Claire's evening didn't get much better.
As she returned home with her puffy eyes and the soaked dress she found a letter on the floor - again. It was something that she didn't tell anyone. She picked up the letter and binned it. There was no point in winding herself up further.
Over the past few weeks, she received multiple letters and texts from an unknown sender. At first, she thought it was a prank, now she was convinced that Mr Moore was behind it.
The letters were awful, and with time they have gotten worse. Each letter contained threats to her life.
The content of this one wasn't any better. It didn't only threaten Claire but also threatened her family and friends.
Claire undressed and got in the shower, but the water was still cold. She came out as quickly as she could and wrapped herself up in a duvet before falling asleep, but she couldn't.
She didn't know yet that her life will change completely within the next two weeks.
Claire woke up to the phone call which made everything worse.
"Dad?" She answered sleepily.
"Hi, Claire. I'm sorry to call you this early."
"What's happening?"
"Your mum's in the hospital."
"I'm on my way, dad."
"No, Claire. Don't come." Her dad stopped her. "There's no point. Your mum's immune system is really bad. They don't allow anyone in beside a doctor."
"What happened?"
"Her kidneys are completely gone now. The dialysis machine apparently didn't help sufficiently. She went into further organ failure. Anyways, she's in the ICU within The General Infirmary. I'll update you and I'll see you soon."
Claire didn't listen and instead of getting ready for work, she rushed to the hospital bringing her dad some coffee and breakfast. Then she sent him home to have some rest. She did let Gina know that she will be away from the office, and even though she tried to work on a laptop whilst in the hospital cafeteria she barely could concentrate.
In the afternoon, her dad came around to swap her.
Claire agreed with hesitation.
As she left the hospital, Zoe waited for her outside.
"Gina called me and told me everything. I thought I'll come here and check on you."
"Thanks, Zoe." Claire smiled but as she walked up to Zoe who hugged her, the floodgates opened and she sobbed into Zoe's jacket. At first, Zoe scowled at her but she didn't say anything and instead tapped her on her back.
"Now, what do you need? My support services range from coffee, dinner, and club, to a few drinks. Or anything else really."
"I don't know."
"Let's go into the city. I suggest a drink. I feel like this is a drink and a bit kind of business." Zoe smiled. "We haven't drunk together in a while."
"I'm not sure."
"Claire?"
"Okay." Claire agreed hesitantly.
Zoe led the way and soon they were sat down in a small eatery with a bar.
Zoe was quick to order drinks and Claire was downing them quicker than she should.
Zoe decided not to interfere knowing that Claire needed a way to stop thinking of what was happening, and Zoe concluded that a single binge wasn't going to harm her.
As the afternoon came, Zoe helped Claire who was so drunk that she struggled to walk and her speech was slurred.
"You know, Zoooooeeeee," Claire spoke. "I am so confused."
"Why?"
"With Mr Mooore…"
"What's there to be confused about?"
"He can be so horrible…"
"I know, Claire." Zoe nodded, struggling to walk under Claire's weight.
"But… he is kind of handsome."
"Look, even I wouldn't sh*g him and my standards are below questionable."
"I know." Claire agreed as she hiccuped.
"God, how can you be so heavy when you're so skinny."
"It is gravity."
"If you don't shut up, I'll leave you here."
"You wouldn't."
"I wouldn't."
"Are you okay?" Pattison walked up to the two girls, one supporting another. As he came closer he recognised them. "Claire?!"
"Oh, aren't you Mr Moore's assistant?" Zoe asked as Claire started passing out.
"Indeed. What's happened?"
"Claire had a rough day so we met for a drink. I think she has overdone it." Zoe explained with a struggle as Claire's weight was a bit too much for her to keep up.
Pattison walked around and supported Claire on the other side. He was strong enough that he managed to straighten Claire out and take most of the weight off Zoe.
"I'll help," Pattison stated decisively. Zoe received a call and answered it promptly. "Is it anything urgent?" He asked as she disconnected.
"It'll be alright."
"Miss Green, you can honestly go. I'll take Claire back home. My car is just around the corner." Pattison looked at worried Zoe. "Claire will be safe with me."
"Are you sure that's alright? I've just been called for an interview."
"Go on then!" Pattison urged her. Zoe looked worriedly at Claire. "I'll message you from her phone when she's home."
