Chapter 51 - The Frenemy (1/2)

”My ex-boyfriend tried to **** Claire,” Karen sobs. ”And that's the reason why Claire left the apartment we used to share.” She turns to Claire. ”I'm really sorry for how I behaved. I was blinded by my love for that ȧsshole—”

Yeah, right, Claire thinks.

”—So much that even when the truth was obvious, I still believed him. And look how he repaid me!”

”So what did he do?” Miguel's voice is surprisingly calm.

”He dumped me and threw me out of the house,” Karen whimpers.

”How's that possible? Wasn't that your apartment?”

Karen hesitates. She looks at Claire, who gazes back at her coldly. ”My ex-boyfriend was the one who paid for everything. He'd asked me to quit my job months ago because he'll take care of everything I needed. And I believed him!”

Oh, Jesus, Claire thinks, but keeps her mouth shut. Let Miguel have a taste for this theater.

”And when that thing with Claire happened, we got into a huge fight after she left. I guess in hindsight he really was interested in Claire, not me. When Claire left, he had no use for me anymore. So everything that he used to provide for me, he took away, like pulling the rug under my feet.”

”Oh, I see,” Miguel says, turning to Claire, waiting for some sort of affirmation.

And yet, Claire says nothing. There's something about what Karen says that isn't making a lot of sense. For example, she'd never known Russell to be such a vindictive guy. It's more probable that the opposite happened—maybe Karen dumped Russell and started on this path of trying to re-enter Claire's life, no matter what it takes. But she's also aware that saying this out loud could make her sound so paranoid—what sane person could do something like this? But Miguel doesn't know that Karen's not exactly a sane person.

”Don't worry,” Miguel says, placing a hand on Karen's shoulder. ”Any friend of Claire is my friend, too. If you don't yet have a place to stay, you can stay in one of my apartments downtown.”

Claire almost yells, ”But she's not my friend!” But she says nothing.

”Really?” Karen exclaims. ”Oh, you're such an angel!” She stands up and throws her arms around Miguel, who makes a weird face yet accepts the hug.

”There, there,” he mutters. ”If you're hungry, this place has a restaurant, right, Claire?”

”Ah, yes, I'm sure the chef can accommodate.” Claire makes a fake smile. She'll let Karen stay for a while, see what she's up to. Yet, she's a hundred percent sure this woman's maneuvering for a kill.

The house doctor arrives along with Dale just as when they're ushering Karen to the restaurant. The chef is requested to make a hearty, delicious meal for the guest, and they all end up merely watching Karen as she wolfs down a slab of steak. At one point, Miguel playfully comments to Karen that it's ”hard to believe someone as sėxy as you are could eat like a man.”

The comment, of course, doesn't escape Claire's notice—it's official, Gabriel Tan's younger brother is so quickly enamored with this money-whore.

Oh, the plot thickens!

After having her fill, Karen excuses herself to the restroom, leaving Claire and Miguel at the table.

”Poor girl,” Miguel says. ”Can you imagine some lowlife dumping a wonderful girl such as she?” He smiles, yet all Claire could think of as she gazes back at him is, ”Stupid boy.”