Later in the evening, after work, Lewis insisted again that he needed to speak with Claire.
There was something in his tone that left no room for refusal.
Reluctantly, Claire agreed. They drove in silence until they arrived at a quiet, elegant restaurant tucked away from the noise of the city.
The place was calm… almost too calm, beautiful and intimate.
It instantly reminded Claire of something she wished she could forget.
Her first date with Sebastian.
Her fingers tightened slightly against her lap.
That day had been the beginning of everything and the beginning of her greatest mistake.
He had deceived her. Used her. Promised nothing and yet took everything.
She only found out the truth when she was pregnant, that she had meant nothing beyond a moment.
A wave of bitterness rose within her chest. If she could turn back time, she would never have given Janelle to him.
Never.
She would fight for her child, keep her, and protect her no matter the cost.
"Have a seat," Lewis said, pulling her back to the present.
Claire sat across from him and froze slightly.
The table was already set. The meals were arranged perfectly.
Flowers decorating the space beautifully. Her eyes flickered with surprise.
Had he planned this all along?
"You like it?" he asked, watching her reaction closely.
Claire nodded slowly.
"It's… nice."
"Don't tell me you think I went through all the stress myself," he said with a small smile.
"I paid them to handle everything."
He reached for a bottle of wine, pouring it into two glasses with practiced ease.
Claire glanced at her wristwatch.
It was getting late and she wasn't comfortable- Not with this, not with him.
"You're not a child, Claire," Lewis said, noticing her movement. "From the way you keep checking your watch… I'd say you're uneasy."
He leaned back slightly.
"Relax. I don't bite."
Claire forced a small smile.
"I'm fine."
But she wasn't, not even close.
"So… what did you want to tell me?" she asked, wanting to end this as quickly as possible.
Lewis smiled faintly.
"Maybe I'll tell you after we eat."
Claire sighed inwardly, frustration rising.
Why couldn't he just say it?
Why all this… drama?
They ate in silence after that.
Claire barely touched her food.
Her appetite had long disappeared.
"Thank you… for the meal," she said politely once they were done.
"It's nothing," Lewis replied. "You deserve it."
His gaze lingered on her.
"I just want to know you more, Claire. I want to understand you better."
Claire nodded slowly, unsure where this was heading.
"Especially…" he continued, his tone lowering, "to know if there's any man in your life."
Claire stiffened slightly.
"And Maja's father… you've never talked about him."
She exhaled.
"Yes. And that's because I don't want to."
Lewis tilted his head slightly.
"I see… perhaps there are painful memories there."
He leaned forward.
"But believe me, Claire… my intentions toward you are pure." He paused
"I love you." He continued, followed by silence.
Claire stared at him, completely caught off guard. Her expression hardened.
"Oh… thank you," she said calmly as she stood up immediately.
Her instincts had been right. This was exactly what she feared.
"Claire, wait," Lewis said, his voice suddenly colder, darker.
It didn't sound like love, not to her. It only irritated her. Reminded her too much of the past.
Of Sebastian.
Of lies.
Of betrayal.
She had promised herself never again.
"You can't just walk out on me," he added.
Claire stopped.
Then slowly turned back to face him.
"That's exactly the point, Mr. Lewis," she said, her voice steady but sharp.
"You're my boss. And we are two completely different people from two different worlds."
Her eyes burned with restrained anger.
"You have a wife. And two children."
Lewis shook his head.
"We're divorced. It's been a long time."
He stepped closer.
"You have a daughter too… yet I still choose to love you."
Claire's anger flared instantly.
"But you never liked Maja!" she snapped.
"I don't understand this. Why are you suddenly so close to us now? Why now?"
Lewis's expression tightened.
"Because I realized my mistakes," he said.
"And I'm sorry."
His voice softened, but it didn't reach her.
"I mean every word, Claire. I love you. And I'm willing to marry you… just to prove it."
Claire let out a bitter laugh under her breath.
To her, It all sounded like lies, beautifully packaged lies. And she wasn't the same woman he thought she was.
Not anymore.
"I'm sorry… but I don't feel the same way about you," Claire said firmly.
Her voice was calm, but final.
She turned, ready to leave.
But before she could take another step, Lewis grabbed her wrist tightly.
Claire froze.
The sudden grip sent a sharp wave of discomfort through her body. She slowly turned back, her eyes meeting him.
And what she saw made her chest tighten.
The warmth in his expression was gone.
Completely gone. In its place was something darker, something colder.
"Let go of me," Claire said, her voice low but steady.
Lewis didn't move.
Instead, his grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her he was in control.
"You don't understand what you're walking away from," he said quietly.
His tone wasn't loud. There was a dangerous calmness in it, one that made the air around them feel heavy.
"I can give you everything, Claire."
He took a slow step closer.
"A life you've never imagined. Comfort. Security. Power."
His eyes searched hers, almost desperately, but there was something else beneath it.
Possession.
"If you choose me… I will make your life beautiful."
Claire's heart pounded, not from temptation, but from unease.
Something about the way he said it didn't feel like love.
It felt like a promise…
And a warning.
Lewis leaned in slightly, his voice dropping even lower.
"But if you don't…"
A pause.
Just enough to let the words sink in.
"I can take all of that away just as easily."
Claire's breath caught.
"I can make things very difficult for you," he continued, his tone still eerily calm. "Your job… your stability… even your peace."
Her fingers curled slowly into a fist.
"Think carefully, Claire," he added. "Because I'm not a man you walk away from without consequences."
That was it.
That was the moment everything inside her snapped.
Before she could even think twice, her hand rose and landed hard across his face.
The sound echoed sharply through the quiet restaurant.
A collective gasp filled the air.
Heads turned instantly.
Silence followed thick and stunned.
"Did she just slap Lewis Hayes?" someone whispered.
"Oh my God…"
"She just played with fire…"
The murmurs spread quickly, eyes darting between them in disbelief.
Claire's chest rose and fell rapidly, her hand still slightly trembling, but her gaze remained fierce.
Unshaken.
"Stay away from me," she said, her voice firm despite the storm inside her.
"And stay away from my family."
Her eyes burned into his.
"I will never marry you."
"I know I'm already fired and I accept that."
Her voice softened for a brief second… but only with regret.
"But what I truly regret… is ever working for you."
Without waiting for a response, Claire yanked her wrist free, grabbed her bag, and turned.
Then she walked out, without looking back.
Lewis stood frozen, completely still. The sting on his cheek spread slowly, burning beneath his skin. But it wasn't the pain that shook him, it was the humiliation, the disbelief, the audacity.
His jaw tightened as whispers continued around him.
His employee…
A woman he had chosen, had just slapped him.
In public.
His eyes darkened dangerously.
"How dare she…" he muttered under his breath.
His pride burned hotter than the pain on his face.
All he had done… was to offer her a better life, other women will rush at this offer.
His lips curled slightly in bitterness.
"And this is how she repays me?"
He let out a cold breath, his expression hardening completely.
"No one humiliates me and walks away untouched."
Without another word, he turned sharply and stormed out of the restaurant.
The air around him was heavy with anger.
With wounded pride.
With something far more dangerous.
.
Claire arrived home that evening, her steps slow and heavy, as though the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.
Her mind replayed everything that had happened, again and again, she still couldn't believe it.
In just a moment… everything had changed.
Her job.
Her peace.
Her safety.
Gone.
Even though Lewis hadn't said the words directly, she knew.
She had crossed a line.
And there was no going back.