Chapter 50 - The Interloper (2/2)
”Oh, no, don't be sorry at all. It's nothing.” Claire smiles. But inside, she's fuming. That idiot, Gabriel Tan! Why on earth did he make me settle in the very Ground Zero of the memories he had with that bitch? What is he trying to accomplish? He could have easily made her stay at an actual house, maybe another apartment. No, he made her stay in the Residence. And all this time, Claire thought she was being given some special treatment! That Gabriel went all this way to make her feel as though she mattered.
Now Claire feels foolish. She almost loved him. Just an hour ago, she'd gaze at Gabriel with such longing. Now as it turns out, she's just an employee, after all; a pawn in his insane game of human chess. And for what? To get back at the woman who cheated on him—by doing one stupid thing after another.
She doesn't say another word until they reach the Residence. Miguel seems to ”get” it, somehow, as he didn't badger her with more questions about Karen. He gets out, opens the door for Claire, then attends to Karen and lifts her in his arms. Claire takes a mental note of how well-toned Miguel's arms are, like he's a professional bodybuilder or something.
Dale meets them in the lobby and instantly he's calling up for ȧssistance.
While waiting, Miguel places Karen in one of the plush couches in the lobby. He feels her pulse and decides she's fine. ”Color has returned to her cheeks,” Miguel says.
It never left, Claire thinks, but keeps it to herself. It's hard not to be cynical when you truly know a person from the inside out. But she decides to let things run in due course; let Miguel realize that for himself.
Then suddenly, as if roused from a bad dream, Karen opens her eyes and bolts upright, looking around, her eyes going round at the obvious grandeur of her surroundings.
”Where am I?” Karen begins, her voice hoarse.
”You're not yet in hell, obviously,” Claire says, smiling at Miguel to reassure him she's just trying to add some levity in this situation. ”But maybe you can start telling us what happened to you.”
Karen stares at Claire for a long moment, as if she'd forgotten who she is and is trying to remember. She touches her face, running her fingers through her raven hair. She gazes at Miguel. ”You,” she mutters, pointing at him. ”I owe you my life.”
Jesus, Claire thinks. If previously she doubted if Karen was just bullshitting them, now Claire's sure this is all an act—Karen is doing her moves again, and it's all unfolding right before her eyes. ”Karen, stop it—”
”Claire,” Karen says, ”I owe my life to you, too. And I'm really sorry. I really am.” She begins sobbing; it starts as a pathetic whimper at first, then it rises in intensity until her shoulders heave up and down as she dramatically sobs. ”I couldn't even begin telling you what happened.”
”Well, you can try,” Claire says.
Miguel sits down beside her and puts an arm around Karen, trying to comfort her. ”There, there. You're safe now. If you're not ready to tell us, it's fine. Get some rest here. Once you're rested, I'll try to contact your friends or anyone you know who can help you.”
”I think there's no need for that,” Karen says, as she stops sobbing. ”I'm already here, with one of my good friends. Claire.”
Miguel looks at Claire, who in turn looks at Karen. ”Really? We're friends?”
”Good friends,” Karen says, her tears returning. ”We were, until I had the gall to do that nasty thing to you. I should have believed you. I should have followed what my gut said. That man was an ȧsshole. He really did try to **** you…”
”What?” Now it's Miguel's head's turn to spin. ”Who's raping whom—”
”Long story,” Claire cuts him. ”But it doesn't matter now.”
”It matters to me, Claire,” Miguel says, standing up. ”I need to know the story, no matter how long. And if there's anyone in that story who tries to **** anyone, then I'd like to squeeze his neck with my bȧrė hands!”
Jesus Henry Christ, Claire thinks as he gazes at Miguel. This is going to be a hell of a long freaking day.