Claire started really going bonkers after spending a day in her bedroom, as Gabriel predicted. She wasn't accustomed to having free time, and she just finished a book and didn't want to start another one.
She was up already at dawn, she showered and got dressed in the simplest clothes she could find - jeans and a plain sweater. She internally thanked Pattison that he didn't get her just some fancy clothes.
She left her room quietly to find two maids walking down the hall. They haven't heard her door open, and we're obviously gossiping.
"Who do you think she is?"
"Sir did say that he was her relative…"
"Do you think it's true?"
"He did seem very worried when she was sick."
"How do you think they're related?"
"Maybe she's his distant cousin or something."
"Maybe."
Two young women hurried away.
Claire didn't care for the gossip and instead, she wandered downstairs and into the kitchen, helping herself to a toast and a cup of juice, even though Jonathan kept repeating that he was happy to make her something much fancier. But Claire declined, eating the toast leaning against the counter, which made Jonathan agitated but also laugh.
Martha was up not long after, smiling at Claire. Claire remembered to thank them both profusely for their help when she collapsed.
Martha urged her to have a look around the house. Claire at first hesitated but then she remembered that Gabriel said that she had complete freedom inside the house.
"Might as well find that sledgehammer." She uttered at which Martha went pale but remained silent. "What's Gabriel's most prized possession?"
"Ehhh…." Martha stumbled. "Mr Moore moved here just under a month ago. I honestly do not know."
"Where did he live before?"
"Up at the High Green Way."
"Why did he move?"
"Sir never told us a reason."
"That seems like a norm then." Claire sighed.
She left the kitchen and started to wonder. She went toward the living room, which was light and airy with lots of open space, a fireplace and a tv. Then she went towards the back of the house where she found an indoor swimming pool and gym. She looked at the pool in thought for a long while remembering how she used to swim competitively at the university.
"Would you like to go for a swim?" Pattison asked her as he walked up.
"No." Claire shook her head.
"Claire, are you okay?" Pattison asked worriedly, now standing beside her.
"I think so." Claire nodded as she stared into the distance.
"I'm not persuaded."
"Neither am I. Did you find my car?"
"Yes. What happened?"
"The fuse blew up and it shut down in the middle of the road. I hope I will not get fined. I should probably go and get it."
"It's already at the mechanic." Pattison smiled.
"Thank you."
"May I ask you a personal question?"
"If you must."
"What did you even get yourself into?"
"Into hell?" Claire joked with a slight laugh.
"What kind of contract did you sign?"
"Mark, I don't really want to talk about it. I knew it was a bad idea but I needed it."
"Is your mum okay?"
"Yes." Claire smiled. "My dad message me last night that she was moved out of the ICU yesterday. She should undergo the surgery within a few weeks."
"I'm so happy for you," Pattison said. "Well, that part. Not sure about the whole contract thing. For someone who said that they hate Mr Moore, you seem to have agreed to spend an awful lot of time with him."
"Can you stop making me feel worse than I already do?"
"Sure thing. Can I do anything to make it better?"
"What cheered you up when you were down?"
"Drinking with you?"
"Once I can leave the house, let's go for a drink then. Maybe that'll help."
"Agreed as long as Mr Moore doesn't kill me for it." Pattison was about to walk away when he thought about Claire staring at the pool in the longing way again. "Can you swim?"
"No." She lied.
"I can get you some swimming lessons," Gabriel said from behind them, startling them both.
"No need." Claire shook her head and hurried away. "See you later, Mark." She said sweetly and didn't even acknowledge Gabriel.
"Sir." Pattison nodded.
"At least she's out of the room," Gabriel said with a sigh. "I've asked Martha for advice. It's your turn now."
"Advice? What advice?"
"How do I deal with her without going crazy?"
"Sir, many apologies for saying such, but if you picked the crazy one, you can't change them without going crazy yourself."
"Shall I just comply then? Or shall I continue to challenge her?"
"I think Claire enjoys a little bit of challenge but I would be wary of not pushing her away too much."
"Thanks for the advice. I think I have some ideas."
"Sir, I did come in early to check if you saw the news?"
"Yeah." Gabriel rubbed his forehead.
"Shall I try to shut them down?"
"I don't care. I didn't do anything wrong."
"Claire might not be too happy once she finds out."
"I don't think Claire was exposed but keep an eye on that."
"Of course."
"If Claire wants to go out with you, that's fine. But I want you to be reachable and get as many updates as possible. And she's not allowed until at least next week."
"I understand, sir."
Gabriel turned around in the hope of still catching a glance of Claire but she was already gone.
He walked towards her bedroom but the door was closed. He hesitated by it, but in the end, didn't knock. He wanted to say goodbye before going to work. He wanted to steal another look at her. He wanted to make sure that she was okay.
What he didn't realise was that Claire wasn't in her room. She was at the very end of the hall, leaving the drawing room that Martha mentioned to her earlier. She stopped as she noticed Gabriel in the hope to avoid him, and by doing so she saw him come towards the door, lift his arm to knock, hesitate, and then with a saddened face he left. She wondered what was the cause for it. She wondered why he wanted her and why he didn't try to knock the door down.
