CLAIRE: (is it really love)

by Grace Gervas

  CLAIRE

  Copyright©2019GraceGervas Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybe reproducedortransmittedinanyform orbyanymeans, electronicormechanical,andincludingphotocopying, recording,orbyanyinformationstorageandretrieval system,withoutthewrittenpermissionofthewriter. Thisbookisaworkoffiction;Allnames,characters,incidents, places,institutionsandbusinessentitiesinthestoryareeither

  fictionalorusedfictitiously.

  Resemblancetoanyotherworkofart,livingsituation,people (deadoralive)isapurecoincidence.

  CHAPTER1 ClaireLevy;beautiful,smartandintelligent.Shewasanonly naturalchildtoMr.WilliamLevy;oneofthebestarchitectsin thecountry.Claire'slifewasn'ttheonetocallperfect,butshe washappy,atleastaslongashermotherwasalive,andher familywasintact.Butthenhermotherdied,andClairewasjust twelve.Herlifesuddenlybecametinted;thefather,whowasa friendtoher,turnedintoaworkaholicthatcouldn'tevennotice whenshehadturnedintoawoman.Shehatedhimforthat. He'dalsomarriedanotherwoman,ayearlater,whonever treatedClairefairlyatall,butshenevercomplained;she learnedtobestrong,bold,andafighterofherownbattles.She hatedCinderellaforbeingtoogoodtobetrue,forshe'dalways retaliatewhenshefelttheneedto.Allthetalkabouthave courageandbekind,wasatotalabsurdityinheropinion.

  Fortunately,ClairemetDeniswhenshewasinhighschool; asonofherfather'sbusinesspartner,andachildhoodfriendat somepoint.DeniswastheyoungestteacherandClaire'sprivate tutor;theyfellinlovebutbrokeupafterfewmonthslater,and hehadtoquitteachingwhenhisfamilymovedabroad.Once againClairelivedhersolitarylifeasbefore.Shedidwell, however,inherstudies,butneverhadfriends;shealways believedthey'dhavetoleavehersoonerorlater.Butduring college,shemetGena,andthetwobecamebestfriendssince then;perhapsbecauseoftheirsimilarbackground,forGena wasanadoptedchildinherfamily.

  DuringherJuniorcollegeyear,Clairelostherfatherfroma caraccidentandthatwasthelasttimeforhertoheartheword family.However,Shenevergotachancetotellhimhowmuch shedespisedhimattimes,butstilllovedhimregardless;itwas heronlyregret.Thebattleleftbehindwasthefightover inheritance.Herstepmotherwantedherson,Jorge,totakeover thecompanyalthoughtoClaire,thecompanywaslikeadisease thatshewantedtogetridof;shehadnointerestonthesubject whatsoever.Seasonswentby,andyearsincreasedinnumbers.

  Itwasonebeautifulnight;thegraduatesofLisbayuniversity werehavinganafterparty,adayafterthegraduationceremony. Clairewassittingatoneofthetableswatchingattentivelyother ex-studentswhoseemedbusywithdancing,talkingandtaking photoswhilesomeguyswerelookingatherflirtatiously.She smiledandstaredathercoolmojitoforamomentbeforetaking asipcalmly,ignoringanyattention.Shetookherphoneoutand startedbrowsingthephotosofwhenshewasalittlegirl;she lookedsohappywithbothherparents.Theyoftenusedtogoto Montesbyduringvacations,orasimpleweekendgetaway, wheretheyhadabeachhousebythesea.Itwasalwayslikea beautifuldreambeingthere.Sheknewshehadtogothere; soonerthebetter.

  "Aren'tyoujoiningus?Comeondon'tbeshygirl,itsonlyfor today!"itwasGena'svoicethatsurprisedherfromherdeep thoughts,shewasstillshakingherhipsinadancingmode.

  Clairestaredatherbestie,allstartled,thenlaughed"No, I'mleavingsoon."sherepliedwhilefinishingherdrink.Gena wassurprisedhenceaskedifshewasalright,whichwas returnedagreeably."I'mspendingtheweekendatthebeach house,wouldyouliketocome?"SheaskedGenaafterhesitating forawhile.

