After thinking about it for some time, she settled on hiding the three pieces of clothing inside the drawer with her undergarment.
Matthew would not rummage through these anyway.
Although she was no longer worried, every time she changed she would see them. Clarissa could not help but blush bashfully each time.
She got used to it after a few times. She was still confused about these three pieces of clothing.
Why is it sexy to wear clothes like these?
I don’t see anything sexy about it.
Isn’t sexiness something you’re born with? One is sexy as long as one has a good figure. Wearing skimpy clothes can’t change your figure.
This little scrap of material just doesn’t look good.
Clarissa did not concern herself with the size of her chest. She was not the one who got to enjoy them after all.
Once she stepped out of the shower and changed into pajamas, she went downstairs. She had gone for a photoshoot at Ellie’s company again earlier that day. For that, her best friend even wanted to split the bonus with her.]
As far as Clarissa was concerned, she was only doing her a small favor. However, Ellie was a stubborn girl and she was very insistent on giving it to Clarissa, which put her in a tough spot. Somehow, she felt that there was another reason but Ellie was not telling her about it.
Hence, she went downstairs to see Matthew. He was checking his phone and Clarissa did not think much of it as she assumed that he was checking his mailbox.
She took a seat next to Matthew. She frowned in confusion and raised her head to ask, “Uncle Matthew, today Ellie… What are you looking at?”
The picture looks familiar and it looked like a woman’s photo.
Clarissa’s face fell. I can’t believe Matthew is interested in such things.
She was extremely upset.
Matthew turned his head and looked at her crestfallen expression. He laughed inwardly and his eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Yep. I’m looking at some pretty girl.”
Clarissa’s brows drew even tighter together.
She wanted to say something, but she did not have a good reason to make an argument.
They say that all men like things like that, both in photo and video form. But how can he be so self-righteous about it even after I caught him red-handed?
He already has me. Why does he need to look at other women?
Am I not good enough?
A wave of sadness and hurt washed over her. Tears welled up in Clarissa’s eyes but she tried to keep them from falling. She suppressed the anger within her.
Her tone was flat as she asked Matthew, “Is she as pretty as me?”
Matthew put on a mask of mock sincerity and said, “She is very pretty. Much prettier than you.”
The skimpily dressed Clarissa was definitely better looking than the modestly dressed Clarissa!
Clarissa choked on his answer and glared at Matthew. Her fiery gaze conveyed her fury.
“Is she really that pretty? Let me take a look too.”
She wanted to see for herself the beauty that Matthew was feasting his eyes on.
Matthew chuckled and handed his phone over to her.
“Let me know what you think too.”
Clarissa received the phone, squeezing it tightly in her hand. If she was stronger, she would have crushed it in her grip.
When she opened the photos…
“Ahhhh… Matthew, you jerk… How did you get these photos? You…”
While Clarissa was shrieking, Matthew had snatched the phone back for fear that she would delete the photos.
He smiled an easy smile. His behavior was a stark contrast from Clarissa’s exaggerated and awkward panic.
She had screamed so much that her neck had turned red. Matthew reached out and tugged on her arm. Clarissa sat back down again, enveloped in Matthew’s embrace.
It was not a loving position. Matthew’s collar was soon grabbed by Clarissa as she started to interrogate him, “Did you look in my computer without my permission? Or did Ellie give them to you?”
Matthew smiled helplessly. He covered her small hand with his larger one and extracted it from his collar. “After you ran out that day, I deleted all the inappropriate photos from your laptop and saw these photos by coincidence. I thought you took such seductive photos for my enjoyment,” explained Matthew.
“You a*s…”
Matthew raised an eyebrow. Clarissa plowed on and said, “These photos were meant for me only. Who gave you permission to look at them?”
“What’s the point of you enjoying them all by yourself? Why not let me take a look too? It’s a win-win.”
“What win-win?”
She realized what he meant right after the last word fell from her lips. She gazed at his obsidian eyes and slapped her hand over his mouth.
“Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear or know about your win-win. Just delete the photos. I’m forbidding you from looking at them.”
Matthew blinked and Clarissa removed her hand.
“You’re being difficult, Clare.”
“Yes, I am! Delete them now!”
“What don’t I keep them as part of my benefits?”
“No way.”
“Then, when will you let me do it?”
How did we land on this topic?
Clarissa’s face flushed and she glared at Matthew. “If you want to do it, delete the photos first.”
