Chapter 65 - The Rendezvous Part Two (2/2)
What Jake Magno doesn't realize as he lies there on the floor of this nondescript bar is that Claire, or Bella, took a big gamble when she did what she did. Claire knew that Jake valued his public persona—he's a sales person after all, whose career depended on reputation and social network, and showing him that she's not afraid to go public and do damage, even if she'd end up damaged as well, would compel him to cave in. The ace up Jake's sleeve as far as harassing Gabriel with a lawsuit is that Jake knew Gabriel hated bad publicity and would do everything to avoid it. Of course, Jake also hated bad publicity, but he had been bluffing and had no intention of going ahead with it—he was just waiting for Gabriel to make a settlement offer, probably in millions of bucks. When Claire as Bella walked into that bar, all feisty and seemingly a woman with nothing to lose, Jake's confidence in his own scam fell down like a house of cards. Worse, Bella isn't bluffing—he indeed was an almost-victim, and she can back up the charges against him.
On the other hand, what Claire didn't know when she walked into that bar is that the four bodyguards Gabriel had ȧssigned to protect her were also there, posing as customers, ready to jump into action should Claire appear threatened in any away. But awesomely, Claire handled herself very well. The bodyguards were secretly impressed with the woman's ”balls,” which can also be regarded as utter recklessness. Yet, it worked. And like all other men who abuse women, Jake Magno's true colors are revealed—he's really a yellow-belied low-life who couldn't hold a candle to a woman like Claire.
As for Claire, the truth was, she really did ”dive” into that situation with her eyes closed. Her heart pounded madly in her ċhėst—she had never done anything as gutsy as this before—yet she held on to logic and the fact that she's on the side of truth.
Unfortunately for Jake, Claire still intends to file a case against him—but only after this whole charade of pretending to be Gabriel Tan's fiancée is over. She'll never let the likes of Jake Magno get away unscathed.
Being driven back to the Residence, Claire wonders what came of her, really. Where did she get courage to do that? Maybe it was pure, simple outrage. She couldn't swallow what Jake had done to her. Sure, it was unconsummated, but still. He drugged her. And she knew that in those moments between when Jake succeeded in bringing her to his house and Gabriel knocking on the door, Jake probably had a little fun with her as she lay there unconscious. She couldn't live with the fact that someone, some idiot she doesn't even respect would get away with such a stunt. She's probably crazy for setting up that date, but she was crazy with anger and an overwhelming sense to right what was wrong.
And even as she sits there in the backseat of that Benz sedan Gabriel has ȧssigned to serve her, Claire seethes with rage, her brain going through like a fine-toothed comb how she'd give Jake Magno what he deserves. Just you wait, Jake, until all this is over. Until Gabriel no longer cares about bad publicity.
As soon as she steps into the lobby of the Residence, Dale greets Claire. ”Good evening, Madam. Miss Cassandra has been waiting for you at the lounge.”
”For what?” she says.
Dale apologizes. ”I'm not privileged to know of such things, Ma'am.”
Miss Cassandra's sipping a blood-red ċȯċktail when Claire finds her. She stands up upon seeing Claire, holding her arm with clammy hands. ”Oh my God, Claire. There's something you need to know.”
”And good evening to you, too,” Claire manages to say, half as a joke, and half as a way to diffuse nerves. ”What is it?”
Miss Cassandra gazes at her. ”It's about Michelle Alcantara. Remember, Gabriel's former fiancée?”
”Oh, yes, the evil bitch,” Claire says matter-of-factly. ”What about her?”
”She's coming to the office tomorrow,” Miss Cassandra says breathlessly. ”And I don't know what she'll be bringing, but my contact says it's going to hurt Gabriel. Really, really hurt him.”