Millionaire Girlfriend

Chapter 12: Chapter 12 - Drunk in love

Knock, knock!

"Clara! You made it. Come on in!" Greg called as he took the bottle of wine Clara had brought.

"Guys, look who finally decided to show up!" he shouted over the music blasting throughout the house.

"Clara!" exclaimed a rather petite young woman as she immediately wrapped her in a hug.

"Hey, Julia!" Clara replied, returning the embrace.

"I’m so glad you came. Where’s Ashley?" Julia asked.

It was hard for her to imagine Clara showing up to have fun without Ashley these days.

"Busy," Clara replied as she grabbed a plastic cup.

Greg immediately poured her a drink from the bottle she had brought.

"So, what did I miss?" Clara asked.

"Some guy punched Marco because he was hitting on his girlfriend," Julia explained.

"Ouch... I wish I’d seen that. So where is he now?" Clara asked before taking a sip.

"I think he went outside. He was this close to crying," Greg replied, slipping an arm around Julia’s shoulders.

"Tell me, is Ashley coming later, or is she not coming at all?" Julia asked.

"She’s working, so I don’t think she’ll make it."

"Why do you ask?" Clara asked.

"Because Meredith has been looking for you since the party started."

"Oh, you’ve got to be kidding..."

Clara immediately scanned the room, searching for her former hookup, the one she still hadn’t told it was over between them.

A few seconds later, she spotted Meredith watching her from the next room.

She was a beautiful brunette, about five foot five, with a curvy figure.

Clara gave her a small wave.

Meredith didn’t wave back. Instead, she walked straight toward her.

"Hey. It’s been a while," Meredith said.

"Hey. How have you been?"

"Good. Can I talk to you?"

"Sure."

Meredith hesitated for a moment before glancing at Greg and Julia.

They immediately understood the hint and quietly walked away.

"I heard you’re seeing someone," Meredith said.

"Yeah... I guess you could say that."

Meredith’s eyes widened.

"Wow..."

She stayed silent for a few seconds.

"I didn’t think it was true. I never would’ve believed that Clara Turner... the girl who told me she wasn’t ready for a serious relationship... would end up dating someone."

There was unmistakable sadness in her voice.

For a long time, Meredith had hoped she would be the one to melt what she believed was Clara’s icy heart.

But Clara had never had an icy heart.

She simply had never been interested in Meredith.

"Yeah... I’m sorry about that," Clara replied.

"I’ll survive. Don’t worry."

A faint smile appeared on Meredith’s face.

"What do you say we give ourselves one last grand finale?"

"A finale to what?" Clara asked, even though she knew perfectly well what Meredith meant.

"You know exactly."

Meredith tilted her head slightly toward the staircase.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea," Clara admitted.

"Why not? Technically, we never broke up. So for now, I’m still your real girlfriend."

’ We were never really together... so technically, you’re nothing to me ’ Clara thought, not daring to say it out loud.

"Who is this girl that’s making you hesitate so much? I’d really like to meet her," Meredith continued with a playful smile.

"You don’t need to know her," Clara replied, almost defensively.

"Why? Was our relationship such an embarrassing secret?"

She paused briefly before adding,

"I just hope she knows what she’s getting herself into by dating you."

’ That little bitch... she’s really good’ Clara thought.

She had almost forgotten that Meredith had been part of their high school’s debate club.

In fact, she was the only person who could truly match Clara in an argument.

Clara also knew Meredith wouldn’t give up easily.

Even if she told Ashley the entire truth, Meredith would probably find a way to make things even more complicated.

"Fine," Clara finally said.

"But I’m warning you... if anyone finds out because of you, you’ll pay for it."

Technically, Ashley and Clara weren’t officially together yet.

So it wasn’t really cheating.

And if Ashley ever found out...

Clara was convinced she would eventually earn her forgiveness.

"You already know the way to Greg’s bedroom. Wait for me upstairs. I’ll be there in ten minutes."

Meredith headed upstairs.

Clara then crossed the living room and snatched the bottle she had brought out of Greg’s hands.

Ignoring her friends’ astonished looks, she took several swigs straight from the bottle.

"Let’s hope I don’t regret what I’m about to do..." she muttered.

Just then, Marco came back with a nasty black eye.

"You picked the worst possible time to show up," Clara said before taking another long drink.

"Oof... that’s ugly," Julia commented.

"Yeah... that bastard really got me good. I need to get even," Marco grumbled.

"I’m not stopping until I get that girl into my bed."

"I think you should just move on," Julia replied.

