Joining the design team was the best thing that could happen to Claire as far as her new career was concerned. She'd been working with them for a whole week and her mind had never been more creative. While some of her colleagues adored her talent and zeal, some hated her guts.

But it's okay, Claire reminded herself constantly.

It was Friday afternoon when Jorge invited her to lunch. Claire was skeptical at first, but when she thought about the favor he had done her by getting Gena a job and a few good moments shared, she realized he somehow had her back.

"I was around the area and I thought we could have lunch together," Jorge said gently once they both settled inside a chic restaurant near Starlight.

"Well, I'm glad," Claire replied with a small smile. "I should've invited you first. I wanted to thank you for hiring Gena; it means a lot to me."

"No biggie," Jorge remarked while grabbing the menu from the table. "She has great credentials, and there was an open position, so I thought why not?" He gazed modestly at her.

Claire's smile reappeared. "Either way, thank you," she insisted and a small silence stretched between them until the waiter took their order. "So how is work?" she finally asked, unsure what else to say.

Things were still awkward between them but not as bad as before. Baby steps.

"Good. We're managing. But you know what would be awesome?" Jorge said, his tone a bit more cheerful than usual. Claire raised an eyebrow, curious. "You joining us. Come in, Claire! It's our family legacy so why would you work anywhere else but there?"

Claire had no perfect quip. If it were back in those years when her dad was alive, she would've been honored to do it. But now—now all she could think of was her worst enemy. Her stepmom. She wanted to start her own legacy and someday she would but not with Selma in the picture breathing at every decision she could make.

However, on the other hand, Jorge's proposal warmed her heart. He cared.

"I'm at a better place emotionally, Jorge. It's all that I need for my career journey at the moment, and I hope you understand," Claire replied calmly, talking about her new position on the design team and the big project at hand. "I'm sure you can manage the company without me—you already have." She meant it.

Although half-heartedly, Jorge understood her.

A simple conversation followed, accompanying their lunch. It was the first time for them to hang out and share a meal outside the house like normal siblings should. It felt strange somehow, but maybe things were getting better for good this time, Claire wanted to believe.

"Remind me to come with you next time if we're gonna have this delicious food," Claire uttered after emptying her plate of chicken paella.

"Well, hold that thought." Jorge stood up, ready to clear the cheque.

"Me, too," said Claire, chuckling at the memory of her last dinner with Ryan and the way he teased and preached about her big appetite. "I didn't know this place existed so close to my office! It's officially my new spot."

"My pleasure." Jorge grinned and walked away.

A deep breath escaped Claire as she remained alone, watching a couple walking by holding hands. Nostalgia enwrapped her. A week had gone by since she last heard from Ryan. She was supposed to feel relieved but why was it not the case?

Idle and confused, her gaze wandered around the place in the quest for nothing in particular. A waiter passed, a group of colleagues walked in, and a couple left. Lost in the scene while sipping water from the glass in her hand, someone unexpected appeared.

It was Doris.

Two ladies accompanied the gorgeous brunette, all looking elegant and classy. Claire swallowed a lump in her throat, for this was not part of her dessert. And as for Doris, her gaze darkened when her eyes met Claire's, and there was no denying that each has finally seen the other.

Surprisingly, Doris marched toward Claire and said, "Hello, there," with a semblance of a smile on her face.

Was it even a smile? Claire sighed.

"Hi." She returned the smile. "Small world," she added, masking her similar distaste towards Doris.

"That I agree," remarked Doris in a flat voice. "Such a crazy coincidence that I keep running into you wherever I go. It looks like we share the same taste in everything, doesn't it?" Her voice was sardonic.

"Perhaps," Claire uttered. "But it could be one or two—it can't be everything." She drew her chest closer to the table as her leg propped over her knee.

"I hope so because I hate sharing," she said crossly, making no effort in hiding her trusting feelings toward Claire. "But I guess some people are too gullible to learn that so I'm still thinking of what to do about it."

Okay, bitch, why don't you just come clean already? Claire knew what was happening but a part of her wasn't ready to succumb to fear about the ugly truth.

