The next morning Claire was discharged with a clear order to rest. Gabriel decided to take it onto himself to ensure that she followed the instructions.
"Sit down." He said sternly as Claire was trying to refuse the wheelchair to get to the car.
"No." She shook her head.
"I'll carry you."
"And if you do, I'll bite you." Claire threatened.
"Pattison, help me out here," Gabriel growled at him.
"Claire…"
"If you take his side, I'll bit you too." Claire cut him off. Pattison took a step back.
"I'm afraid that I have been defeated, sir."
Gabriel rolled his eyes.
"I'm not going to allow it." Gabriel picked Claire up, and as he did she bit into his arm. "You little…" Gabriel let her go looking at his arm.
"You were warned." Claire walked past him.
Gabriel looked over at Pattison who was snickering in the corner. "Don't you dare." He said through his gritted teeth, grabbing his briefcase and following Claire out. "Should probably warn the guards that she might bite."
"I will do. I'll add it to our insurance too." Pattison still chuckled.
"Mark?" Claire called for him still ignoring Gabriel.
"Yes, Claire?" Pattison hurried towards her, cautious of Gabriel.
"My car was left on the side of the road day before yesterday. Can you find out for me if it's still where I left it? It was Northbound A17."
"Sure."
"I appreciate it."
"Also, I need to catch up on work. I think I left my laptop in my office. Can we stop on the way?"
"Ehh…" Pattison looked at Gabriel.
"Pattison can bring you the laptop after you're home." Gabriel decided and Claire scowled at him.
They soon reached the car parked outside.
"No." Claire walked past the car.
"What's the problem?" Gabriel felt his patience running thin. Since the morning, Claire was doing absolutely everything to get on his nerves.
"People might see us getting in the car together," Claire mumbled.
"I don't care. Get in."
"It'll be a scandal." Claire looked worried.
"Again, I don't care. Get in." Gabriel opened the door and waited for her.
"Your reputation…"
"Get in."
Claire was annoyed that nothing could get Gabriel out of his stoic calmness. Not a single thing she did made him snap. This made her even more irritated and determined.
She got in the car, and Gabriel got in after her.
"You look as if it were you that was admitted to the hospital," Claire said to Gabriel. Pattison was trying to hide his laughter in the front passenger seat.
"Probably." Gabriel nodded as he took out his laptop and started working.
"You've made a mistake," Claire said after a few minutes.
"What?" Gabriel looked up at her.
"Your calculations have a mistake. You're mixing up stress with critical stress."
"What's the difference?"
"You're omitting the safety factor."
"Thanks." Gabriel rubbed his forehead and laughed. "I have no idea how I missed it."
Claire shrugged and looked out of the window.
Gabriel was relieved when she fell asleep. He covered her with a blanket that he asked Pattison to bring across.
"You know, sir, it suits you." The older driver said to Gabriel. "It's rather wondrous what a person can do to one's heart."
"Shush, Klaus, he is still in denial," Pattison said with a wide grin.
Gabriel didn't comment. He looked over at sleeping Claire happy to see her going home then returned to his work. Klaus smiled at Pattison knowingly.
Claire only woke up as they were passing the gate to the villa.
"What's going on?" She noticed men in black suits standing around the house. "Are you expecting a president?"
"I'm sure the president has his own bodyguards." Gabriel put away his laptop. "They're here for you."
"Me?"
"Well, after what occurred I thought it best that you spend some time at home."
"No."
"I don't care." Gabriel shrugged. "One week inside of the house. Next week you can go out for leisure but with prior agreement and with Pattison. After these two weeks, you can return to work remotely and only attend the most important meetings but that's to be decided later. Only if you feel well enough you can return full time."
"F*ck that." Claire got out of the car, throwing the blanket at Gabriel. Pattison and Klaus both snickered.
"I'm not gonna say it but you knew it was coming," Pattison said looking down at some papers just to avoid Gabriel's death stare.
Gabriel got out of the car, watching as Claire marched towards the gate.
"Claire, this is not up for discussion." Gabriel shut the door and followed her. 5 guards closed the distance standing in a row by the gate, ready to stop Claire if she were to come much closer. "They will stop you if you try. There are at least 20 men at any time and they are trained to stop assassins. Do you think they'll have trouble with you?" Gabriel asked watching as Claire shifted as if she was contemplating it as if she was wondering if she can outrun them. And this is exactly what passed through Claire's head, but she knew that her feet were too achy for her to run fast, and she was too tired to run far.
"That's not what was agreed! You've said that I have to live here under clause 10, part 12. But it wasn't anywhere that I am to be held a prisoner!" Claire screamed at him turning to face him.
"It's only a week, and then a week with restrictions. I'm sure you can last two weeks around here. Even though you're doing a pretty good job in trying to end that contract."
"Really?" Claire looked at him hopefully as if he admitted that he was willing to terminate it.
"I will not let you die that easily though. You can't escape it." Gabriel growled. "And if you push much harder, I'll make sure that you're supervised 24/7."
"You can't imprison me. This wasn't a part of a contract. Besides, doesn't it seem like a bit too much of a coincidence that I was in the hospital twice since being near you?"
"Do you know what else isn't a part of a contract? Me keeping this thing a secret. I wonder how much you'd like it if I tell your parents and friends about it." Gabriel said coldly. Her last comment struck a note. Claire froze at the thought, looking at Gabriel anxiously. Bullseye! He knew he hit it on the nail.
"Don't you dare!" Claire pointed her finger up as a warning.
"Only if you agree to a week at home, then a week of social outings under the arrangement and with Pattison, then you slowly return to work. If your transition goes smoothly you can return fully."