She noticed his tiredness and frustration and sadness. He wore black trousers and a white shirt with perfectly ironed edges. His shirt wasn't fully buttoned up yet, and his hair was unusually dishevelled. He was visibly worried and stressed out over something and Claire wondered if the company had some troubles that she didn't know of.
She sighed and decided to go back to her room, already feeling tired. Her energy levels were very low recently and even she recognised how unwell she was.
She made it down for lunch and then hid away to read a book. She came down later in the afternoon again and started making dinner. Jonathan started getting accustomed to Claire's presence in the kitchen.
"What are you making, chef?"
"Hi, Jonathan!" Claire smiled. "Some pasta."
"Homemade pasta? You picked yourself a task." Jonathan laughed.
They didn't realise that Gabriel came back and stood by the door.
"It's not that bad once you realise that it all goes down to the flour." Claire rolled the pasta out.
"What dish is it?"
"It's Tagliatelle allo scoglio con pomodorini. Or rather seafood and tomato pasta."
"Oh my goodness, Claire, this is something." Jonathan tried a spoonful of the sauce. "Where did you learn that?"
"My parents used to run the restaurant. I practically grew up in it." Claire smiled.
"Knock it off!" Jonathan laughed. "I'll hit the curb soon if you continue cooking like this."
"Don't exaggerate," Claire said with a warning. "And don't eat all of the sauce before the pasta is ready!"
"I'm sorry, it's delicious."
"Jonathan! Stop!" Claire said with a smile. "Don't double dip!"
"But, I can't stop eating this! How are you so skinny if you can cook like this?"
"Because people like you keep eating my food."
Claire took a kitchen towel and threw it at Jonathan who laughed hysterically. He grabbed the pot with the sauce and tried to make a run for it but as he was attempting to he almost run into Gabriel.
"Mr Moore…"
"Jonathan, I'd like to have some of that sauce for dinner too." Gabriel took the saucepan off Jonathan.
"Who said that I've cooked for you," Claire said with a bite. "Give me my sauce back."
Gabriel was taken aback by Claire's attitude. He looked at the saucepan in his hand and without much thought he dipped his finger in it, licking it to taste the food.
"Did you say no double dipping?" Gabriel asked, putting his barely licked finger back in the pan. Jonathan and Claire both stood with their mouths wide open.
"Yeah, no thanks," Jonathan said disappearing out of the kitchen knowing full well what might happen. He was warned by Martha to get away as soon as Claire and Gabriel got together and this was his cue.
Claire still stood frozen, watching Gabriel with surprise and curiosity.
"Triple dip?" Gabriel asked as he dipped his finger again. Claire put the pasta in the simmering water without a word, biting her tongue.
Gabriel picked up a spoon and started eating the sauce from the pot.
Claire drained the pasta and put some onto two plates. She took a napkin and walked toward Gabriel. Her calmness made him anxious. He wasn't sure what she was planning and he wasn't sure what she was about to do to him with the napkin.
She didn't take the pan off him, but instead, she came up and started wiping his tie. Gabriel looked down and only now noticed some splatter.
"You should've been careful with it. Tomato sauce is hard to wash out." She wiped it carefully, and then only a small greasy stain was left. Gabriel smiled subconsciously at Claire's gentleness. He wasn't sure what caused the change but he wasn't going to complain. "May I use some sauce on the pasta?"
Gabriel nodded as she took the saucepan off him and poured the sauce.
"I ate out of it."
"I know. I saw."
"Aren't you bothered?"
"I am not going to waste food just because you're trying to make me angry."
She walked passed him towards the dining room, placing the plates down.
Gabriel followed her, watching her carefully. He was still taken aback by her quiet response. He expected her to tip over the saucepan onto his shirt, not to wipe it.
She ate dinner in silence, and so did Gabriel.
As they finished the car engine sounded outside. Gabriel went towards the hall and Claire started cleaning up in the kitchen.
She was quite quick to clean. Within minutes she came out to the dining room which was covered in darkness. It was dark enough for the visitor not to notice her. Some middle-aged man was angrily spewing words at Gabriel.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you stupid?!"
"Calm down. What are you doing here at this time?" Gabriel answered him.
"I saw the news! What do you think I'm doing?!" The man raised his voice.
"You'll disturb my household. Please leave." Gabriel's voice became stern.
"How dare you show yourself with anyone in public?! Do you know what kind of scandal it's going to be?!"
"You shouldn't be the one to talk."
"Maybe you should learn from the mistakes of your father!"
"I haven't made a mistake."
"You're betrothed to Francesca Jones! You can't just parade around with some…"
"Watch your mouth." Gabriel cut him off. "You're not in your home. Get out before I call security."
"You're such an ungrateful b*stard!" The man yelled before leaving. Gabriel stood there fairly shaken up.
"Claire, if you want to say something, say it." He said into the darkness, fully aware of her presence. Claire walked passed him without a word, heading back to her room. "Claire, I'm sorry you had to see it." Gabriel rushed after her but Claire still didn't say anything. "Claire, say something," Gabriel asked as she just walked into her bedroom.
"Goodnight, Gabriel." She said as she closed the door.