  "I'dloveto!whowouldmisstheadventure?ShallItakeour group?"Genaaskedanxiously.

  "Um--Ithinkit'saniceidea,it'llbecool!Invitethem."she consented. Andthenextday,justasagreed,theyarrivedatMontesby threehourslaterafteranicevanride.Itwasabeautifultown withattractivenaturalscenery,likeatropicalparadise; foreignersnevermissedthechancetogotherewhentheyvisit thecountry.Theygotoffthevan;theyweresevenintotal,and gotwelcomedbyanoldmanwhowastakingcareofClaire's countryhouse.

  "Claire!Whatasurprise,youhavegottentallmychild,I nearlyforgotyou."Thecharmingoldmanregardedherwitha hug.

  "Iwilltakeitasacomplimentgrandpa!Howareyou?" Clairereturnedhappilyandalltheothersdidthesame. Theywereescortedinsidebythatoldmanandfounda tablefulloffoodanddrinksforbreakfast,readyforthem. "Wow!Whendidyouprepareallthese?"Genaaskedwhile therestkepttheecstasy. Hesmiledcordially."Justenjoythetasteofourfoodhere kids,callmeifyouneedanything."herepliedhappilyandthey allthankedhim.

  "ThanksGrandpa,Idon'tknowwhatIwoulddowithout you."Clairesaidandsmiledathimwhilemarchingoutside, handinhand.

  "Whattookyousolongtocomechild?"Heaskedherina lowtoneofvoice,ontheirwaytotheseashoresjustfewmetres fromthefrontyard.

  Clairelookedathimandsighedwithalittleforcedsmile."I wasjustwaitingfortheperfecttime,I'msuremystepmother calledhere,Didn'tshe?shethoughttheremustbesomething preciousinhere,Ireallypityher!Whycan'tshejustbesatisfied withthecompany?"Claireutteredcontemptuously.

  "Cryifwanttocry,youcancurseifyouwantto,It'stheonly waytothrowyourbitternesstowardsyourfather!"Hesmiled tenderly."Yourfatherneverforgotaboutyou,trustmemy child"hetoldher.

  Clairestaredathim,surprised;it'slikeheknewhow repressiveshehadbeen."That'snotcomfortinggrandpa,please don'ttrytomakemeseehimdifferently."shesaid,hereyes filledwithtears.

  "Heismyson,althoughheisnotmyfleshandblood,butI sawhimgrowingupsinceIstartedworkinghere;Hewassorry forneglectingyouwhenyouneededhimthemost,heknewhow youlivedbutallhewantedwastoprepareabetterfuturefor you!"Thistimehewastakingaseatonthebrownsand, watchingtheseawaving.Clairefollowedhislead."I'llgiveyou somethinglater,Ihopeyouwilltrytounderstandhim."he added.

  Theytalkedforawhileandheadbacktothehouse,where herfriendswerewalkingaimlesslyaround.Shehintedthem aboutthebeachandshowedtheway,beforeturningtoGena.

  "Gena,I'mgoingsomewhere,"shesaid."sopleasetakecare ofthem,andaskgrandfatherforanythingyouneed." "Okaybut...areyoualright?Youlooksad."Genaasked. Claireforcedasmile."I'mokay,don'tworry,we'lltalklater; Iwon'ttakelong."Shetoldherandwalkedaway. Shegrabbedataxiafterwards,thattookhertothecemetery withinhalf-an-hour.Oncearrived,Shetookfewstepsahead hesitantlywhilelookingaroundtheplace.Nothinghadchanged, shethought.Ithadbeenfouryearssinceherfatherdied,and thatwasherfirstvisitsincetheburial.Shesigheddeeplyand walkedslowlytowardsthecemeterygate,whereshewent straightaheadtowardsherfather'sgrave.Shestoodupinfront ofitwithapensivelook;asthoughshehadalotofquestions withnoanswers.

