It was a day before Claire's return back to work. The two weeks that Gabriel made her stay at home were up, even though it didn't quite feel like two weeks to Claire.
Gabriel came downstairs only to find Martha smiling as she watched something in the living room.
"What's up?" Gabriel asked as he walked up.
"Miss Thompson seems to be in a very good mood," Martha replied.
Gabriel walked closer to the door, hearing some lively rock music in the living room mixed with the humming of the vacuum cleaner. Gabriel smiled as he saw the scene unfold. Claire was cleaning whilst dancing and singing to the music, obviously including a dramatic performance. Dropping to her knees at the end of the song for a very dramatic solo.
Gabriel snickered, trying to not reveal himself. Indeed, Claire was in a very good mood. She was hopping around as the new song started, using the vacuum cleaner as a pretend microphone.
Gabriel didn't sleep well as he was worried about her after the pool incident, but now he felt at ease.
"Even though, I still don't like that she keeps nicking my hoover," Martha grumbled.
"I'm sure that you'll be fine," Gabriel responded as he looked around at Martha.
"What other choice do I have?" Martha answered with a shrug. "She's been up for some time now. She had a good go at bothering Jonathan but he managed to send her out of the kitchen so she found me and took the hoover away from me, sending me to get a cuppa."
"That's good."
"I'm glad to see you smiling too," Martha said more warmly before she walked away.
Claire sang away for a little longer before she turned the vacuum cleaner off.
Her face had so much more colour this morning and she was flushed from the exercise she just had. Her hair was in a messy bun. She didn't wear any make-up. And she wore a colourful tank top and shorts that made her seem to glow even more. In her unconfined happiness, she seemed more perfect than ever before. Gabriel struggled to take his eyes off her. He was hypnotised by the glimmer in her eyes, and a wide smile on her face. He wished he could make her this happy all the time, and he wished he was this happy around him.
Claire soon finished cleaning and she carried the vacuum cleaner out of the living room, only then noticing Gabriel.
"Good morning, Claire," Gabriel said first as their eyes locked.
"Good morning." She looked away quickly, embarrassed and worried over how much of her foolery Gabriel witnessed.
"Pattison will bring your car back today."
"Hurray!" Claire bounced in excitement.
"I wondered if you'd like to go to the salon and buy a new car?" Gabriel asked.
"What?" Claire asked in surprise.
"Would you like a new car?" Gabriel asked.
"No, I like my Tansy." Claire shook her head quickly, making her messy bun even messier.
"Tansy?" Gabriel followed her to the storage that was at the back of the kitchen as she put the vacuum cleaner away.
"I named my car after the tansy beetle. They're shiny green beetles with a coppery sheen, just like my car. It's green and rusted."
"I see. Do you often name inanimate objects?"
"Of course!"
"I can't wait to hear all about it."
"Don't you have a meeting this morning?" Claire asked.
"I do but frankly, this seems like a more entertaining alternative."
"I think I was asleep when you came back last night. How did the annual report go?" Claire changed the topic.
"Your suggestions went down great. Few things from my side might have annoyed the board of directors."
"Nothing unexpected then." She nodded.
"No, not really. Thank you for your help the other night. I appreciate it."
"That's something I never expected to hear from you." Claire smiled. "And it was nothing. I'll get you the data on the sustainability as soon as I get to work tomorrow."
"Is that why you're in such a good mood?"
"Of course! I can't wait to get back on with my projects. I wasn't able to do that much using just my phone."
"I would prefer for you to work remotely."
"I don't want to. I work much better in my office." Claire looked worried and sad at the mention of working from home. Gabriel didn't like that change in the mood.
"Okay. I offer a compromise. You have to see me at least once throughout the workday so that I know that you're fine."
"Aren't you demanding?" Claire asked with a slight chuckle. "I don't think I'd mind that. But expect me to use this as an opportunity to wind you up."
"I was hoping for this." Gabriel laughed as they sat down for their breakfast.
"Did you come up with a way in which I can repay you for your damaged phone and wallet?"
"I was wondering if you'd be okay to go out with me for a dinner next week? I'll count it as repayment."
"Like, in public?"
"Yeah."
"You're just asking for scandal," Claire grumbled. "I'll think about it. But I do have a fairly big deadline due next week so it may have to wait until after."
"Of course." Gabriel nodded a little hurt at the fact that Claire didn't agree straight away. He wasn't going to say it out loud but the following week was going to be the first month since they were married. He wanted to make it special but then he knew Claire's thoughts on their marriage well. She wouldn't consider it worthy of celebration. Probably, she'd be keener to mourn her freedom instead. "What's your plan for today?"
