No Strings Attached

Chapter 4

After the crushing weight of her sorrow began to lift, Clara quickly packed her belongings without a backward. glance and walked out the door, leaving her past behind.

Elsewhere, a sleek black Rolls–Royce Cullinan cut through the silent streets like a bolt of lightning.

lan’s mind replayed Clara’s resolute face as she uttered the words “We’re breaking up” over and over. All because he missed her birthday, all because of a little jealousy, she was ready to call it quits. He mused that he might need to get a handle on her fiery temper.

Frustrated, lan yanked off his tie and tossed it aside. His phone rang several times before he finally picked up. “What’s up?”

A rascally, carefree voice came through the speaker. “What took you so long to answer the phone, buddy?.”

“I’m driving!”

Chase let out a mischievous chuckle. “With Ms. Clara? Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Got nothing better to do?”

coming to the Nightshade

Chase slid a drink over to lan and grinned impishly. “You look like you’ve been dragged through the mud. Trouble in

a frosty look. “Ever heard,

you, falling ‘hard‘ for her, aren’t you?” Chase emphasized the word with a smirk,

him lightly under the table, none

back off. Just a friendly heads–up, if you’re serious about Clara, you better draw a line with Heidi. Don’t go running every time she calls. Otherwise, don’t come crying to me if you

not a threat, but Clara won’t believe

would? Heidi’s been your childhood sweetheart, and y’all have had a marriage pact since you were kids. You think any girl would be cool with her man always running back

deep drag, the shadows in his eyes growing darker.

open. Edwin walked in, arm in arm with Heidi. “Sorry,

apologetic look and chuckled

sister is like my own. Heidi,

ulterior motives. “You’re right under the AC vent. It’s too cold. I’ll sit

took the seat next to lan and placed a small, elegant box in front of him. “lan, last time you stood up your girlfriend to save me. She’s not mad at you, is

coolly, “No.”

got her this lipstick as an apology. If there are any misunderstandings, I can explain it to her myself.”

the gift