CLAIRE (NINETEEN)

Olivia was busy with her phone in an instant. I was sure she wouldn’t find anything wow about Raviel on G****e because I’ve tried it before. The information I found about him on G****e was minimal. Even after I searched LinkedIn a hundred times to find out about him, it still didn’t give me a clue about what Raviel Marshal was like out there. His bio only briefly stated that he was a businessman from LA. Raviel didn’t even list his home address, and only listed his office address in downtown LA.

But I never even tried to go to his office because I didn’t really pay much attention to him before. He was just someone who came and went from this house regularly, but we rarely talked too deeply. Our closeness only started last week. Literally last week, before the trip to Hawaii that ended tragically. You could say he was never on my radar. But after getting to know him better and after the various conversations we had, I became more curious about the real him.

Who is he? Is he really the person I know all this time if he’s out there?

“Did you manage to find anything?”

Her snort and facial expression clearly showed that she didn’t manage to find anything wow about Raviel.

“What I told you is even more than what you found on G****e.”

“What kind of businessman would only post so little about himself on the internet? I would consider him very humble or mysterious.”

“Mysterious is more appropriate to describe Raviel. He is not even close to humble. In fact, he always looks arrogant in various occasions. And I am a thousand percent sure that he pays attention to every detail that sticks to his body. Like his clothes, his shoes, his watch. Everyone will know that he is a rich and elegant man at a glance.”

“You describe him that accurately. Wow, you are a true psychology student. No wonder you got an A plus in your personality psychology class.”

“Yeah, but I feel like everything I told you is not even close to the real personality of Raviel Marshal. You know, I feel like his personality is something he created to make you think he is someone he wants you to think he is.”

“Oh my God, you are giving me a headache with your very convoluted words, Claire. Can you simplify it?”

“What I’m trying to tell you is that he could be a completely different person out there.”

“You’re overthinking it. I think he’s very genuine and honest. He’s hot and handsome.”

I snorted. I stood up from the couch and motioned for Olivia to follow me.

“Where are you going?”

“The back garden. It would be nice to chat by the pool. I’ll tell Alberta to bring some drinks and snacks.”

It was as if there were springs in her butt. Olivia jumped to her feet excitedly, her eyes shining brightly with anticipation.

“Let’s go. I have a feeling that I’m going to love living in this house. And I’m not going home until those big men kick me out.”

“Sorry, this house doesn’t need any more residents,” I hit her arm lightly before wrapping my arm around her shoulder and leading her towards the back garden.

-00-

“Bye, Claire. I don’t mind coming back to your house tomorrow.”

“Bye. I don’t think I’ll ask you to come here again. You’re terrible.”

I waved softly at Olivia, who had just rolled up her car window. Her car slowly moved out of Raviel's yard. A guard opened the gate for her, and the giant gate slowly opened. I watched it seriously. I never thought that I was living like in the action movies that I often watch. I never realized it until this moment. I lived in a grand house with a tall and sturdy iron gate. Strong guards were on guard twenty-four hours a day at the gate. I hardly ever saw them wandering around the house. They lived in another building behind the main house.

I shuddered as one of the guards stared at me from a distance. He stood as still as a statue, his face implying that I should go inside the house and lock the door. The house felt quieter and more eerie without Mom’s voice. Usually, when I came home late at night after doing my homework at the library, I never felt this scared. I mean, there was something different after Mom’s death.

I was alone...

And I was afraid of being alone...

My feet unconsciously took me to the hallway on the right wing. The hallway was filled with many abstract paintings on the walls. Right at the end of the hallway there were double doors which were Raviel's study. My mother forbade me to go near his study because I might disturb him working. And I also never wanted to go there because I never had any important business with Raviel. But this time was different. Our closeness began to make me interested in getting to know Raviel better.

His office door was unlocked. It opened easily when I pushed it. I didn't mean to do anything bad by sneaking into his office. I just wanted to look around. What Raviel Marshal's style was like when he was working. His room might help me get to know him better.

I walked between the giant bookshelves, scanning each book title with my index finger. Most of them were business, literature, and history books. There was no fiction, or even novels. This room was like a typical workspace. Very standard, with a set of desk and expensive leather chairs. It was a bit disappointing for me that I didn't find anything unique in this room that could give me a clue about Raviel.

As I was flipping through a business book, suddenly the telephone line on Raviel's desk rang loudly. I jumped in surprise and the book in my hand fell with a thud on the carpeted floor.

My heart was beating very fast. The phone rang in the midst of the very tense silence. How could I not be surprised?

"Should I pick it up?"

I walked over to the phone that was still ringing loudly. I was confused about whether to pick it up or let it keep ringing. Maybe it was one of Raviel's clients. But really? It was too late to call and talk about business.

The phone went dead, but then rang again a moment later.

My hands clenched at my sides before I picked up the receiver and put it to my ear.

"Claire Osborn."

My voice was shaking. I had never answered the phone so formally before. The only person who regularly called me besides my mother was Olivia. And I didn't need to be formal with her at all.

"Claire, why aren't you sleeping yet?"

“Raviel?”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and frowned in confusion.

 “Claire, are you still there?”

“Yes. I’m still here. What’s wrong?”

Does Raviel know I entered his study?