  "HowamIsupposedtounderstandwhatgrandpatoldme today?Didyoureallyneglectmeformyownwell-being?"She uttered;Sheknewitwaspointlessblamingthedead,yetshe neededtovent.Nomatterhowhardshetriedtounderstandthe lifeshe'dledbyfar,shecouldn't.Itfeltunfair."I'lltrytofind peaceinmyheartforyoudad,sopleasehelpmeforget everything;myanguishandhatred."shesobbed.Shewishedhe wasthereforher;sayinghewasproudofheronhergraduation daylikeallotherstudents;butshewasallalone,nowandeven then.

  Whileleaving,abitlater,Clairespottedamanontheway, doingsomethingwithhiscamera.Shedidn'tpayanyattention andcontinuedwalkingpasthim,butsurprisedly,sheheardhim talking;

  "Areyoufeelingbetternow?"Heaskedwhilekepton checkinghiscamera.

  "Pardon?"Clairesnapped."Areyoutalkingtome?"She added. Helookedathersmilingly;hewashandsomeenough,with funkycurls,inhismid-twentiesorso;tallwithacheerful personality,eveninafirstglance."Yesyou."Henoddedhis head,approvingly.

  Clairelookedathim,puzzled."I'mnotsureifI'msupposed toreceivethatfromastranger,butthanksforyourconcern anyway."sherepliedtohimcasuallyandturnedtowhereshe washeading.

  Themancontinued."I'msorryifI'veoffendedyou,I should'veintroducedmyselffirst,maybe?HiI'mBruno."he said,inateasingmanner,whilstlettingoutakillersmilethat could'vedrivenanywomancrazy;butnotClaire.

  Shepacedfewstepsbacktowardshim,nonchalantly,and stopped."Areyouajournalistbyanychance?BecauseIdon't haveanyscoopforyou,incasethat'syourissue."

  Brunoburstedoutlaughing."Ajournalist?MyGod!No,I justsawyouinthereandIfeltconcernedthat'swhyIcouldn't ignoreyou."hesaid.

  "Ohreally?Howsweetofyou!Youshouldstayhereanddo thecharityjobthen!ThankyouforyourconcernBruno,butit wasn'tnecessary,trustme."shesnapped.Hestaredather tenderly,whichmadeherloosenabit,andaskedwhyhewas lookingatherthatway.

  "I'msorryifIwasrude,butyouhonestlylookeddevastated there,b
utwell,Icanseeyouarefullofenergynow;soI'lltake myleave."hesaidcalmlyandwavedgoodbyetoher.

  Ashewasturningaround,Clairelookedathimforawhile, anddecidedtostophim."Wait,"sheurged.Brunoturnedhis head,blushing,beforeheresumedhiscomposure."I...I'm sorry!I'mClaire,andthankyou,sincerely!"shesaidsoftlyand smiled.

  Shewasverymuchawareofherfaultysocialskills,butthis timeshewantedtomakeaneffort;sheneverhadpeople worryingaboutherexceptherfriendGena;shedidn'tknowhow itfelttobeprotectedbysomeoneelse.

  "Apologyaccepted!"Hebeamed,andshereturnedasmuch. "Soareyounewaroundhere?I'veneverseenyoubefore." "Oharen'tyouaknow-it-all?HowcanyouknowthatI'm new?"Sherepliedandhelaughed.Theywerealreadyoutside thecemetery.

  "Wellyoucansaythatloud.Iknoweveryonearound,but thisisthefirstcharmingfacetomeettheeyes."Heflatteredher andsheblushed.

  "Ohsothat'showyougetintothemladieshuh?" Helaughedagain."You'refunnyClaire!"

  Alittlechatledintotheinvitationforacoffeeatthenearest restaurant,andClairedidn'tseeanyreasontodecline.They rodeinhisredsportcarthat'sbeenparkedaway.Apparently, TherewasaterrificrestaurantthatClairehadn'tknowabout. Thecarpulledover,andtheywenttooneoftheemptytables. SomeofthepeopletheregreetedBrunoandsomemadefunny signalstohim,likearegular.

