When Gabriel fell asleep, Claire let out a long sigh.
"Sorry to disturb you." Mark popped his head in. "Claire, I need you."
"Oh." Claire looked up, her smile vanishing. "Okay." She nodded at last looking back at Gabriel checking that he was still asleep. She stood up, leaned in and kissed Gabriel's forehead before she left the room with hesitation. They found a more private space before Mark spoke again.
"Police want your statement."
"Okay." Claire nodded. She wasn't going to fight the police, that's for sure.
"Seeing as Gabriel is awake, he could clear your name." Mark suggested. "You wouldn't have to bother about it."
"Don't worry him about it right now." Claire said sternly. "He's already under enough pressure and he is still really unwell."
"Okay. Gordon was named an Interim CEO." Mark said with a nod, deciding not to dwell on that matter.
"That's good."
"He wants to talk to you."
"Could you please get my laptop? I'll be able to video call him and go through everything he needs to know."
"Of course. I'll bring you some clothes for change and toiletries too. There's a private bathroom in Gabriel's room so you can refresh yourself without needing to go home."
"Isn't it the patient's bathroom?"
"It's a VIP room. You get the same access to it as the patient." Mark smiled. "A maid is coming in on daily basis to tidy up, and the staff is happy to bring you a meal or coffee at any time. There's a chef assigned to that room from the restaurant next door. They do have some fine wine there."
"Are you kidding?" Claire asked as she furrowed her brows.
"No." Mark laughed at Claire's cluelessness. "I'll be right back. Call me if you need anything."
"Thanks, Mark."
He waved Claire goodbye before disappearing with a long to-do list.
As soon as Mark brought Claire the small luggage that was packed by Martha, she got a quick shower and put on a clean dress. This small thing was enough to make her feel significantly better.
As she walked out of the bathroom, she found Gabriel with a remote in his hand, turning the tv on.
"There's a soap opera on channel 4 which I used to watch a lot during uni years with Gina and Zoe." Claire said with a smile as she dried her hair
"Actually, I wanted to catch up on the news." Gabriel replied changing a channel before Claire could even react.
"Yeah, I'm not sure whether that's the healthiest for you right now." Claire mumbled walking up in the hope to change the channel before he gets a grasp on what was going on.
"Miss Thompson is the prime suspect for the shooting of Mr Moore. Many speculate that after her resignation she wanted to have her revenge and she aimed at the CEO of the company. Police reassure the public of the ongoing investigation. Currently, Mr Moore's condition is still unclear." The reporter spoke on the tv, standing in front of the Diamond Corporate building.
"What?" Gabriel looked at Claire.
"The CCTV monitoring was down during the shooting. I was the last person seen with you…" Claire explained quickly. "Mark is talking to the police. I am expected to give my statement later today."
"That's stupid." Gabriel declared as he started shifting in the bed.
"What are you doing?" Claire asked with panic.
"I need to clear things up."
"Mark is already on it." Claire rushed towards him.
"I can do more than Mark." Gabriel said decisively as he pulled the IV out of his right hand. Gabriel froze realising that he cannot use his right arm at all. He lifted his left (sprained) arm and attempted to rip the IV out with his teeth. Claire watched him with terror.
"Gabriel, no! You're going to hurt yourself!"
"Oh, stop it." Gabriel rolled his eyes. He sat up, wobbling badly, unable to use either of his hands to support himself. "Take my phone, please." He said with a sigh, unsuccessful in removing the needle with his teeth. Claire listened to him and picked up a phone from the box with Gabriel's belongings. "Find Ned in contacts and dial it for me."
"Gabriel…" Claire was beyond worried about what he was doing.
"Do it." Gabriel answered shortly. Claire flinched at the sharpness of his voice and then she obediently pressed the call button and listened to the dialling tone, holding the phone up for Gabriel.
"Hello?" Ned's voice sounded on the other side.
"Hi Ned, it's Gabriel." Gabriel started. "I wondered if you want an interview."
"Mr Moore?" Ned sounded surprised.
"Yes, I'm alive." Gabriel grumbled staring at the needle that he couldn't remove which had a few drops of blood escape from underneath it.
"Not for much longer if you don't lay your ass down." Claire said through her gritted teeth.
"Not for much longer, apparently." Gabriel said with a chuckle. "Whilst I am still alive I'd like to make sure that those outrageous conspiracies about Claire shooting me are cleared." Gabriel shifted his gaze at Claire. "Even if you're planning to shoot me later." He said to her quietly.
"So… that's not true?" Ned inquired.
"Fuck no. Claire won't hurt a fly." Gabriel laughed. "I need you here ASAP."
"Of course, Mr Moore." Ned agreed.