“If I delete it now, can we do it now?”
“No. But if you don’t delete them, we’re never doing it.”
Matthew stared deeply into Clarissa’s eyes. She sure is stubborn. I guess I have no choice but to do what she wants.
“Fine. I’ll delete them.”
Matthew deleted the photos. Clarissa checked to make sure that he did not have any duplicates. She only relaxed once she was assured that the photo would never be recovered.
Sebastian pressed Clarissa down on the sofa. “Are you happy now?”
Clarissa smiled and touched his face.
“Good boy…”
Matthew scoffed and bit her lip. Is she treating me like a dog?
Although it was true that there were no duplicates in his phone, there were some in his inbox. He could look at the photos whenever he wanted.
Matthew kissed Clarissa forcefully. She is a little green.
After some time, Clarissa mentioned how Ellie was insistent on compensating her.
“I’m only helping her with those photos. Plus, we’re such good friends too. I think she’s too generous. Although her store is earning good profits, it’s not all because of me. I’m really uncomfortable with this. However, she knows my bank account number and directly transferred me a large sum. I only found out later on. I can’t shake the feeling that she feels guilt towards me.”
Matthew immediately understood Ellie’s actions.
She was feeling uneasy because of her parents.
Thus, she came up with a plan for Clarissa to help out at her store. That way, she could compensate her. Moreover, Clarissa was Matthew’s partner now.
She was trying to ease her guilt by compensating Clarissa. Ellie had come up with a subtle yet tortuous method.
Matthew chuckled. “Since she wants to give it to you, you should just accept it. Even siblings should separate money matters from private affairs. She paid you with the hope that you’ll continue to do good work for her. You don’t need to hesitate to keep it.”
Clarissa pouted, but she nodded and accepted the money.
Matthew walked into the meeting room with Donnie. He took a seat after greeting a few of the elderly chairmen.
After a two-hour meeting, there was also a business meal. Since the meeting was organized by the government, a lot of businessmen showed up.
Although Sienna attended the business meal as a member of the government, she actually came because of Matthew.
She did not subscribe to the idea that women needed to hold back and wait to be courted by men. If she wanted something, she would put in the effort to fight for it. Thus, she was going all out to get Matthew. Moreover, Matthew was worth her effort and time fighting for. She saw him to be extremely valuable and she had prepared herself to put in the massive amount of work in order to succeed.
Sienna’s outfit was business-appropriate but still showcased her feminine beauty. As a proper lady, she had her own beauty despite lacking Clarissa and Shermaine’s stunning looks. Hence, many men turned heads when she walked past.
She walked to Matthew’s side and smiled a fitting smile.
“What a coincidence, Matt.”
Matthew’s eyes shifted but he maintained his haughty countenance.
“Ms. Grande.”
“Just call me Sienna, Matt.”
Instead of replying her, Matthew continued talking to Donnie and discussed business with the other elderly chairmen.
Sienna remained calm and steady. She was extremely composed and capable, so she was acquainted with some of the elderly chairmen and could chat easily with them. She gave off an air of intelligence, and they were only full of praises for her.
Someone mentioned that Matthew and Sienna seemed rather compatible. Sienna smiled and did not protest, which only drew further interest.
In contrast, Matthew rebuked in a standoffish manner, “No way. Ms. Grande is too impressive and I’m not worthy of her. Moreover, my heart already belongs to someone else.”
Warm smiles followed the initial shock. They started to tease Matthew about who his beloved was and asked when the wedding was going to take place. He dismissed them by saying that it would be soon.
He made it look that it was real.
Sienna stood by the side holding a glass of wine. She shook her head inwardly.
I can’t believe Matthew came up with such an excuse just to reject me.
Fine. The harder the journey, the sweeter the prize. Sienna smiled and returned to mingling. She did not interact with Matthew for the rest of the event.
When the event ended, Sienna personally sent all the giants of the business world out. She performed her job perfectly, which made them all feel comfortable.
When she saw Matthew, she suddenly blurted, “It’s the weekend tomorrow. Are you free, Matt? How about meeting up for a meal?”
Matthew’s eyes flashed.
“Please don’t waste your time on me, Ms. Grande. I already said that my heart belongs to someone else.”
Sienna was unbothered. She smiled and asked, “The Tysons aren’t aware of your beloved. It is safe for me to say that this beloved of yours either doesn’t exist or your family doesn’t approve of her?”
