The following day was rather uneventful, aside of Gabriel's first attempts at cooking. As Claire came back home she found him in the kitchen with his tablet, following some cooking instructions from a video.
Claire smiled at the view in front of her, as Gabriel carefully measured out some ingredients.
"What are you making?"
"Dinner, hopefully. I've resorted to online cooking classes as Jonathan was beyond annoying."
"Exciting." Claire watched from a distance, giving Gabriel space to cook without stepping in or interrupting.
"I feel judged."
"I'm not judging." Claire said with a smile. "I might be admiring the view."
"I thought that you didn't admire me."
"It might be the first time. It suits you."
"It suits me to struggle in the kitchen?" Gabriel raised his brows, giving Claire a brief glance.
"Indeed." Claire nodded. "For once, you look normal."
"Normal?" Gabriel wasn't best impressed with Claire's choice of words.
"I'm not sure how to describe it. For once you don't seem so privileged and unapproachable. You seem human."
"Wow, Claire. I'm glad you phrased it so nicely."
"It was meant to be a compliment." Claire smiled shyly.
"Then thank you."
Gabriel was quick to dish out and Claire was eager to try what he made as it genuinely looked appetising.
"I've booked a restaurant for Saturday evening for the meet up. It's the same restaurant that we went to for the first dinner together." Gabriel furrowed his brows as he studied the food that he just made.
"The one where you pretended you forgot the papers that I was supposed to review with you?" Claire asked with a chuckle.
"That one."
"I sincerely hope that this time I will not come across any more of my past acquaintances."
"Well, this time you will have me as your personal bodyguard, never mind my friends who will stand like a wall if needed."
"Nah, I'll try to actually defend myself this time." Claire decided. "Look, I'm sorry for my recent state."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm more vulnerable and weak than ever before." Claire admitted. "I'm struggling to stand on my own right now."
"That's nothing to apologise for. My job as your husband is to be there for you through times like this."
"Thank you, Gabriel." Claire smiled, her eyes welling up as comforting warmth spread through her. Gabriel put his hand on hers as a reassurance. "I do have a question, did you cook tonight in fear that Jonathan will cook something you don't like again?"
"Possibly." Gabriel laughed.
"So, what do you dislike?" Claire asked curiously.
"I am not telling you. You'd ensure that it'll be the only things I eat for the rest of my days." Gabriel grumbled. Claire laughed wondering if it could be true.
"I am not that cruel. Am I not allowed to know what your dislikes are?"
"Not if you plan to use them against me."
"Besides food?"
"Again, I am not disclosing anything that you'll use against me."
"What if I tell you something I dislike in return?" Claire offered as her curiosity was winning.
"I don't like blue cheese." Gabriel said with a sigh.
"Neither do I." Claire said honestly. Gabriel looked up at her, remembering how unbothered she seemed by a lasagne that Jonathan has made for them few days earlier.
"I don't believe you." Gabriel scowled at her.
"Oh well. Not my problem, is it?" Claire shrugged.
"Then, why did you ask for it?"
"To see how you deal with things that you dislike."
"But you seemed so unbothered." Gabriel continued in disbelief.
"Well, I'm used to discomfort. In many instances, I can hide it quite well. Besides my phobia of larger bodies of water, of course." Claire admitted quite openly.
"What else makes you uncomfortable, then?"
"Pet names." Claire said quietly.
"Why?" Gabriel was surprised.
"I've had many men whom I'm not even close to call me pet names as a way to be patronising and condescending to me. I don't find it charming, I find it infantilising. I am a professional and a grown-up. I don't appreciate being called 'sweetheart', 'honey', 'love' and similar, especially at work."
"I see. I don't think I ever considered it, I'm sorry." Gabriel said earnestly. "What kind of names and nicknames do you like?"
"It depends on the individual. I don't mind Gina calling me boss, or Zoe calling me Claire-bear as they happened kind of naturally. I used to hate when people at school called me Clara and Clarabelle. It just wasn't my name." Claire contemplated for a moment. "By far, the worst ones were Cece or C-boo." Her face scrunched up in disgust for a mere second.
"What would you like me to call you?" Gabriel asked curiously.
"I don't know."
"Okay. Let's see. What about babe?"
"Absolutely not." Claire protested immediately.
"I should've thought that through a bit more." Gabriel admitted. "What about 'My Beloved Claire'?"
"Sounds over the top and fake." Claire said sharply.
"Darling?"
"Better but no."
"Love?"
"No."
"Hot stuff?" Gabriel asked with a wide grin. Claire scowled at him. "Sunshine?"
