My Boss's Proposal

Chapter 6: So I guess you weren't smuggling drugs then huh?

Claire's Pov

I visibly sigh as Harry places his arm on my waist, something I'm going to have to get used to. He stares around the crowded house sighing and gripping my waist with his large palm. I nod at a few of the guests, returning their smiles with some of my own. Harry leans down a couple of times to places kisses on my cheek, whenever my mother turn and glance at us.

"You haven't told your parents about the marriage yet, right?" Harry asks when he leans down and I expected another kiss.

"No, not yet," I mumble, glancing up at him, "Why?"

"Good, no reason. You'll see," he assures me and pulls himself out of my hold. "I have to take a wee."

I roll my eyes and point down the corridor, instructing him to take a left at the second door he see's. The champagne is exquisite, I'll give my parents that. The house was well taken care for as well, elegant yet homey. The bubbly liquid dancing on my tongue was enough to make me grin, before the party cascaded down my throat.

"Enjoying that?" I voice mumbles from beside me, and I turn to see my father standing in one of his old gray tux's. I nod silently, playing with the ridge of my cup. "What? No hi to your old man whom you haven't seen in over a year? Do they not have champagne in New York?"

"Hi," I say, my voice lowering causing my father to frown. How is he not surprised that I'm not happy to see him? "Of course they do," I spit out.

"Claire, please. Don't be like that," my dad murmurs, crossing his arms after he places the empty wine glasse on a marble counter.

"Like what? Like me?" I ask, a hint of sarcasm laced in my words. Okay, maybe a little more than a hint.

He glowers at me, his salt & pepper hair mixed with the grey-blue of his eyes is enough to make anyone cower but being his daughter, it gave me a good life experience.

"So mom told me you have a new boyfriend."

"Yeah," I mumble, my fists clenching and my tongue itching to lash out but is restrained by my sealed lips. "I do."

"How long have you been dating you boss?" he asks, his voice serious but slightly mocking.

"A little over a year now," I say, sticking to Harry and I's plan of making that the set date of our "relationship", ifgnoring how he spat out the word boss.

"So you are dating your boss," he scoffs and shakes his head. "Claire Emily what has gotten into you?"

"What do you mean?" I scoff right back, almost slamming my half empty glass on the table and catching the attention of some of the party-goers around us. "You're still like this? Still demanding and controlling and manipulative even after I've been gone for this long?"

He stands locked in his place, and I see him visibly swallowing as I continue,"Claire please-"

"It's my life, I do what I want. I date who I want to, that belongs to me! Not you! Not any one else, me! And until you can get that through that thick buisness man skull of yours nothing between us will change and I'll still hate you."

His blue eyes turn a bit more shinier as a layer of tears work it's way over. My brown eyes must be doing the same thing. I pace around him, ignoring Harry as I brush past him as well into the garden. I've loved this garden for as long as I could remember. It was always big and roomy and safe, and I'm relieved to see that it still is.

"Claire!" I hear Harry's voice shout from behind me, causing more of the guests who I've yet to and probably will never care to meet glance at us. I continue walking, stepping over the little bridge set over the small stream that ran through the yard and pacing up the stone path. Anyone could see how amazingly rich my parents are, but they aren't me. The house has been heavily changed since I've last seen them, the only thing that hasn't wasn't changed was the gazebo. A small wooden structure with bark looking tiles placed on the top, the hard frame that was often my place for escape.