Clara's POV

Saturday – The Hangout with Maya

Saturday summer day, 3:00 p.m.I was ready for the hangout, already downstairs and waiting when Maya pulled up. I joined her and her son in the car, slipping into the front seat as Jayden waved at me from the back like I hadn’t seen him in a year.

"So, tell me," Maya said, pulling off her sunglasses with one dramatic swipe as she turned into traffic. "Did Langston really call you the future of the company, or was that your imagination on premium champagne?"

I grinned. "He said and I quote 'You’ve got something here, Ms. Monroe.'"

Maya raised her brow. "Oof. That’s practically a standing ovation in boardroom language."

Her seven-year-old son, Jayden, was already halfway into a packet of gummy bears, humming to himself and playing a game on his tablet. Occasionally, he would burst into a giggle, completely unaffected by the adult world spinning around him.

"But seriously," Maya continued, switching lanes expertly, "that man does not hand out compliments. Clara, this is big."

I shrugged. "It was just one meeting."

"A major meeting. One that your boss conveniently handed over to you while he skipped off to Zurich. That wasn’t a test. That was a gamble. And you, my love, made it pay off."

There it was that familiar warmth in my chest. Not pride, not quite. But something gentler. Something close to being seen.

"You think Damien trusted me that much?"

"Honey, men don’t give velvet boxes to women they don’t trust."

I blinked. "What?"

She smirked. "Please. I saw the necklace in your photo. That thing didn’t come from the clearance aisle. That was ‘I trust you with my legacy and maybe also my heart’ money."

I couldn’t help it I laughed.

Maya’s gift wasn’t just her bluntness, it was the way she made everything feel...lighter. Like the world wasn’t always leaning so hard into me.

We arrived at the brunch spot, found our booth, and ordered. Jayden chimed in once in a while, asking if he could get another orange juice or if we were "talking secrets again."

"Always," Maya said, ruffling his curls.

After brunch, we strolled through the outdoor plaza, window-shopping while Jayden held both our hands, swinging between us like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Then came the moment.

We passed a boutique with satin dresses in the window—dangerous reds, deep greens, the kind that made you dream about candlelit rooftops and wrong decisions.

Maya slowed her steps. Tilted her head. Looked at me sideways.

"When was the last time you went on a date?"

I blinked. "What kind of question is that?"

"An important one."

"Maya."

"Clara."

I sighed. "Soon."

"That’s what you said six months ago. You are twenty-seven. I was married at twenty-four, had Jayden at twenty-five, and he’s already correcting my grammar. You, madam, have no excuse."

"I have plenty."

"Work is not a personality."

"Neither is being married to a tax consultant."

She burst out laughing. "Touché. But I’m happy. And you could be, too."

We sat down at the fountain, watching Jayden toss a coin into the water with dramatic flair.

Then her tone shifted, softening.

"My neighbor got divorced last month. Remember the one with the golden retriever and the perfect Instagram feed? Turns out her husband was emotionally toxic. Wouldn’t let her work. Criticized everything. Made her feel like she was always too much or not enough."

I frowned. "I’m sorry."

"So am I. She looked so happy. But I guess that’s the thing. Everyone looks fine until they’re not."

I looked out over the fountain.

"I don’t want to lose myself to prove I can be loved."

Maya nodded. "Good. Don’t. But don’t hide so well that no one can love you either."

We were quiet for a moment.

Then Jayden came running back with wet shoes, a gummy grin, and zero regrets.

"Shopping now?" he asked, tugging on his mum’s hand.

"Shopping now," Maya said, standing.

It was during our walk through the mall that something funny happened.

We were trying on sunglasses at this overly air-conditioned boutique, and I picked up a pair that made me look like a retired Bond villain.

"Absolutely not," Maya said.

"You wore sequins to a baby shower. You don’t get to judge."

Jayden piped in, "You look like a robot, Auntie Clara."

I burst out laughing so loud, the sales lady turned.

"Robot Clara," Maya said, wiping tears from her eyes. "Coming to destroy all dating prospects in 2025."

We didn’t buy anything. But I hadn’t laughed like that in weeks.

After shopping, we grabbed smoothies and sat in the park. Jayden finally dozed off on Maya’s lap, his curls damp with sun.

"I missed this," I said quietly.

"Me too. You’ve been tense lately. Even Laila noticed."

I gave her a look. "You’re closer to me than Laila is."

"Damn right I am. I was there for your blackout graduation speech, your first heartbreak, and the time you thought you had food poisoning but it was just bad yogurt."

I groaned. "Never again."

She smiled. "You’re allowed to want something good, Clara. Even if it scares you."

I didn’t respond.

Because deep down, I knew who I was thinking about.

And that alone was enough for one day.