They let go after a long while, helping each other to stand up. Gabriel embraced Claire again, burying her face in his chest.
"I'm so sorry." Claire sobbed into his chest.
"Shush, Claire dear." Gabriel tried to reassure her whilst gently stroking her hair. "I don't care. You're back. You're alive. You're here."
"Your arm!" Claire exclaimed in surprise as she felt his fingers dip into her back.
"If you want to be like that, your eyes! Your hair!" Gabriel grumbled into her ear. His warm breath seemed to work like a charm, melting the ice that surrounded her heart for the last few months. Claire laughed whilst crying.
"You can move your hand." She said again, full of surprise.
"Only a bit. It's a long way to go." Gabriel answered as he kissed the top of her head. "I have so many questions."
"I know. I'll tell you everything." Claire looked back up at him. "I promise."
"I need a different promise, Claire." Gabriel looked at her sternly. "I need you to promise to never leave me again."
"I promise." Claire smiled as she said it, confident in her words. "I promise that for as long as you can stand me, I'll be by your side."
"And I wish for you to never hide the truth from me again."
"I promise, Gabriel. I will tell you the whole truth. From now on, I have nothing to hide."
"Thank you."
It started raining and the cold was becoming bothersome. As much as they wanted to stand there forever, Claire's shiver reminded Gabriel that it was getting cold.
"I have a slight confession to make." Gabriel said carefully. Claire looked at him with anticipation, expecting the worst, her brain coming up with the worst scenarios. "I've burnt our home down."
"I know." Claire nodded. "I saw the news. You scared me so much! I thought that you were hurt!"
Gabriel looked down at her with his pursed lips. It wasn't like she didn't scare him more and for much longer.
"I'm sorry, Claire dear. I didn't know that you'd be able to see it." He said carefully, biting his tongue.
"I deserved it, I guess." Claire shrugged.
"Let's go somewhere where it doesn't rain." Gabriel laced his fingers with hers and walked with her out of the cemetery. Claire felt weird about it all. She looked behind at the marble gravestone with her name.
Gabriel was occupied with different thoughts. He contemplated on where to take her. He wanted her to himself for a little while. He furrowed his brows in deep thought.
"I'm checked in the hotel by the South Bank." Claire said as she finally managed to force her thoughts away from her death. She still wasn't sure how to tell Gabriel about her new identity or his mother being alive, and that was only a small portion of what she had to tell him.
"Okay." Gabriel nodded. "Let's go there."
Claire nodded in agreement. She was excited to see her family and friends but she could deal with only one reveal at once. She was still exhausted from the flight and overwhelmed by the end of the trial and reuniting with Gabriel.
Claire sat down in front of Gabriel in the hotel restaurant. She was excited, and so was Gabriel, but after five months, the film of awkwardness fell over them. Five months of separate lives. Five months of struggles. They weren't even sure where to start.
Gabriel reached his hand across the table and held onto Claire's hand. He drew circles on the back of it, still trying to make himself understand that she was truly there.
"Where have you been?" Gabriel asked first.
"Chicago." Claire admitted. Gabriel nodded. He wasn't sure what to ask next. He thought about it carefully but he wasn't even sure what questions he was okay to ask. "Gabriel, I know that what I did was beyond stupid, but… I had my reasons." Claire said carefully. "I found out about the bounty and I needed to disappear."
"The bounty? You mean the bounty my father set for your head?"
"I didn't care about my head." Claire looked down at Gabriel's thin hand. His fingers were long and slender. The ring from her was loose on his finger. But he still wore it. "I'm talking about a bounty your father set up for your life."
"Mine?"
"After the first hearing, your father put up a bounty for my head and your head. Fifty million Pounds each."
Gabriel's eyes widened. He didn't know.
"My head?"
"Your father was also following you. He had his henchmen after my family and friends too. He even found my parents." Claire rubbed the bridge of her nose with her free hand. "I have been contacted by the investigator from the National Crime Agency. They were investigating your father and there was so much more that we didn't know about. Like, your father was entangled with the mafia. He was heavily involved in organised crime. He was behind the deaths of many more people that got in his way, including our contractor and his wife which I took the blame for." She sighed. "They offered me a way out which would also give them time to finish their investigation but also it would have gotten every agency's interest forcing your father to back away from you, my parents, family, and friends. That was the only way to keep you safe. I needed you to be safe."
"And you trusted blindly someone from the National Crime Agency?"
"I mean, your father did attempt to kill me the same day that they appeared. I was fairly desperate." Claire was trying to recall the events from months earlier. Gabriel's eyes darkened.
"Can you not call him my father, please?"
"I'm sorry."
"And what do you mean?"
"I wasn't fully honest with you. Whilst you went to see that specialist in New York, Michael visited me."
"How?"
"The system went down and he came to the villa. He was intent on killing me but with my wits and a sharp tongue, I managed to convince him that it was a bad idea. I did end up slightly bruised up after he pushed me down the stairs."
"The bruises…" Gabriel pursed his lips.
