Claire woke up feeling groggy, struggling to work out where she was and what had happened, never mind opening her eyes. Her alarm sounded, blaring the most ear-piercing sound. Claire grunted as she tried to move, but she was too tired.
"Good morning, Mrs fucking Moore," Gabriel said to her, kissing her cheek. Claire turned her head the other way grunting again. "See, I'm very conflicted right now. Part of me wants to let you have a day off and recover from last night, and part of me wants to be truly evil and remind you that it's a workday and you need to get your shit together. I'm not sure which way I'm leaning toward right now." Gabriel said into her ear.
"I'll be up in a minute." Claire grumbled. Her eyes shot open and she sat up in terror, lifting the duvet to check if she was dressed.
"What's the matter?" Gabriel asked curiously.
"Did we…?" Claire asked with slight fear in her voice.
"You don't remember?" Gabriel asked curiously. Claire pulled up a duvet to cover her face in embarrassment.
"I had some vivid dreams and I'm not sure whether we did or not…" Claire admitted as she blushed.
"We didn't." Gabriel shook his head. "Hang on, what dreams did you have?" Gabriel raised his brows and laughed as Claire turned even redder. "Is that why you moaned in your sleep?"
"What?!" Claire hid under the duvet.
"Was I any good in your dream?" Gabriel asked teasingly.
"Stop it." Claire grumbled under the sheets.
"If I made you moan like that in your sleep, surely it must've been very good." Gabriel laughed.
"Oh no!" Claire exclaimed as more memories flooded her mind. "Did I yell that you were my husband in the bar?" She asked in disbelief, already knowing the answer. "In front of Eva?!"
"You did." Gabriel nodded. "I liked it when you've told everyone that you're Mrs fucking Moore."
Claire pulled the sheets down slightly, looking at Gabriel truly puzzled.
"Why?"
"Because it fills me with pride to be your husband." Gabriel smiled. "Now, you need a shower dear."
"Bleh, I'm so sticky…" Claire grumbled as she felt her clumped hair.
"What would you like for breakfast?"
"Bacon sandwich." Claire said decisively. Gabriel nodded and stood up, and only now Claire's attention was drawn back to his hand.
"Gabriel, see a doctor about your hand." She ordered.
"It'll be fine."
"No, get it checked out by a doctor." Claire repeated. "Don't be that kind of stubborn as you were with the cold medicine. Please, get it seen."
"Okay." Gabriel agreed. "Do you need aspirin whilst I'm grabbing you breakfast and coffee?"
"No." Claire shook her head. "I'm just a little tired from the late night, but nothing else. Coffee will be more than enough."
"Your head and stomach must be made out of steel." Gabriel said with a smile, kissing her head, ignoring how clumped her hair was together due to the alcohol that she spilt all over it the night before.
"I'm sorry about Eva." Claire said quietly.
"I don't mind. I didn't know how to tell her anyways. And I'm glad that you two are getting along, even if I feel like you're both going to team up against me."
"I won't." Claire shook her head. "By the way, is it okay if I repay you in instalments?" Claire asked with worry. "I don't think I have enough right now to cover the cost from last night. I'm so sorry."
"Stop being silly. It was your money anyways." Gabriel said with a shrug.
"I'm going to take it as a yes." Claire decided.
"Do as you want but know that you don't have to." Gabriel said with a defeated sigh. "And I don't want you to either."
"Oh well." Claire shrugged.
"Is it okay if I invite Eva for a dinner tonight?"
"You don't have to ask me to invite your sister over." Claire said with a smile.
"It's your home and I'm being respectful of that. I am not going to invite anyone without your permission as it is meant to be your safe space too." Gabriel explained quickly. "I did try to ask your permission the other night too. I didn't realise that your phone was broken."
"How are you always this considerate about things that I don't really care about?" Claire mumbled as she got up.
Gabriel smiled at her without an answer.
Claire made her way down to find breakfast that Gabriel made waiting for her. As she requested, she had a bacon sandwich. She smiled cheerfully at it, but before she sat down, she run up to Gabriel and pecked his lips.
She excitedly ate her breakfast, as if she didn't see the food before.
"I may have to rearrange the board meeting if I am to see a doctor this morning." Gabriel said unhappily.
"Priorities, Gabriel, priorities." Claire grumbled. Gabriel looked at her with his brow raised. "Your well-being is more important than a board meeting, of course!" Claire clarified quickly what she thought should be Gabriel's priority. "Let me know how it goes at the doctor's. I have a free at about 10:00 if you want to pop by then and update me." Claire said quickly as she started getting up.
"Are you inviting me over to your office?" Gabriel looked surprised.
"Indeed." Claire smiled as she kissed his cheek. "Take care, Gabriel."
