Arrangements

11

The wedding invites are finally out. But things about Claire has gone out of my hands. She left.

"What did you do to her, dad?!" I anger. I thought we have a deal!

"What is it this time?" Dad asks, pretending not knowing anything.

"Dad, Claire left the country with her family! It's only you who can force them to leave."

"Stop it, Leonard! You thought I didn't know? You were meeting with that girl! Should I remind you that you're already engaged? You're impossible!"

"No! What are you, dad? I agreed to this arrangement because you promised me my freedom!"

"You're not married yet. And the mergence isn't signed yet."

"After the mergence, our marriage will be done. I will file for annulment."

"What? So this is all for show? For that woman? What do you think the Winters will do if they find out about this and your plan? You will go against them all for that woman?" Dad asks, and I have second thoughts before finally answering.

"Yes, dad! That's how much I love Claire."

"You're evil."

"No, dad. You are! If only you accepted Claire in the very first place."

"That will never happen. That gold digger is ruining you!"

"She's not!"

"And you're blinded! Don't ever let Chairman Winter know about this and your woman, or else you will have your desired freedom by disowning you!"

"What?! You're unbelievable! I'm your only son!"

"Then act like my son!" I shake my head, dismayed and disappointed. How could he?

I walk out of dad's office room and go back to the boarding house of Claire. I have to know more about her departure.

I ask the guards of the boarding house and all they know is that Claire brought all her things and was fetched by a black van.

Luckily, I see her roommate, and she has the answer to my question.

"We ran to your fiancée's house. If only you saw Claire's reaction when she read about your wedding in a newspaper..."

"Why did you go there?"

"I tried to stop her but she was determined and mad. I was left with no choice but to accompany her. She started a scene, yelling to the housemaids to let her in or show her your fiancée so they could talk, until your fiancée's best friend came-"

"Best friend? Wait... Whose best friend?" I didn't know Anna has another best friend. Or maybe it's Dave again?!

"What's the name of that best friend? Is it Dave?"

"Dave? It was a woman, Fiona. She was mad when she saw Claire. She called for the subdivision's guards to take us out but Claire stood still. Fiona had to threaten her that she'll file a case against her if we don't leave. She bragged that she's a lawyer and can put Claire into jail." Fiona? What a coincidence. Claire had a best friend whose name is Fiona too and who was pursuing law.

"And then last two nights, she had a visitor with a briefcase. Their talk was quick, she gave the briefcase to Claire, turned out it was money. I don't know what they talked about, Claire asked me to leave them alone. Then yesterday, she packed all her things and left. I asked her if you know about it but she told me not to inform you."

I think of anyone who could be the visitor. So I scan my phone's photo gallery and show her my dad's secretary's photo and I was right. It is dad's plan. I ask her if she knows where Claire went but she doesn't know.

I want to ask dad. Only he who knows, but I also know that he won't ever tell me.

I feel hopeless. If Claire won't be with me, then this arrangement is useless!

I return to dad's office. I am not even sure what to do here. I don't know what to do anymore. I don't even know how to deal with Claire's departure. This is too sudden.

"He's in a meeting," dad's secretary informs.

"With?"

"With Sir Edward's daughter, sir. Attorney Fiona Olca."

"Attorney?" Why would dad meet a lawyer?

Suddenly, I remember the full name of Claire's former best friend.
"What's her name again?"

"Attorney Fiona Olca, sir." Fiona Olca? Shoot! That's Claire's best friend!

"What is she doing here? What's the meeting all about?"

"I am not informed, sir."

"Okay. Thanks. After they talk, please ask Attorney Fiona to meet me in my office."

"Alright, sir."