"I'll get Mark to help you up into the hospital." Gabriel finished giving Claire a nod to disconnect.
"Thanks, Claire dear." Gabriel said. "Now, I have a bigger challenge."
"What is it?" Claire asked with slight despair in her voice.
"I need to get dressed."
"How exactly do you see that happening?"
"I was hoping that you'll help me."
"First of all, no." Claire put his phone away and crossed her arms. "You're unwell. You can't move your upper body. You're going to make yourself worse by getting up."
"I am getting worse by seeing people slander my wife."
"Gabriel…" Claire sighed. "I wish you didn't get up just yet."
"Claire, I can't just sit and do nothing while people mistreat you." Gabriel's voice was stern. He already made up his mind and Claire knew that fighting him was as if she was trying to beat the wind. "Look, I'll do an interview. I'll clarify that this heinous act was not your doing and that I will collaborate with the police on the investigation to find a real culprit. Then I'll reassure the public that Diamond Corporate is still standing strong and that my accident will not affect the work produced by DC."
"And what after that?" Claire raised her brow.
"I'll lay down and accept that I am in a gutter right now."
"Promise?"
"I promise." Gabriel reassured her.
"Okay." Claire nodded, still unconvinced by Gabriel's plan and still worried about his well-being. "You need clothes that do not have holes or blood stains." Claire grumbled. "I'll get Mark to grab you a suit on the way here. I'm sure that his happy to make yet another run to the villa."
"I think a navy blue one with a gold tie pin will be right for today." Gabriel said with a smile.
"You're stubborn as a mule." Claire said annoyedly as she was typing a message to Mark.
"Claire dear, I love you ever so much. Thank you for worrying about me."
"Shall I ask Mark to get Ned here too?"
"Yes, please."
"Anything else?"
"No, my dear." Gabriel smiled at Claire shyly. Claire looked up from the phone at him. He was still pale and visibly tired, and uncomfortable. His eyes shifted and he fixed his gaze on the tv. His smile vanished as he spotted the reporter still continuing on the topic of Diamond Corporate. Claire followed his gaze and looked back at the screen. "Gordon?" Gabriel looked at Claire with a quizzical look. "You picked Gordon as the CEO?!"
"Interim CEO." Claire corrected him. "He was officially announced about half an hour ago."
"Did you really go behind my back and pick Gordon to run the company?!" Gabriel was getting visibly angry.
"I didn't go behind your back. Gordon was voted in by the directors after I got Watters to put his name forward. He is your natural successor."
"Bullshit! You are my successor. My wish was for you to take over!"
"Look, I've barely resigned. If I took over I would've driven the company to the ground."
"Bullshit, Claire." Gabriel said sternly. "I chose you for a reason."
"Why are you angry?"
"Because I feel like you didn't care for my choice. Because it is our company and you should be the one to take over."
"I'm still a co-owner. Besides, you didn't even consult with me about your wishes. You gave me a power of attorney without a second thought that I don't want it."
"You don't want it? You're my wife. It only felt right." Gabriel scowled at Claire. "I wanted you to be the only person to decide about my life if anything were to happen."
"Why?"
"Because I trust you and only you, Claire."
"Gabriel, I am upset that you didn't warn me about the whole power of attorney shit. I wish I knew so I could've mentally prepared myself for it. Also, don't you think it's a big ask to make me take responsibility for everything if I am to lose you? Frankly, I thought my priority was you and not running off to keep the company afloat."
"I thought what I did was right." Gabriel said more calmly.
"And I thought that considering the current situation, what I did was right. Gordon allowed me to make key decisions whilst he worked as an official Interim CEO himself. I didn't completely abandon Diamond Corporate. But I couldn't be a face of it. Not after resigning barely days ago."
"So, you didn't completely leave the responsibility to Gordon?"
"Oh no, I didn't." Claire shook her head. "I am still responsible for all of the major decisions, and Gordon is there to help me execute them."
"God, you're smart." Gabriel huffed before letting out a weak chuckle.
"I'm afraid that the stocks have plummeted again." Claire said with worry.
"That's what the stock market is." Gabriel shrugged. "Within a few years, we will forget all about it."
"Brought the suit and Ned's downstairs." Mark declared placing a suit carrier on the side.
"Thank you." Gabriel mumbled.
"Call if you need anything else." Mark smiled at them, hurrying away as his phone started ringing again.
Claire walked around and took the suit out of the back, stretching it out carefully, making sure that all of the creases are gone. She looked over at Gabriel who now seemed to be looking down in embarrassment.
"Are you sure about this?" Claire asked with worry. "I don't want you to get hurt again. Or more hurt, I should say."