"I wondered if it's okay if I use your gym and explore the garden?" Claire looked up at him hopefully.
"Have you forgotten that it's yours too?" Gabriel raised his brow.
"Meh." Claire shrugged.
"Look, Claire. This is your home. I don't want you to feel like you need my permission to do anything around here. If you want to redecorate, either ask me or Pattison. If you want to get rid of something, go for it. By the way, your study should be sorted by the end of the week. I didn't think it was appropriate to have it done while you were not meant to work so contractors will pop in tomorrow."
"Thank you." Claire smiled shyly. She still didn't feel at home, and she didn't want to allow herself to. She still hoped that she was to find a way to escape the whole contract but she wasn't willing to voice it, especially after being saved by Gabriel because of her stupidity. "Are you doing anything interesting today?"
"Not really. It's the usual kind of day. Few meetings and one report that I need to produce for the finance team. I do have to write a convincing statement for the board of directors which might be more challenging."
"I always hated the business and management side of the job. I do feel bad for you." Claire decided.
"My degree was finance and economics so I knew what I was getting myself into." Gabriel laughed.
"You poor sod."
"For a degree in architecture, you have an amazing grasp on management, finance, and civil engineering aspects of your work."
"I've learnt a thing or two on the way. You can say that I'm self-taught."
"Did anyone tell you that you're amazing?"
"Gary might have said so once or twice." Claire sighed. "I miss that old b*stard even if he left the entire department on my shoulders without much warning."
"What do you mean?"
"He told me that he wanted to promote me after the client's new opening. It must've been early hours on a Sunday. And then he announced it to the team on Monday and he was gone by Friday. I had barely any transition into the new role."
"After seven months in, you brought the department to a peak with the generated revenue."
"I call it a fluke." Claire laughed.
"If it were a fluke, it wouldn't have lasted seven months."
"Maybe. Our current forecast is quite promising. We are currently working towards bringing in another five big clients from X6 Group. We are increasing the gap between us and the competition."
"I may ask you to the seminar for other management staff on how to actually lead the team."
"Not. I don't have enough experience to stand before them."
"That's bullsh*t. But if you don't want to, I'm not going to force you." Gabriel stood up, putting his tie and blazer on, as he headed towards the hall. "Have a good day, Claire." He turned toward her with a smile.
"You, too." She mumbled as she hurried back to her bedroom to get changed into sportswear and try out the gym.
Gabriel had another late day at work and when he came back Claire was already hidden away in her bedroom.
"How was Claire today?" He asked Martha who was about to take her to leave.
"Miss Thompson was in a very good mood, sir. She spent a while in a gym and garden. And then she bothered Jonathan, making herself lunch but allowing him to make dinner. Even though only because he grumbled at her enough to get her out of the kitchen." Martha chuckled.
"Let's see how long before I do something to make it all go downhill." Gabriel sighed before going back to his bedroom.
The next morning, Gabriel woke earlier than usual and made his way down only to find Claire already dressed up for her first day back. Her clothes were very contrasting to the casual wear that she rocked for the last few days. She was back in a black pencil skirt and a green blouse uniform, with medium-height heels. Her hair was tied into a neat bun which revealed her pearl stud earrings.
She was scribbling something in a small notebook.
Gabriel came over and looked over her shoulder to see what she was doing.
Claire jumped startled at Gabriel's sudden appearance next to her ear.
"Why are you creeping around like this?" She asked as she tried to calm herself down.
"I wasn't."
"I would appreciate a little bit more of a personal space."
"What were you writing?"
"A to-do list for today. I have so much to catch up on."
"I should probably mention it." Gabriel took a deep breath. "I took the liberty of resolving most of your managerial tasks for the last two weeks."
"What?" Claire looked up at him in surprise. He expected a 'thank you' but by her tone of voice, he knew that she wasn't too happy.
"I did some work for you."
"What have you done?"
"Only managerial tasks. Don't worry. I haven't overturned any of your decisions. I have completed your monthly finance review, ensured that the pay rise requests were all sorted and ready for payday, and scheduled the training for the juniors. Stuff like this."
"You had no right to do my work," Claire said coldly.
"I wanted to ease off the pressure on you."
"At the very least you should've consulted it with me."
"Then you would have either said 'no' or you would've tried to do it yourself."
"Never do that again," Claire said with a warning in her tone.
"I'll see. Remember about our agreement."