"If you continue this way I'll make sure that I'll kick you where the sun don't shine." Claire grumbled which made Gabriel laugh.
"Beautiful?"
"That's an adjective not a pet name."
"Ma Jolie?"
"That's what Pierre called me before vomiting on my shoes. It doesn't have the best association."
"Well, I think we're circling back to 'Claire, dear'."
"I can, just about, tolerate it." Claire said with a slight smile.
"Any way I can improve on it?"
"Just don't say my name at all." Claire teased him. "It seems that every time you do, there's trouble."
"Because you're trouble." Gabriel said under his nose which made Claire smile.
"What about you?"
"I don't know."
"Gabbie?"
"No. I hate it."
"How so?"
"Don't laugh!"
"I won't."
"I was teased for being a little feminine in school and they'd call me Gabbie. I was a small kid with shoulder length hair. It did not work in my favour."
"You were bullied?" Claire asked in disbelief.
"Oh yeah."
"But…" Claire started but she didn't finish.
"Say what you're thinking." Gabriel urged her.
"Miss Jones calls you Gabbie, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, she doesn't care that I hate it. Besides, she was one of the kids that teased me. She might've been a ring leader."
"What about Gab?"
"No. I don't think I like being called something that is an actual word."
"Gabe?"
"That's a name on it's own. It's no longer Gabriel, is it?"
"I see." Claire nodded, thinking carefully.
"If you feel comfortable with it, I wouldn't mind being called a pet name."
"I might call you honey bunny during the next board meeting just to spite you." Claire said with a mischievous grin.
"Let's be honest here, Claire dear, it'll be you who will turn beetroot red while I'll be laughing."
"Probably." Claire nodded, cringing at the thought of it.
"I like the way you call me now."
"Gabriel?" Claire said his name in confusion.
"I like the way you say Gabriel."
"Oh, am I saying it wrong?" Claire looked worried.
"No, not at all. It's just somehow you make it sound so sweet and…" Gabriel hesitated. "It always gives me goosebumps."
"Me saying Gabriel gives you goosebumps?" Claire asked in disbelief.
"You don't even know what kind of power you yield." Gabriel chuckled.
"So all I have to do is say…" Claire leaned closer to Gabriel's face. "Gabriel." She whispered softly. Gabriel started to blush which made Claire giggle.
"Now, don't push your luck." Gabriel waved his finger at her. "You might end up screaming my name all night long if you're not careful."
Claire stared at him in disbelief, her mouth and eyes wide open.
"I think I'll stick to my bedroom tonight." Claire decided as she tried to avoid his gaze.
"Why? Are you genuinely worried that it might be the case?" Gabriel teased her.
"No. Because you're annoying." Claire said decisively.
"But there's a way to shut me up." Gabriel winked at her.
"I should've stuck with Pierre." Claire grumbled.
"What?" Gabriel asked in a disgruntled tone.
"He wouldn't have ever been this crude to me during dinner."
"Claire dear. I'm hardly crude." Gabriel smiled devilishly. "I am just suggesting something that might've been a better alternative to this dinner."
"And at which point did you decide that it was a good idea to say it out loud?"
"That one just escaped whilst I was trying to contain the other thoughts that crossed my mind."
"Other thoughts?" Claire raised her brow.
"Well, if you insist, I'll share one of them." Gabriel leaned in towards her before whispering in her ear. "It would have been a much better use of this table tonight if I could have you on it instead."
"From experience, the men who talk more about it have less to show for it." Claire said with a bite in her tone.
"Excuse me?" Gabriel's smile vanished as his ego was hurt.
"I'm just saying that you have to have something there to make me call your name all night long." Claire shrugged. Gabriel was too stunned to speak.
"I should've bit my tongue." Gabriel said quietly. "Also, I'm sorry for stupidly blurting it out."
"It's okay." Claire said unbothered. "I don't mind playing that game."
"You know that I'm not going to do anything without your consent. And I do not want you to ever feel pressured either."
"Thank you, Gabriel." Claire smiled as she caressed the back of his hand, only now noticing his broken nails, or bitten, nails. The stress of everything must've been getting to him too. Even though he was smiling, Claire could see tiredness in his eyes. Even though his cheeks seemed fuller since she came back, he still had dark circles.
"There's a banquet in two and a half weeks." Gabriel changed a subject again. "Invites are going out this week. I'm afraid that you have been invited too."
"Who's organising it?"
"BGN Group. It's a company banquet."
"Is it bad that I have been invited?" Claire asked.
"It's bad that we both have been invited."
Gabriel said quietly. "Expected guest list doesn't look too promising."
"Why?"
