John took a long gulp of his whiskey as he waited for his friend, Tony, in the VIP section of Lagnez bar. It was their regular spot to cool off. But today was different; he wasn't here to catch up or cool off. He was here for something that had been clouding his thoughts — Claire.

He didn't believe she was just a regular girl, there was much more to her than meets the eye. He could spot that even from the little time he had spent with her. It was the way she carried herself, the defiance in her eyes when Abraham insulted her, and then that incredible, audacious move at the registry. No ordinary woman would do that. Was she playing a game? Or was she genuinely this strong, this unyielding? He found himself drawn to her resilience, a quality he rarely encountered.

“Already having a drink without me?” John heard a voice say, and he looked up to see Tony, grinning widely.

John ignored him and instead took another gulp of his drink.

“Don't be like that, buddy. Why would you have all the fun without your old pal?” Tony laughed, snatching the cup away from John's grasp.

John sighed, then broke into a laugh. He knew Tony wouldn't let him be if he kept that straight face. Tony was his best friend. They had been friends right from childhood days, and even through high school and college, they still remained inseparable.

“What's the occasion? You sounded pretty urgent on the phone,” Tony cleared his throat, his eyes observing John keenly.

“There's no occasion–” John started to say before Tony cut him off.

“Damn, man, you had me abandon my hot shawty just for a drink?” Tony roared, banging his hands on the table. He laughed when he saw the look on John's face. “You know we don't drink on weekdays, so spit it out already. What's eating you up?”

“You know I went to ‘Sweet Fries' days ago, right?” John began.

“Of course, but you totally forgot to give me any feedback. Not nice, man!” Tony chastised, sipping his drink.

“She didn't show up,” John shook his head.

Tony tightened his fists. “That Tracy bitch! After collecting all that money, she decided to bail on you?” Tony fumed.

“Calm down, Tony. She called to explain something came up,” John explained in a calm tone. “She promised to refund the money. I waved it off, since it wasn't much.”

Tony frowned briefly, not understanding where John was heading. John saw the confusion in Tony's eyes and decided to clear the air.

“But I met someone better — a more responsible woman.”

Tony got up from his seat and slapped John playfully on the shoulder. “Now I think you are becoming more like me! That's how to play the game, bro,” Tony cackled. “When one bitch bails on you, go for ten more bitches.”

John sucked in an exhaustive breath. Tony had always been like that — a ladies magnet. He can pursue anything and everything in a skirt. He also had a mantra he lives by: ‘Only a foolish man falls in love.’

“Tell me about this bitch already bro!” Tony exclaimed excitedly, but his smile wore off when he saw a frown cross John's face.

“She's not a bitch,” John countered, the frown still visible on his face. Tony would never understand. This wasn't about a conquest; it was about a woman who had captured his attention in a way no one else had.

“Easy, man! Don't tell me you've fallen in love already.”

John ignored Tony's comment. Instead, he narrated everything that had happened in the past few days to Tony. By the time John was done, even Tony, who always claimed to have answers to any mystery, looked confused.

“This is a huge one, bro. You said she was married?” Tony inquired, his hands placed on his jaw.

“Yes.”

“She's really a mystery. And she doesn't want any money from you during the period of the marriage?” Tony asked again.

“She doesn't.”

“Well, let's start by digging into her,” Tony said in a clipped tone. “Whoever she is, it wouldn't be hard for the king of mystery to figure out, would it?”

********

Claire gently strolled into Cyclone hall clutching her handbag by her side.

The hall was already buzzing with activity, as most of the creme de la creme in attendance.

The Jenkins are the wealthiest and most influential family in the country, so everyone wants to behave well towards them.

Looking around, Claire felt quite nervous. John hadn't come yet. He had told her he'd meet her soon. He had an urgent meeting to attend to. Her palms felt clammy.

Everyone here seems to be bonding and forming connections. Claire scoffed inwardly. They never ceased to do that.

Claire's eyes fell on a waiter passing by, and she beckoned him. She took a glass of wine and nodded in appreciation to the waiter.

Gulping down the glass of wine helped calm her nerves. Tonight is going to be quite long.