"I will pop to your office in the afternoon as I have soma data for you."
"That's good."
Claire returned to writing stuff in her notebook as she drank the coffee and ate her breakfast. They left at about the same time, in separate cars, as previously agreed.
Claire was the first one on the thirty-sixth floor, and she was very keen to sit back in her chair and get on with her work. As the morning went on, she was welcomed by her cheerful subordinates, each of them expressing concern over her absence and enthusiasm over her return.
Claire was absolutely swamped throughout the day. She didn't feel it at first but in the afternoon she realised just how much she was yet to recover. She wondered what would have happened if she did return straight after being released from a hospital as she initially intended. She was secretly thankful that Gabriel enforced her rest.
Pattison showed up mid-afternoon with some papers.
"What brings you here?" Claire asked without looking up. She didn't have that much time to waste.
"It's lunch and some fun paperwork," Pattison said with a smile.
"Lunch?"
"Mr Moore expected you to be very busy today so he thought best that you have your lunch delivered to you," Pattison explained as he passed Claire a bag with a warm takeaway. Claire felt a sudden flutter. That small gesture was enough to make her feel Gabriel's care and she felt as if she were melting on the inside.
"And what's the paperwork?"
"A new contract," Pattison said as he passed the stack of papers.
"What contract?" Claire started scanning through it. "CDO?"
"Sir mentioned that he'll introduce you to the Board of directors during the next meeting."
"I see." Claire read through it quickly. "That's one heck of a promotion. Chief Design Officer sounds so weird. Did he make that position up?"
"Not exactly. It's a common position but we never previously had a CDO."
"Exciting." Claire signed the contract.
"Did you not want to consult the lawyer?"
"No, I am happy with its content." Claire smiled. "Do you want to pass it onto Gabriel or shall I? I'll be popping up soon anyways as I am just finishing the sustainability data that I promised him."
"I've got this. Eat your lunch."
"Thanks, Mark."
As soon as Pattison left, Gina made her way in.
"Someone's being taken care of," Gina said with a smile as she looked at the takeaway bag.
"I know, right?" Claire smiled at Gina.
"Do you think Mark fancies you?"
"No," Claire replied with confidence. "Joint trauma. He knows that I have to see Mr Moore later." She joked.
"Why are you seeing Mr Moore later?"
"I have been sorting out the data that he requested."
"Would you like me to do it for you?"
"Why?" Claire didn't even try to hide her surprise at Gina's offer.
"So that you're not the only one subjected to his wrath."
"Thank you, Gina. I think I'll manage. At least for now."
"I guess having those two weeks break from him was a good way to recharge. Anyways, feel free to send me across as a messenger whenever you need." Gina smiled. Claire didn't want to mention to Gina that she saw Gabriel this morning, and every day for the past two weeks. And here she was, feeling better than in a long while.
Never mind the fact that regardless of her contact with Gabriel she was finally eating and sleeping better. Recently, she wasn't as filled with worry over her parents as she used to be. Her dad was well in the new apartment, and her mum was in a much more stable condition, even if she was still waiting for the transplant, there was hope.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in my mind."
"When's the Jones' banquet?" Gina asked as she came up to Claire.
"I completely forgot about it!" Claire started searching through her handbag frantically until she found the invitation that Gina handed over to her a few days earlier. She found it! "In about two and a half weeks. So two weeks from Saturday."
"We were wondering if you'd like a dress-picking session? Zoe was already on the lookout for the dresses."
"Yeah, let's go shopping." Claire nodded enthusiastically. "We haven't gone shopping in so long."
"Of course!" Gina squealed in excitement. "Zoe is going to be over the moon with it! By the way, we're going to Holly's kitchen over the weekend if you think of joining us. Not sure if it is that good of an idea with how you have been feeling lately though."
"No, I'll go. I haven't been since the long weekend."
"Alright. Zoe will have no excuses to miss it then." Gina smiled. "Get your lunch before it gets cold!" She reminded Claire before leaving. Claire smiled as Gina closed the door, and opened the takeaway bag. To her surprise, she found a note on the box.
'I had a lunch with investors and really enjoyed the food. I hope that you'll enjoy it too. Gabriel'
Claire felt a flutter in her stomach as she looked at the neat handwriting on the sticky note. She tried to remind herself just how much she hated him but somehow she found her own arguments to be less and less convincing.
After finishing her lunch she printed the data on her department's sustainability and walked out of the office.
"You've got this!" Gina shouted across the office as Claire made her way into the elevator.