"You know, you could always use your injuries to flirt. Some girls especially when they’re drunk love a good fight story," Clara said.

"Really?" Marco asked.

"I’m going to do both. I’ll sleep with the girl who gave me her number... and I’ll use my black eye as bait to pick up other girls."

A few minutes later, Clara walked into the bedroom where Meredith was already waiting for her, sitting on the bed with a wide smile.

"This room brings back some memories," Meredith said opening her crossed legs.

"We had a lot of fun in here..."

Clara quietly closed the door behind her.

"Let’s settle this once and for all," she said wearily, still slightly drunk.

_____

On Saturday afternoon, Ashley was looking after Viviane’s shop by herself until Viviane returned at six o’clock.

From behind the counter, she couldn’t help glancing outside every few minutes, as though she were waiting for someone to arrive.

That someone was Clara.

Even though Ashley had been the one to ask Clara to leave the day before, a part of her still hoped Clara would once again do what she thought was right and show up unannounced.

"Ashley!"

A voice suddenly rang out behind her.

"Ah!" Ashley gasped, placing a hand over her chest.

"Jacob? What are you doing here?"

"It’s Saturday. I always stay home on Saturday afternoons, remember"

"Oh... right."

Jacob raised an eyebrow.

"What have you been staring at outside this whole time?"

"And... have you been here long?" Ashley asked instead.

"No. I just got here."

"Hmm... nothing. I was just watching people walk by," Ashley lied.

She even stepped outside the shop for a moment, just in case Clara had parked somewhere in the lot.

But there wasn’t a single sign of her car.

’ What’s wrong with me?’ she wondered as she walked back inside.

’ Don’t tell me I actually miss her... No, there’s no way.’

Just then, the bell above the door chimed.

Ashley spun around immediately, her heart pounding.

Her face lit up for the briefest moment...

Only for disappointment to take its place.

It wasn’t Clara.

’ Damn... I guess I really do miss her a little.’

"What’s with that disappointed look?" Viviane asked as she returned to the shop.

"Were you waiting for someone?"

"In a way," Ashley replied.

The hours passed.

Still no messages.

Still no calls.

’ That’s strange... She usually bombards me with texts. Something must be wrong...’

Minute by minute, Ashley found herself growing more and more paranoid.

’ Maybe I should call her...’

She immediately dismissed the thought.

’ No... she’ll think I’m desperate.’

She let out a quiet sigh.

’ That idiot... what has she done to me?’

A few seconds later, an involuntary smile spread across her face.

’ Whatever... she’ll pay for this the next time I see her.’

"Can I ask why you’re smiling? Or rather... who you’re smiling about?" Viviane asked with an amused grin.

"What? No... no one," Ashley lied.

Viviane chuckled softly.

"Oh, please. I’ve fallen in love more than once. I know that look."

Before long, seven o’clock arrived.

It was time for Ashley to head home.

But there was still no sign of Clara.

She found several excuses to step outside and look around.

Every single time...

Nothing.

Eventually, she sent Clara a simple text message.

No reply.

Ashley’s heart tightened.

She was finding it harder and harder to focus on work. Fortunately, there had been very few customers that afternoon.

Fortunately for Ashley...

Much less fortunately for Viviane’s sales.

Ashley then tried calling Julia.

Once again...

No answer.

By the end of her shift, she finally decided to stop by Greg’s house, just to make sure everything was okay.

When Greg opened the door, he looked surprised before stepping aside to let her in.

"So... is Clara here?" Ashley asked.

"Uh... no. She left a few hours ago."

Greg frowned.

"I think she said she was stopping by your place or something."

"She was completely drunk," Greg added with a laugh.

"What?! She drove off while she was drunk?" Ashley asked in alarm.

"No, don’t worry. Her driver came to pick her up with her car."

Greg shrugged.

"Julia and Clara both drank way too much. Julia’s completely passed out, so I’m guessing Clara is too."

Ashley let out a long sigh of relief.

If Clara hadn’t answered...

It was simply because she was too drunk to do so.

So Ashley headed home.

And just as Greg had said...

Clara was there.

Fast asleep in Ashley’s bed, her hair still damp from a shower.

Ashley quietly sat down beside her.

She gently brushed a few strands of hair away from Clara’s face before tenderly caressing her cheek.

Clara’s eyelids fluttered open slightly.

"I’m sorry... Ashley," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Ashley leaned down and placed a long, gentle kiss on her lips.

"Go back to sleep," she whispered, continuing to softly stroke Clara’s cheek.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!