Claire looked at Tony in disbelief. “Are you suggesting we meet them this weekend before we leave for Europe?” She watched for his reaction. There was none. He continued reading on his laptop and making notes on his iPad. “Please don’t tease me.”
His smile appeared genuine. “I am not teasing. If it will make my wife happy as we head out on our European adventure, I can suffer through a few hours of Mr. Wonderful.”
She got up from the table and went to him on the sofa. “Really? Can I please call her and see if they’re available?”
He said she could, but first he had something he wanted to do. She was wearing a light pink sundress. His hands began to roam under the hem, up her thighs, and to his desired destination. Dinner and the phone call would need to wait.
They arrived in New York on Thursday night and planned to leave Sunday for Paris. Tony thought Claire might need to shop before their trip, but she assured him that she’d done enough research to learn she could do plenty of that in Paris, Italy, and Switzerland.
Tony laughed. “That even scares me. Mrs. Rawlings, I believe you are getting too good at this shopping thing.”
They arranged to meet John and Emily Saturday afternoon at a restaurant in Newburgh, a scenic little city on the Hudson River, midway between NYC and Troy. Tony said their apartment could lend itself to a longer visit than he wanted. Claire knew this was difficult for him and appreciated his honesty. Besides, she liked the idea of a public setting. Tony would never do or say anything in a public place that would jeopardize his image. She knew that no matter how the dinner progressed she would reap the consequences, negative or positive. However, seeing Emily and John for the first time since their wedding was worth Tony’s chosen aftermath. She could endure the night. Tomorrow they leave for Europe.
When they stepped outside the apartment building, NYC was stifling. The air between the tall buildings sat unmoving with the heat, noise, and smell of automobiles. The July sun penetrated her sunglasses, making her squint after the dimness of the lobby. She used to like the city, but now she thought about the tranquility of the Iowa countryside. As they drove the hour and a half drive, Claire was thankful for the tinted windows and air conditioning of the limousine.
During the ride, Tony worked on his latest project while she tried to read. She packed many books for their trip. Between flights, drives, and waiting for Tony, she anticipated significant amounts of downtime. The words on the page didn’t make sense. She read and reread, but her thoughts were miles ahead at the restaurant. It’d been seven months since they were together. She wanted it to go well. However, she overwhelmingly feared it would not.
Trying desperately to ignore the onset of another headache, she anticipated problems. What if John said something? What about the job topic? What if Emily pursued her earlier concerns? Her mind raced through these situations and more. If possible, she considered how she could fix them. It didn’t always work, but having backup plans made Claire feel better.
They were an hour out of Newburgh when Tony broke the silence. “Claire, please stop.”
Shocked she turned to him, “Stop what? I am reading.”
“No, you’re not. You are sighing, fidgeting, and stressing about things over which you have no control.”
“I’m sorry. I just want this afternoon to go well.”
“Are you planning to do or say something wrong?”
“Of course not.”
“Let me tell you about this project I am working on.”
She really wasn’t interested, but he rarely offered to share. She closed her book. “All right.”
“These are perspectives on a company. Actually, a family owned business in Pennsylvania that at one time employed over seventy-five people. Today it employs forty-six. I don’t care about this company or the employees, but I am significantly invested in their major competitor.” Claire definitely didn’t see the connection to their lunch but she nodded and replied, “Okay.”
“When founded, the original president made wonderful decisions. In the past five years, the reins have passed, and the decisions have been less fortuitous. The chairman is now seeking to sell the company, recognizing the economic climate. They need money to continue, banks are not lending money. If he doesn’t sell, the doors will probably close in the next two years.” Still lost, she maintained eye contact and nodded, he went on. “I am considering a very low-ball offer. The benefit to me is to reduce the competition. If my offer is accepted, the doors will close immediately. According to my accountants, the company in which I am already invested is projected to increase sales by over 18 percent immediately upon the close of this company. This means I reap benefits. They project my venture in this company will be recouped in profits in less than two years. The long-term benefits are increasingly fiscally rewarding. What do you think the employees of the Pennsylvania Company are hoping will happen?”
“They either want their company to go on as it is or to be sold to someone who’ll keep it running.”
Tony said, “Good, why?”