The Billionaire's Gem

Chapter 7

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Proposal

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Claire has no idea how she managed to get out of GLW Building and continue with her job hunting for the rest of the day. And it must be a really unfortunate day for her for all she receive is that famous line: "We'll give you a call...." Every HR personnel say that in their monotone voice like it's ain't a f*****g lie. How hard could it be to be frank?

Say... loser, your qualifications doesn't meet our standards. I suggest you upskill yourself or die trying getting in in this industry.

Something like that. She chuckled at her own silly thought.

Now, she sits in her stool, facing the mirror where her reflection shows wearing the necklace that Gustav wanted.

How precious can you be? Her hands trailed on the green gem. Is the peridot a rare one? But Gustav has a lot of jewelries from the auction. Some are even far more beautiful than this one. So why the persistence? Why stoop to seducing her just to get the necklace?

She's tempted to go and check its value to an appraiser. But what if her memory about it is right? This piece is stolen, she remember her father saying those words like a joke. But what if it isn't a joke? What if her grandma really stole it and the rumor about her being a klyptomaniac is true?

She has no reputation to protect but her grandparents does. Although she know it was already tarnished and they already suffered for it, she wanted to keep the jewelry if it can keep one more Roces ugly secret.

The necklace stays with her. She'll even bring it to her grave. Her palms brushed her face in annoyance. "Yup... Gustav's right. I am that stupid."

She groaned internally while taking the necklace off and returning it in the velvet box. She stood up and return the stool under the desk before throwing herself to her bed, eagle spread. She buried her face on her pillow. After a tiring and crazy day, this is her best companion since her parents are gone. But during times like this as well that she wish she's not alone and has someone she can confide.

*****

She woke up early for a morning jog. Wearing her jogging pants, and dri-fit sweater with sports bra underneath, she brought a water bottle with her after putting a headset, the music coming from her smartwatch in her wrist.

Since it's saturday, their are more  joggers in the nearby park in their area. She decided to go further, leaving her fellow joggers as she wanted to run alone with her thoughts.

She halted after realizing she went somewhere remote. A cliff on one side where the ocean awaits while on the other side is the way to the mountainside. She sat on the cliffs side as she catch her breath. The cold breeze comfort her warmed and sweaty body. After a couple of minutes just silently staring at the waves hitting the shore, she decided to return back and prepare once again for her job hunting.

She was running in a corner when a black BMW stopped by her side. She was ready to run,thinking it was the stalker Gustav mentioned when a familar guy in a suit and tie emerged from the drivers seat.

"Good morning, Ms. Roces."

She scowled. "It was. Until you appeared."

The guy chuckled. "I'm afraid it'll be ruin further once I relay to you what I am told to do."

"What is it this time? Your boss is such a headache, do you know that? Why can't he understand when I say no to what he wants? I. Am. Not. Selling. The. Necklace. Hear that?"

The guy chuckled as he nods.

"Go relay that to your annoying boss." She then decided to ran faster this time but the guy raised his hand and motioned her to enter the car. "What?"

He grinned as if he enjoys the annoyance in her face. "Mr. Winston invites you to his recidence, Ms. Roces."

"The hell? No!" She didn't wait for his reply. She returned the headset on her ears and sprinted this time.

But what's her legs ability compared to a high end car?

The next thing Claire know is that she's being carried like a sack of rice. Her thrashing, cussing and screaming was to no avail and she eventually found herself in the passengers seat of the car.

Now she stares, her mouth open, to the recidence in front of her. By recidence, Voltaire– the guy's name in suit and tie– means a mansion.

"This is kidnapping!" She huffed and glare at Volatire who's guiding her to his boss who according to him is having breakfast in the garden.

Voltaire only shook his head. "You can go back later in one piece, Ms. Roces. I assure you my boss is far from being a kidnapper. Trust me, if he's doing that... I would be the first to know."

She heard his jolly laughter before she saw Gustav in the flesh. His back on their direction and was not alone. She frooze on her spot when Gustav's company look at her direction and barked simultaneously. One of the  wolf looking dog even run to her direction that she screamed, hiding behind Voltaire who tensed, burying her face to his back.

Gustav's voice boomed and the dogs whimpered. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Voltaire leaving her alone. The wolf looking dog now on her feet, sniffing her before licking her fingers. Like their freaking boss!

She run to his direction in disgust and fear. Gustav's  was chuckling to himself as he meet her halfway. "Good morning, Claire! Did my friends startled you?"

"You think? I thought you had me stalked! You should know I'm not fond of dogs! Especially not as huge as those..."

"That's Silver," he laughed and pointed at the wolf looking one. "He's a Siberian Husky." He introduced the others enthusiastically that Claire can only gaped at the guy. Clad in sweatpants and simple v-neck shirt, Gustav looks refreshing in the morning sunlight and blue sky as the background. Like freaking model out of his very own fashion magazine.

"That's nice of you to introduce your friends, Gustav... but can you see my face? Do I look like I am interested? I'm freaking out here!"

He hold her hand and the next thing she know, their hands intertwined. He pulled her to one of the seats, laid a plate in front of her and put some salivating breakfast food. Claire had to swallowed hard and grabbed the glass of orange juice in the table.

The corner of his lips rose. "Eat. And we'll talk later."

Her feet kicked under the table. Trying her best to ignore the circling dogs at her side, she snapped in a controlled voice. "What else is there to talk about? Goodness, Gustav! I'm like a broken record already, repeating the same f*****g sentence to you! Aren't you tired hearing the word NO?"

He shrugged, muching on the bacon he stuffed his mouth. "If I am easily dejected by that word," he said after swallowing, "I won't be a billionaire at 28, Claire. So no. I am not giving up on that necklace. I want that. No. I need that, Claire."

She was surprised by the desperation in his tone. "For whom? Your own sick satisfaction?"

He ignored her and she thought they had to eat in silence. After their meal, which she hated to admit is one of the best breakfast she ever had, Gustav spoke.

"I wasn't able to tell you about the proposal yesterday since I got a little ... distracted." He stood to get a white envelope in top of the table and throw it at her. "I was about to offer you a house and lot, even millions in the bank. Maybe some other property or shares of any company you wish to be part of." He give her a lopsided smile. "If you wanted my body, I can easily offer this too."

She rolled her eyes in response but was taken a back when he suddenly sneered at her.

"But it was a good thing I wasn't able to since I got another news late last night. Imagine my surprise when I saw those footage and decided to follow my instinct."

Claire didn't reply as she felt the chill spreading all over her body. Hands shaking, she tried to focus on the pictures that's inside the envelope.

It was her. Her, handing Harry the drink. Her, taking photos of the laptops content. Her, kissing and hugging Gustav Lawrence Winston.

She raised her head and saw him smirking evilly. "G-Gustav–"

"It's a great card, don't you agree?" he asked in a bone- chilling tone.

She gritted her teeth. She really is stupid for agreeing to Chrissa's offer. With these photos, she shod be in a police station already, being questioned and all that s**t. What even made her confident that the billionaire will not take a hint of what's happening under his auction house?

"Now what am I gonna do with my precious card against you, hmmm, Claire?"

She hold her head high. "What do you want me to do then? Tell you who ordered me to do what I did? Hand you the necklace?" she asked mockingly.

He grinned like a succesful businessman who just signed a multi million dollar deal. "Accept my offer, Claire. And I'll forget your involvement in this. I'll set a trap for those rats and let you go freely if you give me what I want. It's a win-win for both of us."

She smirked and non-chalantly handed him both her hands. "Call the police. I'd rather go in jail."