Chapter 117 - The Diversion

The desperation, the intensity in Miguel's voice gives Claire the screaming mimies. There's something about it that she couldn't put a finger on, but it's odd.

She holds up the phone and dials another number.

"Gab, Miguel called me up!"

"Hey," Gabriel's voice on the other end suggests she probably just woke him up. "And good morning to you, too."

"Sorry. But I am freaking out."

"What's the matter?"

"It's your brother," she says, weighing her words. "He wants to meet with me and talk to me about something gravely important."

"Hmmm. I've been trying to call him. He doesn't answer. He's still pissed about last night."

"I think it's more than that." She sighs. "You know that he's somehow into me, right?"

"Yeah."

"And now he's acting a bit…different."

Gabriel sighs. "Alright, don't worry about him. Let me worry about him. I've been trying to reach him but you know what they say about people who don't want to be reached out to? Maybe I'll pay him a visit."

"Can you go to him now?"

He groans. "Oh, I'm not sure if now is a good time. I'm still in an online conference with my people. A lot of problems seem to be coming out of the woodwork."

"Okay," she says, not really okay, thinking about how to deflect Miguel's neediness.

"Just tell him you can't go to the meet-up, okay? I know my brother. He'll accept it like a man."

But he doesn't, she wants to say to him. Instead, all that comes out of her mouth is, "Sure."

"Have to get online now, Claire. I'll see you tonight?"

She tries her best to put a smile in her voice. "I'll be there."

On any given day, she would be thrilled, inspired to get through the day because at the end of it, she will spend time with Gab. But there's a lot of awkwardness that gets in the way between now and tonight, and at the center of it is Miguel. What happened to him? He seems to have been spiraling down, hard. Where's the suave, cool, confident man she first met a few weeks ago? Where's the savior of damsels in distress?

Try as she might, she couldn't focus on work. Today is the first day she's supposed to craft a business strategy for one of Gabriel's companies, a task she asked for and given quietly. She's no longer just the executive ȧssistant, as that role is merely play-acting. She's getting her hands in the core strategies of his business. And finally, she's no longer a fish out of the water—she's well comfortable in this real role. What's more, the unspoken disposition is, of course, Gabriel's relationship with her is for the long term, and if that's the case, then she must be well-versed in the business, too.

But this thing with Miguel, it has been getting more and more awkward. For him to ask her out, even in the pretense of some "talking over," borders on subversion—he very well knows she's already with Gabriel, and no matter what happens, she won't break his trust.

"Are you watching something shocking?"

It's Mary, who has been by her desk for a few minutes and she didn't even notice her.

"Oh, sorry," she says, as if waking up from reverie. "I'm just…"

"You've been staring at your computer screen like you're watching a train wreck happen in action." Mary grins. She has no idea how uncannily accurate she is about the train wreck metaphor.

"I'm…" Claire sighs. She looks around to check if Michelle or her possible minions are within hearing distance. "I'm in a sort of dilemma."

"Oh," Mary titters. "That must be juicy. Is it an office romance? Did Jake Magno try to contact you again? Did someone break up with you? Spill it out!"

Claire gazes at her, trying to decide if this is good, confessing to her office colleague something as sėnsɨtɨvė as this. But her heart wants to burst out of her ċhėst from all these feelings that she's dying to have someone listen to her. "Mary, it's about Mi—I mean, there's a man who wants to meet up with me tonight. This is a decent man, a good catch, but I don't want him. He keeps insisting on showing up here, so we can go somewhere else to talk. Only to talk. But I've kept telling him there's no future for us, that he should focus his attention to someone else. And yet…"

"And yet he insists?" Mary gazes at her thoughtfully. "I'm not sure if I'm the right person to ask because I've never had that kind of problem before." She laughs. "My usual dilemma is the exact opposite of that. Nobody wants to date me. So…"

Claire holds her head in frustration, like it's about to fall. "I don't know what to do. Even if I say no, I'm afraid he would keep on insisting. And I'm afraid I might be too weak-willed to stand my ground and say no. I might be persuaded, maybe out of pity or compassion. But I know that's wrong. But still. What do I do?"

"But why not just give this guy a chance? Who knows if you end up eventually liking him? As you said, he's a good catch."

