"Do you love her?"

A single laugh escaped him. "Ada please, thats an off limits word."

"Well then, what is it?" Ada probed as she filed her nails, not daring to look away as she admired her work. "She's hardly the heiress to the Raccoon Hotel fortune." she joked.

"Cute." Wesker answered, sipping his coffee. "I think you know me well enough to know she's useful to me in one way or another to be still alive."

"Ahh, I understand now." She purred, smiling wide at the implication.

"Mind out of the gutter Miss Wong?" Wesker lazily replied as he slowed to a crawl at the red stop light. "Theirs rumors at the office that you're my ex wife." Wesker stated with a smirk.

Ada shuddered. "It definitely feels like you're an ex thats hung up on me alright." Weskers answer was a grunt.

The green light flashed on and the car continued along the sprawling road. Ada sighed as she stared out the window at the street lights passing them. She'd been in Raccoon for a few days but it had felt like an eternity. Most of her most recent jobs for Wesker were undercover operations in different labs, paying visits to flustered scientists, seducing silly men that dared to make off with Weskers money.. truth be told she enjoyed the work. It took her to different areas around the world, allowed her to manipulate and tantalise silly men in her pursuit to always be on the winning team, hell sometimes those men even bought her expensive gifts. It was all so lucrative, exciting.. and now she was on her latest mission: Glorified babysitter to an ignorant little girl.

Truth be told, Ada knew a million Claires. Girls that knew nothing of her world, that would live their entire innocent little lives without ever knowing what Ada had to do on a daily basis. Girls that would get the husband, the kids and the picket fence by never engaging with a man like Albert Wesker.. and yet, they would fawned over him like he hung the moon. They would forsake family and friends for his satisfaction. Their whole lives were a small price to pay for his affection, and when all was said and done.. they'd be another broken heart in a sea of broken hearts. Ada knew that trap well, so well in fact that she was now convinced that the word love only ever belonged on Hallmark cards. She wasn't bitter towards love by any means, she was just a realist. Is a man ever really worth the chase? she doubted it.

"You don't expect me to go in, do you? or do you enjoy me making Claire uncomfortable?" she asked as the streets turned from rowdy nightlife to quiet, dull suburbia.

"I'm not ignorant to the effect you have on Claire." Wesker answered, "but no. I plan to drop off her present, give a quick hello to the team, and take my leave. Thats when I'll take my leave for the lab and you can spend the night at the party, keeping a close eye on her."

Ada gritted her teeth. A 21st birthday party in suburbia was her idea of hell. She could already see the young people stumbling around her and smell of vomit and beer.. but she had no choice. "I recall you asking me to seduce Hershell Everard in a bid to gain some research funds for your little tyrant project 2 years ago... I quite miss that right now."

Weskers car finally came to a rest outside of the Redfield home. The bass of the current song could be felt in the car, and young people were going to and fro from the home. "Wasn't that the 82 year old CFO of Corvena medical? the one who had the one leg and told you about his war days?" Wesker snickered.

Ada frowned at the sight of the home and undid her seatbelt. "again, I quite miss that right now."


"So you're starting as a Raccoon City Police officer next month?!" Claire shouted over the music into Leon's ear, her beer all but forgotten in her hand.

"Yeah! Apparently I'm exactly what Chief Irons is looking for!" Leon replied, setting his glass down on the shelf beside him. "I almost freaked when I got the job!"

Claire laughed, harder than she intended to. "Leon I worked at the RPD, I know exactly what you'll be paid! Its not good!" she dried the tears from her eyes as she tried to stop giggling. Am I drunk? Already? I only had a beer and some vodka.. was that vodka? What is this song? Is Leon talking to me right now?

"Actually!" Leon bellowed as the song grew even louder, taking a swig from his drink, "I was really excited because I knew I'd get to see you." he finished a little softer, to the point where I only barely caught it.

too drunk to catch the implication, I ploughed forward. "I missed you too!" My voice was starting to break from how much I'd had to scream over the music, and I think Leon caught onto it as I desperately sipped my drink. "Do you have a room where we can talk?" Leon shouted, setting his drink back down.

