DLD.

Chapter Seven.

Running an entire business and working alongside Ace was more than a handful, yet somehow, I was able to manage and find contentment with all the mayhem that went on. Balance was definitely key, and now that my husband made it evidently clear that I will always receive the shorter end of the stick when it comes to our marriage, having to incorporate time for our union wasn't as mandatory as it was before. While Alaric's power-hungry ass was chasing notability, his wife was busy delving into other activities which were surprisingly captivating her more than she thought they would. Never in a million years did I thought the Alaric and Dana Benjamin story would pan out like this, and I wasn't too prideful to admit the daily heartbreak I endured knowing that the state of my marriage wasn't changing anytime soon.

Closing my work laptop gently, I peered over at my phone to see eleven missed calls from Clarissa. She's been contacting me nonstop since the Johnathan situation the night before, and while I haven't been dodging her calls I surely wasn't making time for them either. Being a professional multitasker, I had to regulate the hours in the day critically to ensure every responsibility of mine was met. I wasn't viewing Clarissa as a prime priority, there were so many other things I had to tackle throughout the day. I was planning on catching up with her at a later date because we definitely had things to speak about, but Clarissa jumped the gun by turning her calls into angry, threatening text messages, and now putting her off wasn't even an option anymore.

Grabbing my coat, purse, and car keys, I prepared to leave my place of business. On my way out I noticed Amaya and Johnathan having a fiercely strong argument, so I quicken my pace before they realized I was in their presence. Dealing with the kids was certainly not on the agenda today, I had enough on my plate as it is. Scurrying towards Clarissa's shop has now become the most important assignment at hand, for the spicy texts she sent was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

Zooming through the back entrance of Clarissa's cupcake shop, I briskly reversed and hopped out of my BMW. I didn't take too kindly to menacing ultimatums, I thought Clarissa knew better than to try me like this. We were actually friends outside of all of this mess with Ace, and I'd hate to have to reveal a side of me that I didn't showcase too often.

Pushing the beautifully decorated entrance doors of Clarissa's cupcake shop, there was an upbeat energy when I strolled in. Both patrons and employees of the dessert eatery looked extremely happy to be there, if I wasn't here on serious business I probably would have stayed around a while and kicked it with them. A tenured worker by the name of Bobbi noticed me right off the bat and he approached me smiling as brightly as ever. We were very familiar with each other, so I smiled back respectively as he pointed towards the left of the space where Clarissa's office was located.

Politely excusing myself through the partially full room, my game face resumed despite all the cheerfulness in the air. I came here to keep Clarissa in check, she had no idea who the fuck she was really messing with. I was about to let it be known blatantly as I yanked open her office door, startling the absolute bat shit out of her.

Clarissa damn near jumped out of her skin due to my unplanned entry, and I watched her struggle to retain her cool as I approached her. She was seated behind her desk, and I calmly went over to sit opposite her in one of her guest chairs. Resting my Chanel bag in the other free seat beside me, I lapped my legs sophisticatedly and waited patiently for Clarissa to back up all the attitude she had in her texts.

"Dana, hey." Clarissa began, slightly out of breath. "I didn't know you were coming. You frightened me."

"Oh, you mean just like the way you were trying to frighten me with those messy ass, incriminating messages?" I snapped. "What's this talk about airing everything out to the police and getting Ace roped up? The fuck is wrong with you?"