Claire gazes at her. "But I'm already committed to someone else, Mary. I can't do something like that."

"Oh, my gosh! Is it true?" Mary almost throws her arms around her if not for the computer that stands in their way. "You're so lucky! You have actual red-blooded men in your life! Unlike women like myself. I've never had a boyfriend. I think I'll just continue spending my life alone, doing nothing but washing my genitals, then eventually die. Nobody likes me."

Now it becomes about Mary. "Don't talk like that. I'm sure someone out there is meant for you. I also didn't have a good boyfriend, a decent boyfriend, for years before this one."

"Have I seen him? Your boyfriend, that is."

Claire hesitates. "I don't think so." She can only offer her half-truths—maybe in due time, but not now. Mary learning about Gabriel might complicate things too much, too early.

"Well, let me meet him some time and I'll discern what kind of person he is," Mary says.

"He's fine. He's a bit crazy, but deeply lovable when you get to know him," she says.

"Crazy? That's a red flag. You know our boss here, Gabriel Tan? That's the template of a guy you should avoid taking seriously." Mary laughs. "Or you might end up babysitting your boyfriend's ego for the rest of your life."

"Oh, no," Claire says, "My actual boyfriend is so far from Gabriel Tan." Ouch, her heart says. "He's funny and sweet and full of surprises."

"Attagirl! I just wish I could find someone, too."

"You'll see. He will come when you least expect him."

Mary smiles. "Did you say your unwanted suitor is coming over tonight?"

Claire nods.

"Well, the only thing you can do is face the music. Stand your ground. Wait for him, tell it to his face that there is plenty of fish in the ocean, and if he could have the good graces to turn his attention to someone else, you'd be so grateful. Grateful for the peace of mind."

Claire says nothing.

"Otherwise," Mary continues, "he's going to continue being a headache. And that might affect your real relationship. And before you know it, your real relationship suffers, and your true boyfriend is breaking up with you because you were never fully present for him."

"How come you know so much about these things?"

Mary shrugs. "I read a lot of romances on . You should try it, some time. So much fun!"

"Okay."

After Mary leaves, Claire is reduced to watching the hours tick by. She vacillates between courage and cowardice. One moment, she's firm about facing Miguel when he comes, the next moment she just wants to add more bullshit to this story. By five, right on the dot, her deskphone rings.

"Hey, darling," says the raspy voice. It's Mrs. Gomez at the reception. "Your future brother-in-law is here waiting for you. Should I let him in?"

"Oh, my God!" Claire panics, her mind whites out. "No, don't. Tell him I'm already out. Early out, please tell him…'"

"Really? But—"

Mrs. Gomez doesn't finish talking, as Claire almost slams down the phone. She grabs her bag as she hears some commotion brewing by the entrance hall. She's about to run out, but she hears Miguel's angry voice, arguing with somebody, so she slips into a sideroom just in the nick of time. Miguel appears, with a scowl on his face.

Claire opens the door a little to take a peep. Miguel is disconcerted that she's not at her desk. He yells at a staff, asking about her whereabouts. Nobody could give him an answer, which only adds to his frustration. He seems disheveled, confused, angry.

Carefully, Claire closes the door, feeling rotten inside. She should just face him. But then people would hear everything corny he might say, and that's that.

"Oh, Bella! I'm glad you came!"

Claire turns around and her mouth drops open: the "sideroom" turns out to be the auxiliary office pantry, and a group of her officemates stand around a table, slicing a cake. The person in charge of slicing it is currently holding the breadknife aloft, as they are all looking at her, confused about her presence.

And Mary's standing by her, holding an empty paper plate. She grins. "We're giving Arlene a little birthday cake surprise. I thought you had left already!" She hands Claire a paper plate. "Welcome to the party!"

"Welcome," the group around the table mutter awkwardly. Claire knows no one in that group.

Outside, they could hear Miguel's voice yelling, "Where is Bella?" over and over.

"Who's that?" Mary says, as she tries to open the door.

Claire's heart jumps in her throat, as she grabs Mary's arm, hoping it's not too late, wishing she could run away from this place, with nothing but the paper plate to cover her entire identity.