"Joneses might be there, if they dare to show their face in public. And…" Gabriel hesitated.
"Yeah?"
"My father and step-mother will be there."
"I see." Claire nodded, feeling an overwhelming dread at the prospect of being in the same room as Michael Moore in the near future.
"I think we shouldn't go." Gabriel said carefully.
"BGN Group is one of our best customers. They have been keen to co-sponsor research at the university that we collaborate on. They're one of the best when it comes to sustainability and community friendly projects." Claire started her monologue with which she tried to convince herself that it was a good idea to go.
"Is that truly the important part?" Gabriel furrowed his brows.
"Let's see closer to the time." Claire suggested. "I don't think I can make that decision now."
"That's fine." Gabriel nodded. "We can come back to this in a week or so."
After the meal they were both quick to get to their respective beds, with Claire rushing to work in the morning.
As Friday night came, Claire was surprised to find Gabriel cooking again. It was much better than the first attempt which they were both happy about.
To Gabriel's surprise, Claire knocked on his bedroom door not long after he got into bed. She came in with a slight smile on her face, feeling embarrassed.
"I thought that since it's a weekend and that I don't have to wake up at 5 am again, I could read beside you for a little while." Claire said shyly.
"Of course." Gabriel lifted the corner of the duvet, inviting Claire in. He picked a book off his bedside table, starting to read beside her.
Claire read her book silently. After some time, they both laid down, facing each other, and soon they fell asleep holding hands.
As morning came, neither wanted to move for a long while.
"I think we should make it our routine." Claire suggested as they lazily laid in bed even though the sun was creeping up higher and higher in the sky.
"What?" Gabriel gently caressed her head whilst playing with her hair.
"Friday night sleepover."
"Sleepover?" Gabriel chuckled. "I'd be happy to comply."
"At the moment, I'm out early and in late, so I think my bedroom is a better option during weekdays. But…" Claire blushed.
"We can share bed on the weekends." Gabriel finished the sentence for her as he pulled her in closer, and rested her head on his chest, just under his chin. "Now, I'm really starting to feel like we're in a relationship."
"Do you?"
"Yeah. That's how I always imagined it. Lazy Saturday mornings, snuggling in bed, not a care in the world about anything else for a little while." Gabriel sighed. "A dream come true."
"Don't jinx it." Claire laughed. "I might be lynched tonight."
"Are you still worried about meeting my friends?"
"Yes, very."
"Well, my best friend is a lawyer called Alex. Then there's Jacque who's a businessman, and Matthew - another lawyer. We all met during uni years, and we meet up every few months in different cities to catch up. This time it happened that they're all coming here for couple of days. Alex is the extrovert of the group and he will talk your ear off. Jacque is somewhat in the middle, and Matthew is the quiet type. They're currently all single as far as I'm aware, or as the latest updates were. They know that I'm seeing someone but they do not know that we're married yet. I thought about sharing it tonight, if you don't mind."
"Okay." Claire agreed feeling a pit in her stomach. "You went through the dramatic reveal with my friends so it's only fair."
"I'll try not to get drunk so the option of just blurting it out is off the table."
"Are you worried about their reaction?" Claire asked him, looking up.
"Yes and no. I know that they will not have anything against you and that you'll be welcomed by them, but I might get an earful for the whole no wedding thing."
"I can take a blame for that one." Claire suggested.
"Absolutely not. You're not taking blame for my doings." Gabriel said sternly. "I've married you in the most unromantic way possible."
"Unromantic? You were begging me to sign the contract. That's kind of romantic." Claire reminded him.
"Don't remind me of that massacre." Gabriel laughed. "But I did wonder if you'd like a proper wedding once we reveal our little secret to the world. Or at least, if you decide that being with me is not too torturous. We could invite our close family and friends and celebrate together?"
"That sounds like a waste of money." Claire grumbled.
"Did you never dream of a wedding?" Gabriel asked curiously.
"Not since I was a teenager. Ever since i became an adult I thought that relationships weren't for me." Claire said honestly. "What about you?"
"I never wanted to get married or have a wedding until…" Gabriel chuckled nervously. "Until you've tried to leave and Watters suggested marriage as a way to give you plenty of shares of the company."
"So Watters is to blame for this?"
"He just started a train of thought. I couldn't let you go."
"Yeah, I know. You couldn't just let me go to X6 Group."
"No, Claire. I couldn't let you go because the mere thought of you leaving caused me an unbelievable turmoil. I wanted to keep you for myself for the rest of my life. You staying in the company was a pretty good bonus though." Gabriel kissed the top of Claire's head. "But, the more I learnt about you, the more I fell in love with you."
