Chapter 49 - The Little Brother (2/2)

”Really?” The image of Gabriel scrambling to find her a dry towel back in the hotel suite comes to Claire's mind, and makes her smile a little. ”I didn't know that. Gabriel's usually so sweet.” And it's the truth, too. At least, in the context of the pretend relationship they're trying to paint for the world.

”Maybe he has changed,” Miguel mutters, sipping his wine. ”Maybe you've changed him, for good.”

Claire says nothing. How does she answer that? With more fiction?

The restaurant's staff enters and whispers something in Miguel's ear. He frowns. ”Gabriel has left. Some emergency thing downtown. Asks me to drive you back home.”

”What?” This is weird and unexpected, Claire thinks. What kind of emergency would compel Gabriel to leave her in this social situation?

”Don't worry,” Miguel says. ”I don't mind at all. It would be my pŀėȧsurė to get to know my brother's fiancée.”

”Oh, actually, I have someone who drives me to—”

”Do you mean the butler, Lopez? He's with Gabriel. It must be some emergency for them to disappear like that.”

”What did Gabriel say?”

”Nothing. But we'll see later. I'm having dinner with him. You'll also be there, I presume?”

Claire has never heard of a scheduled dinner tonight. ”I'm not sure, but let's see.”

”So, shall we go?”

Claire mulls it for a moment, then decides that it doesn't matter. ”Sure.”

A Mercedes Benz sedan is waiting for them as they exit the restaurant. Miguel is polite enough to open the car door for her, but before she could enter, they're stopped by a woman's voice.

”Claire? Claire Monteverde, is that you?”

It's Karen, her former roommate, girlfriend of the ȧsshole who tried to **** her. And she looks filthy, her dress grimy, like she has been living in the streets.

”What happened to you?”

”Claire! I'm sorry. I'm really sorry for what happened. Please, if you…” is all Karen is able to say before she suddenly collapses on the ground.