Claire was surprised to see Katherine keep to her word and appear within a week to watch the next hearing. She might've been watching it because of how sensational it was but it was good to have company.
Katherine sat with Claire straight away, without much of an invitation, as if they were friends already.
Maybe in her eyes, they were. Claire was too cautious to ever call someone her friend after a mere chat.
"How was your week?" Katherine asked with a radiant smile.
"It was okay. I had a few interesting customers which were quite fun." Claire answered honestly.
"Good interesting or bad interesting?"
"Surprisingly, the good type."
"That's good." Katherine nodded in approval. They watched the tv with quiet intensity.
Gabriel seemed keener to speak to the reporters nowadays, bringing the focus to other topics, including his recent involvement in charity work.
"I have opened a charity to support everyone affected by the wrong-doings of my father, and many more. I have donated towards the research into non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and other types of cancer caused by environmental and chemical exposures. Furthermore, my wife donated money towards a soup kitchen called Holly's Kitchen. I have decided to open further two locations which will be named after Claire. Claire's kitchen is open to anyone who wants a warm meal." Gabriel spoke on the tv. His voice was hoarse and he seemed to be struggling to pretend his enthusiasm.
"I think that boy truly loved his wife." Katherine said slowly as she leaned back in her chair. "I can't imagine many rich ones to be so keen on giving out their money to the charities their wife liked. Not after their wife's death. I think he tries to carry on her legacy."
"Indeed. I think he loved her quite a bit." Claire agreed. She ached at Katherine's words. She didn't need anyone else to tell her how much she was loved and how much pain she caused.
"You've mentioned that you are to start work at Harris Design Studio." Katherine changed the topic. "I've heard of a design competition and I wondered if you'd be interested in it."
"A design competition?"
"Yes. It's for a design concept for the new gallery. I think it is pretty much free-range when it comes to style. It just needs to be representative of what the gallery is supposed to showcase."
"That sounds like fun."
"The prize money sounds like fun." Katherine took out her phone and searched for it, passing the website with competition details to Claire.
"I might actually have a go." Claire furrowed her brows in thought. She is to not draw too much attention and stay quiet but she could do that whilst still doing something for herself. A simple design competition wasn't going to give her away abroad.
"That's good to hear. You've mentioned that you're fairly new to the area, do you know any good spots yet?"
"I'm afraid not." Claire shook her head.
"What would you say about dinner? I know just the restaurant."
"Okay, yes." Claire agreed with hesitation. Katherine's open nature was exactly opposite to Claire's current wariness towards strangers.
But she agreed. Something inside of her was broken beyond repair. She didn't care enough for her own safety and life.
Every night she started to contemplate the meaning of her life. The only reason that she still tried was the hope of being reunited with Gabriel once everything was over.
Claire sat down with Katherine. Their conversation flowed perfectly. Their minds were very alike. Katherine was nearly Leanne's age but she was so easygoing that Claire barely ever noticed, especially after a glass or two of rosé.
"Your worst job?" Katherine asked.
"My parents' restaurant. I didn't even get paid!" Claire said with laughter.
"Same!" Katherine banged on the table excitedly. "Thanks, Elise. I needed a laugh." She said with a sigh as she looked at the watch.
"Do you have work in the morning?"
"I'm afraid so. I need to write an article about this new social media trend and a few of the emerging social media influencers."
"That sounds quite interesting."
"It isn't that interesting. Frankly, after so many interactions with people, they all seem to fit a certain type that just makes me uneasy."
"Go on. What's their type?"
"Mostly self-absorbed a-holes." Katherine smiled.
"Is that why you're watching the trial? Do you think that Gabriel Moore is different?" Claire tilted her head as she asked her question.
"More or less." Katherine's response wasn't convincing though. "Anyways, thank you for your company. And I hope to catch up with you for the next hearing."
"I will be starting a new job next week so it might be a little harder."
"What if I were to record it and we met to watch it together? I'll provide some good wine too." Katherine offered.
"Oh." Claire still was taken aback by the offer. "Yes, of course." She agreed. Something about Katherine sparked her interest. Somehow, she reminded her of someone she knew but she couldn't work out whom.
Over the next few weeks, they met to watch the trial together, sometimes in Claire's and sometimes in Katherine's apartment, with a helping of wine or rosé.
Their friendship bloomed unexpectedly.
Claire was doing well at work, as anticipated. This was something that she was good at. Or rather brilliant at. Even at Diamond Corporate, she was at the top of her league and they were industrial leaders.
She partook in the competition, dialling down on her expertise, trying to make the design a little more amateur than her level, but she still won.
Samuel Harris was very keen on her progress within his company which meant that she was getting more attention at work than she ever wanted.
However, in private she was increasingly depressed. The nights were the hardest when she couldn't sleep and she tossed around in the bed.
One evening she lay on the sofa, drinking on her own. It was a particularly bad weekend.
Pierre walked in and frowned at her. He had quite a lot to say about her recent activities. He wasn't happy. But he didn't hate her for it. And definitely not while seeing her in her desperate state.
He flopped on the armchair beside the sofa with a long sigh. He wanted to tell her off, of course.
"I didn't really win purposely, you know. I've tried to make it lame and boring. I completely scrapped my initial idea." Claire said before Pierre could even tell her off.