"I am sure. I need to do this." Gabriel said sternly. He tried to use his sprained hand to sit up but to no avail. He winced as the pain shot up his body.
Claire let out a sigh, walking around. She placed the suit to the side, trying to work out what the best way was going to be to get Gabriel in said suit. She hurried to the bathroom and brought in a bowl of warm soapy water. "Claire, you don't have to do this." Gabriel said shyly.
"Would you rather a nurse get you dressed?" Claire asked as she raised her brows.
"I-…" Gabriel stuttered.
"I don't mind as long as you're okay with it." Claire said carefully. Taking care of Gabriel was much more important than her feeling uncomfortable about it. Before Gabriel managed to say anything, Claire gently started washing his face with the flannel. She sat at the edge of the bed, ensuring that she didn't press onto him. Without thought, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek after washing his face. "What's your favourite colour?" Claire asked as she started to tidy his hair again.
"Green." Gabriel answered with a smile. "Like the green within your eyes."
"Green in my eyes?" Claire repeated. "My eyes are brown!"
"Well, yes, but in the sunlight, they have golden and green flecks. I'd say that they're more hazel brown than brown."
"I never realised." Claire admitted as she helped Gabriel sit up. His entire right side seemed numb. He wasn't able to support it at all. Claire's chest tightened at her observation. She rolled up some pillows and placed them behind his back to help him stay upright.
She hesitated before she gently moved the hospital gown off his shoulders. It was the first time that she saw the scars on his back so closely. Without thought she ran her finger across the reddened streak, feeling her stomach turn and her hatred grow.
"Sorry, it's not a pretty sight." Gabriel said apologetically. Claire didn't even think of a reply before she leaned in and planted a kiss on the scar at the top of his shoulder blade.
"Is this what…?" Claire wanted to ask but she couldn't even say the question as she felt her throat close up.
"It was my father, yes." Gabriel nodded. "Every time I disobeyed him, he would hit me."
"You surely didn't disobey him that much." Claire ran her finger across his back as she looked at the scars with her face twisted in pain as she imagined how painful it must've been for Gabriel.
"The one on the top of my back was for walking into the room whilst he drank his whiskey. Or rather for disturbing his evening." Gabriel said honestly.
"I'm sorry." Claire managed to utter before she reminded herself that it wasn't the right time for this. She helped to put a white shirt on him, avoiding the last of the IV tubes in his left hand, and taking extra care around Gabriel's right arm. She avoided the bandages completely ensuring that his arm remained unmoved as much as possible. She lifted his right hand as gently as she could, feeling an even tighter knot in her stomach as there was no grip on his fingers, not even the tiniest movement, nothing.
Claire was quiet as she was buttoning up Gabriel's shirt. She was beyond hurt over his injury, and his state, still convinced that it was all of her faults.
"Hey, Claire." Gabriel noticed Claire's sombre mood.
"Yes?" Claire looked up at him.
"Don't be sad over me."
"You don't get to tell me what to do." Claire grumbled as she finished buttoning up his shirt and placed a tie around his neck.
"Of course, I don't get to tell you anything." Gabriel laughed. "It was a mere suggestion or rather a hope that I can stop seeing that sullen face of yours. I miss your smile that isn't filled with pity."
"You shouldn't have gotten shot if you didn't want my pity." Claire replied sharply. "I'm sorry, cuore mio. I just wish I could take your pain away." Claire said honestly as she kissed his forehead. "I'm so angry that I can't do anything to make you feel better. And in your state, you're still trying to protect me. When will it be my turn?"
"Claire, you already saved me…" Gabriel said carefully. "The day I laid my eyes on you for the first time was also a day when I decided to end it all. I sat in a car ready to execute my plan, deciding on the final details. I was planning to end it all that night." Claire looked at Gabriel with surprise. Her heart ached at the thought that Gabriel might have considered harming himself. "I laid my head on the steering wheel and as I looked up, all set in my plan, I saw you. You were breathtaking."
"You never said it before." Claire said carefully.
"I did say that I was in a very dark place." Gabriel scoffed at his own ridiculousness. "You saved me."
"I didn't do anything though. If anything, I only aggravated you."
"Oh, Claire dear. Although I was stunned by your beauty, it was something else that I held onto." Gabriel let out a long sigh. "It was the way you looked at the world around you. It was the wonder in your eyes that reminded me that the world wasn't all bleak."
Claire went silent, replaying his words in her mind. Unsure how to respond. Instead, she silently helped him put his trousers on, trying to look away as she felt horrible for seeing him so vulnerable. At least he could move his legs more independently so it went much more smoothly.
Within minutes he was all dressed up, his suit concealing his actual state well enough for anyone who didn't know him to think that he was somewhat okay.