Gabriel studied Rosa in silence as he analysed that thought with care.
"The fake death?"
"Indeed." Rosa leaned back in the chair. "At least at first, until we can prove that all the previous charges were indeed true. But this might be a new beginning."
Rosa wasn't certain what Gabriel thought. She didn't know him well enough.
With all the atrocities she mentioned now, he was extremely quiet and calm.
Gabriel believed her, recalling every word and touch from Claire. He believed every single one of the accusations against his father.
And then without hesitation, Gabriel offered to assist Rosa.
Rosa contemplated the plan carefully before agreeing. It was a difficult plan but the one which would finally open the door for Rosa to get Michael Moore.
Gabriel was terrified of the plan that he came up with. He was scared that Claire would get hurt, or that she won't forgive him. He needed to desperately see her and talk to her.
Rosa left Gabriel's villa feeling a certain way about the plan, Gabriel, and his memory loss. Feeling particularly guilty over what was likely to happen, she went to see Claire only to realise that Claire was not at her home.
After failed attempts of seeing Claire, Rosa went to see someone who she hasn't seen in a long while.
"Mr Hayden." Rosa smiled at the man who she helped find his wife some months earlier.
"Agent Sunmers?" Christopher looked at her in surprise. "Is anything a trouble? Is Emilia okay?"
"As far as I am aware, there are no issues with Emilia." Rosa replied. "I am glad that things worked out between you two."
"Thank you." Christopher smiled at Rosa.
"I have a favour to ask."
"How can I help you?"
"I require your full discretion."
"Absolutely."
"It is in regards to your employee, Elise Cooper. I need you to ensure that she attends a social gala organised by Mr Moore next week."
"She won't go."
"Force her in whatever way you can." Rosa said sternly.
"She barely agreed to go see a customer tonight. It is an impossible task."
"I need her there."
"Why?"
"She doesn't know yet but she is playing a very key role in my plan." Rosa didn't admit that her plan was to use Claire as a bait, with Claire's agreement. Christopher nodded , although he was uncertain of it.
As the evening came, Claire attended a customer dinner in the hotel that she once designed. She didn't notice Gabriel at first as she was too occupied in her own work and conversations.
Gabriel didn't plan this encounter but he was glad to see her. He needed to tell her the plan and warn her of everything. He managed to message Rosa that he found Claire, set on talking to her as soon as she was alone.
Claire wore a knee length black dress that suited the occasion of her dinner and a atmosphere of the restaurant.
She slowly dipped on the glass of champagne as she smiled and entertained the people at the table. Her cheeks turned pink throughout the evening.
Gabriel watched as she bid goodbye to her clients and then she went to the reception desk of the hotel. He followed her which she didn't notice at all up until she was about to unlock her room. She caught him out of the corner of her eye and jumped. She placed her hand on her chest trying to calm down her breaths.
"Mr Moore…" she uttered. Her cheeks were still crimson red.
"I didn't mean to startle you. I wanted to see you as I haven't seen you since…" Gabriel paused as he realised that the last time he saw her was when she left his home with a concussion. "It's been a while."
"I am alright, Mr Moore." Claire said quickly, fidgeting anxiously.
"I am glad. I shouldn't bother you much tonight." Gabriel mumbled. "I have spotted you downstairs and I wanted to check on you."
"Thank you for your concern."
"Did you strike the deal?"
"Yes, I did." Claire nodded. She was trying to avert her gaze. She looked down at the floor, at the runner rugs with intricate shapes.
Gabriel closed the distance between them.
"Of course you did." He smiled as he stood mere centimetres away from her. "You are terrifyingly intelligent."
"Not intelligent enough." Claire admitted as she looked up. Her eyes twinkled as if she wanted to beg for Gabriel to go away but also she seemed drained out of energy and the last of her will to fight was gone.
"Why do you say so?"
"If I was smarter, I wouldn't have met you over and over again." Claire mumbled. "If I was smarter, I wouldn't have probably met you in the first place."
"Would you be happier without meeting me?" Gabriel furrowed his brows as he analysed her words carefully. His thoughts were racing through the plan he and Rosa derived and whether Claire was ever going to work with him on it.
"Probably not." Claire said honestly. Her hazel-brown eyes met Gabriel's. "I do not regret our marriage. I do regret some of my choices. I regret wasting the time we've had as there was so little of it. I regret not using every minute with you to love you more." Claire pursed her lips before adding. "I regret of not loving you more and telling you that I loved you earlier. Sometimes I wish I knew what were to happen so I could've indulged in our love more."
"I am here." Gabriel said with a hint in his voice.
Claire nodded but her expression was still full of sorrow.
"And yet, you are no longer the Gabriel I loved."
"Am I not?"
"You have changed since. You became a new person and I wasn't a part of that."
"Because you ran away." Gabriel said in an accusatory tone. Claire was silent as she analysed his words. It was true, she ran away as soon as she realised that Gabriel didn't remember her. She ran away because she feared that she might get hurt even more. "Would it be that terrible if you got to know me again?" Gabriel asked with hope that Claire would be willing to agree for a new start between them.
Claire was slow to answer, her mind considering every possibility without knowing that Gabriel knew so much more now and his mess of a memory was slowly re-shaping into something that was indicative of what was once truly important to him.
Before Claire answered, Gabriel placed his lips onto Claire's. Claire's body was tense as he kissed her but she didn't fight him.
He moved his lips away and looked down at her. Her eyes were still closed and her long eyelashes formed a shadow on her cheeks.
She slowly opened her eyes looking up at Gabriel with surprise. Her body slowly relaxed next to him. He was still her safe space even if he wasn't the same Gabriel anymore.
"Perhaps." She answered his question at last. That was a much more hopeful answer than 'no'.
"Claire, dear…" he said softly as he moved a strand of her hair. Claire felt goosebumps go down her spine at his touch and words. "What did you used to call me?"
Claire took a moment to calm her breath before saying "cuore mio" in a whisper.
Gabriel's mind and body instantly reacted to it. He had a flashback which made him feel dizzy. He struggled momentarily to keep the balance and he stumbled forward, catching himself with one hand on the door just above Claire's shoulder. He had his eyes closed and his head hung down, eventually resting it against Claire's shoulder and clavicle.
Claire stood frozen as she tried to understand what Gabriel was doing. She placed her hand on his shoulder but she didn't push him away.
As Gabriel steadied himself, he gently placed kisses on Claire's skin. Claire accepted them silently.
"May I…?" Gabriel asked in a raspy voice. Claire was conflicted but yet she unlocked the door to the room. Gabriel managed to steady himself, and seeing Claire's silent invitation, he quickly felt the rush that he tried to contain. He could always tell her after…
He planted more kisses on her neck and shoulder. As then he kissed her on her lips, passionately, his tongue intruding her mouth. Claire reciprocated it with reservation. She didn't have the energy to resist anymore.
Gabriel's hands very eagerly run down her body, exploring her every curve anew. Yet, for Claire, it was a reminder of how things used to be with a new fire that was within that new side of Gabriel that she didn't quite know. But within his scars she recognised the Gabriel that she once knew, still recognising the old him in the man in front of her.
"I want you to be mine." Gabriel said in a possessive voice.
Claire smiled as she heard it letting her body tell her what to do.