"Prove it's really you." She quickly added.
The seconds felt like hours before her phone buzzed again.
"You'll know it's me when we meet. Come meet me at the Starbucks at Cornwell. Can you do that?"
Claire frowned. She didn't know what to make of it. And she realized there was no way in hell she was going to leave the house without Lucas knowing.
She sighed and tossed the phone onto her bed. She'd play it safe for now, just like always. If this "Craig" was planning something, she'd figure it out. But not tonight.
'My god, I need some head,' Claire thought as she drifted off to sleep.
***
Claire felt a gentle shake on her shoulder, pulling her out of a deep, dreamless sleep. She blinked, still sleep-eyed, as Lucas's face slowly came into focus.
"You sleep like the dead," he said with a smile, his voice low and teasing. "I've been trying to wake you for ten minutes."
Claire groaned, rubbing her eyes. "You know, normal people knock."
"Why would I knock? It's my room," Lucas grinned, standing beside the bed, arms folded. "You sleep-walked in here like around 3 AM. Drooling too."
Claire looked around and saw that she really was in his room. "I don't drool, and I don't sleep-walk," she shot back with a sleepy smile, sitting up slowly. "What time is it?"
"Time to get up," Lucas replied, tossing a glance over his shoulder, as he walked away. "We're leaving for Paris soon. Everyone's getting ready."
"Yay," Claire muttered sarcastically.
After a quick freshen up and packing, Claire joined Lucas and the rest of the Benetti family for the trip to Paris.
Lucas was already in full business mode, directing his men, while Zarah fussed over last-minute outfit details and Natalia triple-checked the event and itinerary details.
It was a whirlwind of movement and instructions, and before Claire knew it, they were all on Lucas's private jet, heading for France.
She found herself seated next to him, and he was calm as ever, scrolling through his phone. He glanced over at her occasionally, giving her a slight smile.
'What are you thinking?' she thought, watching him out of the corner of her eye. But she kept her face neutral. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing how disturbed she really was.
The flight itself was uneventful. Zarah and Natalia sat across from them, engaged in their own conversation.
Claire looked down at the ring on her finger and she remembered her nightmare with the creepy old woman.
'Corruption.'
She hadn't used the ring's powers since she misused it at the cafe right before she got news of Craig's death. The same "Craig" that has supposedly been raised up from the dead.
Claire stared out the window for most of the flight, her mind unsettled.
When they landed in Paris, a sleek convoy of cars was already waiting to escort them.
They were here. Paris. The real show was about to begin.
PARIS
6 A.M.
Claire, hand-in-hand with Lucas, stepped out of the plane and the cool morning breeze welcomed them.
The men Lucas had sent ahead were already waiting by the cars. As soon as they spotted the pair, they sprinted over, greeting them with eager voices.
"Benvenuto, Don Benetti!" one of them called out, his head bowing in deep respect.
"Signora Benetti, un onore vederla!" another said, stepping forward with a slight bow, his eyes faced down.
One of the men reached for Claire's hand, hesitating for a brief moment before pressing a respectful kiss to it.
Lucas's jaw tightened, and he shut the guard a death stare. The poor guy, who had only been showing respect, quickly retreated, his face filled with dread.
Claire glanced at Lucas, sensing the tension but staying silent. She only hoped the guard didn't get tortured to death later.
Oddly, though, she liked it—the respect, the way they addressed her as "Signora Benetti." It was a strange power, one she wasn't entirely used to but couldn't help feeling a bit drawn to.
Even Lucas's possessiveness didn't bother her as much as often as she thought it would. In fact, it made her feel a little… untouchable.
"Tutto è a posto, capo!" one of the men called out, as they stood at attention, ready to take orders.
Lucas gave a sharp nod, then motioned for them to move. The men quickly fell into formation, leading them to the fleet of black exotic cars parked nearby.
As they got into the backseat of one of the cars, it dawned on Claire that she was in for an entirely new experience. She had never been to Paris before and she was beginning to notice that change in energy.
The Eiffel Tower peeked through the clouds in the distance and as she marveled at it, she came to the conclusion that despite the event ahead, she was going to try to enjoy her stay in Paris.