"I'll try not to fall off many more tables." Gabriel chuckled. "Unless you have other plans?"
"No, not yet." Claire laughed as she ruffled his hair before heading out.
"Hang on! What do you mean by not yet?!" Gabriel yelled behind her which made her laugh as she walked out of the villa.
Gabriel laughed once left alone, wincing in pain straight after. Even though he wanted to protest, he decided to go to the doctor for Claire's sake.
As 10 am came, Gabriel knocked on a door to Claire's office. He smiled as he found Claire with her shoes off and her hair all in a mess.
"How did it go?" Claire asked instantly as she looked up. She scowled at Gabriel's hand which was now in a brace.
"Alright." Gabriel answered as he sat down in a chair and passed her a cup of coffee.
"What did the doctor say?"
"It's a sprain as expected." Gabriel shrugged dismissively.
"What grade?" Claire asked immediately, disliking his careless attitude.
"Grade?" Gabriel looked up at her, surprised that she had some awareness of the subject.
"I did sports for years. I've seen plenty of contusions, and sprains were the most common form of injury. So, what grade?"
"Grade 2." Gabriel admitted.
"4-6 weeks until it fully heals." Claire informed him. "But that's if you take care of yourself."
"Why am I getting a lecture?" Gabriel asked with a whine. "Just drink your coffee."
Claire smiled at him, reaching out for his healthy right hand.
"Because I care about you, and I know you well enough to know that you aren't going to do what anyone else told you to, including a doctor. You're stubborn beyond any reason." Claire said as she squeezed his hand. "Thank you for going to the doctor. I would appreciate it if you actually followed the advice."
"Well, if you're asking this nicely." Gabriel sighed and then chuckled. "Did you make your way in alright this morning?"
"I've used the back door." Claire answered quickly. "Security only caught two reporters trying to follow me."
"Claire, I'm sorry…" Gabriel leaned forward.
"It's okay." Claire chuckled. "I am married to the infamous Mr Moore after all. I should've been expecting it at some point."
"All things considered, you are taking it rather lightly." Gabriel admitted.
"What did you expect?"
"A continuation of our argument and a hammer to my head."
"Surely you can't think that I'm that bad?" Claire asked as she furrowed her brows unwilling to admit that the only reason that she was backing down was also a reason that she was terrified to disclose to Gabriel, and now with his sister around she was unable to tell him for a while longer, or not at all.
"You're stubborn. I feel like you're plotting some revenge when you're this calm. You're not thinking of resigning again, are you?"
"No, not right now." Claire laughed. "God knows what contract you'd come up with if I did though."
"How about you get the company and estates, and everything I own and I live at your will?" Gabriel asked as he leaned forward.
"And why would you do that?" Claire asked curiously.
"I think I'd make a pretty good trophy husband."
"See, Gabriel, as a trophy husband you'd have to organise and attend all those banquets that you love so dearly."
"I'll run the household and treat you like a Queen. You'd be my top focus 24/7 rather than about eight to sixteen hours a day. And…" Gabriel contemplated it. "I'd have more time to work out to keep in the perfect shape."
"I think you being the CEO suits you quite well." Claire declared with a smile as she let go of Gabriel's hand and started playing with a pencil instead, flicking it between her fingers.
"You think so?"
"Oh yeah. There's definitely something about a man who can make difficult decisions in a split of a second, take risks, and who knows his stuff." Claire nodded turning red. "Not to mention the suits."
Claire's phone pinged with several messages one after another. She looked at it with her brows knitted.
"Everything alright?" Gabriel asked with worry.
"Yeah. Eva wants to meet for a coffee." Claire answered honestly. "What should I do?" Claire looked up at Gabriel.
"Why are you asking me?" Gabriel furrowed his brow. "Do what you want."
"She's your sister."
"So? If you want to see her, do it. If not, that's fine too. I'm not going to tell you what to do." Gabriel smiled.
"I thought that you were worried that we'll team up against you."
"Slightly but I'll live if that's what is going to happen. Especially after you yelled that you're Mrs Moore in front of everyone. But please, don't let Eva rip more of your clothes off."
Claire burst into laughter. "I don't think I've liked that much either."
"I mean…" Gabriel turned red. "I did like what I saw, but I didn't like everyone else seeing it too."
"That's a little selfish, don't you think?" Claire teased him.
"Don't be cruel to me, I'm poorly." Gabriel said as he lifted his arm in a brace.
"Did you manage to rearrange the board meeting?" Claire changed the subject.
"Yes, this afternoon. Mark should update you soon." Gabriel nodded.
"I'll let you know when I'm meeting Eva. Pop your head around." Claire said with a smile.