The fact that Yaala disliked Shermaine did not elude Clarissa, who had sensed this since filming commenced, as there was almost no interaction between the two off-camera.
Certainly, it was not likely for Shermain to go looking for trouble with Yaala, considering the latter’s stature in show business.
This, however, was the first time Yaala had been so explicit about this with Clarissa.
Clarissa’s brows perked up in surprise. “You don’t seem to be very fond of her? I heard that she’s quite popular in these parts.”
Yaala sneered, “A likely story. I’d say it’s mostly the work of public relations and the internet army. It’s not a big industry, so word gets around. Haven’t you been taken advantage of by her before?”
Clarissa’s silence spoke volumes.
“Why don’t you like her then?”
“Because of one particular scumbag.”
Clarissa was astonished, but this was the sort of thing that was self-explanatory.
However, she did not understand this as she was under the impression that Shermaine was very much into Matthew. How could she have gotten into Yaala’s bad books because of a guy?
Was it because the guy was interested in Shermaine that got Yaala so upset?
“Enough of that. That was donkey years ago. Damn, it’s cold. I should be getting ready for the next scene.”
After Yaala’s departure, Clarissa sat down to rest.
Her eyes met with Shermaine’s as the latter casually glanced over. Shermaine even smiled as though she was trying to be friendly.
After a while, Clarissa quietly rescinded her own gaze. She was not going to be fooled by that woman’s superficial gestures.
The shooting was intense over the following couple of days, and Justin was a demanding director. It was exactly because of his work ethic that he was able to produce quality work. And were he not able to, the actors would all have been scared off already.
The time came for Clarissa to fulfill the agreement with Matthew. Time seemed to be passing a little too fast for her liking. Perhaps she had been too busy to find the time to think about him.
It was only at night while they conversed over video call that she acted like she missed him.
She had taken leave from the director and would depart for D City on Friday night, arriving back on Saturday as she promised.
Meanwhile, Matthew would be coming to pick her up personally.
It was only upon seeing him in the flesh at the airport did she realize how long they had been apart and how much she missed him.
In spite of that, she remained level-headed, as there were still people around this late at night. She smiled sweetly in his company but did not conduct herself with overt passion.
Matthew took her backpack off her shoulder and was quietly collected as he extended one hand toward her.
The segments of his long and slender digits were well defined. Clarissa’s lips lifted into a slight smile as she extended her own hand over to be held firmly within his.
She felt the warmth in his palm and walked in tandem as he led her out.
Once settled into the car, she found herself wrapped inside his arms. She had no chance to say anything as his lips were promptly pressed against hers. His overpowering testosterone mixed with her breath instantly seeped in between her teeth.
Some time had passed before she found herself freed from this dizzying kiss. He kept his arm around her waist as he pecked lightly upon her lips, her face, the corner of her eyes, her forehead.
His low, husky voice breathed as his tongue brushed against her earlobe, “Miss me?”
Her chest rose and fell heavily as her red lips parted slightly and intoxicatingly.
“Take a guess.”
Clarissa smiled wryly as she countered his question with one of her own and probably had no idea that she looked every bit as captivating as a summer flower in bloom.
Matthew’s darkened eyes gazed right into hers and invited her to jump in.
The woman, however, did not fall in head-along. He then sealed her lips with his once more. The answer to that question became irrelevant.
Fueling their mutual cravings took priority over everything at that moment.
When they returned to the Zen Highlands, the house was unusually quiet. No one dared come out lest they disturbed the couple.
Clarissa was carried from the car and straight into the bedroom. The door closed behind them as Matthew took the reins.
At midnight.
Clarissa was in her nighties when she strolled into the kitchen to look for something to eat.
She skipped dinner as she left for the airport directly off the set, and she only had some light snacks before she boarded. Matthew was all over her since her arrival, which left her tired, famished, and sleepy. It was the hunger that she found it hardest to bear. A bit of noodles ought to offer a quick and easy fix.
Clarissa yawned a few times as she watched over the stove.
A silhouette appeared behind her before a pair of powerful arms reached around and enveloped her around the waist. Warm exhalation breezed past her cheeks. She yawned yet again. “Hungry?”
“No.”
He had his fill, albeit of a different variety. His tone was laid-back and sounded magnetic.
That made Clarissa’s heart pulse a little faster. The cover of the pot was lifted. In went some herbs and seasoning. A couple of eggs cracked. And a simple bowl of noodles was readied.
As she ladled out the strands, the man was still glued onto her back.
“Could you let go for a while? Please?”
Matthew’s chin remained propped against the top of her head, and the hardness of his body melded into hers. The man was non-compliant.
