The Frenemy

"My ex-boyfriend tried to rape 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 asshole—"

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 sexy 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."

Claire stands up, excusing herself. She finds Karen in the ladies' room, retouching her makeup.

"Hi, friend!" Karen cheerfully greets her.

Claire stares at her in the mirror. "We're not friends, Karen. So please stop this charade."

"Oh, my God! You are so vicious!"

"I'm not kidding," Claire mutters under her breath. "If you're planning on doing something evil here, I won't let you."

Karen sighs. "You're quite mistaken, Claire. I'm really scraping the bottom of the barrel. I don't know where to go or how to start again. I'm all spent."

Claire gazes at her for a long time, a million thoughts running through her head. The good person in her wants to believe Karen's story; she wants to give this woman a hug and tell her everything's all in the past and it will be alright. But the cynical side of her keeps on tolling the alarm bells—what if this woman is planning to do something and stab her in the back? Who really knows?

But in the end, no matter what she thinks or what her gut feel is, Claire decides to let Karen think that she believes her. Don't show her the ace up her sleeves, so to speak. Whatever Karen's planning, she'll be in for a surprise.

Claire smiles finally. "That's alright, Karen, dear. We'll help you get back on your feet."

"Oh, thank you!" Karen gives her a big embrace. "By the way, who's that pretty, pretty man who helped me?"

WE helped you, is what Claire wants to say. She hesitates for a second. Is it smart to tell this woman every little detail?

"Isn't he Gabriel Tan's brother? Because he somehow looks like Gabriel," Karen says.

"Uhh, y-yes," Claire says, stifling the alarm bells ringing in her head. "Did you just guess that?"

Karen giggles. "Oh, yes, I have a talent for 'sensing' these things! I bet he's a CEO of his own company, too!"

Oh, Jesus, how easy it is for Karen to betray her own motives. If Claire previously had any doubt about Karen's ulterior agenda, now she's sure—all of this is just an act. Karen's "fishing" for the next man she'd latch onto. She couldn't decide if Karen's just too stupid for her own good that she has no self-awareness at all, or is she just betrayed by her own eagerness? Yet, Claire decides to keep quiet.

"Yes, he's a CEO of about a hundred companies," Claire says, smiling sweetly. "And you're lucky because you're just his type!"

"Oh, my God, Claire!" Karen laughs. "Don't say that! He might hear it."

We're here inside the goddamn ladies' room, so how can he hear it, Claire fumes. But outwardly, she says, "Who cares if he hears it, if it's the truth, anyway. Believe me, he likes you."

Karen giggles and takes Claire by the arm as they walk out the ladies' room. "You're such an angel, Claire. I promise you we'll be best friends forever. Do you think Miguel is the marrying type?"

"Absolutely. He'll want to make two dozen babies with you." Just like his idiot older brother, Claire secretly fumes, her increasingly confused emotions now pushing her over the edge. Yet, she tries her best to appear fine. "Now be a doll and let's not mention any of this conversation to the man waiting at the table, shall we?"

"Pinky swear," Karen chirps.

"Pinky swear," Claire responds, entwining her pinky finger with that of Karen, like a couple of tweens at summer camp. But deep inside, Claire thinks, "Pinky swear, my beautiful ass."