“You don't belong here. How did you even manage to sneak into this place?”

Claire heard the unmistakable voice of Rebecca. She shut her eyes tightly, then took a long breath before turning around.

“And you are the one who belonged here?” Claire shot back at Rebecca.

“You should leave right now, Claire, take it as advice from an old friend. The security guards won't be so friendly when they find out you crashed the party.”

Abraham said in a calm tone, but Claire knew he was not being sincere. She took a good look at both of them. Rebecca was wearing a knee-length red gown that seemed to hug all her curves. Abraham was wearing a black tuxedo with well-polished Italian shoes.

They both looked great. Claire couldn't deny that. And for a second she wished she was the one by Abraham’s side. But, she quickly remembered how bad he had treated her. She remembered how he always found fault in everything she did over the years. He didn't deserve someone like her.

“And where's the Wannabe John Rhodes?” Rebecca asked, snapping Claire out of her thoughts. “I guess he's too timid to show up here. He wouldn't want to take the chance knowing the real John would be here,” Rebecca mocked, looking around as if searching for John.

Abraham excused himself. He was more focused on meeting the elites and establishing connection with them.

Seeing Abraham leave, Claire took one last look at Rebecca before walking away from her. She was beginning to dull her vibe, and she wasn't ready for that.

“How dare you, bitch, walk out on me!” Rebecca's voice rose, attracting the attention of everyone in the hall. Claire felt a prickle of unease. This is exactly what she wanted to avoid. The scene. The humiliation.

Without waiting for her response, Rebecca escalated. “Security, get this bitch out now! She doesn't belong here!”

The crowd gasped in shock and there was an uproar. If someone could gatecrash an important event like this, then they were not safe.

Claire's heart leaped into her throat. No, not this. Not again. She won't be the spectacle. She closed her eyes, desperately trying to regain control before she reacted impulsively.

“Yes, she gatecrashed this party,” Rebecca said aloud, so she could get the support of everyone in getting Claire out.

“Get her out of here, now!”

Claire heard everyone begin to shout and say negative things about her. She couldn't believe her ears. She couldn't believe Rebecca could stoop so low. Now, the security guards were already approaching.

She needed to think of something. And she needed to do that fast.

She closed her eyes and cursed in her mind. The security guards were already surrounding her.

She opened her mouth to say something, but a voice beat her to it.

“Stop!”

All heads in the room immediately turned toward the voice.

“Get away from her right now!” John commanded, and the security guards seemed conflicted for a moment. “She’s my wife. I won't forgive anyone who disrespects her.”

Everyone gasped in surprise at the revelation.

After hearing that, the security guards begin to disperse. The one who appeared to be their leader bowed to John, then muttered an apology.

Claire smiled victoriously. She was glad she didn't even get to play her last card before John came in.

“Are you okay?” John asked, his hands clutching hers tenderly.

She smiled, then nodded. “You kept me waiting–”

Claire was saying, but a voice cut her off halfway.

“What do you think you are doing, John? What has come over you?” an old woman said in a disapproving tone.

“Hello, Grandma. Have you been well?” John moved closer to the woman, ignoring her questions.

“Why would you disgrace our family this way? Who is this witch beside you?”

“She's not a witch, Grandma. She's my wife and–”

“Your wife?” the old woman asked, feeling amused. “What happens to Karen then?”

Claire observed John's face. At the mention of Karen, his face had deepened into a frown. Was that the reason he wanted a contract marriage with her then? To escape from Karen, whom he didn't love? The thought chilled her. Was she just a pawn in his game? A convenient shield against a past fling?

“Hey, you!” The old woman called out to Claire, snapping her out of her thoughts. “A gold digger like you has no place in John's life.”

Claire flinched, the accusation stinging more than she expected. Suddenly, her own internal doubts resurfaced, amplified by the venom of John's grandmother.

“Please grandma, stop embarrassing my wife!” John fumed but it was of no use.

Claire only watched the woman in silence, a different thought now raging in her head. She was still in her thoughts when she noticed the old woman's hands coming for her face.

“Don't you dare that!”

A voice said and the old woman's hand froze in mid air.