Chapter 23

After taking two days off, Clara dove back into work. Tagging along with Selina to negotiate the collaboration details taught her a lot, and the project moved forward so smoothly that it felt almost effortless. Damon didn't show up when it came time for their meeting with Croft Group. He had the COO take his place instead. Clara breathed a sigh of relief as she passed the contract she'd carefully prepared. After reviewing the terms, Croft Group was eager to move forward but had one condition. They wanted Clara to serve as the main point of contact between both sides during the contract period. Selina immediately figured this was Damon's doing. He was clearly using the partnership as a way to keep Clara around. After giving it some thought, she decided to ask Clara directly how she felt. They left Croft Group and found a quiet café. "Clara, I know this is personal, but if you don't mind, could you tell me about your marriage to Damon? How did it start and end?" Selina asked. Clara