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That might be interesting... Clara swallowed down the thought. ‘In that case, I’d like you to think about whether anyone else might hold a grudge against you. If you do
give me a name, I’ll treat it with the greatest discretion. It would be a way of protecting that person.’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘How do you justify that statement?’
The tension in the room built. Clara couldn’t help glancing up at the modern glass chandelier above their heads, wondering if it was about to start reverberating in response.
‘Because whoever’s orchestrating this threat against you might use that grudge in a way that could be detrimental to both you and the other person involved.’
‘Point taken.’ Gabriel relaxed a little. ‘But there’s still no one.’
‘Very well. In that case, the next question is about any conflicts with your colleagues at the charity or other organisations you work with...’
* * *
The questions had been exhaustive and probing, and Gabriel had struggled to keep his temper at times. His friends, his lovers, anyone and everything that meant anything to him had been carefully scrutinised. Clara had done it with as much sensitivity as possible but he felt violated.
But today had made one thing very clear to him. He couldn’t avoid the violation, but he had a choice about who was going to do it. He’d rather it was Clara.
‘I’ve come to a decision. I think we should revisit your suggestion about CCTV.’
Maybe his reluctance sounded in his voice, because Clara had the grace to hesitate. ‘This is...what you want?’
‘If I’m going to invite guests to my home on Saturday, then it would be wrong not to tell them the situation and take every measure to ensure their safety. And...when I spoke to my mother last night, she asked me to follow your recommendations.’
His mother had begged him. And while there was still room for doubt about exactly what had happened to him, Gabriel had been able to content himself with the idea that what his mother didn’t know couldn’t hurt her. But now he’d realised that Clara was the only thing standing between his mother and her fears for him.
‘Okay. We’ll find a way to install the cameras, without driving you crazy.’ Clara shot him a smile and suddenly everything seemed do-able.
‘I want somewhere I can be alone.’ The thought came out of nowhere, and the more Gabriel clung to it, the more he liked it. ‘Somewhere no one’s watching or listening.’
‘Would you like to pick your spot?’
A safe place. A private place. Clara seemed to understand.
‘My study...and bedroom.’
‘Let’s make that happen, then.’
CHAPTER SIX
YESTERDAY HAD BEEN a difficult day, but it had been productive. Clara had been confident about going home for the night after Gabriel had insisted that she needed a break, and promised that he would follow the advice of the night guards. She arrived at Gabriel’s house the next morning, feeling ready to take on whatever he threw at her. It turned out to be a devastating smile, and breakfast.
‘You haven’t eaten?’ He relieved her of her jacket and laptop bag, then took the takeaway cup from her hand, flipping open the lid and wrinkling his nose.
‘Hey! That’s my coffee!’ Clara plumped herself down at the kitchen table as he tipped the contents of the cup into the sink.
‘It’s lukewarm. And I doubt it tasted much like coffee, even when it was hot.’
He had a point. The smell of fresh ground coffee as he tamped the filter holder and inserted it into the machine was much more tempting. He set a cup and saucer in front of her, together with a small jug of frothed milk.
Clara took a sip. The coffee had enough bite for the morning but was still mellow and smooth. ‘This is nice. Thank you.’
He nodded. ‘You like strawberries?’
‘Doesn’t everybody? What’s all this, Gabriel?’
‘This is our revenge. For yesterday.’ He turned the heat on under a crêpe pan that stood ready on the cooker and took a jug of batter from the fridge.
