CLAIRE
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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.
"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.
"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."