"Well, good luck with that. At least we can still share the restaurant, no?" Claire graced her with a bold smile, caring so little that she fucked Ryan right in his ravish penthouse just two nights ago.

She was just going to kneel and ask God for forgiveness for this. But not now, and never to Doris who got under her skin so badly.

"The restaurant?" Doris muttered, smirking. "Oh, yes, it's a great place."

"And I work around here," Claire reminded her.

"Right! I forgot that you work at Starlight. You must come here a lot," said Doris with sarcasm in her voice, and at the same time, Jorge found his way back, interrupting their banter. "I see you have company." She glanced at Jorge immediately with curiosity heavy in her eyes.

"Am I interrupting?" Jorge asked, standing behind Claire, and across from Doris, who looked a little amused at the sight of the two together.

"Not at all. I was only saying hi to Claire," Doris said, her smile broader and brighter now. "It's me who seems to be interrupting here, I guess." Her eyes shifted between Claire and Jiorge, amusement swimming in them.

Frowning, Jorge stared quizzically at her.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Doris. I'd love to continue chatting but we need to go home." Claire stood up, fixing her black bodycon dress, the same one Ryan bought her.

"Home?" Doris flushed.

"Yeah, that's what I said." Claire huffed a small laugh, imagining the ideas lurching in Doris 'mind as though she lived in it.

Perhaps Jorge had become her lover in the Director's psyche. How silly!

Happily, Doris replied, "Sure, that's no problem with me. We can always finish where we stopped, Claire. Good evening to you both."

"Good evening to you, too," Claire remarked and Doris walked away.

"Shall we?" Jorge asked softly, and Claire nodded.

Outside, Claire exhaled heavily as though she'd been holding her breath forever. Her heart was racing in her chest, guilt as charged. How could she talk to Doris like that? And why didn't she care that she was the evil witch in the story? She walked pensively towards Jorge's car.

But how was she going to give up on Ryan? He was always in her mind like a bad tumor in the head. Once again, the emotional chaos invaded her heart and brain, waging war with her reasons. Doris's tone of voice was full of sarcasm earlier. Could it be that she knew about her affair with Ryan?

Goddamn, it!

"Is everything okay?" Jorge asked, derailing her training of thoughts.

"Huh?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I'm asking if you're okay because you look like you've seen a ghost and that lady could be the host," he repeated, laughing indulgently.

"You're crazy." Claire's smile was elusive. "Are you going home early today? Because I am."

"Yeah, I'm done for the day," Jorge answered.

"Okay, let's go." They both hopped in and the ride commenced.

"Who was that lady earlier? You two seemed to know each other, but then you looked like enemies," Jorge, who had been silent the entire time in contemplation, finally spoke.

Claire giggled at that, amused despite the trouble she was in. "Why would you think we're enemies?" she asked, glancing at him.

Jorge shrugged, his expression soft. "I don't know. I just sensed some kind of... tension?" he remarked, and Claire winced back. Chuckling, he added. "Well, I feel like I've seen her before. Who is she?"

"Maybe you have," Claire answered, reclining back in her seat with a sigh. "Her name is Doris. She works at SK—as PR Director or something? I don't know."

"Oh, at SK," Jorge muttered thoughtfully.

"Yeah, but I've only met her recently," Claire said vaguely.

"And yet you two looked like rivals?" John grinned.

"Oh please. I'm not sure what you saw to think that way, but I assure you it's not. Why would we be?"

Because you're sharing a dick? Her subconscious wasn't blunt not to remind her.

"Okay," Jorge called it off and another moment of silence took place for a few minutes.

"Do you have a girlfriend, Jorge?" Claire asked him impromptu.

He looked startled, with a slight frown and a flustered smile. "Um, no. I had one but we broke up not long ago. What about you?"

"Me?" Claire chucked ridiculously. "I don't think I have one. I mean, I don't have one," she said.

What a complex life she had! She mentally laughed at herself.

"I don't get it." Jorge laughed briefly, glancing at her. "You sound like you're not sure or something. Is it a complicated kind of relationship? Because I know such things exist."

Perhaps a sex partner, Claire thought, and his name was Ryan Stevens.

"No, I don't have one." She decided to be subtle.