Not thinking much of it, I nodded and grabbed his hand with full confidence. Leons entire face warmed at the feel of my hand, but I was too far gone to notice, and practically dragged him upstairs. I was also too focused on walking up the stairs without falling off balance to notice the front door had opened to a certain Captain walking in the house.

Stumbling into my bedroom, I spilled a good amount of beer onto my nice carpet, thankfully Leon was not as far gone and snatched the bottle from my hand. I hiccuped and started to giggle again as I shut the door. "Stupid slippery bottle!" I dismissed as I plonked myself down on my bed. "So whats up?" I said a little louder than I meant to.

Leon sighed, "I'm really glad I decided to do this Claire, I'd really missed you."

"Naaaw!" I bellowed, standing up with a wobble to give him a hug. I was far too faded to realise Leon looked incredibly nervous. Liquid courage as they say.

Leon awkwardly hugged me back, then walked both of us over to sit on my bed. "Claire, do you.. get what I'm saying here?" Leon insisted, gently grabbing hold of my hand to stop me from reaching for my bottle.

Claire stopped for a moment, doing her best to concentrate and not sing along to smooth criminal playing downstairs. Whats he saying? he missed me? I missed him too obviously. "I missed you too Leon!" I proudly answered, delighted I knew the answer, not sparing a moment to think about the implications of this entire conversation.

"I thought now that I was here, In Raccoon I mean... maybe we could... uh.." Leon awkwardly laughed as he took a quick sip from my half spilled drink. He gulped as I bobbed my head to the song, none the wiser to what was happening between us. "Aw screw it.. " Leon sighed, and before I could gather my thoughts, Leons lips quickly descended onto mine, his warm breath knocking me into reality for a split second. Huh? Leon? and me? Leon likes me? and is kissing me? Oh god he tastes good.. I leaned into him, gripping his shirt and pulling him towards me. I felt has hand gripping the back of my head and the other on my lower back. Holy crap! Leon! is kissing! me! he tastes amazing.. oh god.. wait what about Wesker? Well.. what about him? Our kisses grew more feverant, his grip grew tighter, and I was somehow feeling more and more drunk by the second. "Claire.." he groaned, breaking our kiss. I instantly leaned in to start us off again, but Leon's hands stopped me. "Claire! not like this." Leon hissed in a pained voice, "You're drunk, I'm drunk.. I want to do this properly, because I-"

The door to my room suddenly burst open, and before I could look up, my upper arm was being grabbed.

"And just what did you think you were doing?" Wesker snarled at Leon. Leon guffawed and barely had a moment to gather his thoughts. "Shes barely 21 and you've got her alone in her bedroom?"

Wesker pulled me up too quick, and my brain was still processing he had walked in to realise was he was accusing Leon of. Why is everyone talking so fast..

Leon stood up in an attempt to come off more sober, but his little wobble didn't go unnoticed. "Hey! H- hic How dare you! Shes a good friend and I've done nothing to be ashamed of!" He walked closer to Wesker now, a little steadier on his feet. Wesker cringed at the smell of vodka on Leons lips. "And why are you even here? at a 21st birthday? I doubt you were invited."

Wesker glared at him, steadying Claire as she wobbled on her feet. "I don't answer to you, boy." Wesker announced. "Now if you have any decorum, you'll realise your proximity to this young woman in your state isnt a good idea and leave." Wesker stated. Claires ears perked up a little at Weskers tone. Why is he so angry? God my head..

Leon grittedhis teeth. He really didn't like the way Wesker was speaking to him, but he recognised that making enemies with him was a poor career move considering the reason he took the awful RPD job was to climb his way to STARS. He would definitely make a stupid move if he and Claire got any more drunk anyway, and he really did want to do things right by her.. so he would admit defeat. For now.

Leon sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry captain. I meant no disrespect to anyone." He shifted his gaze to me now, softening his gaze in a way that had my thoughts wandering.. "I'll see you soon Claire." I mumbled a pathetic good bye but before I could finish, the door was shutting behind him.

Wesker plonked me down on my bed once more, but he didn't sit with me. "What did he do to you?" He probed. "Is that concern I hear?" I blurted out as my face broke out into a goofy grin. Stop smiling! Wesker politely ignored my drunken attitude. "Claire I'm serious, did he try anything?" he was leaving down now, his hand lightly holding my cheek. My face grew hot again, much like with Leon.. I want to kiss again...