"Claire, are you okay with Mr…" Zoe looked at him realising that she didn't recall his name.
"Pattison." He finished for her with a smile.
"Mark, how good to…" Claire's words struggled to leave her mouth.
"I'm going to assume this was affirmative." Zoe sighed. "Thank you, sir. I will get our friend to check on her as soon as so be warned."
"No worries." He smiled as Zoe rushed away. "Claire, I'm going to get you home," Pattison spoke in a friendly tone.
"Uh-hum." She mumbled.
Pattison helped her into his car, putting her in the passenger seat. She mumbled something as he drove, but was still half-conscious.
Pattison helped her out of the car and into her apartment.
The walk up the stairs started sobering her up. Pattison watched the place that Claire lived in with curiosity and pity but he didn't comment on it. He messaged Zoe from Claire's phone as soon as he helped Claire onto the bed. Claire slid onto the floor and started crying getting into a surprisingly sober state.
"Claire? What's wrong?" Pattison squatted beside her.
"I'm just so done," Claire mumbled as she curled into the ball.
"Come on." Pattison sat down on the floor beside her. "Share it with me, it might help."
"My mum's in the hospital, in the ICU. Her immune system is so low that they don't allow visitors. I may not be able to see her before she passes away. All of the efforts of finding a new apartment and accommodating the move were for nothing. I was too late…" Claire sobbed.
"I'm so sorry, Claire. I have no idea if there's anything I can say to make you feel better."
"Probably not." She shook her head. "I'm just so angry and sad… I have been working so hard to save money, putting every penny aside for my mum's treatment. The new apartment and medical expenses associated with the move have already taken a chunk out of my savings and I don't have enough time. I've run out of time to save her." She leaned to the side, resting her head on Pattison's shoulder. She was now sobbing violently. Pattison felt awkward in this situation but he let her cry. "I've never lived, Mark. I always worked and cared for my parents. Never went to a party that wasn't work-related. Never went on a holiday. Never did anything for me."
She continued for a good couple of minutes before she fell asleep on his shoulder. Pattison felt so sorry for her. He helped her into the bed and looked around her flat. There was no food around. He hurried out and popped into the shop, grabbing a bag of groceries full of fresh fruit, and including some pain relief for the morning. He put away the groceries and he placed the painkillers by the bed so they were easy to find. He closed the apartment behind him, sliding the key under the door.
He walked down the stairs when some older man stopped him.
"Aren't you the guy that got our Claire home the other night?" Pattison shook his head. "Our Claire, poor Claire. She's a good one, you know. You don't get many of those around. She's a good one." He uttered and continued climbing up the stairs. Pattison stared behind him but he decided not to ask any questions. Instead, he went home.
As the mornings came, he made his way into the office where Mr Moore was leaning against the window with a cigarette in hand. He was obviously irritated but he didn't speak of it.
Within the next few days, his temperament got worse. Pattison could only guess that it was due to Claire's absence but he didn't enquire about it further.
The culmination came the following Monday. As Pattison entered the office first thing in the morning, Mr Moore stood by Pattison's desk with a cigarette.
"Sir?"
Mr Moore gave him a death stare.
"You're fired." Mr Moore said coldly. "Pack your things and leave now."
"Sir?" Pattison was confused. Mr Moore didn't answer and walked into his office, slamming the door behind him.
Pattison slowly packed. He was hopeful that Mr Moore's mood would improve as it were Claire's first day back in almost a week.
In the late afternoon, he finally completed all the procedures set for him by HR. He got in the elevator with the box in hand and by coincidence, Claire walked into the elevator on the thirty-sixth floor.
"Mark, is everything okay?" She asked with concern.
"I guess." He shrugged. Claire looked at the box and then him.
"You weren't fired, were you?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry Mark." Claire looked at him with worry. "You didn't deserve it."
"It's alright." Pattison looked down at the box of his belongings.
"Where are you going now?"
"No idea."
"Will going for a coffee make it better?"
"I need something stronger than a coffee." Mark laughed.
"Of course. I'll message Gina and rearrange my meeting. Drinks it is." Claire smiled quickly dropping a message to Gina.
Pattison put his belongings in a car and drove off with Claire towards the Horton Club.
They were quick to order drinks.
"So, what happened?"