  "Youseemverypopularhere."Claireremarkedcasually Brunosmiled."That'sbecauseIliveoverthere."hesaid whilepointingafingeratthesecondfloorofthebuildingina childishway.

  Shequestionedhimiftheyrentedroomsthere,andhesaid thathewastherestaurantowner;shewasimpressed.Itwasher dreamtohavesomethingonherpossessionthatsheworked hardfor.Shekeptittoherselfthough.Theytalkedeverything andanything;forachange,sheturnedveryhappyformakinga newfriendcapableofbreakingherribsinashortmoment. Nevertheless,ClaireneverstoppedstaringatBrunowhenhe talkedorlaughed.Hewashandsome,charmingandboyishin manners.Butthatwasall;shehadnotimetocrushoversome guyshe'djustmetinthecemetery.

  Herphonebuzzedsuddenly,andItwasGena'scall."Hello?" SheansweredwhilelookingatBrunowhowasalsolookingat her.

  "Hey,whereareyou?"Genarepliedfromtheotherend. "Um--withafriend,why?Doyouneedanything?"

  "WhichfriendthatIdon'tknowabout?you?Spillit,have youmetsomecuteguyoverthere?"Genaaskedherina naughtyway.

  Claireblushed."Stopityously!We'lltalklater!Bethere soon!" "Youbetter!BecauseIcan'twaityouknow,andit'sgetting latesocutoutyourlittleromance."shesaidandhungup,Gena wassooutgoingandcharming,sometimesverynaughtybutshe wasagreatfriend.

  Clairelookedatherwatchandhereyeschanged."OhMy God!It'salreadysixandamstillhere!I'vegottogoBruno."she stooduphastilyandcollectedherthingswhilehewasfinishing talkingtooneofhisemployees.

  "Alrightbut--takeiteasyClaire!Icangiveyouarideifyou don'tmind" "Ahno,Idon'twanttotroubleyou;butthanksforthenice lunch.I'vecompletelylosttrackoftime."shesaidwithasmile, andstartedtoleave.

  "But--"hestarted."It'sseemslikeit'sgoingtorainsoon."he mutteredworriedlybutClairewasalreadyleaving. Theweatherchangedabruptly;theskywastoodarkasifavery heavyrainwasgoingtocrash.Clairedidn'tcarebecauseshe hadanumbrellainsideherbackpack.Shewenttothemainroad andwaitedforataxi.Tenminutespassedbuttherewasnosign ofanytaxi.Shedecidedtowalkhopingthatshe'dfindoneon theway.Afterashortwhile,therainstartedpouring.Shefeltso disappointedbutshedidn'thaveachoicesinceshehadalready started.Shetookherumbrellaandopenedit,thenwalked fasterthroughtherain,butitwasincreasinglyheavy.Shetried tocallGenabuttherewasnosignal;herjeansandsneakers wereallwetsinceitwasquitewindy.

  "Crap!"Shescreamed,"I'msodamntiredandthisstupid umbrellaistotallyuseless!" Itwasalreadydarkandaboutthirtyminuteshadalready passed.Therewasn'tanytraceofacar,busorevenataxibut shekeptonwalking.Thegeographyoftheplacewasterribleas farasheavyrainfallwasconcerned;itwouldeasilygetslippery, andatremendouserosionwouldtakepartthitherto.Shehadto walkcarefully,butonecan'talwaysbecarefully

  enough.Suddenlysheslippedandfellwithoutnoticingthatshe waswalkingontoalittleslope.Therewasanerodedpartthat formedatemporaryreservoirinwhichrainwatercollectedand cascadedaway.Claireslidstraighttowardsitandgrabbedthe treebranchwhichsupportedherbalance,luckily.

