes and frowned, thinking why Claire Wilson called me.

"Hello Eloise, are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," I said as I put the phone back to my ear.

"Oh, good. Umm... Eloise, if you're free, can we meet right now?"

"Why?" I asked bluntly.

"I just want to talk to you about something." Her voice suddenly became low.

"About what?"

"Some important matter." She kept her reply short.

Important matter? What could it be? There couldn't be any personal matter to discuss as we never got along at a personal level. Does she need any help? Maybe, maybe not.

I contemplated a little before speaking, "Well, I'm free right now. You can come to my home."

She chuckled nervously before speaking, "Oh, Eloise you don't understand what I'm talking about. The topic can't be discussed at home."

"Why are you playing puzzles. Just tell me already!" I frowned.

"Okay fine, I need your help and it's important. Now, can we meet? If yes then meet me at the Club Neo Lit."

I knew it. "Why the club? We can meet in a restaurant or a cafe." I asked.

"Oh, just want to feel the night nothing else. It's been long I have been to any club."

"Okay, I'll be there in ten." I gave in without hesitation.

"Oh and Eloise, don't tell this to Daniel." She spoke all of a sudden.

"Why?" I asked in suspicion.

"Considering our off-off relationship he wouldn't want you to meet me."

Yeah, that makes sense.

"Besides, I won't take much of your time. And don't worry about the media, I wanted to enjoy the night so I asked my dad to restrict the area for media."

I rolled my eyes, I almost forgot that she's the daughter of an influential businessman. I said okay and hung the call.

I was eager to know what kind of help she needed from me. There must be something serious otherwise she would never ask for my help. I waved off the thoughts from my mind as it would be waste to think anything before I meet her.

I suddenly groaned when reality again hit me. I was sitting in my comfortable pajamas and I would have to change them in order to go to the club.

Life would have been easier if we could wear pajamas everywhere.

I forcefully dragged myself to the room and changed into a black knee-length, halter neck dress. I took keys of one of the cars of Daniel and drove to the place. The media surely wasn't around. I gave the car keys to the valet and strode in. I kept looking for her near the bar counter and even on the dance floor but she was out of sight. Then suddenly Claire called on my phone.

"Look at your right, I'm waving my hand." She said over the phone. I glanced at my right and found her sitting at the corner most table of the club.

I approached her and found her wearing a bold dress and bold makeup. It's not that I was judging her but something was not right. I felt like she was here just to enjoy, not to ask for help.

"Come sit, what would you like to have?" She asked, smiling. I sat and refused to order anything.

"Oh, come on Eloise, we can't just sit here without ordering anything." She coaxed.

"Okay fine, I'll have a fruit punch as I'm in no mood to have alcohol," I said.

"Okay, then I'll have the same." She called for the waiter and we ordered the drink. I kept studying her ever action in doubt. She seemed extra chirpy and was swaying her upper body with the music. She sounded low when she called me but now she was totally different.

"Why do I feel like you don't need any help," I said bluntly.

She gave me a look and smirked. "Because I don't."

"What the heck, Claire? Why did you call me here then?" I shot her a glare.

She grinned. "Something important to discuss, I told you. If I had told you the exact reason you wouldn't have come out."

"This is ridiculous. I think you don't really have anything to talk about. I'm outta here." I stood up from the chair and was about to leave when she said something which made me halt my steps.

"What if I say I want to discuss about Daniel?"

"What about him?" I glared at her.

"Have a seat first." She smirked. I angrily sat back on the chair.

"Didn't I warn you not to include him in our matter? What the fuck you want to discuss about him now?" I snapped.

"I want my Daniel back from you."

Her blunt reply sent me in a shocking state. What the heck is happening around? Why is it everyone wants me to leave Daniel? And since when did Daniel become hers? He cleared to me that he considers her just a friend and he never gave her wrong signals.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I snapped.

"Can't you understand what I want to say? You made me a second choice for everyone, you took everything from me. And now, Daniel too. Leave him, he's mine." She snapped angrily.

"Hold on a sec. He was never yours in the first place." I argued back.

"He could have been if you hadn't come in between." She said, gritting her teeth. "I was trying and he even started to spend time with me but you interfered. Damn you!" She almost shouted. The waiter came and placed our glasses on the table then I spoke,

"Lower your voice, don't make a scene here. And I have told you before and I'm saying it again, I did not take anything or anyone from you. What is my fault that everyone approaches me on their own? I never ask them or join my hands in front of them to get work." I shot back, she was about to say something but I didn't let her.

"And talking about Daniel...You know, Claire, Daniel is a straightforward person. If he had wanted you to be more than friends with him, he would have told you directly. He never plays with anyone's feelings. And now that we love each other, no one... I mean no one can take him away from me. He is mine and I'll never leave him, keep this in mind." I pointed a finger at her.

I was boiling in anger, my hands were itching to punch her in the face. But I couldn't do that but I needed to calm down do I picked up the glass of fruit punch and drank it in a gulp. I placed the glass back on the table with a loud thud.

I looked at her and found her glaring at me. She was again about to speak but her phone rang, she angrily picked it up.

"What, outside? Now?..." She scowled while talking on the phone. "Give me a few more minutes...okay fine. I'm coming." She hung the call and stood up.

"Someone is waiting for me outside. I'll be back in a minute. You wait here and do not leave as I still have many things to talk to you." She took her bag and phone and headed out.

I crossed my arms across my chest. I will not leave without clearing everything. Enough is Enough, she needs to learn a lesson. She has accused me enough. Why can't she understand Daniel doesn't want her! He never did. Then how dare she claim her right on him and that too in front of me?

Ah! I felt tired all of a sudden, tired of all the drama in my life. I plopped my elbows on the table and pressed my palms on my eyes. When I felt a little calm and removed my hands from my eyes, my anger again flared up by looking at the person who came out of nowhere and sat in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in annoyance.

"As far as I remember this is a public place, your boyfriend or you do not own this place." His mocking comment increased my annoyance. I banged my hands on the table and glared at him.

"I know this is a public place, Michael. What I'm asking is what are you doing at this table?" I curled my hands in a fist. I didn't know why I suddenly started feeling dizzy. Maybe because of my rising anger.

He smirked and leaned forward on the table. "I saw you sitting alone so I thought why not give you a company?"

"I don't want anything from you." I snapped and taking my phone in my hand I stood up but my vision blurred and legs went weak. I pressed my hand on the side of my head and sat back on the chair.

"Hey, are you okay?" Michael came near and touched my arm.

"Don't touch me!" I swatted his hand away. I shut my eyes tightly and opened them again but nothing worked, I still felt dizzy.

"Damn you, I'm just trying to help you. Are you alone or you came with someone?" He asked.

I tried to speak but my throat wasn't allowing me to speak. What is happening to me? I was perfectly fine when I came here but now I'm completely weak.

"Come, I'll drop you home." He said, trying to make me stand. But I again jerked him away.

"Go away, I don't need your help. Claire is here, I'll ask for her help." I somehow managed to say.

"Can't you see no one other than me is here for your help?" He snapped angrily.

I suddenly panicked and looked around. I couldn't find Claire anywhere. She said she would be back in a minute but she wasn't here. Did she ditch me? How dare she?

"I need to go home." Regaining my strength I stood up again but fell in Michael's arms.

"Don't be stubborn, Eloise. I'll drop you home. Come with me."

I couldn't say anything as I was almost unconscious and had no strength to even stand. He helped me walk to the car and made me sit on the passenger seat. He sat on the driver's side and started the car.

I leaned my head back on the backrest of the seat and waited to be dropped at home. Desire to sleep was taking over my senses.

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