"As I was still spread eagle on the floor, the investigator showed up." Claire purposely omitted the fact that it was Pierre. She wasn't going to give up his cover. "He had a chunk of proof of what was happening. I felt pretty cornered. I was desperate. I did back out of the plan after the first hearing. I chickened out as I knew how much it was going to hurt everyone. But once I found out about a bounty on your head and someone being captured for an attempt to come close to us with a clear intent of harming us, I needed to do something."
"Okay. I think I need some time to process what you've just told me. Can we go back to this topic in a bit?" Gabriel asked honestly as he ruffled his hair.
Claire's gaze fixated on the metal frame on his right arm.
After dinner, they went upstairs where they spoke softly well into the night. Claire told Gabriel about her work as a waitress. She told him of her quirky customers and some funny stories. Gabriel told her what he and her friends and family were up to. He told her of Mark and Zoe being very officially a pair. Of Joe and Gina being engaged. Jacque has a girlfriend that only spoke French so Gabriel tried to use a Google Translator to communicate with her but he mispronounced so many things and mistranslated many more causing several very interesting misunderstandings. And then he told her of his friendship with Pierre and how he used him as free therapy at times.
Then he told her about getting the exoskeleton on his arm, which Claire admired with a spark of curiosity. His arm was very weak. He could barely move his fingertips. But with the metal frame that was fuelled by electricity, he could grip things. He was still getting used to it. He still had days when he forgot to charge it and it died during an activity.
Then they fell asleep in an embrace, both peaceful at last. Gabriel's warm chest was all Claire needed in the world to be calm.
As the morning came, they refreshed themselves. Claire was more than keen to take out her contact lenses and use her glasses again.
Then they left the hotel. It was still very early, not much after dawn.
They caught a taxi towards Julian Estate.
Claire stood still in front of the building once they arrived.
"What's wrong?" Gabriel asked as he reached for her hand.
"I'm scared."
"What of?"
"That they will hate me. That they will never forgive me."
"Believe me that this won't be the case." Gabriel smiled as he lead the way through the building. At this stage, he seemed more familiar with those corridors than Claire who hasn't been in there for nearly ten months. And Gabriel was there just a day before.
Gabriel knocked on the door. Both of Claire's parents were morning birds so it wasn't unexpected that they heard a set of footsteps on the other side.
"Come in, Gabriel." Joseph sounded behind the door. Gabriel walked in first and Claire hid behind his back. "I'm guessing you were celebrating your win last night." Joseph said with a smile as he waved to Gabriel to come through. Gabriel didn't move, still holding Claire's hand as she stood behind him. He was big enough to act as a shield. His broad shoulders were wide enough to hide the entirety of Claire.
"I was celebrating. But I found one more reason besides the win."
"Why are you standing there so awkwardly? I'll brew some coffee. We have some cake ready." Leanne rolled out of the room on the wheelchair, moving around Joseph in the kitchen. She stopped and stared at Gabriel with quiet curiosity. His beaming smile seemed too much out of the character. Joseph noticed it too and stopped. Gabriel hasn't smiled in months. In the entirety of the time that they met him after Claire's supposed death.
"Gabriel, what is wrong?" Joseph asked as he furrowed his brows.
"I hope that you have some cake for one more." Gabriel said. Joseph's face twisted prematurely in angry suspicion as he noticed a small hand wrapped by Gabriel's hand and a few dark brown strands of hair.
"Of course." Leanne said more cheerfully as she grabbed some small dessert plates ready to place them on the table.
Gabriel pulled Claire by her hand and with hesitation she took a stop from behind him. Leanne dropped the plates, shattering them, but she didn't care. Both of Claire's parents' eyes widened and mouths dropped open.
Joseph moved forward first and pulled Claire into a hug. Leanne joined in within moments. Gabriel stood to the side awkwardly when Leanne pulled him in. He wasn't going to be left out. Not anymore.
Once they finally let her go, they all sat down for coffee and cake.
Claire told them that she was in Chicago and of her work as a waitress. Nothing more than she already told Gabriel. She was careful to pick her stories that were more cheerful and which wouldn't worry her parents much more.
After about two hours, Claire managed to free herself, with a promise to be back in the evening.
She still had to deal with Samuel Harris and Katherine Miller (Diane Moore). Not to mention seeing her friends.
"I promise that I will be back soon." Claire spoke to Gabriel as they were back in a taxi. "I'll meet you in the office, okay?"
"What are you planning to do?"
"I came back with a few friends. They are not aware of any of this. I need to take care of it."
"I see." Gabriel was unhappy.
"Go to work and I'll see you soon. I've already put my phone number into your phone, and a business card in your wallet."
"You promise?"
"I promise. I'll see you by lunchtime." Claire smiled as she planted a gentle kiss on Gabriel's cheek. His cheek had sharp cheekbones, now more visible than before, and rather thick stubble.
"By lunchtime?" Gabriel confirmed.
"By lunchtime." Claire nodded as she smiled brightly at him.
Gabriel walked into the office with a wide smile only to be welcomed by a very pissed-off Zoe. She marched towards him and slapped him without a word of warning.
