Inferno Anthology (207 page)

Satisfied, Tony smiled smugly. “Very well, that’s interesting. Go on, what did you buy?”

“Well, first I went to
Versace
and found a couple of dresses and some shoes. I think you will like them. I made my way along Fifth Avenue and bought some sunglasses. Oh…” She pulled the glasses out and put them on. “…they’re here in my purse.”

TONY SMILED AND
removed them from her green eyes. He liked her eyes and didn’t want them covered.

Claire continued chattily, “I also found some lingerie.” She smiled coyly. “Which I believe you’ll like.”

His eyes were soft, and he was fully focused. Her excitement amused him. “It sounds like you did well. Do you mind telling me how much you spent?”

Claire’s eyes dropped to the floor. Tony gently lifted her chin to resume eye contact. Her emerald irises shimmered as she flashed a smile and spoke. “About five thousand.”

He laughed.

HIS REACTION SURPRISED
her. She waited to see if it was a laugh—leading to something else, but no. It was just a laugh. Finally, he responded, “Good job, Claire. You may get the hang of this yet. I look forward to my private fashion show tonight when I return to the house.”

It bothered Claire that he could treat her in such a demeaning manner in the bedroom, or wherever he chose, and then turn around and act like nothing happened. She needed to work on compartmentalizing the sex away from the rest of her life. A much more difficult task than it sounded.

Once they arrived back to Iowa, they entered Tony’s waiting car, and Eric drove them back to the house. Tony needed to get a few things before heading into the office in Iowa City. He would be leaving tomorrow for ten days in Europe, and he had some loose ends which required his immediate attention.

After the car entered the gates to the estate, they took the long winding drive approaching the mansion. Claire usually saw the house from the back. Although, she rarely left the property, when she did, it was usually at night. Now seeing it in daylight, the beautiful combination of river stone, limestone, and brick, combined with the Romanesque style architecture, gave her a new appreciation. Tony had told her he’d built the house about fifteen years ago, but it looked older. It didn’t look outdated or antiquated. It looked as if it had been designed for an earlier time. Claire couldn’t help but ask. “Tony, you said you built your house about fifteen years ago?”

“Yes,” he answered, as Eric came around the front drive. “Why do you ask?”

“I’m not used to seeing it from the front. It’s beautiful!” He thanked her. She continued, “But, it looks older than fifteen years to me—the style I mean.”

“I patterned it after my family’s home from when I was a child.”

Claire knew he’d lost his parents and didn’t want to stir up bad memories, but her curiosity got the best of her. “I thought you built your fortune from nothing. How did your parents have a house like this?” They were now getting out of the car.

“It was my grandfather’s, not my parents’. My father was weak; however, my grandfather’s house and money were all lost over twenty-five years ago. My grandfather trusted the wrong people.”

Claire wasn’t sure what that wealth of information meant. Catherine told her that Mr. Rawlings didn’t allow many people to get close. She was sure this family history had something to do with that. As they walked to his office, she tried for a little more information. “It truly is amazing. Did you pattern the inside after it, as well?”

“Mostly, I even found and purchased some of the original artwork and antiques; however, I wanted my home equipped with all the modern conveniences and security equipment. Every inch of this house is under constant surveillance. I won’t make the same mistake my grandfather made.”

Claire considered what he was saying; he meant every inch of the perimeter. He was stopping someone from getting in who wasn’t supposed to be there.

Standing behind his desk, punching some buttons on his computer and rummaging through papers, Tony continued, “Haven’t you ever wondered how the staff knows exactly when to enter your suite?”

Claire’s knees wobbled, and she needed to sit down. “You mean
my
suite is under surveillance? Like there are cameras?”

Tony looked up from the papers and met Claire’s eyes. Seeing the repugnance, he smiled. His words slowed, adding malice. “Yes, of course. It’s all video recorded and saved.” Claire sat on the nearest chair. Suddenly, making the most of her newfound discomfort, he added, “Perhaps we could have a premier viewing, critique, and work on revisions.”

She detested his existence. “Tony, please tell me you’re joking, some sort of
sick
joke.”

His vile smirk gave spark to his darkening eyes. “But, my dear Claire, I am
not
. Now the staff doesn’t have access to the view of your bed. Only I have that. They do have view of the sitting area and the doorways to and from your dressing room and bath. That’s how they’ve been able to come and go without you seeing them.”

“But why? Why would you do that? Why would you keep it?”

Tony picked up his needed papers and a flash drive and moved to leave his office. “Because I can. I can watch and decide what I like and what I believe can be improved. You’ll understand after you get a chance to view it. Maybe tonight, but now I must be going.” He started to walk toward the hall doors.

Thinking her legs couldn’t support her weight; Claire stayed seated. The thought of him watching them, of her watching him with her, made her physically ill. She seriously believed if she stood she wouldn’t be able to control the revolt currently occurring in her stomach.

