Chapter 19
Clara had no idea what Selina was getting at. She was just a new hire with no real connections. Why would they need her for such a major deal? Was it only because she was Damon’s ex–wife?
But Damon didn’t love her. Their divorce had been clean and final, and they hadn’t spoken since. What made Selina believe he’d compromise just because of her?
To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Clara decided to be direct. “Selina, the reason I didn’t bring it up is because I’m already divorced, so I figured it wasn’t a big deal. But since this project is so important, I’ll be upfront
“Damon and I were basically married in name only. He never loved me, and there was never any real connection between us. We split on good terms, and that’s all there is to it. From what I know about him, he’s loyal and thoughtful, but he sticks to his principles when it comes to big decisions.
“If you think bringing me along will help close the deal, I hate to break it to you, but that’s not going to happen.”
Selina found Clara’s description of her marriage a little strange.
She gestured for Clara to sit and asked the question she couldn’t hold back, “Are you sure Damon doesn’t have any feelings for you at all?” Clara nodded without hesitation.
Seeing how certain she was, Selina couldn’t help but remember something Damon had said before he left Falverton.
“Professor Yates, Clara and I are still married, but technically, we’re in the middle of a divorce. I wasn’t a great husband, and she got disappointed enough to want out. Clara was set on it, and I agreed because I didn’t want to make things harder for her.
“But honestly, I redly do want to make things right. I just need a little time to sort it out. I know Clara probably won’t come back with me, so can I ask you to keep an eye on her for a bit? As a thank–you, I’d be happy to go over the ‘RO‘ project with you.”
Even though a good amount of time had passed, Selina could still picture the look on Demon’s face–how defeated he seemed–and hear the sincerity in his voice.
She couldn’t believe that someone like Damon would hand over a project that top IT companies were scrambling for, all for the sake of his ex–wife, who he supposedly didn’t care about.
Still, Damon had admitted that he and Clara had their issues, so Selina chose not to overthink it. She decided to ask Clara for her opinion one last time. “Don’t stress about the project. You’ve got me I’m bringing you along partly for my own reasons and partly to help you get more experience. Just treat it like a regular business trip and stick to the usual process. Deal?”
After working alongside Selina for a while, Clara knew she was upfront and wasn’t the type to go behind anyone’s back. Plus, this trip was a rare opportunity, and Clara didn’t want to pass it up.
After giving it some thought, she agreed.
They were set to leave in a week. While keeping up with her regular work, Clara began packing. The closer their departure got, the calmer she felt.
Locking back on the past now felt like recalling a dream–one she had completely woken up from. There was nothing left to hold onto.
And Damon? He was just an old classmate again. Clara had already decided exactly how she’d handle seeing him.
