Difficult decision

"I-…" Claire stuttered.

"I thought that you'd be ecstatic."

"I thoughts so, too. I mean, you're a walking red flag."

"I wish I could argue with that." Gabriel squeezed Claire's hand with his newly bandaged hand. Claire hesitated. "Are you actually considering it?"

"I need to analyse all my options before I make the decision."

Gabriel laughed, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Are you going to take a business approach to this?"

"Why not?" Claire shrugged. "I should write down all of the pros and cons too."

"Okay." Gabriel nodded as he stood up and grabbed some paper and a pen from his desk, passing them to Claire.

"I wasn't completely serious." Claire felt embarrassed.

"It's an important decision. Do what you need to do." Gabriel sat back down beside Claire.

"I'm not sure whether I can make this decision right now."

"I understand," Gabriel said quite calmly. "You can have as much time as you need."

"There's something that I need to do first," Claire admitted as she looked down on the floor.

"Claire, promise me that you'll be careful." Gabriel reached for her hand again. "You must promise that you'll be safe."

"I promise." Claire nodded.

"Thank you." Gabriel leaned forward and kissed the back of Claire's hand. "I'll be waiting."

"Thank you, Gabriel."

Claire hesitated again, but soon she stood up, picked up her backpack, and left.

She needed to ensure her parents' safety and there was one place that she found which would allow that, but she already suspected that she was tracked.

She walked by the road until early morning. And then she took a coach as far as she could. It was only in the evening that she got off the coach and called her dad using the pay phone.

"Hey, dad. How are you doing?"

"Claire, are you safe?"

"Yes. I've left the city, as agreed. I have the box with me. And yes, I'm safe. I'm heading North."

"That's good. Your mum is going to have her surgery tomorrow. We will try not to draw attention either." Her dad sounded emotional.

"That's fantastic! I'm going to find you a safe place and I'll make sure that mum is moved for her rehabilitation."

"Don't worry about us."

"You know that's not the option," Claire said stubbornly feeling her chest tighten.

"Keep safe."

"You too, dad." Claire disconnected, as she started to sob.

She checked into a cheap hotel, knowing that she still has a long journey left.

She had enough money saved up to move her mum to a private facility at the far North end of the country. She needed her parents as far away from Moore Senior as possible. She needed them off the radar.

Her journey took four more days before she reached the last city on her trail, ensuring that she took enough detours to not be tracked down easily.

Gabriel sobbed for the rest of the night and morning after Claire left. He knew that what he did was right for Claire but he was sure that Claire wasn't going to come back. He still hoped that once Monday comes he'd be able to catch at least a glimpse of her as she walked through the lobby or even in the elevator.

But that hasn't happened. He was informed that Claire took a two-month career break. Pattison passed it on warily, expecting an angry outburst, but instead, he saw Gabriel break down again.

"Sir?" Pattison started carefully.

"I f*cked up, Pattison. I really did." Gabriel mumbled as he tried to compose himself. "Do you know if anyone knows where she is?"

"I'm afraid that not," Pattison admitted.

Gabriel hated the unknown but he tried to be patient.

A few days went by before Gabriel's patience ran thin.

On Friday, he went to the thirty-sixth floor. The department seemed to be in a full spin of work, but everyone froze as he entered. He quickly caught Zoe.

"Miss Green, isn't it?" He started cautiously.

"Yes, Mr Moore." Zoe bowed her head respectfully.

"May we talk?"

"Of course, sir." Zoe followed him into the meeting room. "How may I help you, sir?"

"I wondered if you know…" Gabriel hesitated. "Miss Thompson… Claire left quite suddenly. I wondered if you know if she's okay. Is she well?"

"I think so, sir," Zoe said carefully. Claire warned her of her absence and that she would be unreachable for a while, but she hasn't heard from her in over a week.

"Please, if you do find out that she's unwell or in danger, please let me know."

"Of course, sir." Zoe nodded. Curious as to why Mr Moore was interested in Claire to this extent but also anxious to be in his presence.

"Thank you," Gabriel said leaving the department in a hurry.

Gabriel waited another two weeks before deciding to ask Claire's family about her well-being, and maybe her whereabouts.

He walked into St Anne's hospital feeling guilty for doing so.

He walked towards the VIP room holding the bouquet. Then he was anxiously pacing by the door for a good few minutes, before entering the room carefully.

"Good evening, Mr Thompson." He uttered as he was met by a pair of dark eyes looking back at him. Mr Thompson was by the bed, as his wife was asleep.

"Mr Moore?" Mr Thompson looked at him warily.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion. Would you be able to spare me a few minutes?" Gabriel asked in a begging tone. Claire's dad hesitated while Gabriel cautiously passed him the flowers. Mr Thompson placed the flowers on the bedside table and followed Gabriel out of the room.

"How may I help you, sir?" Mr Thompson asked, his hands turned into fists to stop them from shaking. Gabriel noticed that Claire's dad seemed anxious and maybe even angry at him.

"Again, I'm so sorry for my intrusion, Mr Thompson." Gabriel bowed his head respectfully. "I came here because of your daughter, Claire."

"What do you want with my daughter, Mr Moore?"

"She left her work quite suddenly, and I was rather worried. I think I came here just to see if you know if she's okay."

"Claire's okay." Claire's dad stated quite coldly.

"Thank you." Gabriel felt happy to find that at least Claire's parents seemed to have contact with her. "Do you know where she is?"

"I'm afraid not, Mr Moore." Claire's dad lied.

"Do you have any contact with her?"

"I'm afraid not, Mr Moore." Her dad lied again.

"I understand that this is none of my business but I do hope that you can pass on to her that I am really worried for her and that I hope that she keeps her promise," Gabriel said carefully.

"What promise?" Claire's dad raised his brow.

"Claire promised me that she'll be careful and safe."

"I see."

"Thank you for your time, Mr Thompson. And I wish a fast recovery to your wife." Gabriel bowed his head again before leaving.

Claire called her dad again that evening.

"Hi, dad." She spoke from the private facility where she just already arranged the move for her mum. "How are you both doing?"

"We're okay. Mr Moore was here earlier today."

"What? Are you okay?" Claire sounded worried.

"Yeah. It was Moore Junior."

"What did he say?" Claire didn't want her parents to find out about her marriage in that way, besides, she was yet to end it. Surprisingly, she didn't bring herself to do it yet. She couldn't. Something somewhere in her chest hurt at the thought of ending it all. Something held her back.

"He asked me to pass on that he is worried for you and that he hopes that you're keeping the promise. He did bring some flowers too." Claire's dad said more warmly. Claire felt the sting in her chest.

"I see." Claire sighed with relief.

"He did seem quite genuinely worried."

"Maybe."

"Do you think he knows?"

"I don't know. I never asked. I never found anything at Diamond Corporate that linked it to Moore Pharmaceuticals."

"I see." Her dad went quiet.

"Dad, I was calling to let you know that you'll be moved tomorrow."

"Moved?"

"Yes. I found a place for mum to be safe. It's completely private and none of her details will be used. I've also rented an apartment next to the facility for you. You'll be safe."

"Are you going to stay with us?"

"For a little while."

"And then?"

"I'll need to think. I can't just leave it now, dad. Not after so many years."

"You must be careful."

"You're starting to sound like Mr Moore," Claire grumbled. "Anyways, transport is ready for tomorrow. It'll be a private ambulance. I'm afraid that you'll not be able to take much with you."

"I'll see you soon, Claire."

"I'll see you soon, dad." Claire disconnected from the pay phone.