Ignoring Weskers words, I leaned in and forcefully kissed him, holding the back of his head. I almost pulled him off balance, but Wesker steadied himself just in time. "Claire, youre drunk-" Wesker grunted, pulling himself back. He was about to repeat his line of questioning again when I was suddenly struck with a bout of confidence.

"Is she here?" I accused.

"Is who here?" Wesker asked, confused by the sudden topic change.

"Ada. Your latest woman."

"Well, why is Leon here?" Wesker surprised himself with his answer. His intention of keeping Ada around was to drive Claire closer to him. Claires status as Umbrellas latest viral experiment meant that Wesker would need to pull out all the stops to keep her close, and if that included using making her jealous with Ada he would do it.. but his outburst about Leon had struck himself as odd. He's not even sure why he said that. He wasn't jealous of Leon, that would be pathetic. He wasn't..

"I..." Claire stumbled, trying to formulate her answer, "I didn't know he was coming! I didnt know you were coming! this is a surprise party!" Claire answered indignantly, starting to feel the tipsyness fade. "I need a drink if youre going to dodge my questions." I grumbled.

Wesker needed a drink too if he had to put up with dramatic Claire for the night. Oh how he wished he could knock her out right now and throw her in a cell to monitor.. "Claire, Ada is a friend and nothing more."

"Bullshit!" I roared, surprising Wesker with my volume, thankfully the music downstairs was more than likely drowning us out. "I see how she looks at you! all those little private talks... you're not fooling me you know!"

"Claire, don't talk to me like th-"

"and the way she prances around you! like you're her property! always fluffing her hair and unbuttoning her shirt, is that your type?" I couldn't stop, it felt amazing to be honest like this. I was on a roll now and their really was no stopping me.

"Claire-"

"You know!", I started, shaking my head as I gathered my thoughts, "I like you! you know that, and yet I'm obviously too young for you, or too inexperienced, or I don't have a supermodel body like Ada! Or maybe thats the type of guy you are?" Wesker was now watching me very carefully, and I felt the sting of tears beginning to form.Was this the drink talking? or do I actually mean this?

"Maybe you enjoy fucking with me? because you know I like you? because you know.. I'm not as stupid as you think I am.. I'm-" Wesker held up his hand to me, and thats when I let the tears finally fall.

"Claire, Ada is an associated of mine."

"What does that even mean!" I squeaked through the tears. I bet I look crazy right now. Where the hell is the off button?

"It meansshe's a friend of a friend who needed a job. We've never been involved romantically," partially true. "I did a favor for a friend who needed a hand and frankly Claire?" he paused for a moment, holding my gaze as I wiped away the last of my tears. "After all We've been through, I'd expect a little more trust."

There it was. The guilt. I'm such an idiot. What the hell am I doing? Trying to be the clingy girl that pushes the man away? "I just... wish you could be upfront about these things." I whimpered, not really sure how else to finish up this whole encounter.

"I apologize." he sat up now, producing a small box from his back pocket. "Now that we're over the dramatics, dont you want your present?"

The wallowing pity I was trying to drown in suddenly evaporated, and that drunken giddiness made a reappearance. "Well.. I guess it is my birthday.." I joked as I watched the box intently. What if its a ring?!

Wesker took hold of my hand and placed the surpringly heavy box into it. I quickly started to tear away the brown paper and string around it, to reveal the word Tiffany on a blue box. Claire was by no means a girly girl, she didn't particularly enjoy jewellery, but her heart did a backflip as she opened the box to see an absolutely beautiful silver necklace. It was a choker style chain with a heart, encrusted in diamonds and a large Ruby in the middle. Are these real jewels? well, its Wesker.. so probably... yes.. yes they are. Oh my gosh its stunning...

"Would you like me to put it on you, dear heart?" Wesker purred, his fingers trailing from my hands up to my neck. I gulped and felt that warm flush again.. "Yes." I squeaked, though thankfully Wesker only smirked and began fastening the beautiful necklace around my neck. "Beautiful, just as I thought."

I couldn't help but blush. Was he talking about the necklace or me? "Its stunning Albert, how did you.."

