章節 15: Bus
She slowed down on the steps, inhaling the fresh air that didn't smell like sweat - a smell that now dominated the full banquet hall, on top of burning candles and fried food.
She let out a long sigh as she slowly made her way toward the gate of the villa.
"Didn't realise that you and Daniel were an item." The voice from the side of the Villa startled her.
"Mr Moore?" Claire recognised his figure in the shadow, along with the faint light of the burning cigarette.
"Let me give you some advice, men like Daniel will never treat you right." He walked past her, and the moon shone onto him, highlighting his tall body.
"And what is that meant to mean?" Claire sneered. "Do you suggest that men that punch holes in the walls and push women against the wall are better?"
"No, I did not say that." Mr Moore threw his cigarette away and walked towards the car that had a driver waiting for him.
Claire ignored it and started walking towards the gate again. She walked onto the road when the black car came up behind her. The window rolled down.
"How are you planning to get home?"
"There's a bus stop down the road," Claire answered honestly.
Mr Moore remembered the very recent mugging incident and asked his driver to stop. He got out of the car and held the door open.
"I believe you are heading the same way."
"I rather not find myself in the confined space with you, Mr Moore. There are at least 66% chances of me being pressed against the wall."
Mr Moore closed the door and gave the driver some hand signal so he drove off.
He walked beside Claire, a few steps the distance between them. They were both silent for good ten minutes.
"Aren't you cold?"
"I am." Claire smiled. "My friend recommended that I do not take a jacket as it'll be awkward and I'll be wasting time trying to get it into the cloakroom. Stupidly, I listened to her." Claire started mumbling as she started to get fed up with the silence. It was weird enough to be near the man that did his best to put her down. It was dangerous and intimidating. And her nervous response was to talk.
Mr Moore hasn't responded and instead he took his coat off and offered it to Claire.
Claire's eyes widened.
"No, thank you. I'll be alright."
"You've just said that you're cold." He said irritated.
Claire scoffed and accepted the coat. She placed it over her arms and her face twisted in disgust as she smelled the stench of cigarettes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"So now you can't speak? You've been very outspoken on every occasion and now you can't tell me what your face is scrunching up for?"
"Your jacket stinks of cigarettes." She admitted. "I feel like I'll get lung cancer by just wearing it."
"I can't smell it."
"Because you're so used to it that it doesn't bother you."
Claire reached the bus stop and checked the timetable. She turned around to return Mr Moore's coat.
"It's still forty minutes until the next bus." Mr Moore checked his watch.
"Indeed." Claire nodded. "I do hope that your driver didn't go too far." She looked down the road.
"I've sent him home."
Claire didn't comment but raised her left brow. She decided to keep walking towards the next stop. Walking would keep her warm for longer.
"Where are you going?"
"Towards the next bus stop."
"Can't you stand next to me for half an hour?"
"There are few too many ditches around for my comfort." Claire joked.
Mr Moore put his coat back over her arms. As she looked at him, her eyes glistened. He liked to see her smile.
They walked to the edge of the city in complete silence.
"There's a different bus going round the corner which has much lesser wait time." She said. Mr Moore followed her to the said bus stop and waited for the bus to arrive with her. She returned his coat and climbed into the bus, leaving him alone at the bus stop.
The following Monday, Zoe ran into Claire's office.
"Claire, I have a meeting with one of our investors in ten minutes and I've managed to get doughnut grease on my top!" She panicked. "I need to find something to hide it."
"I still have those navy blouses under my desk. Get one of those." Claire instructed her.
Zoe ran to her and pecked her cheek. "You're a lifesaver!" She changed in Claire's office and ran out.
Pattison did a good job in finding blouses similar to the one that Claire had, which had quite an unusual design. It was form-fitting below the bust, it had a ribbon cravat below the neck, and puffy long sleeves.
Mr Moore walked through the hall on the ground floor when he noticed Zoe running out of the building towards the square. She caught his eye because of the blouse
"Pattison, is that the top that Miss Thompson had damaged?"
"Not exactly. The pearls on the sleeves look like the blouse from a high-end designer. They are very limited. I did buy it as one of the replacement options as I couldn't find a replica of Miss Thompson's blouse."
"I see." Mr Moore felt irritated at the fact that Claire gave her a new blouse that was bought using his own money to her friend. He was angry that she didn't accept it. Very angry. But his mood turned foul later that afternoon. "Fire her."
"Whom, sir?"
"That woman."
"Why?"
"Don't you dare to question me!" He said through his gritted teeth. Pattison nodded in confusion but he knew he will have to carry out this order.
"Mr Jones?" Mr Moore found Daniel by the elevator just before lunchtime.
"Mr Moore, how unexpected."
"Are you here on business?"
"Not quite." Daniel smiled.
"What brings you here?"
"Claire mentioned that she worked here and I didn't have a chance to ask her out for lunch, so I hoped to find her today and see if she has some free time."
"Claire?" Mr Moore raised his brow.
"Miss Thompson from the Contracts and Services Department?" Daniel raised his brows.
"I see." Mr Moore just now realised that it wasn't until now that he learnt Claire's first name. And Daniel showing interest in her was infuriating. If Mr Moore couldn't have Claire, no one else should either.
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