บท 111: The Highly Urgent Matter

Claire goes straight to Michelle's office, after Mrs. Gomez at the reception mentioned how Michelle had arrived wearing huge sunglasses that failed to hide the tears streaming down her cheeks. She wants to be on Michelle's good side, if only to spy for Gabriel. But lately, she feels some empathy for her—more and more, the image of Michelle in her mind as this callous, evil bitch seems to get eroded somehow.

Michelle's still wearing the sunglasses, a classic Fendi that almost covers half her face. And yet, Mrs. Gomez was right: her cheeks are still wet with tears, and she doesn't even bother wiping them.

"I'm sorry," Claire says without any preamble, as she slips into Michelle's office. "What can I do? It's Gabriel. There's nothing I could do but watch."