"I want that in writing," Claire stated. "That if obey those rules…" she looked around as about 15 men in black suits showed up at the top of the drive ready to step in at any time. "…you will not reveal this contract to my family or friends."
"Sure, however, I will not lie if they ask directly."
"Whatever." Claire's eyes welled up as she started to walk up the hill. Gabriel walked much more slowly, the distance between them increasing.
"The sledgehammer is in the garage if you need it!" Gabriel shouted behind her with a smile.
"I might just get it to smash your head!" Claire turned around and shouted at him. Gabriel laughed.
"Go ahead! I'll wait here." He provoked her further. "What are you looking at?" He grumbled at Pattison before going up to the villa after Claire.
"What an absolute pr*ck," Claire grumbled under her nose as she took her shoes off.
"If you're name-calling me, feel free to do so to my face." Gabriel walked behind her. "I'm starting to enjoy it."
"Urgh…" Claire clenched her fists as she walked up the stairs.
"Your room is ready." He said behind her.
"I'm happy to stay in the guest room. It seems to fit me better." Claire replied.
"Guest room is for guests. Pattison already moved your things. And because you're so stubborn, I've asked him to def rid of all of your old clothes. All of the new clothes are in the closet."
"How could you?!" Claire walked back down towards him. "You had no right to get rid of my belongings!"
"They're equally mine as yours."
"You had no right." Claire stood on the second step from the bottom, just at Gabriel's eye level, as he stood right at the bottom of the stairs.
"Well, it's too late. If you wish, you can either go shopping next week with Pattison, or you can walk around naked."
"I might as well."
"And I'll enjoy it." Gabriel smiled mischievously.
"Pervert!" Claire stormed off back up the stairs.
"It's the room further down from the guest room, the fourth one on the left!" Gabriel shouted behind her. Gabriel turned around to find Martha standing in the living room.
"Sir, is everything okay? Is Miss Thompson okay?"
"Martha, I'm sorry in advance but this might be expected over the next few days, maybe weeks." He frowned. "Miss Thompson is much better. Let her do as she wishes, including cleaning or destruction of any sort. She will be going bonkers in the next few days, so just let her be."
"Of course, sir."
Claire walked into her new room, which turned out to be much larger than the guest room. It was painted in a warm dark yellow undertone, with a solid wood bed frame, and desk. There was a huge shelf with hundreds of books, and an armchair with a fluffy blanket. There were two doors, one leading to an enormous closet, and another to the large bathroom.
Claire was surprised by the design of it which seemed to fit her taste. For now, she was too tired to appreciate it. There was an envelope on the sideboard which Claire opened to find the keys to her room, a note written by Pattison suggested. She keenly locked the door to the room and placed the chair from the desk under the handle.
She took her phone out of the handbag and quickly messaged her dad, Zoe and Gina apologising for the lack of contact.
As soon as she managed that, she fell asleep. She slept from mid-afternoon until the next morning.
Gabriel waited for over an hour for her to come down for dinner before he gave up. He waited for her during breakfast, but once again she didn't come down. He assumed that she requested food to be taken to her by a maid, hence he went out for a few of his meetings. He was worried for Claire for most of the day, barely resisting calling her to check whether she was still alright.
He came back later than intended when he found Martha pacing around the hallway with a tray in her hand.
"What's wrong?"
"Sir, Miss Thompson hasn't left the room since she arrived yesterday and she hasn't requested herself anything to eat or drink. I'm just a little concerned. I've brought her something to eat but she has dismissed it."
"Martha, tell me, what shall I do?" Gabriel asked with frustration and tiredness. He took the tray off her.
"I'm not sure, sir." Martha looked down. "I don't fully understand the nature of your relationship so I cannot advise you."
"She isn't happy here, is she?"
"Too early to tell, sir. Everyone needs time to adjust."
"Thank you, Martha." Gabriel gave her a smile that did not reach his eyes. He was worried that he was hurting Claire.
As Martha walked away, Gabriel knocked on the door."
"Thanks, Martha but I'm honestly okay," Claire said in a friendly tone. She sounded tired and a little unwell.
"You haven't left the room in over a day," Gabriel replied.
"I am just getting accustomed to being the prisoner," Claire answered.
"Can you at least unlock the door?"
"Why? I'm sure even your wife is entitled to some privacy."
"You are entitled to your privacy as long as I can ensure your safety."
"What a doting husband you are." Claire opened the door, standing in her knee-length nightdress in the opening, her arms crossed. "Satisfied?"
"If you want to throw a temper tantrum, so be it. I can deal with it." Gabriel said in a challenging tone. He passed her the tray with food, which she took with surprise. She put it on the sideboard without any interest in it. "Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in peace?"
"If you want peace, let me go." Claire huffed.
Gabriel let out an exasperated sigh. "You signed the contract. You agreed to it."
"You know that I wouldn't have if I knew what it was. You tricked me."
"How long will you be like this?"
"If you knew me, you'd know that I don't give up easily."
"Why don't you make the most of this contract?"
"And what is there to make?"
"You have access to all of my assets. You're rich. You can buy anything you want."
"Are you trying to entice me with your wealth? Did it work on that many women before?"
"If not money, experiences? I can take you to the ends of the world. I have a private jet that can be ready within minutes." Gabriel purposely ignored her remark about other women.
"Still, that's materialistic." Claire scoffed.
"Socialising? I have memberships with the most exclusive social clubs in the world."
"When will you understand that I don't care for exclusiveness or luxury if the price is my freedom."
"Why do you have to make it this difficult?" Gabriel turned around and was walking away as he heard Claire utter under her nose "Why don't you just give up?"
"Because I don't give up." He briefly turned around as he said before walking towards the stairs.