Tony reiterated, “It’s time to exit my office.” He watched as she sat motionless and heartlessly added, “And in case you were wondering—yes—this room, too, is under surveillance, except for my desk. I do have a great view of the sofa and this open area.” He nastily grinned and gestured to the setting of one of her worse nightmares. Something she’d pushed away. Now, she knew he had it on video and watched it! “Claire, I need to go. Get out of the chair, now.”

Absently, she stood, thinking only about keeping her breakfast down. Claire tried desperately to keep all other thoughts out of her mind as she left his office. Before she knew it, she was back in her suite. Her head spun. She wanted to flop on the sofa and stop the thoughts bombarding her consciousness, but he could see her.

Was there anywhere he couldn’t see her?

THAT NIGHT THEY
dined on the back patio. It was shaded and the night air felt warm. The yard looked picture perfect. Even with the recent heat wave which had been accompanied by a drought, his lawn was lush and green thanks to the marvels of a sprinkling system and ground’s crew. Tony was doing what she despised: talking about his trip to Europe, the time in New York,
anything
except the cameras and videos.

Claire couldn’t understand how he could behave one way, say something, and then act as if it never happened. She, however, was having difficulty thinking of anything else. Her appetite gone, she barely ate any of her dinner.

Once they were done dining, Tony led Claire to the movie-theater. It was her retreat—a place to escape and watch singing and dancing. Tonight, Tony didn’t intend to watch a musical. He programmed the video system and entered a passcode. Suddenly, the screen was full of dates and locations, such as:
2010, May 05, S.E. suite
. He had the ability to scroll to different dates and different locations. It wasn’t just her room. There were locations like: garages, kitchen, foyer, stairs, theater, pool, S.E. 2 floor hall, S.E. 1 floor hall, etc.

In some humiliating form of torture, he chose:
2010 March 20, S.E Suite
, and then programmed the time. He scrolled up and the time decreased: 9, 8, 7. He returned to approximately
8:00 AM
and hit
enter
. There on the movie screen, bigger than life, was Claire’s suite.
She was wearing a white robe and lay curled up on the floor near the hall door.
Claire didn’t need to watch, she knew too well what would happen. She also knew the Claire on the screen was covered in bruises, her hair was a mess, and she could see the demolition of the room. Now she heard a
beep
and the door opened.

Claire jumped, also hearing the sound and seeing Tony enter.
“Good morning, Claire.” Claire looked at Tony.

“Good morning, Anthony. I want you to know, I’ve decided to go home. I’ll be leaving here today.”

Tony then spoke, his black eyes shining as he smiled. “Do you not like your accommodations?” His smile widened. “I don’t believe you’ll be leaving so soon. We have a legally binding agreement
…
” Tony took a bar napkin from his suit pocket. “…dated and signed by both of us.”

Claire didn’t want to watch anymore. “Please, Tony. I don’t want to see this.” She covered her eyes.

Tony physically removed her hands from her eyes. “I promised a viewing. I said you will watch, and you
will
watch.”

The video had progressed in real time. Claire looked up in time to hear her own voice obviously filled with alarm.

“It is not the end of this discussion. This is ludicrous. An agreement doesn’t give you the right to rape me! I’m leaving.”

Knowing what was to come. Claire closed her eyes as she heard Tony’s hand contact the screen Claire’s left cheek.

Unknowingly, her own fingers drift toward her left cheek. Opening her eyes she saw herself fly across the floor, and Tony walk over to that Claire. She closed her eyes again, hearing the voice on the screen with the cruel tone.
“Perhaps in time your memory will improve. It seems to be an issue. Let me remind you again, rule number one is that you do as you are told. If I say a discussion is over, it is over, and this written agreement which states whatever is pleasing to me, means consensual, not rape.”

The real Claire still had her eyes shut. She knew the Tony on the screen was straightening his jacket. She could hear him continue in a disturbing, authoritative voice.
“I have decided that it would be better if you did not leave your suite for a while. Don’t worry, we have plenty of time, 215 thousand dollars’ worth of time”
She opened her eyes again to see the screen Tony step on broken crystal and speak again in a tone that made the real Claire shiver.
“I’ll tell the staff that you may have your breakfast after you clean up this crystal.” Tony left Claire’s room.

“Please stop the video!” Claire cried. She couldn’t help it. “Please, I can’t watch anymore.”

Relishing Claire’s suffering, Tony said, “Oh, there’re so many videos. We can watch for hours.” He hit some buttons and went back to the menu. “For example…” The screen read:
March 19, 2010. “…
how do you suppose your suite got into that condition? I’m sure we could find out.”

“Please!” she pleaded. Her head hurt and stomach twisted in knots. She couldn’t stand this. She tried desperately to make it stop. “Please… you’re leaving tomorrow. Wouldn’t you rather spend tonight making movies instead of watching?”

Her eyes were red and puffy, and her nose ran from crying.