Facade

Driving back to the company, Clinton nestled in silence– giving little away about the earlier incident. And so was Paige, but the latter couldn't help stealing glances at him as her foreboding increased.

She was sure she saw something in his eyes back there.

"Why is he not saying anything?" she questioned herself, not sure what to expect. It was true her actions were rushed but she couldn't have thought of anything else to spite Itzel.

It was an opportunity she wouldn't think twice, latching on to. The satisfaction she felt alone at her sister's reaction made it all worth it though the price was yet to be named.

Paige was so lost in her thought that she didn't realize it when they drove through the gates of the company.

"Aren't you getting down?" Clinton inquired, jolting her out of her reminiscences. She turned deftly to him with raised brows. The look on his face made her lurk around. It was then that realization dawned on her.

Quickly, she glided down and headed straight to the entrance. Leaving Clinton behind. As usual, the office was buzzing with activities when she strolled in.

Two employees smiled at her way, on sighting her, as they walked by. Her face instantly brightened while her lips curved into a smile– slightly nodding to their gesture. And headed her way.

Getting out of the elevator, she heads to the marketing department.

Paige strolls into the aisle to find Kayden leaning against the door, with rapt attention. Her brows creased. "Kay?" she called.

Intuitively, Kayden bounced back at her, using a hand to cover her mouth as she dragged her aside. A few meters away from the meeting room where Itzel and Tiffany sat, she let go of Paige– taking a glance at the door before turning to her.

The latter furrowed, finding her behavior new. "What's going on?" she asked the moment Kayden's gaze fell on her. "Why are you here?"

"Did something happen between Itzel and yourself?" she snapped.

Paige stared intently at her then her gaze went in the direction of the door to the room where Itzel was. Without warning, she sprints towards it. Kayden gasped, tailing after her as she called out to her in a near whisper.

------

Itzel and Tiffany were in deep conversation, probably a hit-back strategy when the door swung open with force. Impulsively, their gaze went to it.

On seeing who the rude intruder was, Itzel scoffs as she rolls her eyes, instantly raising to her feet in the process. She glances toward Paige. Which made Tiffany jolt up too, probably worried about what she was up to.

Without warning, Itzel lifted her hand in a slap but Paige held it mid-way before it could even make its impact on her cheeks. Just as expected– the only thing she was capable of doing at this point.

They stared intently at each other and Paige yanks her off. The corners of Itzel's lips turned into a smile of contempt as they faced each other squarely.

"I can see you're finally losing it." Itzel snapped.

"And who's fault is that?" She spat out the words on her face. Still determined and unshaken. Things were already heating up and Kayden could feel it.

Thankfully, the rest of the team filed into the room before things could get any worse. Paige moved toward her seat and Kayden tagged along. Itzel didn't know she was in for more surprises until Clinton walked in.

Her brows knitted in confusion but quickly transited into a furrow as he settled in the CEO's seat– staring at him with a quizzical look. She thought she knew all about Clinton but she was wrong.

The meeting dragged on for an hour, and Itzel was scheduled for a shoot with the new line of products in the upcoming weeks. With all topics met, everyone files out.

☆☆☆☆☆

Itzel was the first to leave the office the moment the meeting was adjourned. So seeing her anywhere in the company was out of Clinton's expectation. Inching the door forward as he stepped in, he caught a glance of Itzel.

Her back facing the entrance and pacing in front of his desk. Her fingers ran on anything at all while she lurked around.

"I thought you had left." his voice caught her off guard. She turned to him, watching as he walked over to his desk.

"I didn't know you were into girls like Paige." She casually said.

"Girls like Paige?" he quizzically uttered, looking closely at his friend while he sat in his seat. The hostile attitude of Itzel– not lost on him. "Isn't she, your sister?"

"Well, yeah." she scoffed, settling on the sofa just a step away from his desk. "Sort of?"

Clinton stared reflectively at her. Denying any close relationship outright raised a lot of questions about her in his mind. The fact that she never mentioned her, was enough to drum home the unhealthy relationship between the two.

"It's not what you think though," she contrived to drum home her point. Making a desperate attempt at salvaging their relationship. "What about you?" she threw back the question at him. "How come you never said anything about this?"

She gestures with her eyes, the company. "I wanted to keep things low." he flashed her a smile, not giving much. "If you may excuse me, I have work to attend to."

It was clear he was sending her away. Itzel clenches her fist secretly and pushes back the anger mounting in her. As if on cue, she forces a smile– standing up.

"I should also get going. Tiffany might be waiting for me."

"Sure," Clinton chimed in with a smile.

With her emotions hurt, Itzel trod out.

Tiffany, on the other hand, sat in Itzel's car. Her eyes were glued on the screen of her phone while watching some TIKTOK videos and laughing intermittently.

-----

The day was tedious and long especially with the turn of events which crept up. As usual, Paige was the last to leave the office. Though Kayden had suggested staying with her and assisting her where necessary, she rejected the offer.

Knowing she had to visit her mother in the care home. After about an hour of typing and preparing some documents, she looked away from her computer. Her eyes instantly settle on the mini-clock on the table.

7:45 pm, the blinking LEDs displayed.

"Shoot," she muttered, springing to her feet as she quickly organized her things into her bag. Picking it up, she clenched on a file and saunters off.

Just as she walked down the last stairs in the company's forecourt, a car pulled up in front of her. She paused, not expecting to see him at the given hour.