Deal to Marry, Deal to Divorce

Chapter 2

“Diana, my dear, why do you have to do this to your life?” The face of Diana’s grandfather was filled with nothing but confusion and worry as he analyzed his determined granddaughter’s life decisions.

The lady let out a sigh, which was then replaced with a small smile on her lips. She knew that her grandfather was only worried about her safety and comfort. “Grandpa, you already know the reason, right? Besides, what's wrong with living a simple life?”

“There is nothing wrong with living a simple life, but why do you have to do this just to get close to Clarence? Why do you have to work as an ordinary employee in their company? My dear, you are my only grandchild, therefore, only you can inherit all of Grandpa's wealth — my wealth. And if you don’t know or you just chose to forget about it, we are wealthier than Clarence's family. Just one word from you and I can arrange your marriage with him,” her grandfather explained to her again and again just to change her idea to work in Clarence's company and live with her nanny here in a suburban area. “You have the beauty, brain, and wealth, Diana, which is why I do not understand the reason why you're doing this for the sake of your love for Clarence. When will you ever change your mind, Diana?” Grandpa added. And this time, he could no longer hide the irritation in his voice.

“Please, Grandpa, this is my last request to you,” Diana pointed out. She did not want to use her card but she felt like she had to, so she carefully used her next words. “Remember? I have been a good granddaughter to you ever since, right?”

Her grandfather somehow pouted, realizing that no matter how many times he repeated his explanation and words, Diana would remain hardheaded when it came to Clarence Thomas. “Hmp. I just don't get this generation. Doing everything just to be with their crush, but with you, my granddaughter, you’re doing the opposite. You are not using power and wealth to get what you want. You are choosing the hard way, which I really do not understand,” Grandpa said, shaking his head after he took a deep breath.

“Ms. Ramiro, the president wants to talk to you,” Mrs. Torres suddenly informed her while she was busy typing on her desktop, making her fingers stop midway.

Hearing the word president, her heart beat so fast. Diana had mixed emotions, and lots of questions ran to her head. First, what could be the reason why Clarence wanted her to his office? Is she going to be terminated? And for what reason? If that was going to happen, how could she get closer to him now? She was already content by looking at him from a distance. Not to mention that she was able to see him daily, especially whenever she walked in the hallway going to his office.

She was thinking about what could be her possible violation to be terminated from her work as an office clerk, but nothing came into her mind. She was confident that she had been doing her work efficiently. This work was even easier for her. She had been doing errands for her colleagues too since she had been bullied on her first day of work, and to avoid conflict or cause any more problems, she was doing any favor they asked her to do.

“Mrs. Torres, do you know the reason why the president wanted to talk to me?” she asked in a low voice as they walked towards the president's office.

The lady shook her head. “I had no idea, Diana. That’s why I want to accompany you, to know the reason, and defend you in case he wants to terminate you. You have been a good employee even though you're a newbie here, and if it was my decision, I actually prefer you to be my assistant instead,” Mrs. Torres replied. Diana let out a sigh of relief after hearing the explanation from the kind lady. At least she had a backup in case Clarence had plans to terminate her.

As they got closer to his office, she felt her palms begin to get wet and her feet could not take one more step to meet Clarence as she could feel her heartbeat pounding faster than usual. She could even hear it beating.

As soon as the door opened, Diana felt like she was going to faint. Clarence was intently staring at them, and Diana had the urge to stare back and not lose eye contact. She then began to admire his deep blue eyes again, like water in the sea, with his thick eyebrows and long eyelashes. His pointed nose and his heart-shaped lips that she has been dreaming of kissing one day. She was wondering what the feeling and taste of pressing hers against Clarence's lips would be like. If she was given a chance to kiss his lips, she would give anything. And if Clarence requested to take her virginity, she would definitely give it to him. She was even ready to be the mother of his heirs.

“Good morning, Mr. President,’’ Mrs. Torres greeted Clarence. Those words brought her back from her very deep thoughts.

“Good morning,” Clarence replied with his baritone voice, which made Diana feel even more nervous than the last few minutes.

Hearing his domineering voice made her tremble and she admitted she would be easily bullied by him. The reason why she chose to be an ordinary employee was because she could not face Clarence like this. Getting closer like this is an honor for her. Yes, she was rich — richer than the man she was clearly obsessed with, but she was a woman far away from Clarence’s dream girl, far away from those he dated or his present girlfriend since that woman was a model.

She felt Mrs. Torres pinching her wrist, which made her come back from her bubble of thoughts and greet Clarence as well. “G-Good morning, Mr. President.”

Diana could not stop the feeling of something piercing her skin. Clarence seemed to be staring at her longer now that she talked. “Good morning. You’re Diana Ramiro, am I correct?”

Diana nodded her head and forced a response from her almost stiff self. “Yes, Mr. President.”

Mrs. Torres suddenly felt the heaviness of the atmosphere inside the office and so she opened her mouth to try and solve what seemed to be the matter. “Mr. President, as Diana's superior, I can prove to you that she's an excellent employee even though she just worked here a few months ago, I can assure you that she is not giving or causing any problems to the company. And even though her co-workers kept giving her errands, I never heard any complaints from her or from her colleagues.” When Mrs. Torres told her she’d defend her, the woman really was keeping her word. And this action somehow lessened Diana’s nervousness.

However, Clarence seemed to be a little uninterested in what her superior was saying and just let her finish before dismissing her. “Good to hear that. You may go now, Mrs. Torres, I want to talk to Ms. Diana alone.”

Both Mrs. Torres and her looked at each other, and Diana could clearly see the sympathy in her eyes before the latter left her alone. Looks like it was not enough. Good luck on your own, Diana, Mrs. Torres thought as she closed the door behind her.

“Sit down, Diana,” Clarence ordered as if the man left no room for response in his tone, which, of course, immediately made her look at him and sit on the chair in front of him. “I am not going to beat around the bush, Diana, and I'm sure you're wondering what could be the reason why you are here in my office.” He then proceeded to take a seat in his swivel chair and looked at her intently.

“Yes, Cla—ahm Mr. President,” she replied, stammering, as she could not control her heart from beating so fast, while she was rubbing her hands because her palms were sweating even though the air-conditioner was working, not to mention that her knees were shaking.

Clarence slightly frowned as he stared at her. “Are you alright?”

Diana froze and stopped rubbing her hands, and instead, placed them on top of her thighs. “Yes, Mr. President,” she immediately replied, doing her best to hide the nervousness she felt.

She then saw Clarence stand up and take a glass of water from the corner. A place where there were glasses, bottles of wine, and a jar of water.

He then handed her the glass of water before he continued his words, making Diana’s heart miss a beat and her system completely malfunction.

“I asked you to come here because I want to make a deal for you to marry me.”