"I have good taste when it comes to these things." he finished, moving closer to me now. I barely had time to process his words before he captured my lips in a soft kiss. How does this man switch me from sober to drunk in a matter of seconds? its not fair.. I felt myself growing more and more greedy as we kissed, switching from holding his hand to squeezing, light kisses turning into feverish ones. Wesker was more than reciprocate, however just as I had thought to try and remove his shirt, he broke it off briefly.

"Claire, you're mine." he gasped as he reluctantly pulled away. I could only nod as I immediately felt the loss of his lips. I was, their was no other way of spinning it, pathetic as it was to admit it..

"That means just mine." he snarled as he pulled me closer. "Not anyone else's, am I understood?"

Why does he sound so... hurt? "I'm yours." I lamely stated, but before I could reach over to pull him back down, footsteps outside my door could be heard ever so softly above the droning music and chatter.

"Claire? its time for cake.. are you alright in there?" Crap.. It was Chris.

Wesker was like a blur as he dashed into my bathroom, and had Chris been a little more sober he might of caught us both..

"Heya Chris!" I boomed as he walked in, "I was just on the phone, my bad!" I forced a laugh to try and make it more genuine, but thankfully Chris wasn't at his sharpest right now. "Come on stupid, cakes downstairs! I paid like.. $30 for this thing and frankly I don't think people can wait any longer."

I giggled and stood up, a little steadier on my feet than I was before "Thanks for the party Chris, you really got me." Chris pulled me into a bear hug and I was so close to crying I had to break the hug off myself first. Why am I crying so much? is this the type of drunk I am now? oh lord. "I'm starving, let's go!"

as they walked out of the room, Wesker just barely heard Chris say the word Leon, and he couldn't help but grit his teeth.

Chief Irons was a talent at hiring the inexperienced, the soft, the braindead. He was lucky STARS had very few bright bulbs, if would made things so much easier... but Leon was an annoying thorn in his side now. He saw the look in Claires eyes as she looked up at him earlier. He knew if he wasn't careful, Leon was destroy months of research. Staying this close to her, being able to gather blood samples, it was only possible if he kept up this little Forbidden Lovers act. No, he would not allow that rookie in the middle. His research would not go to waste. Claire was his to experiment on, and yet he didn't feel the typical hatred typically attributed to someone trying to get in the middle of his affairs. He didn't want Claire anywhere near him, rather than the opposite way around. He wanted her to stay the path and not be persuaded by others to leave his side.

She was his, plain and simple.

He grumbled as he reflected on this. He could almost hear Adas sardonic laugh. "Youre jealous" she'd chuckle as I'd grow more and more irritated, eventually cutting the conversation entirely.

Its not Jealousy, Wesker thought. He suddenly heard everyone downstairs singing Happy Birthday, and his lips twitched into a smile for a rare moment. He let it fall a moment later as he made a beeline for the bedroom window to return to the lab for the night.

Its not jealousy, its worry. Wesker finally decided. I simply can't have her stray from the path, she's my experiment, my property. no one else's. He repeated it like a mantra in his head.

Its not jealousy. he repeated, sitting into his car, where Ada was grinning ear to ear at his unkempt hair and the smell of alcohol on his breath. "Have a good time?" she asked as she undid her seatbelt and did one final check of her lipstick.

"The best." he replied sardonically. "You have your mission Ada." he finally dismissed her as he started the car.

Ada nodded weakly and placed her hand on the door handle. "Do I need to stay the night?" she asked.

"Yes." Wesker quickly responded. "Wouldn't want Claire having any boys over. For her protection." Ada was about to let a comment slip, but thought better of it and slipped out of the car, slamming the door behind her.

Wesker groaned to himself as he began driving away from the loud party.

Its not jealousy.


AN: Sorry for such a long absence! Its truly been a weird 2 years. I'd been dealing with some depression stuff for a while, but I've recently gotten a new job and I sincerely love it! life is pretty great at the moment and I recently found out about the app, so now I can write my chapters on the fly! woo!

I missed you guys and have read and been so touched by every single review! there last chapter to this story was 2 years ago and yet my last review was yesterday??!! you guys are amazing! can't wait to see your reviews!

- Tanu