Emily broke the uneasy stillness and told Claire she would miss her and couldn’t wait until they were together again for the wedding. Then she turned to Tony. “If we are still welcome?”
His mouth smiled. Claire didn’t need to look to know his eyes did not. “Of course, we look forward to your visit.” Once the car reached their hotel, Eric opened the door and Tony got out first. Emily and John both hugged Claire on their way out. Emily told Claire to call more, and they both shook Tony’s hand as they went into the hotel.
Tony got back in and Eric shut the door. Tony laid his head back on the seat. Claire still didn’t think she should speak. She wanted to tell him how pleased she was with what he had said. She did trust his decisions and she didn’t care about the money. However, it was obvious Tony wasn’t happy. She chose to remain silent. As the car pulled away Tony squeezed Claire’s hand and spoke, his tone was neither warm nor playful, “I believe it is good that you had a nap this afternoon.” Eric drove them to the apartment.
Prolonged endurance tames the bold.
—Lord Byron
Chapter 28
During the eight months she lived on Tony’s estate, she never saw visitors, business or personal. The house remained busy with staff and employees. People who clean, cook, and fulfill other responsibilities filled the house. The grounds often bustled with gardeners and maintenance workers, but there were never guests. That was why as they approached the house, winding up the drive, it seemed strange to see multiple cars parked on the brickyard in front of the main steps.
On the plane and again in the car, Claire received the rules speech. It seemed incredibly redundant. She’d heard it hundreds of times, literally. She knew the words by heart. Follow my rules: number one, do as you are told, do not divulge personal information, actions have consequences, appearances are of vital importance, and public failure is not an option. Apparently, being Tony’s fiancée didn’t exempt her from the rules. As a matter of fact, it made them all that more critical.
Shelly, Tony’s publicist, released the prepared statement to the press. It simply read,
Anthony Rawlings, entrepreneur and world-renowned businessman happily announces his engagement to Claire Nichols,
originally from Indiana. The two plan a December wedding.
Details are not available at this time.
The press release made the engagement public. She now directly represented him. Changing her mind at this point would be unacceptable and a public failure. She didn’t plan on changing her mind.
However, if she needed a reason for changing her mind, last night would have been it. Apparently, Tony’s newfound gentleness and affection evaporated during his discussion with John. Claire told herself that it was a momentary setback. The discussion upset Tony. John’s behavior had consequences. Claire willingly accepted her brother-in-law’s consequences in his stead. She knew how to compartmentalize, and even believed she was getting good at it. From experience, she believed that with the morning, the new caring Tony would be back. She was mostly right.
When they entered their home, Catherine met them at the door. Her smile beamed from ear to ear, and she hugged them both. Claire truly loved her. She was the heart of their home. Tony obviously respected her opinion, and she his. Catherine’s approval pleased Claire. It was probably the one that mattered to her the most other than Tony’s.
“Ms. Claire, I am so happy. I have known for a long time that you are exactly what Mr. Rawlings needs in his life.” She beamed at Claire as Tony listened.
“Umm, am I what anyone needs?” His tone and face smiled. Catherine hugged him and told him that many people need him. Then she informed him that he had guests in his office. Claire suddenly thought about her restrictions regarding his office. Why could others be in there without him, but she couldn’t? Walking toward his home office, she debated this in her mind. The answer was painfully obvious. Everyone else in the world had access to telephones, computers, and the Internet—except her.
The double doors to Tony’s office stood ajar. The conference table was cluttered with books resembling photo albums and an open laptop computer. Two women and a man arranged the materials and talked to one another. Claire and Tony stood silently hand in hand in the doorway and observed. Finally, one of the women looked up and acknowledged Tony. “Mr. Rawlings, hello. Let me introduce you to