Lucas got speechless for several seconds because of what happened. 'The nerve of this woman, making a scene in this kind of event.' He was about to reprimand her when his grandmother spoke.

"Amanda, behave yourself. Do not make a scene, or else I will remove you from this place by force." Helena spoke sternly and with conviction silencing everyone, making Amanda left in shame.

Helena turned to him and said something that made his brows raised. "Lucas, why don't you and Claire dance. The music is inviting."

He nodded at her words and stood. He turned towards Claire and offered his hand.

"May I have the pleasure of having a dance with you, my lady?" He asked then he kissed her knuckle when she put her hand in his.

He ushered her towards the dance floor that is already occupied by several couple mostly aged. They just stopped at the center when a new song started. (Insert song: The Way You Look Tonight by Michael Bublé)

He put her left hand on his shoulder and clasped their other hand into his chest just above his heart. They swayed to the rhythm of the music while staring at each other's eye. Anyone can see that there is something between them, especially Helena, whose been watching them intently. She can see that her grandson is smitten with his wife and vice versa. Though she can feel that something is amiss, what they're feeling at the moment is something that should be taken seriously.

---

Lucas, can't helped but feel wonderful while dancing with his wife. Maybe Bea is right, he cannot seem to take his eyes away from her and he can feel a burning emotion between them that he still refuses to accept and recognize. In order to take his mind from the emotions that this woman evoke in him, he decided to open a conversation.

"Thank you for tonight Claire, we both know that you were very hesitant to come and agree to this ploy." He said truthfully.

---

Claire, still couldn't comprehend everything that had happened especially the one that occured on their table a while ago with that woman. So here she was, just going with the flow, not fully remembering how they ended up dancing. She just refocused when Lucas said his thanks.

"It's nothing Lucas, I will not be here if I really don't want to. You cannot simply force me to do anything that I don't want to do." She explained.

"Not at all?" Lucas asked in astonishment.

"No." She answered smiling, unaware that her smile caused Lucas' heart to flutter and the people watching them smile as well.

Once the song finished, they went back to their table. Lucas left when Drake came by, saying they will discuss some business. Though she tried to relax with the presence of his grandmother, she knows she is failing miserably that she wanted to puke. Helena has been monopolizing her since Lucas left.

"So Claire, from where are you again? You said somewhere north, but where specifically? If you don't mind my asking."

Though Helena is smiling she knows she is laying a trap somewhere with her questioning and she hopes that she will notice it before it's too late. She cleared her throat first before answering.

"I came from Millbrook ma'am, though I wasn't born there." She answered truthfully. 'Better to say the truth than be caught with a lie later.' She thought to herself.

"Call me Helena, Claire, besides we're family already, with you marrying my grandson." She can only smile as her response.

"So, how did you two met? Lucas never gave the details." She almost spit her drink with Helena's question. Good thing, Lucas shared to her the story he thought of how the two of them met.

"Oh, we met when I was still seventeen. We were so in love that we decided to get married without my parent's knowledge, so when they found out, they separated us. Since I was still underage, Lucas can't do anything." She prayed that their tale was believable, otherwise, she will be in deep trouble once Helena will start her querries again. She had never been thankful at Lucas' presence, for he suddenly appeared before Helena can ask another question.

"Grandma, can I take my wife for a walk?"

---

Lucas, doesn't want to leave Claire with his grandmother. He knows her, she will ask you questions that are first harmless but in actuality, is a bait for you to divulge anything that she wants to know. Her sweet and caring attitude towards you, will make you put your guard down, making it easier for her to trap you into confessing everything. That is why him leaving Claire makes him uneasy, but this should be done right now, for there is no other better time than this moment. He needs to meet the man whom he's been after for a long time, he needed this man's approval for his business transaction.

"Where are they?" Lucas asked his bestfriend who guided him towards a group of men. He knows his grandmother invited them in order for him to pursue the man, the occasion acting as a front.

"Good evening gentlemen. Hope you are having a great time with the party." Lucas greeted the men on the table.