"What was that for?" Gabriel asked as he rubbed his cheek, confused by her outburst, his smile vanishing.
"Already forgetting about Claire, are you?" Zoe growled. Gabriel moved his gaze to Mark in the hope of an answer.
"Don't look at me for help." Mark said shortly.
"I don't know what I did though." Gabriel admitted.
"Check any news or social media." Gina appeared behind him. Gabriel listened to her advice and took out his phone from a pocket.
"Gabriel Moore spotted checking into the hotel with a brunette?" He read out loud. He tried to work out what brunette they had in mind before he remembered that Claire has changed her hair colour. He smiled at the news. "I suppose the slap was done with good intention." He said to Zoe who was scanning some documents with a fake smile on her face. "I forgive you." Gabriel said as he genuinely smiled at her.
"Asshole." She grumbled, her fake smile completely gone.
"We have a meeting with Samuel Harris in about ten minutes." Mark announced, deciding not to be involved with the whole shenanigans between Gabriel and Zoe. He didn't approve of it, just like Gina who was also unhappy with Gabriel. But Gabriel didn't mind. He knew that their suspicions were wrong.
He walked with them and Derek Wood to the meeting room. He looked through the partnership contract as he sat down, awaiting Samuel Harris to arrive.
"Mr Harris!" Gabriel shook Samuel's hand enthusiastically as soon as Samuel stepped into the room.
"Mr Moore, a pleasure." Samuel smiled at Gabriel who still was happy from having his Claire back.
"These are my colleagues. Derek Wood is the head of the contract and services department. Gina Smith and Zoe Green are both senior designers. Mark Pattison is my assistant." Gabriel introduced everyone sitting in the room.
"This is my assistant, Leah. And I think I will deserve a round of applause. I've managed to persuade my design prodigy, Miss Elise Cooper, to attend this meeting." Samuel looked at his watch. "She will be joining us towards the end of the meeting. I suspect that we can work out how she can be involved in this."
"Of course." Gabriel nodded.
Derek led the presentation and then they started talking about the details of their partnership.
Somehow they managed to finish the meeting earlier. Samuel looked at his watch anxiously.
"What do you say if we go grab a coffee and meet Miss Cooper there?" Gabriel offered.
"Of course, Mr Moore. Only if it's not too much trouble." Samuel
"Not at all. I am curious about that design prodigy of yours."
Zoe, Gina, Derek, and Leah went downstairs, towards the company's cafe. Gabriel spoke with Samuel about business and differences in the market between UK and USA.
"Sorry for coming so late." Claire came breathlessly to the room.
"This is Elise Cooper." Samuel pointed at her.
"Hi." Claire waved at them. Samuel pulled her further into the room. Gabriel stared at her in utter disbelief because of her supposed name.
"Elise Cooper?" He repeated. "I guess last night wasn't good enough to tell me that?"
"Well…" Claire looked down shyly. Samuel looked at Gabriel in confusion as Gabriel started laughing.
"Elise fricking Cooper!" Gabriel shook his head. "Every time I think that you can't surprise me, somehow you still manage." Gabriel looked at Samuel. "Mr Harris, your design prodigy has a long history with Diamond Corporate. I must admit that I will do a lot to get her back in here. I still hope to get on with the partnership."
"I didn't realise." Samuel looked at Claire curiously. "What's the connection?"
"Claire was the head of the Contract and Services Department and my Chief Design Officer. And that's the least of who she was."
"Claire?" Samuel raised his brows.
"Sorry, Sam." Claire mumbled.
"Mr Harris, this is Claire Elise Moore." Gabriel said proudly. "My beloved wife that was presumed dead for the last five months." Gabriel laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation, realising that he literally looked at Claire's designs and articles about her in the past few weeks. "Frankly, this also means that she's a co-owner of Diamond Corporate." Gabriel smiled and turned to Claire. "Now, the questions is, what would you like to do, Claire dear? We have been discussing and drafting the partnership with, who I believe to be, your current boss. The partnership was suggested because of your work and designs."
"That's a question." Claire paused.
"Sam, if you permit, I would be more than keen to lead this partnership and work remotely?" Claire turned to Samuel who tried to compute the information.
"How can I say no?" Samuel said warmly to her. "I will have an excuse to come here for regular business trips." He leaned towards her. "I have so many questions. First of all, what is going on?"
"Oh, Sam." Claire looked at Samuel with pity as guilt started tormenting her. "As Gabriel said, I am, or rather was, Claire Moore."
"Claire Moore, like from the news?"
"Yeah, the dead one." Claire nodded.
"But…"
"Pretend dead?" Claire tilted her head in thought.
"Sorry, Mr Harris. You have tangled yourself into our madness." Gabriel smiled. "I do salute you for recognising Claire's talent. I am forever grateful too. On this note, I will make sure that this partnership will work out."
"Thank you, Mr Moore." Samuel smiled.
"Shall we go grab that coffee?" Gabriel asked as he reached for Claire's hand.
Samuel nodded. They've walked together, whilst Gabriel inquired about Claire's work with Samuel, keeping a hold of Claire.