“Glitches, yes. I spent $215,000 for a business deal. I make deals that will be lucrative to me. I expected a better return for my money than I have experienced in the last three weeks.”
If this was supposed to shock Claire, it didn’t. She casually picked up her fork, ate a piece of broccoli, and responded, “I would believe that yesterday you successfully increased your return.” And stabbing another piece of broccoli, she added, “Besides, wasn’t it you that decided your business holding would be locked away for almost two weeks?” She ate more broccoli. Part of her feared retaliation, but the other part believed he appreciated the bravado.
“That is true. I am considering the possibility that it was worth it, after what I am currently witnessing.” He watched her expression as he spoke. “And we have no deadline for completion of our contractual agreement.”
Claire didn’t know if she should be happy that he seemed impressed, and she did think an estimated timeline would be nice, but she didn’t mention that either. Instead, she said, “Then apparently, the glitches have been resolved.”
Claire felt she appeared respectful enough to avoid confrontation but impertinent enough to demonstrate resilience. She saw the light brown gleam around his irises, somehow knowing he wouldn’t explode. She would learn to read him. They continued to eat.
Claire let Anthony do most of the talking. He discussed more of the house rules. She could roam the house. However, in anticipation of more glitches, she was not permitted to go outside or consider leaving the property. His office and the corridor of his suite were off-limits. Her schedule would be hers for most of the day, unless told otherwise by him or Catherine. He didn’t work from home that often, but when he did she would be required to be nearby and available at all times. On days he went to the office his only requirement would be that Claire be back in her suite by 5:00 p.m. to receive evening instructions. He was a very busy man and wouldn’t be home every evening to dine with her. However, on the nights he intended to be home she would receive instructions for time of dinner, apparel, and other plans he may have. If he were in town, she would receive instructions as to his intentions regarding visiting her suite and the estimated time of his arrival. She verbally responded to all of his rules.
The young lady with the food came back to clear the dishes and brought a carafe of coffee with two cups. Claire’s headache was improving with food but the coffee would be helpful. Anthony told her that he and Ms. Claire would be having coffee on the sunporch. She thanked him and left with the coffee. Claire didn’t remember a sunporch from the tour.
She walked beside Anthony as they left the office. Located in the rear of the main section, through the archways behind the grand stairs, and past the sitting room, they stepped down into a room made completely of glass. Claire felt faint as her eyes adjusted to the sunshine and she inhaled the fresh spring air. The room was decorated with brightly cushioned rattan furniture as well as tropical plants. Anthony sat on a loveseat and Claire on a chair. The sides of the room opened to allow a cool fresh breeze. Her bogus composure disappeared as the sensation of the fresh spring air blew her hair and she listened to the faint sounds of nature.
When she was a child, her dad, a policeman in Indianapolis, knew how much Claire loved the outdoors. Each spring he would take her to one of the many state parks. They would spend the weekend together hiking, fishing, talking, and wandering. Her grandfather, his father, had been FBI. It was ingrained in them to be cautious. On those weekends he let Claire believe she had control over their plans and the direction of their adventures. Remembering their activities she smiled, knowing he did most of the steering and all of the protecting. The aroma of the fresh spring air brought the memories of those adventures soaring back to Claire’s consciousness.
Just off to the side of the sunporch she saw a large pool. The water was covered with a large tarp, furniture was absent from the deck, and fountains were nonoperational. Though not in season, it definitely had potential for a wonderful place to spend her Claire time once the weather warmed.
As they sat and sipped warm coffee with a cool breeze, Anthony informed Claire that he would be leaving for three days on a business trip. His businesses were all over and traveling was an important part of his work. He would leave later in the afternoon as his meetings were scheduled to begin very early in the morning. He planned to be home Wednesday evening. She would be informed if his plans changed. “Anthony, what do you do?”
“Do you truly not know who I am?”