“Good evening, Anthony.” They walked to the dining room.
“I went to your suite expecting to find you there.”
“I apologize. I was told dinner would be in the dining room at seven, I didn’t want to be late.” She emphasized her obedience to his rules. Tony pulled out a chair for Claire, she sat. She couldn’t help notice his eyes, black as night. She knew her impudence had an effect on him and that she needed to be cautious. She was walking a slim hazardous line.
“Your punctuality is dutifully noted. It seems that my absence has helped you remember who is in charge and what guidelines you are to follow.”
“Yes, your absence was advantageous on many counts.” She placed the napkin on her lap. Tony’s eyes were piercing. After a prolonged silence, Claire decided to lighten the mood. “I believe it helped me recognize that I owe you much, not just the money to repay my debt, but the confidence you’ve shown in me.” He was listening. “The confidence to trust me with your intimate beliefs.” She paused and waited. He didn’t comment. “I will not betray that confidence.”
Cindy and Carlos entered the dining room, placed plates with food, and poured water and tea. Claire and Tony remained silent until the staff exited the dining room.
“Claire, if you are being honest with me, then you never cease to amaze me. If, however, you are playing me you will regret it.” His eyes were intense. He wanted to make her confess her scheme.
“Tony, what would I gain by playing you? I am aware that my present, my future, and my release are solely in your hands. I am sorry for my behavior before you left.” She was pretty sure she sounded sincere.
Tony seemed satisfied. He didn’t tell her that it was all right, instead he changed the subject and they ate. After dinner they went out to the gardens for a stroll. It was there he asked about her walks in the woods. How far did she walk? Where did she go? How long was she gone? Claire didn’t want to tell him about the lake, but she was afraid to lie. He could see on the video surveillance that she left the yard at one time and didn’t return until another.
She told him about the multiple clearings, insects, flowers, and animals. Then she told him about the lake. He seemed surprised. He had seen the lake on his flyovers but that had to be six or seven miles from the house. Suddenly, she worried. “Is it still on your land?”
He appreciated her concern, but yes, she’d stayed on his land. As they conversed his eyes lightened. He reached into his breast pocket and brought out a black velvet box. “I found these for you in Italy. I thought they made a nice complement to your necklace.”
Claire opened the box. Inside she discovered a pair of pearl earrings. The large cream colored pearls almost identical in size and color to the one on her grandmother’s necklace were offset by white gold circles. They were pretty but not the same. Claire tried to understand his meaning. “Your necklace is a cross, which is an X on its side. Now your earrings are O’s. X’s and O’s.” He smiled.
It wasn’t as if she suddenly liked him, she didn’t. However, she appreciated the thought he put into his gift. It was a sweet and unexpected gesture. “Thank you, Tony. That was very kind of you to think of me during your busy trip.”
They made it through this storm. Leaving wasn’t an option, but they seemed to reach an understanding. Tony knew he was in control. He didn’t need to prove it. Claire knew she was in control of her actions, she could choose to fight or complain but her plan was for self-preservation until she was free. This had been a good old-fashioned thunderstorm, loud and boisterous but no real damage.
Days passed and turned into weeks. It was the end of August and Claire’s schedule remained constant. The only variable was Tony’s work location. Before he left for Europe, he offered Eric for her use. Since his return he hadn’t mentioned her leaving the property. She hadn’t been off the estate since New York, and that was a month ago. Truthfully, she didn’t miss the cities, she missed the lake. She kept praying for him to be called away for a few days, it didn’t happen.
Something else that hadn’t happened since Tony’s return was his threat of video screening. Other than the first night back, trying to bait her, he hadn’t mentioned the videos. It was as if they no longer existed. Claire knew that wasn’t true, but the illusion helped her compartmentalize.
Sundays usually involved staying at home, in his office, her suite, at the pool, anywhere that allowed for relaxation. Tony often needed to read or talk to Brent Simmons about something but he slated Sundays for his time to do as he pleased. It was Sunday, the twenty-ninth of August, when Claire decided to ask Tony for a favor. He told her before that if she wanted something she needed to ask. They lounged at the pool, enjoying the last few days of the season. “Tony, I have a favor to ask of you.”
He lay on a lounge chair, his dark hair soft and wavy after drying in the sun, relaxing following a recent encounter in the pool. He wore his swim trunks, which showed his firm defined tanned body. His eyes hidden behind sunglasses, he didn’t move but answered, “Go ahead.”
“I would like to call my sister.”
He sat up slowly, removed his sunglasses, and shot his piercing eyes her direction. “I believe this has been discussed and you know my decision. I have determined it is better that you don’t have contact with your family.” It sounded like a final statement. She persisted.
“I remember you saying that. However, a lot of time has passed. I won’t say anything to her that you don’t want me to.” She could see Tony becoming irritated but decided to add more information, “Her birthday is on the thirty-first.”
He took a breath, exhaled, and lay back down. Claire waited, he didn’t answer. She put her head back on the chair and contemplated how to revisit the subject without being disrespectful of his answer or lack thereof.
Tony closed his eyes against the sunlight. He thought about the framed pictures hidden in his suite, the ones from Claire’s Atlanta apartment. He’d wondered how long it would take for her to ask to contact her family. It took five months. No doubt if the means had been available she would have contacted them sooner.
If her family consisted of poor farmers from Indiana the call wouldn’t be much of a risk. Actually, Tony wasn’t concerned about her sister. It was her brother-in-law, John Vandersol, an accomplished attorney that was a potential threat. From humble beginnings, utilizing his intelligence and intuition, he had become an associate at a top-notch law firm in Albany, New York. This was a firm that rarely hired outside of Ivy League schools. The man was even under early consideration for partnership. Tony didn’t feel comfortable with Claire having contact with him.
As far as Tony was concerned the past five months had taken favorable unexpected turns. Claire’s behavior was a pleasant surprise, much better than he’d anticipated while planning her acquisition. Truthfully, while wanting to keep her and use her for himself, he hadn’t been sure it would work. Plan B had always been and supposedly was still an option. But now that she’d been seen with him in public it would be difficult to remain completely detached. He didn’t want the addition of Emily, and especially John Vandersol, to upset his perfect equation.
Tony contemplated and a rush of fury swept his consciousness. He realized that she was questioning—no, arguing his decision. Not only was she arguing, he was considering her request. It was the damned pictures in the stupid frames. A small part of him cared that he’d taken all that away from her. That hadn’t bothered him five months ago. It had actually been quite the coup, but now . . . Hell, it is just one call. Maybe if he could control the content. Reassuring himself—of course he could control the content, he controlled her. He could control a telephone call. Tony decided that first he would see how badly she wanted to make this call. He would stand back and watch, see how far Claire would push, observing her resolve in the face of much adversity, as she attempts to manipulate him. Yeah, no lie, that courage turned him on. Finally, he said, “I will think about it.”