Chapter 169: Betrayal in the First Moment

After wrapping up the busiest sales period of the day, Sarah organized the products on the display shelves. She then retrieved a small notebook from the counter to jot down items that needed restocking. 

"Busy, are we?" A deep, magnetic male voice suddenly resonated from behind her. 

"Excuse me, sir, but can't you look for yourself?" Sarah responded without turning around, continuing to count items from the bottom shelf. She had already deduced it was a man, and most men who came into the store weren't interested in buying anything—they were usually here to flirt. There was no need to be polite to them. 

"Is this how you treat your customers?" The voice carried a hint of annoyance. 

Sarah sighed and still didn't look back. "Sir, if you're here to buy something, feel free to look around. But if you're just here to flirt, let me tell you—unless you're more handsome than our CEO, Lucas Zeller, and richer than him too, I'm sorry, but I don't have time for you." 

"What if your CEO himself came to flirt with you? Would you spare him a moment then?" 

What the heck?! Sarah could barely contain her frustration. There were men bold enough to impersonate Lucas Zeller? 

Snapping her notebook shut, she spun around, scolding as she moved. "Shameless! If you're really—huh? W-what? CEO?" 

She froze in place. The man standing before her was indeed Lucas Zeller. 

Lucas frowned slightly as he strode into the store, his tall and imposing figure emanating an undeniable aura of authority. Sarah, enveloped in his presence, felt herself instinctively shrinking, wishing she could vanish into thin air. 

What was going on? Why had the CEO personally shown up at the store? Was this a surprise inspection? That couldn't be it—why would someone of his stature bother checking up on a mere employee? 

"Are you afraid of me?" Lucas asked, his cold gaze landing on Sarah, who now looked like a cornered animal. "Didn't you have quite the sharp tongue just a moment ago?" 

"Uh, Mr. Zeller, I thought—well, I thought you were one of those guys who comes in here just to hit on me, so…" She trailed off, silently cursing him for not announcing himself from the start. 

"I'm here because I need to talk to you," Lucas said bluntly. 

"Talk to me? About what?" Sarah's eyes widened in alarm. Was this about firing her? "Mr. Zeller, you're not planning to fire me, are you? Look, I know I can be a little laid-back, but that's only because I know this store inside and out! I work hard, and the monthly sales numbers have been improving. You wouldn't—" 

"Are you done?" Lucas interrupted, exasperated. Why was he always surrounded by people with overactive imaginations? 

"So… you're not firing me?" Sarah hesitated, then broke into a smile. "Mr. Zeller, you're so kind!" 

"But what do you need from me?" she quickly added. 

Lucas sighed inwardly. Simple-minded people were truly exhausting. 

Feigning indifference, he asked, "Have you heard from Claire Grace recently?" 

"Claire?" Sarah blinked, then realization dawned. "You mean Claire Grace?" 

"Who else would I mean?" Lucas snapped, annoyed by her slowness. "Aren't you two close friends? Surely, she's contacted you?" 

"Don't get me started on that girl!" Sarah's lips twisted into a scowl. "Even you know I considered her a good friend, but what did she do? She up and disappeared! It's been a year, and I haven't heard a single word from her. Can you believe that? Not a single call, text, nothing. And now you're asking where she is? I should be asking you that!" 

Sarah ranted, oblivious to the dark cloud settling over Lucas's expression. 

"You really haven't heard from her?" he pressed. 

Sarah shook her head emphatically. "Come on, Mr. Zeller. If I knew where she was, do you think I'd keep it from you? Last year, when she hid from you for a few days, wasn't it me who told you she was staying at my place? Trust me, I wouldn't lie to you." 

Lucas's face fell. "She's been gone this long and hasn't reached out to any of you. Do you think she's ever coming back?" 

"I think she will," Sarah replied softly, recalling how Claire once confided her deep love for Lucas. 

Lucas gave a bitter smile, clearly taking her words as a mere attempt to console him. 

"If she contacts you, you must let me know," he said before turning and walking away. His retreating figure radiated an overwhelming loneliness, and for the first time, Sarah felt a pang of sadness for him. 

She couldn't understand how two people who loved each other so deeply could end up apart. 

"Claire Grace, you little traitor! If I ever find out where you are, I'll betray you in a heartbeat and tell Lucas!" Sarah huffed before turning back to her work. But just as she reopened her notebook, her phone rang. 

"Hello? Is this Ms. Sarah?" a sweet, melodic voice chimed from the other end. 

Sarah frowned and glanced at the caller ID. Oddly, it displayed only the words "In Call" without a number. 

"Yes, this is Sarah. Who's speaking?" she asked, puzzled. 

"You don't recognize my voice? Seriously?" The caller let out a tinkling laugh. 

"Who are you? If you don't tell me, I'm hanging up," Sarah snapped, still fuming from her earlier conversation. 

"If you hang up, you'll regret it," the voice teased. 

Sarah scoffed, ready to end the call when the person addressed her by a familiar name: "Sarah, it's me, Claire."