Love Against All Odds by Shirley Hugh

Chapter 11 

Gavin had always been an early riser, yet he remained busy with work till the wee hours after returning home. Claire was understanding and tried not to disturb him. Instead, she stayed in the living room quietly. Besides the occasional teasing from Gavin, Claire didn’t initiate conversations. 

However, the happy times were about to end. Claire was rudely awakened by Gavin while sleeping. 

Claire, annoyed, opened her eyes to find Gavin’s handsome face just inches away. She was so startled that she became fully 

awake in an instant. 

Seeing the look of fright on Claire’s face, Gavin was a bit displeased and frowned slightly. He reached out and gently tapped her forehead, saying, “Am I that scary? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” His tone was full of resentment. 

“Ouch! It hurts…” Claire responded on reflex. One could tell that she was not fully awake, and her mind was still blank… 

Amused by Claire’s bewildered expression, Gavin shook his head and gently said, “Time to get up! You’re going to be late for work.” 

The moment Claire heard the word “work,” her mind instantly cleared. Oh my! How could I forget that today is the day I return to the company? If I don’t go back, Sacha is likely to fire me right away she shouted in her mind. Claire quickly jumped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to wash up swiftly 

This scene amused Gavin. He watched her with a smile and helplessly shook his head. After so many years, she is still this adorable, he thought. 

After they finished their breakfast; Gavin drove Claire to her office. He reminded her to wait for him to pick her up after work before leaving 

Standing below the office building, Claire held the photos provided by the A–list star Sirena and felt confident. Today, she would turn the tables. She was not going to be a nob*dy anymore. She would make a name for herself in the company, conquer the challenging Sacha, and secure the bonus. 

In the office, Claire stood in front of the imposing Sacha and was somewhat intimidated, displaying none of her previous confidence. The contrast was so stark it left people astonished.” 

Sacha, a woman in her thirties or forties, was the epitome of an urban career woman. She was meticulous at work and strict in her demands, especially on her subordinates. 

“Claire, care to explain your long disappearance? Sacha took a sip of her coffee and stared at Claire, her face grim. She thought, ‘How dare you turn off the phone withour notice and take so many days off? Do you know how competitive the entertainment department is and how many people want to take your position as a reporter? This is simply unacceptable. You can quit now if you don’t want to do it. You’re not the only one who can do this job!‘ 

Facing Sacha’s stern expression, Claire nervously swallowed and slowly replied. “Ms. Andrews, I’ve got a major scoop this 

time.” 

Sacha seemed accustomed to Claire’s words. Over the years at work, she had heard all sorts of excuses from people at work. Without bothering to look at her, she said, “You’ve probably said that to me dozens of times before. Where’s the exclusive 1 

want!” 

As soon as Claire heard Sacha mention photos, she hurriedly handed over the envelope with respect. She was confident that Sacha would be satisfied with these photos. 

Sure enough, Sacha’s face went from gloomy to surprised as she saw the photos. She hadn’t expected Claire to get gossip pictures of the rising young male star and the popular young actress. The potential profits from this news were unimaginable for their company. 

“Claire, you did well this time” Sacha gave her an appreciative look. Claire made a huge contribution this time. 

Thank you for the praise, Ms. Andrews.” Claire sighed in relief, graciously accepting Sacha’s approval. 

“Alright, you can go now. I’ll give you a year–end bonus and a salary raise.” Sacha, her eyes fixed on the photos in her hands, showed an entirely different attitude toward Claire. The contrast between before and after was incredible. 

“Okay!” Claire burst into a bright smile when she heard about the salary raise. She exclaimed in her heart, ‘Gavin truly brought me good fortune! I’ll thank him properly when I get home from work. 

Humming a tune, Claire left Sacha’s office. Soon after, the news of Claire getting gossip photos of Violet, the popular actress, and a rising young male star spread throughout the entertainment department. Because of these photos, Claire quickly became the top reporter in the entertainment department and enjoyed a prominent position. 

At noon, Claire finally escaped from her colleagues endless inquiries about how she got the photos, How could she possibly know? If her colleagues found out the A–list star Sirena had given them to her directly, the entire department would be in 

uproar. 

Unknowingly, it was lunchtime, and Claire suddenly realized she hadn’t had lunch. Thinking about it, her stomach growled. 

After a quick clean–up, Claire was about to leave the office when she bumped into a well–dressed man. The man styled his hair neatly and wore a well–fitted suit, giving the impression of a diligent upper–level white–collar worker. However, Claire’s impression of him was quite different. He was her former superior, Jerome Davison. What was more, he had been caught red–handed by Claire before. 

Claire kept her head down as she passed by her terrifying ex–superior, somewhat intimidated. She didn’t want to have any encounter with this dreadful man and just wanted to get as far away from him as she could. 

After passing Jerome, Claire changed her slow pace to a quick one, rapidly leaving his line of sight. She prayed silently in her mind that he hadn’t noticed her. 

For her, Jerome was a terrifying figure, much scarier than Kayla and Thalia. He was cold–blooded and scheming. If it weren’t for the fact that she had something on him, she believed he would have found an opportunity to get rid of her. 

After the fright from Jerome, Claire randomly chose a restaurant and ordered a few dishes. She was absent–minded and not in the mood to eat. Now, she truly understood the meaning of earing without tasting 

After finishing her meal, Claire wandered near the office building, hesitant to enter. With that man around, she wouldn’t have an easy time. 

Claire strolled casually, unaware she had somehow wandered into an unfamiliar alley. Just as she was going to retrace her steps, Jerome’s figure appeared in the narrow passage out of the blur. 

Claire widened her eyes in disbelief at the man who had unexpectedly materialized. Her l*ps trembled, but she couldn’t find any words. 

“Why do you have that look on your face? Are you surprised to see your superior?” Jerome casually glanced at Claire. He recognized her since the moment she stepped out of the company. He identified her despite her attempts to hide her face by lowering her head. 

Jerome felt uneasy as he recalled the scene Claire stumbled upon that day. He had followed her with caution, waiting for the right moment to strike Unexpectedly, it turned out to be so simple; the foolish Claire walked right into the alley, providing the perfect opportunity to attack. 

Jerome advanced step by step toward Claire, who was slowly retreating. Soon, she realized she had no way out when her back hit the chilly wall. “Would I meet my downfall here today? she wondered.