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?”

checking in. You coming to

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

heard, ‘a lovers‘ quarrels brings them closer?”

for her, aren’t you?” Chase emphasized the word with

kicked him lightly under the table, none too

serious about Clara, you better draw a line with Heidi. Don’t go running every time she

not a threat, but Clara won’t

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 to his old

and took a deep drag, the shadows in his eyes growing darker. “I and

with Heidi. “Sorry, guys, Heidi wasn’t feeling great, so I brought her along. Hope

apologetic

Your sister is like my own. Heidi, come

was gentle and pure, belying any ulterior motives. “You’re right under the AC vent.

elegant box in front of him. “lan, last time you stood up your girlfriend to save me.

replied coolly, “No.”

her this lipstick as an apology. If there

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