They pulled up to the hotel and it was unlike anything she had ever seen. The suite was pure luxury, with huge windows giving a perfect view of the city—the kind of stuff you only ever see in travel magazines.
"Alright everyone, grab your room keys, settle down, get some rest. You'll be up soon and preparing for the event," Lucas commanded loudly in the hotel lobby, and turned to leave with some of his men.
"Where are you going?" Claire asked, getting in his way and gently placing her hand on his chest.
Lucas glanced down at her hand, then back into her eyes. "I have a few things to take care of. Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
Claire nodded, pulling her hand back, but the tension between them was unmistakable. "Alright love," she replied softly, watching him walk away with his men.
'Love?'
She made her way up to their suite, the exhaustion from the early morning travel finally catching up to her. As soon as her head hit the pillow, her eyes closed, and sleep took over almost instantly.
A while after, she was stirred awake by a familiar, consistent shake. Lucas had returned.
"You really need to see a doctor because of how you sleep," he teased with a chuckle.
"You're back already?" she mumbled, as her eyes blinked open.
"Already? It's been four hours," he replied, a playful expression on his face.
"Woah, what's the time?" Claire asked, immediately sitting up. She was only putting on her black, sexy lingerie.
Lucas didn't respond immediately. He joined her on the bed and pulled her closer to him as he whispered, "Time for us."
Those words immediately caused Claire to melt into the bed.
'Uh oh, slutty Claire is taking over again,' an annoying voice announced inside her head.
"Oh Lucas, we should be getting ready," she said, trying to fight it.
"I know," Lucas drawled. "But it's hard to get enough of you."
Claire raised her eyes to meet his gaze and quickly realized it was a terrible mistake, because all efforts to stop 'slutty Claire' from coming out, immediately went to waste.
She pressed her body against his, as she reached out and kissed him, with a little more aggression than she intended.
"Woahh, slow down princess," Lucas said after the kiss. "You're asking for trouble."
"Then give it to me," Claire replied, taking off her bra to reveal her firm gorgeous breasts.
Lucas couldn't resist.
Claire immediately found herself bent over the table, receiving the hardest backshots of her life.
After switching positions a couple times, Claire and Lucas climaxed and found themselves breathless on the bed.
Lucas stood up, adjusting his clothes, regaining his composure, as he glanced at her.
"Get ready," he said, with the familiar commanding tone. "The time will be here before you know it."
Just as he predicted, the hours passed in a blur of preparations. Zarah was adding the finishing touches to Claire's outfit for the event, while Natalia went over last-minute details, ensuring everything would go smoothly.
Claire found herself surrounded by the chaos of getting ready but oddly calm, like everything was just falling into place.
Her outfit was nothing short of breathtaking. The diamond encrusted black gown hugged her in all the right places, and the jewelry — Lucas's choice — was subtle but elegant, a choker around her neck and four-piece diamond earrings.
***
By the time they arrived at the event, it was already filled. Lucas always made it a habit to arrive a bit late, making his absence felt and his presence elevated.
The venue was covered with luxurious adornments, chandeliers glittering overhead and an air of exclusivity all over.
Claire spotted Natalia moving through the crowd, Zarah was nearby, and Lucas… well, he was doing what he always did, commanding the room without even trying.
The introductions began, and Claire played her part perfectly. She charmed, smiled, and kept her answers just vague and brief enough to avoid stepping into any conversational traps. It was exhausting, but at least it was going well.
Just then, the room got quiet, and the sound of the announcer's voice filled the space.
"Introducing, the newly wedded, Don and Signora De Carlo!"
'What old, ugly billionaire did Luna get married to now?' Claire wondered with a trace of disgust.
The crowd shifted, eyes turning towards the long staircase for the grand entrance. Claire's heart stopped for a second as the doors swung open and she laid her eyes on Luna's husband.
He was looking magnificent, perfectly fitting his suit. Even more striking than she remembered. There was a confidence in his stance as he slowly looked around the ballroom, until he finally looked in her direction.
And for the first time since their breathtaking sex and his disappearance with her money, Anton and Claire locked eyes.
"Anton," his name escaped her lips in a whisper.