Pierre scowled at her though. His face didn't hide his disapproval.
"You're drawing attention." It was merely a statement.
"Am I?" Claire looked up at him surprised.
"Your winning design was featured in the Design Magazine. Guess who reads that magazine."
"I don't know." She shrugged.
"Many designers. Including, ever so surprisingly, the current head of the Contracts and Services Department at Diamond Corporate."
"Yeah?" Claire tilted her head wondering who even took over that role.
"Derek Wood brought up your design in one of the big meetings. Guess who is now asking about Elise Cooper." Pierre's ears turned red in annoyance.
"How do you know?"
"Weird thing happened. Like, very weird. And don't you dare to judge me." Pierre waved his finger as a warning. "I kind of started hanging out with Gabriel. He outright asked me for advice on how to scout Elise Cooper!"
Claire was silent as she tried to process what Pierre told her. She wondered if her tipsy brain managed to misinterpret his words.
"Well, that's not going to happen." She answered at last.
"So, you don't know of the Harris Design Studio and Diamond Corporate Partnership?"
"What? No!" She shook her head feeling as if she was sinking.
"Also, what the heck about that article? How did you manage to get an article in TIME magazine?"
"What?!" Claire was feeling increasingly anxious. Pierre took out the magazine and threw it towards her. Claire barely caught it. She scanned through the pages until she found the section that Pierre was referring to. "Katherine?" Claire read out the name. "F*ck. I'm sorry. She must've thought that she was doing me a favour."
"You know Katherine Miller?" Pierre's eyes widened.
"Yes." Claire nodded. "We are sort of friends."
"I thought that you will not be able to do anything to jeopardise this 'mission'. I guess I was wrong."
"I haven't done this purposely."
"Come up with an excuse to not go back to England. I don't care what excuse it will be. Have a car accident if you have to. And be careful of that Katherine Miller."
"Why? Is she someone I should avoid?" Claire asked worriedly.
"She's a journalist. A well-known journalist. A slip of a tongue and you're f*cked."
"She's not working for Michael Moore, is she?"
"God, no. She probably has as much of a reason to dislike him as anyone." Pierre let out a sigh. "By the way, Gabriel still talks about you." He spoke more earnestly. Maybe he hoped to bring Claire's spirits up. "And I mean, he speaks of you whenever he gets a chance."
"Why are you telling me that?"
"He hopes that you're alive. He thinks that you're alive."
"Does he?" Claire felt sudden butterflies in her stomach. She sat up quickly. Too quickly. She instantly felt dizzy.
"I haven't denied it but everyone else does. Not sure whether that's good or not but he tried to confirm it."
"How?"
"He was arrested for trying to dig up your grave. He applied for an exhumation license. Of course, I am not going to let it be approved. Not while you are supposed to be dead." Pierre reassuringly smiled at her, finally calming down. "I can't tell him that you're fine, but I won't deny that you're alive either. I think that's why he likes me. He thinks that I support his madness."
"He likes you?" Claire asked in disbelief.
"We went for a coffee a couple of times. And last week I went for a drink with him and Alex."
"You met Alex? How is he?"
"I think he's alright. Better than Gabriel, at least in some ways. Your ex-husband really took a hit. He looks shite."
"I saw him on TV. He has lost a lot of weight."
"Something like that. It won't be much longer. I promise."
"How do you know?"
"Well, we thought we were coming to the close with the trial but we know that Michael Moore will try to drag it out. But there's a limit to how much he can drag it out for. I think it's a few months left at most."
"And then?"
"As soon as the trial is over, assuming that your husband wins, you can come back. I don't really care after that. I just need that man in handcuffs."
"Thanks, Pierre." Claire sobbed, partially in happiness, and partially in hurt.
"No worries. I'm sorry for growling at you."
"It's fine. I really didn't mean to draw any attention to myself."
"I know. I guess there's no way in shutting down your brilliance."
"I've tried." Claire mumbled.
"Just, avoid getting tangled directly with Diamond Corporate. And make sure that that Katherine doesn't work out anything. Or worse, make sure she doesn't get any of your pictures out there."
"I'll make sure of that."
"Good." Pierre looked at Claire's pathetic state for a few moments. "I should warn you. I have a bad feeling about Gabriel."
"In what way?"
"I think that he is going to try to do something outrageous to draw your attention."
"There's very little he can do to do that." Claire studied Pierre's face. "Did he tell you something?"
"Not directly. My sincere advice will be to ignore whatever he is going to do."
"Why do you have to make it sound so sinister?"
"Because there's one way in which he can piss you off enough to draw you back."
"Is there?"
"Don't say that I didn't warn you." Pierre stood up. "Let's go for a dinner."
"I'm in no state to go out."
"I don't care. You look like you haven't eaten in a while. Let me treat you to something nice."
"I'm eating well enough." Claire grumbled. It wasn't quite true.
"Be ready in fifteen minutes. It's not up for discussion."
Claire sighed but she got dressed and ready. She wobbled on the way out but she followed Pierre to his rented car.
Pierre made sure that she ate and then dropped her off back in her apartment. Claire stood outside of the building, cold air brushing against her cheeks. The snowflakes were falling down.
She felt as if someone was watching her. She felt paranoid.
Not much longer. She reminded herself.