"That's odd," Jorge murmured under his breath. "Are all the guys in your office blind or something?"

"Jorge!" Claire exclaimed, and he laughed hard. "What are you insinuating now, huh?"

"Nothing, Claire, don't get me wrong," he told her. "We're siblings, blood-related or not. I just think it's odd that you're single." His voice was serious.

"Why?" Claire scowled, bemused.

"Because you're smart, you're beautiful, and most of all... you're kind. So those dudes should check their eyesight." He smiled softly.

"I'm flattered, I guess," Claire uttered, recalling similar words coming from Ryan. She was missing him.

Unbidden, the day she kissed Ryan for the first time flashed in her mind. Would things be different if she'd controlled her hormones that evening? She wondered, imagining her previous life before meeting him.

At last, they arrived home. Claire rushed into her room for a warm and relaxing bath. It'd been one hell of a mental exhaustion for a day, especially after seeing Doris at the restaurant. Closing her eyes, she let the warm water take her anxiety away.

An hour later she was in bed, lying on her tummy, rechecking all of Ryan's messages and their many exchanges. A smile escaped her lips and realized she was extremely missing him. Calling him became her temptation. But no, she wasn't going to give in to her desires.

A call from Gena saved her from herself. It was already dark and the series she was watching had begun tiring her. She hardly paid attention to it anyway, for her mind was already occupied by something else. Stretching and yawning, she picked up the call.

"Hey," Gena uttered.

"Hey. You good?" Claire asked with a faint smile. She sat up, combing her messed-up hair with her fingers.

"I'm fine. I'm hyped!" Gena screamed on the other end, urging Claire's eyebrow to rise heavenward. "I'm super hyped!" she added gleefully.

"Okay, at least some good news for a change." Claire grinned, her mood lifted. "Shoot. What happened?" she demanded.

"Harry invited me over to his place tomorrow, and I'm so freaking out. I mean, both good and freaking out!" Gena snapped.

"Alright, let's start with the bad freak." Claire shifted slowly towards her bedroom couch. "Why are you freaking out? It's not like you've regained your virginity or something, that you're scared it might hurt in case the hot chocolate makes an indecent move."

She could imagine the Asian eyes rolling at the remark.

"I know," said Gena. "It's just... I don't know, Claire. I think I'm nervous."

"Of what?" The swimming pool and garden caught Claire's eyes through the window, relaxing her capricious mind for a change.

"What if I'm moving too fast? I think I'm getting too involved with him. He's nice, really, very nice that I feel like he's too good for me," Gena said, and it was so unusual of her.

"Stop!" Claire sat straight. "You're the most self-confident girl I know. You never had this insecurity thing before, so where is it coming from now? And what do you mean he's too good for you, huh? You're the most gorgeous woman I know, in and out, so no man is too good for you, you get it?"

"I don't know." Gena chuckled, a small relief reflected in her voice.

"You're incredible, Gena Montero. And I'm sure Harry knows that, too." Claire smiled fondly.

"You think so?" Gena whispered.

"I know so because you're my best friend, the best one I've ever had, and you're an amazing woman to top it all. Don't ever sell yourself short, Gena. Ever." Claire was genuine with her words.

"Oh, sweetie. I'm already feeling the overflowing confidence," Gena muttered.

Was she crying? Claire grinned.

"Good. Now stop talking shit and get yourself ready for that day."

"Okay, Aunt Claire," Gena said, her sass restored to its usual glory. "I knew I should talk to you because, between us, you have turned out to be a relationship expert recently. Like a real expert!"

They shared long and rib-cracking laughter.

"Okay, guess what," Claire uttered.

"Should I get the popcorn?" Gena teased.

"You better."

"Hmm, juicy! Tell me."

"Well, I met Doris today." Claire began to narrate her horror story. "Girl, I think she knows."

"Do you think she suspects something?" Gena gasped.

"I think she knows something," Claire said. "She was sending me a message, Gena. Like she was warmIng me and I think I got it."

"Oh girl, what will you do?"

Was there anything to be done?

"Nothing." Claire shrugged. "I guess she won't need to worry anymore because I'm back to my senses now."

"Meaning?"

"I'm done with Ryan."