The Heart-to-Heart Talk

Claire couldn't help but stare at Gabriel Tan's face. He looks exceptionally handsome at this point—did something change? Remember the first time she had seen him? That was only a few days ago, when she was standing by the revolving doors of the TXCI Tower. And there were a number of moments when she had to remind herself that this man is her boss, no matter what, regardless of the strange circumstances surrounding their business relationship.

Now, it feels like it was years ago, as though a million things have happened. The moment she said yes to Gabriel's job offer, her life has turned upside-down.

"I'm sorry, Claire," Gabriel begins as they sit down on the opposite sides of the conference table, so business-like. "I wasn't very forthcoming when I made you the job offer. As you realize now, there's a reason why the salary offer was that generous—because it's not really a simple matter of working for me as a personal assistant."

"That's probably the understatement of the year," Claire says. She smiles despite herself.

"Yeah, and I'm sorry about that," he says. He shuffles through the documents he's holding. "Here's a revised version of the Red Contract that Mrs. Gomez made you sign the other day."

"That looks quite extensive," Claire says, noting how there are now several pages more of the legal document than what she originally signed. "What has been added?"

"I'll let you peruse everything before you sign these," he says, "but off the bat, I've painstakingly included all the new benefits and perks of your role."

"And my role being?"

"Uhh, well… As my fiancée. And personal assistant."

Claire couldn't help but shake her head. "Couldn't you hire me as just your fake fiancée? Can we do away with the personal assistant part?"

"I wish I could do that, Miss Monteverde," he says. Claire notes how Gabriel shifts to formally addressing her whenever he has to insist on certain things. "But I also had to retain your services as my assistant for reasons of privacy. I can't hire another one without risking blowing our cover, you know."

Claire nods. That makes sense, she thinks.

"Now you'll be living in the Residence throughout the duration of the remaining days of our contract. Everything you need is well taken care of. As I mentioned, the entire building is yours for the mean time."

"And if I may ask again, why the entire building?"

"For reasons of privacy, Miss Monteverde," he says and smiles. "I have planned everything out."

Oh, really? Claire doubts it, but keeps her mouth shut.

"Now for the personal assistant-related errands I may give you in the coming days, I may need you to use some disguise."

"How do you mean?"

"I'll let Miss Cassandra manage that part for you," he says. "Simply put, you can't go around town doing errands for me looking exactly as Claire Monteverde, the fiancée. To be utterly clear, Miss Monteverde, you have dual roles. And for your personal assistant role, may we use the fake name 'Bella'?"

Claire's brow knits in confusion. "Sorry, but I'm having a hard time following you."

Gabriel sighs. He tucks a strand of his shoulder-length hair behind an ear. Claire notes Gabriel's ear has reddened—is he agitated about this?

"It's simple," he continues. "As my fiancée, your name is Claire. But as my personal assistant, you'll be called 'Bella'. And you'll be dressing differently."

For a moment Claire is speechless. She just gazes at his face, trying to read any hint of him bullshitting her in this discussion. But Gabriel's eyes seem sincere. "So I'll have a dual personality?"

"Yes."

"And I'm doing all this because?"

"You'll be doing this because you'll be paid handsomely, Miss Monteverde," he says. "And if you'll read these documents, you'll find a clause there that describes a hefty bonus upon completion of this job."

"Really?"

Gabriel shrugs. "Yes. But don't take my word for it. I suggest you read it at your own leisure tonight, when you're resting in your penthouse suite. No rush."

"Okay," is all Claire manages to say.

Gabriel solemnly hands her the contract. Claire browses it, but she's not really reading it. She just wants this moment to last longer. This face-to-face thing alone in this huge conference room, the bustling city laid out before them. She recalls that little moment back in her suite, while she's in the Jacuzzi, watching the blue sky—it seems when you're rich, you have an abundance of breathtaking views every single day of your life that you tend to take it all for granted. She glances at him; he's looking out the glass wall. Is he wondering about the same things as she, about the meaning of it all? Or is he just coldly calculating his next business move?

"You deserve a little explanation," Gabriel mutters after a while. "Why I'm doing this. Why it's you I hired. Why the generosity." He takes a deep breath as if to calm his nerves. "Frankly, Miss Monteverde, I had no idea I would make you this offer. When I saw you standing by the entrance of my building, I thought you were just some beautiful face—one of the many faces I'd see and forget as I go about my days."

OH MY GOD—did he just say I'm beautiful? Claire is thrilled, but stifles it. She hides it by fake-coughing, grunting, "Yeah, I remember. You were quite rude, back then."

"Yes, I'm sorry," he says. "But what changed my mind were your credentials. Frankly, I was impressed. You already know what happened with me and Michelle, right? But what many people don't know is how deeply it affected me. Since discovering what she did to me, I had been living the past few weeks in a sort of limbo. I was terribly hurt. Even now. I orchestrate these devious plans, telling myself over and over that revenge is a dish best served cold, but honestly, even if I succeed in ruining Michelle's life and driving her crazy, I would never have the satisfaction I imagined. I would never be happy. Revenge is double-edged, Miss Monteverde. That's also the reason why I'm being very generous in the payment terms of this contract—because I know this would take a chunk out of you. You won't be the same again after all this. But I really hope you'd help me see this through."

So everything is all about revenge, about appeasing Gabriel Tan's hurt feelings. Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned, Shakespeare once wrote. But it turns out, even men like Gabriel can go stark raving mad over a betrayal. And Claire can understand that—ten years going down the drain just like that could really mess you up in the heart and head.

"Don't worry, I'll try my best to be of service," Claire says, trying to appear business-like, as though they're just strictly concluding a business agreement. "But if you don't mind me asking, what's your end game, really?"

Gabriel says nothing. He gazes at her. He tries to smile but it comes out as a grimace, as though he's about to cry but captures himself at the last moment. "I don't really know," he says. "Maybe we'll cross the bridge when we get there."

Claire is still thinking about him as she heads back to the Residence, in the backseat of her now-official limo service. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Gabriel. There he is, in his tower, all powerful and influential. He could easily have hundreds, maybe thousands of women. And yet, he's just like you and me—he bleeds like any regular human being. The image of Gabriel Tan looking out the glass wall at the city beyond, with those interminably sad eyes, keeps flashing in her head. Poor Gabriel. If only they met under different circumstances. If only she were not as poor as she is. If only she were in Michelle Alcantara's shoes, she would never do that to Gabriel. She would give him all the nice things that he deserves. She would be loyal to him. She would love him truly and deeply…

"Hey, Claire," the other half of her brain says. "Did you just freaking mention the word 'LOVE'?"

No, Claire. Don't let your emotion get in the way. This is just a job. This should be over in a month. You'll have a ton of money after this, then you can go away, as far away as you want.

But then again, almost like a faint ache, like a whisper, Claire feels a twinge of sadness at the thought of finally leaving Gabriel Tan when this is over.

She sighs. Slowly, it dawns on her the truth of what Gabriel said during the meeting: that doing this job would take a big chunk out of her. She's changing. Her feelings are changing. And she's beginning to be afraid of where this is all headed.