Elena's mind was overwhelmed with a whirlwind of thoughts once again, causing her head to feel heavy and muddled. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had once more made a mess of things, this time with her closest friend. Despite her attempts to reach out to her friend while keeping her eyes on the road, all her calls went unanswered. The tension between them was as clear as crystal, stemming from Erica's evident anger over Elena's visit to Kelan's house.
Upon nearing her house's area, Elena couldn't help but notice a strange car parked outside her gate. With a furrowed brow, she swiftly drove to the rear of her driveway and stepped out of her car. Standing there, she scrutinized the sleek black Mercedes Benz with suspicion. Her eyes widened as she saw a pair of polished leather shoes emerge from the vehicle.
"What do my eagle eyes see on this fine morning?" Jack quipped, sliding his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose with a grin. Elena's heart skipped a beat as she registered that it was Jack waiting for her in the car at this early hour, his expression a mix of amusement and surprise.
"Where have you been? Judging by your outfit, it looks like you're just getting back after a night out," he remarked, closing the distance between them. Elena's eyes fell to the ground, contemplating her response carefully.
"Look at me!" He sternly commanded, gripping her right arm to force her to meet his gaze. Elena squinted in surprise at his sudden and forceful gesture.
"What do you think you're doing, grabbing me like I'm just some random woman?" Elena retorted, her irritation evident in her voice after witnessing his disrespectful behavior. Jack scoffed at her words and pulled her closer, a sense of unease already creeping over him about her mysterious night out.
"Where were you all night, Elena?" He asked, his voice close as he tried to read her eyes. Elena pursed her lips in annoyance and abruptly pulled away from him.
"Know your boundaries, Jack! I'm not a toy you can push and pull around whenever you want!" She sneered at him and swiftly got into her car, driving into her driveway and leaving him behind with a look of dissatisfaction on his face. Stepping out of her car, she observed him entering her driveway just before the automatic gates closed behind him.
"I just wanted to inform you that I'll be hosting one of my father's political events, and he wanted me to extend an invitation to you," he said, his demeanor tense. Elena couldn't help but chuckle at his invitation, recognizing it as a thinly veiled attempt to announce their engagement to the media even before their scheduled announcement.
"Your father always knows how to steal the spotlight whenever he can! My presence would certainly create quite the buzz for his reelection campaign," she smoothly replied, a sly smile playing on her lips. Jack took a deep breath, reigning in his inner frustration at Elena's conceited demeanor.
"Elena, you will be my fiancée in a few weeks from now. It's inevitable for us to be seen together at events. I hope you'll think about it and give me a call once you've made your decision," he stated with unwavering eyes before turning away and vanishing from her sight.
The day unfolded as she went through her routine - showering, eating, reading a few articles, and getting ready for the days ahead at work. Feeling a bit rusty and uncertain about the state of affairs at her company due to her extended absence, Elena decided to pay a visit to Clover. She needed someone to confide in, especially after the events that had transpired earlier at Kelan's house.
Under the blazing sun, Carlton and his buddy indulged in a game of golf at the esteemed course in the upscale northern suburbs of the city. Grant lined up his shot just a few yards away from the hole, ready to take his turn. Carlton playfully teased him with a few jabs, reveling in his lead, knowing that Grant could level the playing field with a successful shot. Grant forcefully pushed away Carlton's distractions, determined to focus on sinking the ball.
"Miss this one again, Grant!" Carlton taunted, a wide grin on his face. Grant rolled his eyes in irritation, setting his club down purposefully. Taking a stance with his feet hip-width apart, he balanced his weight evenly between them. Bending his knees slightly, he leaned forward at the hips, aligning the end of his club with the spot where he would strike the ball.
"Nice form, Grant!" Carlton teased as he watched his friend concentrate on hitting the ball straight. Grant folded his elbows to position the club perpendicular to his arms, which were parallel to the ground. He twisted his shoulders, bringing the club up and over his head in a 180-degree arc before swinging it at the tiny ball. Their eyes followed the ball as it soared through the air, and to their amazement, it landed unexpectedly in the hole. Both of their mouths dropped open in disbelief at the incredible shot.
"What the actual heck, Grant?" Carlton muttered in complete disbelief, never having witnessed such a shot before. The precision and cleanliness of the shot were so remarkable that the ball landed perfectly inside the hole.
"You motherfucker, that was something else! What in the world was that?" Carlton continued to tease his friend in a mix of awe and jest over the spectacular play. Grant just smirked in response and coolly slipped on his sunglasses.
"Talk smack again and you'll be eating your words!" Grant retorted as he made his way towards the golf cart. Carlton chuckled at his friend's comeback and hurried to join him. They hopped on the cart and headed towards the hole just a few meters away. Suddenly, Grant's phone began to ring, startling them both.
"Yes, go ahead," Grant said as he brought the cart to a stop near the flagged hole. Carlton promptly hopped out and strolled over to the hole to retrieve the ball.
"Are you absolutely certain these documents were signed by him? Have you verified with the notary?" He inquired over the phone. Carlton took a deep breath, gazing out at the serene, bright blue sky. It was indeed a perfect day for a round of golf. His thoughts drifted back to his time in Bali with her, reminiscing about their game of golf together. A soft smile played on his lips as he recalled the memories of that flawless day - holding her hands, sharing in her imperfect swings, stealing kisses after each missed shot, feeling her arms around him for solace, and the lingering scent of her perfume on everything she touched.
"Carl?.....Carl?....Hey Carlton?!" Grant's voice called out, breaking Carlton out of his reverie. He quickly turned to face his friend as Grant approached him.
"I just received a call from Kylie. She has obtained documents that could compromise James Tarron McLain!" Grant announced, a sudden rush of pride and confidence washing over Carlton.
"Is that right?! I'm all ears!" Carlton exclaimed, intrigued by the news that could potentially damage James McLain's reputation and vast wealth. He knew that enlisting Grant's assistance to uncover information on the McLains would be highly beneficial to him.