Chapter 40
Daniel's POV
I heard Henry's voice again in the background. "There you are. Working even at the reception? Dedication is admirable, but surely you can spare time for a drink."
"Actually, I'm online gambling," Claire replied, her voice playful in a way I rarely heard.
"Gambling?" Henry sounded shocked. "What game?"
"Sic bo," Claire said without missing a beat.
"Dice? I wouldn't have taken you for a game of pure chance. I'd have thought you'd prefer something with more... skill involved."
"Sometimes a game of pure chance is a nice break from controlling everything else in my life," Claire responded. I could picture her sharp smile.
"I'd love to see your technique sometime," Henry said, his voice dropping lower. "Perhaps over that drink?"
"Mr. Vaughn," Claire's voice was ice now. "I've declined your invitation three times now. I'm beginning to question your listening skills, which makes me wonder about your company's attention to detail. Not a reassuring quality in a potential business partner."
Damn. I couldn't help but smile at her takedown.
"I'm simply persistent when I see something worth pursuing," he replied, undeterred.
"My fiancé appreciates that quality in me as well," Claire shot back. "Speaking of whom, I need to take this call. If you'll excuse me."
Their voices faded as if Claire had moved the phone away from their conversation. I sat there, listening to the muffled sounds of the reception, feeling oddly like a voyeur. Why had she wanted me to hear this? To make me jealous? To show me how she handled unwanted advances? Or was there something else going on?
"Are you still there?" Claire asked, her voice suddenly clear again.
"Yeah," I said. "He's persistent."
"Like a rash," she replied dryly. "But apparently a necessary evil for our European expansion."
"What are you up to?" Claire asked.
"I'm watching Me Before You," I replied.
"Oh, I’ve seen that one! It’s really good," she said.
"Yeah, Sarah kept raving about it, but I never got around to watching it with her," I said, my voice softening.
"Before her accident," Claire finished softly. "How far in are you?"
"About halfway. He just took her to the concert."
"Spoiler alert - it doesn't end well," Claire said, her voice strangely gentle.
"Does anything?" I responded, more bitterly than I'd intended.
We fell silent for a moment. In the background, I could hear someone calling Claire's name.
"I have to go," she said. "The chairman of the forum wants to introduce me to someone."
"Alright," I said, feeling oddly disappointed. "Take care of yourself. Watch out for wandering hands."
"I always do," she replied, then hesitated before adding, "You know, I wondered if letting you hear that little exchange with Henry would make you jealous."
Her directness caught me off guard. "Was that your plan?"
"Did it work?" She asked, her voice both teasing and genuinely curious.
Before I could answer, she quickly said, "I really have to go now. Goodnight, Daniel."
She hung up before I could respond. I stared at my phone, feeling unsettled and confused by the entire exchange. Claire rarely called me unless she wanted something. So what had that been about?
I texted her: Be careful with that Henry guy.
A reply came almost immediately: I'm always careful. But maybe I should hire you as my bodyguard instead.
The playfulness in her message surprised me. It wasn't like Claire to be coy or teasing via text. Usually, she was direct, almost businesslike. This felt different.
Would that be a step up or down from babysitting Victoria? I replied, curious where this was going.
Lateral move. Different kind of trouble.
That sounded exactly like Claire - always with the quick comeback. I couldn't help but wonder if she was still at that reception, still dealing with Henry Vaughn and his wandering hands. The thought made my jaw clench again.
Do you need backup? I texted, part of me hoping she'd say yes.
Not tonight. But stay available. I may need you soon.
I stared at her message, reading between the lines. Claire never directly asked for help. This was as close as she got to admitting she might need me. For what, I wasn't sure, but the idea that she'd reach out to me specifically meant something.
I'm available, I replied simply.
No response came. I turned back to the movie, watching the characters fall in love against impossible odds, knowing it wouldn't end well. Just like Claire had said. Just like most things in my life.
My thoughts drifted to the call I'd received from Paul earlier today. He'd offered me a new assignment - same pay as the Reynolds job, maybe better, but more dangerous and outside Seattle. At the time, getting out of town had seemed like the perfect escape from Victoria's drama and these increasingly complicated feelings about Claire. But now, after this conversation...
Claire's question about making me jealous lingered in my mind. Was she playing games, or was there something real beneath the surface? The timing of Paul's offer suddenly felt significant, as if the universe was forcing me to make a choice: stay and face whatever was developing with Claire, or take the job and run.
My phone buzzed one more time with a final message from Claire: Goodnight, Daniel. Enjoy the movie. Some stories are worth the pain.
I turned off the TV without finishing the film. Now that I knew the ending, I had no desire to see it play out.