  Lookingdownshefeltterrified;shetriedtoholdontothe branchtightlybutitwassohardforheraswaterkeptrippling pasther,andontothelittlerailingbridge.Sheeventriedtopull herselfbutstillcouldn't.Shescreamedforhelpbuttherewasno onethere,notevenananimalpassing.Itwassostrangeand sudden;comingfromaperfectniceday,andinablinkofaneye shewasfightingforherlife,insuchastupidmanner.Sheeven hadtolaughabit,whileslowlylosingherbreath.Shewascold, andthewaterwouldn'tleaveherinpeace.Likeanangelshining fromafar,sheglimpsedadimlightapproachingfroma distance,andscreamedforhelpwiththelittlezealshe'dleft;her handswerealreadyoutofstrength,hereyeswerelosingsight andshestartedtogoblankastheglimpseofthatdimlight disappeared,Eventuallyshedecidedtoletgoofthetreebranch, incaseitgottoohard.

  CHAPTER2

  Onsuchastormyevening,Mr.Stevensandhisgrandson,Ryan wereontheirwayhomefromthehospitalafterhishealthy checkup.HewasthefounderofSKgroup,thatincludedthe largestrealestatecompanyinLisbay.Theyownedseveral buildings,apartmentsandshoppingmallsamongotherthings. Stevenshadtwograndsons,RyanwhowastheCEOofSKreal estateandtheotherwholivedanadventurouslifesincethe deathoftheirmother,Emily.Theytwoboysgrewupin Montesby,butRyanlivedinthecitybythen.

  Therainkeptpouringintensely.Ryanwasdrivingthelarge suburbancarefullyasMr.Stevenstookabottleofwhiskeyand hadasip,beforeclearinghisthroat.

  Ryanlookedathim,andshookhishead;hehadtoldhim manytimestoquitdrinkingasthedoctorsaid,butthatwas almostimpossibleforMr.Stevens,forhethoughtwhat'sthe pointoflivingifonecan'tenjoythelittlethingslifehastooffer.

  "Weshould'vegonetoyourapartmentson,thisrainwon't stopnow;willyoubeabletodriveinthisweather?"Mr.Stevens askedworriedly.

  "Don'tworry,Iknowthisroadasthepalmofmyhand." Ryansaid,confidently,andhemeantit. Hewastall,athleticbuiltandmaturedguy,withabitcold personality,butratherattractivemaninhisearlythirties;oneof themosteligiblebachelorswithhighprofile.Witheyesgluedon theroad,hesuddenlyhitthebrakesandlookedoutsidethrough thewindowattentively.

  "Ohyougonnagivemeaheartattack!"Mr.Stevensbarked. "What'swrong?"

  "Lookoverthere!"Ryanpointedafingerwhilestaringvery carefullyattheothersideoftheroad.

  Hisgrandfatheralsoturnedtoseewhathewastalking about,andimmediatelycaughton."It'sawoman!"

  "Iguess." "Whatareyouwaitingfor?Goandhelpherson,sheclearly needsahelp!"Theoldmanurgedimpatiently,andRyangotoff thecarfast.

  Herunhurriedlytowherethatwomanwasabouttofall, andgrabbedherhandsharply.Hepulledherupwithapairof hisstronghands,tookherbagandcarriedherinhisarms,and withhereyesdrowsyatthelastminute,thegirlwent unconscious.

  "Ithinkshehadaslip."Ryansuggested.

  Mr.StevensopenedthebackdoorandRyanputthat womaninside."Issheokay?"Heasked. "Idon'tknow,Ithinkso!"herepliedtensely,ashechecked herpulse.Theywerealldrenched.Ryanwrappedherwithhis jacketthatwasatthebackseatbeforereturningtothedriver seat.

  "Whatwasshedoinginthisrain?"Mr.Stevensgrowled.He wasaverykindheartedandgenerousoldmanbutsometimes veryhandy.

  "Onlyshecantell!"Ryanlookedatherwithoutawordmore, andstartedtheengine. Ittookaboutfortyminutestoreachtheirhouse;itcould've takenless,buttheroadhadn'tbeenfriendlyatall.Hugo,oneof themaleemployeesopenedthemassivegateandthecar entered,Ryanbeckonedtohisdirectionforhelp,andHugo respondedbyassistingMr.Stevenstogetoff,beforeheading insidethehouse.Ryancarriedthatladywhowasstill unconsciousandfollowedthem.Hewentdirectlytooneofthe roomsonthesecondfloorandputheronbed.Hethencalled Martha,anoldladywhowastheheadhousekeepertotendthe strangewoman.

