Claude

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The doctor clears me for work the next morning.

"I know that it may feel a little soon but you're well enough to go to work. I do recommend listening to your body and having a couple days off when you need them. Any questions?"

I shake my head and leave the medical room. It's too late for me to go to work today and I still have to talk to Claude about adjusting some of my duties due to the nurses instructions.

Nina has been messaging me a lot lately but apparently Claude has told her that she can't see me until I come into work. I don't text back most of the time but I read them all, as if they are long letters from a long lost friend. I think back to the very beginning of this job when my friendship with Nina was untainted and new and exciting. Mostly I remember feeling relief that I'd found a friend so quickly.

As much as I love her, it's hard to ignore the fact that she is one of them.

Claude left pretty abruptly last night after my confession. I was surprised of course. The conversation was too much for him - it was too much for me. It confused me what he said about Raph. When I woke up in my room after everything happened, Raph led me to believe that Claude had willingly sent me on that mission, that it was all his idea. Except Claude said that it was all Raph's idea.

Realistically, I should listen to Raph. He has been kind to me, a friend really and doesn't appear to have any real reason to lie to me. Yet, the way Claude seemed to feel genuine regret about the situation makes me think that something isn't adding up.

I suppose I should just forget about it and move on but I've never been one to do that. Someone is lying to me and I want to know who.

My phone buzzes in my hand and I open the text from Nina.

Hey babes, heard you've been cleared to move around again. Wanna go to lunch today? Xx

My first reaction is to say no, I'm too tired. However, it would be nice to get out of the house.

We agree to meet at the usual spot and I begin to get ready. It's a slow process. I may be well enough to do things now but I don't feel as though I've recovered just yet. The tiredness seeps into my bones and makes my head pound but I continue to apply my makeup anyway. The boys may have seen me with messy hair and no concealer on but I'll be damned if I give even a hint of suffering to the random strangers in the café.

I huff in annoyance when I realise that I don't have a car. In fact, I haven't actually seen my car for a few months now. I could call an Uber. I could call an Uber and run away and never look back and then- and then what? Live in fear until they find me again?

Shaking my head to rid it of these ridiculous thoughts, I call an Uber and make my way to the hotel. Nina beams when she looks up from the front desk.

"Diana!" she shrieks and I find a little joy bubbling in my chest when she wraps her arms around me.

"Hey," I say softly.

"Shall we go shove our faces with sandwiches?"

The air is cold outside and the clouds stormy, like the scene of a depressing movie. The café is comforting though and when the smell of freshly brewed coffee hits my nose, I allow myself a small smile.

Sandwiches and iced coffee in front of us, she grasps my hands in hers.

"My darling, how have you been? I wanted to come visit you terribly but Raph said you were in a bad state."

I laugh awkwardly. "Yeah my body kind of shut down but the nurse cleared me for work so I'll see you tomorrow as well."

She claps her hands. "Then we can have lunch everyday."