“Nope. You do whatever you have to do. I won’t be in the way.”
It was as though Clarissa had a gigantic pet following her around. She thought he might let go of her when they reached the dining table. Surely he had to release his hold in order for her to eat.
However, Matthew had other ideas.
He would not let her eat unless she sat on his lap.
At that, Clarissa had to summon all the powers of rhetoric until she almost ran out of breath – before she could sit down and enjoy, what was in that moment, the most delicious noodles she had ever eaten.
In the meantime, Matthew lounged lazily to her side with legs crossed and eyes fixated glowingly upon her body.
She did not right care about how he was looking at her. Sustenance was all that was on her mind.
Clarissa felt revitalized after downing the last mouthful of soup. That was when Matthew closed in. With a hand to the back of her head, he directed her into his kiss.
He held it there for a while before he relinquished his grip and smacked his lips. “Yummy.”
Clarissa made no comment and merely drew a tissue to wipe the corners of her own.
Having had satisfied her need, Clarissa laid her head down upon the table. Her eyes narrowed and blinked groggily as she regarded the smiling Matthew.
She did not notice until a moment ago how unkempt his usually stylish cropped hair was as it hung over his forehead. There was a smidgen of delight between his defined brows. The man was relaxed in his pajamas with the collars loosened and opened at the chest, which exposed his bronzed and chiseled pecs. The atmosphere in the kitchen was still yet equivocally suggestive.
Under the illumination of the light against the dark of night, his features were accentuated and delicately exquisite – the perfect work of the divines.
Clarissa was not aware of her eyes becoming mesmerized.
Then his soft laugh came along and snapped out of her stupor.
She sat upright immediately. Her hands felt the flush on her cheeks as she looked upon Matthew, kittenish.
“What’s so funny? I’m tired as heck, so I’m heading back to the room. You can stay here and knock yourself out.”
Matthew swiftly swept her onto his shoulder the moment she got to her feet. She was rightly startled as she sat upon its hollow like a child. Her squeals of trepidation were blended with his boisterous laughs as she was transported upstairs.
Needless to say, Clarissa did not sleep well that night. Matthew seemed like he was in a good mood, and perhaps too good a mood, so much so that the energy that kept him awake made her restless as well.
The sun was high before she dragged herself out of bed.
The sight of an irrepressible-looking Matthew in a finely tailored black suit greeted her downstairs.
“Finally up?”
The woman did not mind that she herself was still in her nighties and slipper with her hair in a state of dishevelment. She circled him a couple of times and abruptly let out a laugh.
“You look absolutely dashing!”
Matthew appeared pleased as he pulled her into his arms and pecked passionately at the woman’s diminutive lips.
She only lifted her head to regard him when the two separated. “Did you just return, or are you on the way out?”
It was not easy for her to make time and spend the weekend with him, so she wondered why he had to step out.
“The matron of the Wynters’ is celebrating her eightieth birthday today, so I’ve got to be there. Sorry.”
“I see. Alright, you go on ahead.”
Clarissa had a rough idea of who that was, as she even ran into Jacque Wynters when she was with Damon at that time. She supposed the lady must be the influential matron of that family.
Nevertheless, Matthew could not bear to be apart from her, so he lowered his head to plant another two kisses upon her forehead.
She let out a meaningful laugh. “I haven’t washed my face yet.”
His brows perked up. “Right, you haven’t even brushed your teeth!”
Clarissa eyed him with displeasure as she poked at his chest. “You’re going to lose me if you keep this up, Matthew Tyson.”
Instantly, her hand was seized. One look from him had her singing his tune.
“Alright, alright. Run along. I’m going to freshen up, get some food into my system and then head out to shop, shop, shop…”
There was no opportunity for her to do any retail therapy being cooped up at the film studio for the last half a month, so she was really feeling the itch.
After she saw Matthew off, Clarissa took the time to doll herself up. She was humming a tune and was in a fine mood when she drove out in one of his more low-key rides.
Meanwhile, at the Wynters, Hannah decidedly buried the hatchet upon seeing her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. The family was finally reunited.
As Hannah’s grandchild, Shermaine flew in early on the day. After her mother reconciled with the old matron, she, too, became part of the Wynters. She joined the other members of the family in welcoming the guests, and at the same time, was led around and introduced to those present by the elderly matriarch herself.
Shermaine broke away and made straight for Matthew the minute he arrived with the elders of the Tysons.
Seeing that, Kayla smiled when she exchanged glances with Hannah. “It’s obvious how Shermaine feels. It’ll be wonderful if you could lend her a hand.”
