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?”

You coming to the Nightshade Bar?

grinned impishly. “You look like you’ve been dragged through

frosty look. “Ever heard,

her, aren’t you?” Chase emphasized the word with a smirk, his expression

under the table, none too gently. “Get

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 lose

not a threat,

had a marriage pact since you were kids. You think any girl would be cool with her man always running back to his old flame?”

pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag,

finish, the private room door swung open. Edwin walked in, arm in arm with Heidi. “Sorry, guys, Heidi wasn’t feeling great, so

lan an apologetic look and chuckled

Of course not. Your sister is

and pure, belying any ulterior motives. “You’re right under the AC vent. It’s too

in front of him. “lan, last time you stood up your girlfriend to save me. She’s not mad at

coolly, “No.”

there are any misunderstandings, I can explain it to her

didn’t even glance at the gift as he rejected it. “No