"You and your sweet words." Claire said as she placed her hand on his chest, feeling it through his pyjamas, studying it carefully.
"Claire, I still don't know what you feel about me." Gabriel said carefully. "I'm not sure where you're standing."
"Well, I've told you that I don't hate you anymore."
"Okay." Gabriel said, feeling a slight sting in his chest as he knew that Claire didn't reciprocate his feelings.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel." Claire mumbled feeling bad for not being able to say that she loves him back. She wasn't sure if her feelings were even real, and if they were even close to love.
"What for?" Gabriel asked curiously. "For not loving me? You can't control how you feel. And maybe one day you will, or maybe not. Whether you decide that you can live with me as your husband, or whether you'll leave me once you find your true love, we're going to work it out."
"What do you mean?" Claire looked at him with her brows knitted into one.
"Your happiness is much important to me than anything else, Claire. As much as I wish I could keep you for myself, you're not a thing to be possessed. If you find happiness elsewhere other than me then who am I to stand in its way?" Gabriel asked, contemplating his own words, realising that Claire's happiness was more important than his, even if it didn't lie with him. Claire was stunned into silence, unsure how to respond. "Anyways, breakfast?" He changed his topic putting up a fake smile. "The question is, what would you like for breakfast? I need to practice my cooking skills." Gabriel smiled, kissing Claire's forehead. Claire struggled to think about breakfast while her head was still hung onto Gabriel's words.
"I don't know." She shook her head still looking at Gabriel with disbelief and curiosity, but also confusion and pain. For some reason, the thought of leaving him didn't seem as appealing, but rather it hurt as if someone stabbed her in the chest.
"I think the course has a section on breakfast, and crepes were one of the options. I can attempt that?"
"I don't mind. I'm happy enough with the cereal."
Gabriel started getting up, gently moving Claire to the side. Claire was staring at him, trying to make up her mind about him, trying to work out what her feelings actually were, but her logical mind couldn't work out the complexity of her emotions, which often felt contradictory and baffling. Seeing him walking around wearing his pyjamas consisting of cotton long sleeve t-shirt and flannel grey bottoms, and his morning hair that was slightly messy, and his silhouette that hinted at a rather muscular physique - he was bewilderingly attractive. Claire couldn't deny her physical attraction to Gabriel but more so than his body, it was his smile and a glimmer in his eyes that made her heart go faster - his breathtakingly blue eyes that somehow hypnotised her and drew her in, making her want to stare into them forever more, as each time she looked into them, she found something new in them, a new shade of blue, a new speck, a new ridge within the iris forming patterns and textures that she never saw before. Claire thought that his eyes resembled the ocean, with its depth of colour, shades, and complexity. It was fascinating. It was mesmerising.
Gabriel looked back at the bed where Claire was still laying down, looking at him attentively. He couldn't stop smiling at the sight, but more so, he barely could look away himself. It took a lot of self-control for him to go to the bathroom and leave her behind.
As he came out, Claire was just putting her satin robe over her matching satin nightie. Her hair cascaded down in a waterfall of waves turning into gold as the sunshine reflected in her strands.
She turned around, and as she did, her lips curved into smile and her eyes lightened up. She was glowing, radiating. She was breath-taking. And she was going to be his hardest heartbreak. Gabriel already knew that. He knew that losing her will be worst than losing his own life. He knew that the moment she's gone, everything will turn bleak, that everything will lose meaning, that he will not be able to get up, that he will die. But at this moment it didn't matter. At this moment, she smiled, looking like an Angel, or rather a goddess, a very reason of his being, an enchantress, a surreal being who Gabriel thought to be above all.
"I can make us coffee." Claire offered. "After breakfast I might pop to the gym for a bit before doing a bit of work. We closed two projects over the past week so I may have a bit more of breathing space next week. 18 hour days destroyed me." She smiled as she mumbled rather nervously. Gabriel didn't know that he was the cause of her nervousness. That she looked down at the floor and fidgeted as looking into his eyes filled her with so much emotion that she felt as if she might burst. "I have to go back to that report and redo the calculations. I'm not sure whether your offer for help is still up on that one?"
"Of course." Gabriel nodded.
"Then I have to get ready for the dinner. I still haven't decided what to wear. I may have to consult with Zoe as I'm absolutely clueless."
"You wore that black dress last time. I think it fitted perfectly."
"It was Zoe's." Claire chuckled. "As most dresses I wore before you've made Mark buy me a whole new wardrobe."
"If you'd like, we can go to the shop and get you something for the evening?"
