Terms and Conditions

Claire had a panic attack.

"Claire?" Pattison walked up to her. "What's going on?"

Claire fell to the floor feeling her legs getting weak. She started hyperventilating. The decision that she made within a split second was going to haunt her for the rest of her life.

Pattison sat in front of her, placing his hand on hers.

"Let's steady that breathing." He said with such a reassuring calmness.

"Did you know?" Claire managed to get some words out, feeling as if her chest was running out of oxygen.

"Know what? That I'm going to be rehired this morning? Absolutely not." Pattison squeezed her hand. "No, let's breathe, Claire. One… Two… Three…" Pattison tried to lead her breaths but she still struggled. The entire situation was too much. It took a few minutes before Claire was managing some form of breathing, very shallow breathing. Pattison helped her up and out of the boardroom. They made it to the elevator but as they came out on the ground floor, Claire started feeling dizzy. A few steps out of the elevator and Claire unexpectedly fell to the ground.

Pattison rushed to help her, realising that she was unconscious. Security by the entrance was quick to call for an ambulance and Pattison went off with her to the hospital.

This was a time he had a good chance to look at her. She was so pale, almost sickly pale, she was unhealthily thin, with deep dark circles under her eyes. He already knew how stressed Claire was recently so he wasn't surprised at the observation. He knew she barely ate unless it were business dinners or instant noodles.

The doctors were quick to do some tests and they were quick to make their diagnoses. Claire was exhausted and dehydrated. Due to hyperventilation, her oxygen levels dropped and she blacked out. In theory, it wasn't anything dangerous but it did indicate Claire's deteriorating state over the last few weeks.

Claire woke up not long after. She was given fluids to help with the dehydration and within a few hours, she was discharged. Pattison called for the driver and got her back to her flat. He did his best to help her out with the stairs up.

"Claire, are you sure you're okay?" He asked again before leaving her alone.

"Yes, I just need a good sleep." Claire nodded.

"I'll bring you some shopping at the end of the workday. Is there anything you'd like?"

"I'm fine, thanks, Mark."

"I'm sorry about today. I'm guessing last night didn't go as planned."

"I have no idea," Claire admitted. "It was a very unexpected turn of events."

"What exactly happened?"

"Can it be a conversation for another day?"

"Sure. Frankly, when I got a call this morning to come in I was half sure that it was to help to dispose of your body." Pattison said half-seriously. It made Claire chuckle.

"I would have expected the same," Claire said as Pattison led her into her bed.

"I'll lock the door and slide the key under, like last time," Pattison said. "Take care."

"Thanks, Mark."

Pattison hasn't left the apartment fully yet when Claire was already asleep.

He made his way back into the office, only to be summoned by Gabriel.

"Did you manage without issues?"

"I-" Pattison stuttered. Gabriel sensed that something wasn't right. He turned around and glared at Pattison dangerously. "Unfortunately, Miss Thompson didn't feel well."

"Didn't feel well? What happened?"

"Miss Thompson fell unconscious when we walked downstairs." Pattison gulped as the words left his mouth with very little courage he had left. "She was taken into the hospital, but she was discharged fairly quickly so I did take her back home."

"What did the doctor say?"

"She was very dehydrated and it was quite likely exhaustion."

"Why didn't you call me?" Gabriel stood up.

"It wasn't anything life-threatening, sir."

"If it is to ever happen again you must let me know immediately."

"Understood, I'm sorry, sir."

"I'm going to see her this evening to check on her. Anything else?"

"I-…" Pattison stuttered.

"Spit it out."

"I've promised to see her later."

"What did I say earlier? Unless instructed to, you're not to come near her."

"I understand," Pattison said as he looked down.

"Why did you want to see her this evening?"

"I wanted to ensure that she's okay and bring her groceries. One thing that was mentioned is that she needs to eat well."

"Don't worry about it. I can get it sorted."

"Thank you, sir." Pattison smiled. He wasn't sure whether there was any malicious intent on Gabriel's side but he was genuinely hopeful that Gabriel will check on Claire.

Gabriel felt guilty and he hated that. He knew that Claire was his weakness and now he second-guessed his choice. Giving in to his emotions was something he thought he'd never do, but it was Claire.

He was angry at himself for winding Claire up enough to lead to her falling unconscious, but also he was pleased that his cunning plan worked out.

Claire was his and only his.

As the evening came, Gabriel was ensured to stop on the way to Claire's and grab her groceries and a warm meal. He hasn't done groceries himself for years but he decided to do it himself - for Claire.

He made his way to her flat, still wondering how she ended up in a place like this.

He made his way up the stairs and knocked on the door.

Gina unlocked it and froze.

"Good evening, Mr Moore." She said cautiously.

"Good evening." He responded, feeling awkward for some reason. Gina looked at him warily. "Eh… I came to see if Claire's okay."

"Well…" Gina looked around to where Claire was.

"It's okay, Gina," Claire said weakly from her bed. "I'll catch you tomorrow."

"I do hope that Mr Moore isn't going to make you for work tomorrow," Gina said loud enough as to ensure Gabriel heard it.

"Goodnight, Gina," Claire said. Gina took her handbag and hugged Claire goodbye. As she left, Gabriel entered the flat. He placed a bag of groceries as well as a takeaway meal on the plastic table. Claire was laying curled up on a bed, and she didn't speak to him yet.