"Mr. Harrison, we're glad you invited us. Please join us." Mr. Anderson said standing up and shaking his hand.

Lucas sat obliging the man, Drake sat as well. But he sat where he can still see where his wife is.

"I know, why you invited us to attend this ball. You want me to sell to you my place, isn't it?" Sean Dashiel Anderson said it on point. Lucas know this man is years younger than him, but he is already ruthless in terms of business. He is known as "The Dash" in the racing world, his career is at its prime when he suddenly decided to retire and turn his back from it all. So many speculations with regards to his true reason are still running around, but one is thing is constantly written and said in the gossip magazine as his true reason - he grew tired of it. He took a deep sigh before answering him.

"Yes, it is true. I really wanted that place, you are the only owner in that block who did not agree yet to my terms."

Sean smirked before answering. "I cannot simply agree to your terms, that place has a sentimental value of sort since that is the very place where I put into action my dream of putting up a garage."

"So, tell me your terms, I think I can buy it from you if I can give you your desired conditions." Lucas gave a bargain to Sean.

"I'll think about it and I'll let you know, if you can still wait." Lucas swore to himself but not letting it shown on his face, not to give away his discomfort, he smiled and stood.

"Thank you. I am expecting a positive result from you. Enjoy the rest of the party. Goodbye." He left after he eyed Drake, silently telling him to stay.

He went back to the table where he left his wife, he can see from across the hall the discomfort she felt. He made himself known by asking to take his wife for a walk.

Lucas saw the relief on Claire's face when he showed up after talking with Sean. 'What could've been their topic before I came that Claire is already at her wit's end with worry marring her face.' Lucas asked himself.

"Sure, you children go ahead. I will just stay here and observe everyone else." Helena shooed them and stayed where she is sitting.

Lucas led her into the indoor garden situated just beside the ballroom where they came from. They are walking slowly when Claire started talking.

"Thank you for showing up and interfering to save me. If you were a second late, I think I might've lost my mind in thinking what to answer to your grandmother's inquiries." Relief is evident on Claire's face that something tugged on his chest. 'There it is again.' Lucas thought, but as always, he chose to ignore what he felt.

"You're welcome. I'm sorry I left you with my grandmother." He said sincerely which Claire only responded with an understanding smile.

"So, how did it go?" Claire asked cautiously. She doesn't want to appear to be intruding into his business. Good thing, he answered.

---

"Well, it still fifty-fifty." Lucas supplied when he saw confusion on her face.

"There is this place that I wanted to buy for a long time. I am planning to put another building that can be leased, I already bought most of the area except for this one. The owner doesn't want to sell it, for sentimentality reasons." He finished his explanation with a sigh.

"I hope you talking to him tonight will be fruitful." Claire can only comfort him with words.

Lucas was about to say something when a voice calling his name caught their attention.

"Lucas!" Drake suddenly ran into them, catching his breath.

"What is it Drake?" Lucas asked clearly irritated.

"I'm sorry for intruding, but Lucas, Mr. Anderson said that he might rethink his decision if you will introduce your wife to him." Drake explained.

Lucas doesn't know what to think or how to react to Sean's demand. How would meeting Claire change his mind to his favor? He was about to decline the call and consider it preposterous but Claire's voice halted him.

"I think it will be okay, don't you think? I want to help in any way that I can. If meeting this man can change his decision, then I'm on it." She said while giving him her smile.

"If it is okay with you then thank you." Lucas said sincerely.

---

Claire doesn't know what came over her to agree into meeting this man. All she knows is that she wanted to help Lucas in any way that she can without qualms. They walk across the hall towards the table where the man in question is sitting. She thought she knew the man somewhere for how the way he sit and holds himself with confidence and his surname should've ring a bell or she should've asked his full name first before offering her agrrement. She did not heed her instinct and instead put it somewhere at the back of her mind, claiming that how can she know someone within Lucas circle of acquaintances when this is the first time she accompanied him and knowing the people within his circle. She should've listened to her instinct for the man whom Lucas is having a transaction with is someone that she knows since childhood. She was about to back out and told Lucas that she changed her mind, but it was too late, for the man already stood and turned towards them.