"It's not necessary. There are still plenty of dresses in my closet that I haven't touched yet." Claire smiled as she walked out of the room, Gabriel following her few steps behind.
As the afternoon came, Claire dressed herself up in a teal satin wrap dress that had long sleeves, and that reached just beneath her knees, showing her figure well whilst being floaty. She carefully styled her hair into a side braid that was pinned into a low bun, letting few strands free around her face, curling them carefully.
She took extra care with her make up too, feeling like she was going to be scrutinised by Gabriel's friends, wanting to look her best. Usually she didn't put much more than a mascara, but this time she took extra time in carefully blending light brown eyeshadows that made her eyes seem even larger and brighter, especially with fine line drawn on her upper lip. Her makeup was still in natural tones but she tried to enhance her beauty with it, highlighting her features in the most elegant way.
When it was almost time to leave, Gabriel knocked on her bedroom door.
"Come in." Claire invited him. He was wearing his black tailored suit. He shaved and took extra care with tidying up his hair. He stopped in the door as his eyes landed on Claire who was applying a lipstick, standing in front of a large mirror. As always, he was in awe of her. "I thought that you've said that you wanted me ready for five." Claire asked with worry.
"Yes, you still have few minutes." Gabriel smiled. "I just thought that you may want to wear a necklace tonight…" he started warily, unsure how Claire was going to react.
"I haven't decided on jewellery yet." Claire admitted.
Gabriel walked up to her, clenching onto a small box behind his back. As he stood beside her, he showed her a box, opening it right at her eye level. Claire froze as she looked at fine silver necklace with a small crystal pendant.
"I-…" Gabriel stuttered, unsure how to explain that he went behind her back again.
"My necklace?" Claire asked looking at it being tidily tucked in a box.
"Yes, it is. I know that it has some special meaning to you and I know that you were rather upset when it was broken. I know I shouldn't have but I took it and I took it to the jeweller who managed to repair it by replacing one of the rings." Gabriel'a hands started shaking slightly as he felt nervous. Claire looked up at him in disbelief.
She was quiet and calm. "I wanted you to have it back…"
"Thank you." Claire said quietly, feeling touched by Gabriel's gesture. "Thank you so much." She said, trying not to cry.
She slowly smiled at Gabriel, still staring at a necklace in disbelief.
"Would you like me to help you put it on?" Gabriel asked. Claire nodded, moving any loose strands out of the way. Gabriel was gentle as he did just that, accidentally brushing against Claire's alabaster skin. He struggled slightly with the small clasp of the necklace but soon a delicate piece of jewellery rested on Claire's collarbones. Gabriel looked at her reflection in the mirror, still dumbfounded by her beauty. As he stood right behind her, he could smell her perfume and sweetness. He tried to control his desire to come closer, but even then he couldn't resist. He leaned forward, letting the smell entice him, stopping barely millimetres away from her skin. He noticed goosebumps appearing where his breath touched her skin not aware that Claire was staring at the reflection, stunned by the image of Gabriel behind her when he leaned forward to be closer to her.
"I-…" Gabriel stuttered struggling to put into words what he wanted, feeling intoxicated.
Claire reached her hand to her neck, as if she could brush away the goosebumps.
"Here." She said quietly as she pointed at her neck. Gabriel understood her, leaning in further and letting his lips touch her skin. Claire tensed up immediately, closing her eyes at the warm sensation when his lips gently kissed her neck and then her shoulder. She reached her hand backwards, finding Gabriel's hand and squeezing it, letting a long breath out.
"I still want you so badly." Gabriel whispered in her ear. "I want to kiss you, caress you, embrace you. I want to touch you…" he run his fingertips down her back. Claire curved under his touch, which made Gabriel smile. "I hope that one day you'll be ready…" he stopped moving a step away, tugging onto Claire's hand to turn her around and have her face him. "May I kiss you?" He asked as his eyes landed on her plump and soft lips, tempting him like never before. Claire nodded, still unable to utter a word, or rather too afraid to open her mouth in fear that it'll betray her. Gabriel leaned in, moving Claire's hair strands behind her ear, before carefully planting the softest kiss he could. His tenderness was startling to Claire. With how much taller and stronger he was than her, it always surprised her that his touch was as if he was afraid to shatter her, as if she was made of precious porcelain. As he placed his hands on each side of her jaw, she placed hers on his arms, holding onto them tightly, feeling his forearms flex.
They broke off the kiss, unwillingly, both yearning for more, both out of breath. Gabriel put his forehead against Claire's as he tried to steady his breathing. They both laughed nervously, both thinking how surreal this moment was and how much they didn't want to move now.