Gabriel watched her carefully as he unpacked the groceries, yet she hasn't budged.

He looked around to find some cutlery, still surprised at how little Claire owned after finding that she had only a small bunch of cutlery. He brought the box with food to her, but she didn't seem too excited about it. Her eyes were lifeless and uninterested.

"Claire, I've brought you a meal. Pattison has said that doctor recommended for you to eat well."

Claire shook her head, still not intending to sit up.

"I understand that you're not feeling well but you should eat at least a bit." He tried to encourage her.

"You tricked me," Claire said in a raspy whisper.

"We can discuss that when you're better."

"No." Claire put all her strength in and sat up. Her make-up was smudged and she still wore her clothes from earlier. "I need it out of the way now."

"Okay." Gabriel sat down on the edge of the bed. "Will you eat then?"

"I'm not hungry."

"I see." Gabriel put the food on the side. "What would you like to discuss?"

"I still don't know why?"

"It's a mutually benefitting contract."

"Hardly."

"It is. I get to use my marriage as an excuse to shut people up about my love life, and you have your work as well as full access to all of my assets. Mutually benefiting."

"What a reason to get married." Claire laughed.

"Better than most." Gabriel shrugged.

"Your perspective on life is so positive." She said sarcastically and sneered.

"Now, I do hope that you will take a few days off to recover before going on the rampage at work."

"Rampage?"

"I assumed that you wanted full autonomy of the department to drag the company through the mud. I expect no work done and trouble."

"Is that what you think of me?" Claire asked with raised brows.

"That's what I think of people altogether."

"How lovely. But then, I guess you don't need to know what I'm going to do."

"Legally I have no say in it anymore. Run wild if you wish, scaring our clients off one by one."

"Maybe I will." Claire smiled faintly.

"I will give you your spending card tomorrow. I've already filled the paperwork for it."

"A spending card?" Claire's eyes lit up. She could use it for the treatment.

"Yes. You can use it as a wish."

"Aren't you worried that'll I waste all of your money and destroy your assets?"

"If that's what you wish to do." Gabriel shrugged.

"I'd like you to move in with me. Pattison will come and help you pack tomorrow."

"I rather stay here."

Gabriel gave her a death stare.

"Clause 10.12 requires you to live in the same house as me."

"Oh." Claire didn't look best impressed.

"Why aren't you happy to move into the Villa?"

"The thought of staying with you within the same walls terrifies me."

"You will have your own space," Gabriel suggested.

"What if I will not do it?"

"I'm sure that you have an idea. If you breach the contract, I will sue you. And then you'll lose absolutely everything. You will have no career, no money, nothing. And I'll ensure that I'll destroy everything you ever cared about or loved."

"I want 200'000," Claire said quietly, bringing her knees up to her chest and looking down at her feet.

"Claire, your spending card already has 500'000 and you'll get 50'000 for your monthly budget. However, if you need any more, say so and I will sort it out."

"I'm asking for 200'000 and I'll never ask for anymore."

"Ask for anything."

"Well… I did ask for you to get rid of it."

"That's not going to happen, Claire. Until death does us apart."

"There's something that I didn't see mentioned." Claire started carefully.

"Well, when it comes to intimacy, you'll never be forced." Gabriel bends slightly, resting his elbows on his legs.

"What?" Claire didn't even think of that aspect of marriage.

"I do not have any expectations for our love life. I will fully respect your boundaries and I will never force you to do anything in that aspect that would make you feel uncomfortable."

"As much as I appreciate that, I was referring to something else." Gabriel looked at her in surprise. "There's no requirement within the contract that we have to share our marriage status. I'd ask you to keep it quiet. It'll be easier for us."

"You want to keep it a secret?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Gabriel nodded thoughtfully. "But if anyone asks us directly we cannot lie, and we tell the truth. Furthermore, we cannot use it to pursue anyone else. This marriage is binding and any other romantic or sexual relationship will be classified as an affair and the party will be penalised."

"So, you're telling me that I can't be seeing or sleeping with anyone." Claire looked at him with surprise. Once again, it was something that never crossed her mind.

"Yes." Gabriel nodded.

"I have a few more requests," Claire said.

"Yeah?"

"I wish to have my own space within the house. I do wish to go to work and come back separately. I do wish that we do not show off our relationship in public, especially at work. I do not wish for us to interfere with each other's families."

"So you want to pretend there's nothing between us?"

"There IS nothing between us besides a single paper."

"I can comply with these wishes." Gabriel agreed after some hesitation. He didn't like the concept but he didn't want to make Claire's condition any worse.

"Thank you."

"Anything else?"

"No." Claire shook her head. Her hair was messily falling out of the bun, and a few streaks of it found their way onto her face.

"Have something to eat and rest. Pattison will come tomorrow to pick you up." Gabriel stood up, looked around and left without any other word. Claire stayed in the same spot for a while longer, feeling so many complex emotions. She was excited to get her hands on the money. Her mum was still in the ICU and that 200'000 was going to cover her transfer to the private hospital as well as surgery and treatment. Yet, she dreaded the repercussions and what was yet to come.