"Good evening again Mr. Anderson, I was told by my friend that you wanted to meet my wife. Here she is, Mr. Anderson, this is my wife Claire, sweetheart, this the man that I am currently having a transaction with, Mr. Sean Dashiel Anderson." Lucas introduced them, she doesn't know how to greet the man in front of her, how can she when she had only talked to him the day prior. Sean, her third brother's brow rose in question at her, with right hand stretched towards her for a shake that she accepted with a shaky smile.

---

Sean doesn't know how to behave at the current situation. He thought he knew the woman whom Lucas is dancing with a while ago, but he couldn't be more sure than this very moment. His little sister is being introduced as this man's wife, he should've laugh with exasperation and told Lucas that his sister cannot be his wife but the look that Claire gave him made him held his tounge, a look that clearly said she will explain when the time comes. He instead smiled and offered them to sit at their table. They were quiet for sometime, until he cannot take it anymore, he excused himself giving them reason that he needs to call someone. He stood and left, but several feet away, he turned and gave Claire a gesture with his head to follow him.

---

Claire watched as Sean left the table then excused herself after two minutes that she needs to go to the washroom. When she left the hall, she took her phone and dialed Sean's number, he answered at the first ring and automatically supplied her silent question.

"Get inside the room, third door on your right from the hall. Be discreet." He pushed the end button after his instruction which she followed by heart.

She entered the room where he is at and came face to face with her brother's face full of questions that he only uttered one word. "Explain."

So she did as he asked and told him the tale the same way she did with Penny and their mother. Not taking anything out including the agreement that Lucas and her decided to make.

"Who knows about this accidental situation that you're currently in?" Sean asked, bewildered at the tale that Claire told him. He cannot think that such thing is possible but the very proof is right in front if his eyes.

"Mom knows and Penny." Claire answered.

Sean brows creased further, so he asked the questions in his mind that Claire answered in quick succession.

"Ethan?" - "No."

"Ollie?" - "No."

"Zach?" - "No."

The last answer that Claire gave made his brow raised.

"You're telling me that Penny knows about this but not Zach?" He asked.

"I asked Penny not to tell him anything." She whispered her answer.

"How about Dad? Does he know?" At his question, Claire's brows furrowed.

"I don't know if Mom told him." She said in confusion.

Sean can only sighed, frustration evident. He stare at his sister for a long time, he saw something that made him more annoyed. "You've fallen for him, don't you?"

Claire's eyes widen in fear that she questioned herself. 'Is it evident on my face?'

"He's a womanizer Claire." He exclaimed at her silence.

"I know Sean." She can only answered in resignation.

"I don't want you to get hurt." Sean can only said, surrendering.

"I know, but Sean, let me experience this. You and the others have been cuddling me and surrounded me into the bubble of safety and certainty. Let me handle this on my own, please. I am already at the right age. Let me fall in love and be hurt, for that is the only way for me to really grow up." Claire said, pleading evident on her voice.

Sean can only hang his head in acceptance that Claire, their little sister is not so little anymore. He approached and hugged her with love and understanding.

"Okay, Clairebear, but if he hurt you I will send the cavalry and hurt him until he cannot remember who he is." Sean said with conviction.

"Oh, please, not the face, he is too handsome for his face to be scarred." Claire said smiling which Sean only answered with a scoff.

"Okay, you go back at our table first. I will follow after sometime." Sean ushered her towards the door. Claire said her thanks and went out, with Sean following after several minutes. Both of them didn't notice the woman standing idly, cellphone on her hand, snapping several photos of them going in and out of the same room.

************************************

Who do you think is the woman snapping pictures? Can you guess? And what will she do with those photos?

Please type in your comment(s) and insight(s) about this story, you can send me a private message if you're too shy to post it here. Press the star icon for your vote if you happen to like this chapter or the story as a whole. Don't forget to share this as well with others.

Thank you for reading and your continued support.

-blue