  "Howisshe?"Mr.StevenaskedassoonasRyandropped downstairs. "I'vejustcalledDr.Marcos,hewillbeheresoon."Ryan replied."She'sstillunconscious!Andyoushouldgogetsome rest!"

  "Noson,yougoonaheadandchangefirst,I'llwaitfor MarcostoarriveMr.Stevenssaid. Ryanwenttohisbedroomandquicklychangedintoa simplesweaterandgympants.Afterawhilethedoctorcame. Heexaminedthewoman,andtoldthemitwasnothingserious; thatallsheneededwassomerestandthemedicationhe'd injectedher.Marcoswasafamilydoctorandclosefriend.

  "Shewasjustinshock,butwillbefinewhenshewakesup tomorrow!Callmeincaseofanything."SaidMarcosbefore leaving.

  Ryangotathoughtaboutthatlady'sfamily.Afterhesitating forawhilehewenttoherroom;thewholehousewasquiteby then.Theonlysoundleft,wasthatofraindrops.Helookedat her
,foldingarmsacrosshischestandtookadeepbreath.

  "Whattheheckwhereyoudoinginthatrain?"Hewondered outloud,aboutthatmysteriousladyinrain.Afterawhile,he decidedtoopenherbagandtookhercellphonetoatleastcall anyone.Andjustashetriedtodoso,therewasanincomingcall. Hepickedrightaway.

  "Finallyyouhavedecidedtoturnonyourfilthyphone!Hey, doyouhaveanyideahowworriedweare?Whereareyou?"It wasafemininevoice.

  "Hello?"Ryanreplied,"I'msorrybuttheownerofthis phoneissick,webroughthertoourhouse,Idon'tthinkifyou cancomerightnowbut--"

  "What?Whathappened?Issheokay?"Sheinterruptedhim, andhefrowned.However,withsuchagitation,hetoldherthat shewasfine,andgavehertheaddressincaseofanything."But hey,howcanItrustyou?"thewomanbarked.

  "Youhavenootherchoicebuttodoit!I'mhangingup!" Ryansnorted. "You--"shestarted,buthe'dalreadyhungup.Afterfew secondsshecalledagain,butRyandidn'tanswer;shesentatext andtoldhimthathe'dbetternotdoanythingstupidtoClaireor elseshe'dkillhim.Ryansmiledashereadthetextandlookedat thesleepinggirltenderly.

  "SoyouareClairehuh?Howinteresting!"hethoughtout loud.Hereplacedherphoneback,andcoveredherwitha blanketasshewassleepingsoundlybeforeleavingtheroom.

  Thestormhadfinallypassed.Abeautifulmorningcame; bloomedflowersmadethegardenalive,theshiningsunrays penetratedthewindowswhichbrightenedeverycornerofthat hugeclassicmansion.Clairewokeupandfoundherselfina strangeplace,shestaredtheroofwiththeblurimageandher heartskippedabeat.

  AmIdead?Whatisthisplace?Shewonderedwhileattempting togetup.Thememoryoflastnightcamebacksovividly,and herwholebodywasinpain.

  "Takeiteasymiss!howareyoufeeling?"Marthaasked whilehelpinghertositup."Youwereburningwithfever,Ihad tospongeyou"shesaidcalmlyasClaireremovedatowelonher forehead.

  "Er...I'mfine,it'sjust,mybodyachesallover!What happened?"Claireaskedinascratchyvoice.Marthatoldher howshewasbroughtthere,andgaveheracupofherbalteato calmhernerves.Sheintroducedherself,andClairedidthesame. "ThankyouMartha,andI'msorryforthetroubles."Clairesaid aftertakingasip.

  "Don'tmention!I'vepreparedyouawarmbathandclothes. Mr.Stevensandhisgrandsonarewaitingdownstairs"she replied"Hereisyourmedication,itwilltakethecoldaway."