Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run
Chapter 80

Clara tossed and turned all night, unable to catch a wink of sleep. In her frustration, she turned to the internet for some advice.

Clara: [My boss gave me a bath. Is our relationship still on the up and up?]

Clara: [Passed out from cramps, only to wake up and replace my boss had changed my clothes and helped me clean up. What do I do now?]

After posting these questions in a forum, Clara felt hotter and more flustered than ever. The thought of facing Dylan at work the next day filled her with dread.

Her posts quickly drew a flood of responses.

[Are you sure this is your boss, not your boyfriend?]

[My boyfriend doesn't even treat me this well. Your boss might be into you.]

[Forget boyfriends, even my husband isn't this attentive. You don't seem to mind him—why not just get together?]

[Your relationship can't be that innocent anymore.]

Clara replied, insisting: [He has no interest in me.]

Her comment was met with disbelief.

[How can he not be interested? You're just not seeing it. How does he treat others compared to you?]

Clara: [He's aloof with everyone, including me.]

[But he took care of you when you needed it. That doesn't sound aloof.]

Suddenly, Clara was at a loss for words. She debated internally before finally sending Dylan a message.

Clara: [Mr. Dylan, are you awake?]

Ten minutes later, his reply came in.

Dylan [Yeah, I'm up.]

Clara: [Thanks for what you did tonight.]

Dylan: [Sure.]

What did "sure" even mean? Clara found Dylan to be a mystery. Did he really change her clothes and clean her up? She worried about it for another half hour, sweating with anxiety but too scared to ask outright. How could she face him tomorrow?

Meanwhile, Dylan sat in his study, his head propped on one hand and his eyes fixed on his phone. It was as if he could feel Clara's anxiety through the screen. He set the phone down and heard it buzz again but decided to let it be.

Clara's mind spun until dawn. At the office the next day, someone led her to her desk. It wasn't anything special, but Dylan would have to pass it to get to his office. As she worked through lunch, she pondered how she would face Dylan, but he never showed up. In fact, he was absent for two days straight.

Clara's nerves finally calmed, allowing her to focus on her work. Meanwhile, Simon found himself nursing a drink at a bar, staring at his phone. Clara had transferred departments without a word and wasn't seeing him. He had a nagging feeling this time she meant it. She wasn't coming back. The thought made him restless.

Just as he was about to reach for another drink, someone stopped him. "Simon, Colton mentioned you've been drinking heavily tonight. What's up?"

Simon couldn't quite explain it, but ever since that incident at South Ashford, he'd been fixated on Clara. She wasn't as simple as he'd thought. She was stunningly beautiful and had always treated him well.

"Are you drowning your sorrows over my sister? She messaged me tonight, saying you'd come around."

Quinn knew exactly how to push Simon's buttons. He'd always played the dominant role in his relationship with Clara and wouldn't take kindly to feeling manipulated. If he thought this was just one of Clara's schemes, any softening in Simon's heart would quickly turn to stone.

As expected, Simon sat up straight. "She really messaged you?"

Quinn's eyes hardened. Clara had certainly caught Simon's attention this time, and that was unacceptable. She intended to win him over completely.

"Yeah, probably knows I'm feeling down and wants to rub it in."

"That bitch!" Simon cursed, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. Clara still cared.

Quinn helped him to his feet and led him out to the car. She had been the one to call Colton, who had long been infatuated with her. She never outright rejected his advances, knowing he could be useful. Plus, Colton was the heir to the Warren famil. She wanted every man in their circle vying for her attention.

Colton helped Simon into the car, his gaze fixed on Quinn. A man's eyes can say a lot, but Quinn only offered him a faint smile. "Didn't expect my sister to put on such a convincing show this time. Feels like Simon's slipping away from me."

"How could that be? Quinn, you're amazing. If Simon can't see that, he's blind."

Tears welled up in Quinn's eyes. "It's not his fault. It's my sister's. Forget it, I've already suffered because of her, and now my family treats me coldly. Best not to dwell on it."

"Quinn, if you need anything, I'm here for you. If Simon won't help, I will."

"It's okay. I just feel uncomfortable knowing she's in the same company as Simon. I'll handle it. Thanks, Colton."

With that, she turned and got into her car, her silhouette radiating vulnerability. Colton felt so sorry for her, his heart filling with resentment towards Clara. Why couldn't she let go even when Simon clearly despised her?

But he was under Richard's watchful eye and couldn't make any rash moves. So he thought of Nate. Nate must be itching for revenge against Clara right now. He immediately called Nate. Nate was Simon's uncle, and even if things got messy, Simon's overprotective mother would intervene. Clara would be the only one to suffer, and she had no one to lean on.