Truth (56 page)

He placed his phone back in his pocket and
replied, “Do you want to know what I have been thinking about all
night?”

Claire struggled to stay on track, “What
you’ve been thinking about? All right.”

“
Many things, the first --
how amazing you’ve been. I’ve endured many companions since our
divorce. I have not enjoyed any of those evenings as much as I have
tonight, being with you.”

Claire stared; she wondered what part of
that statement was supposed to warrant her response, his many
companions or her exemplary performance.

Tony continued, “Shelly was not happy with
my desired press release, but I decided it was the only answer. Now
the world knows of our reconciliation. It is official.”

“
You say that, as if it’s
beyond debate.”

He peered unquestionably
into her emerald eyes, “Beyond challenge. It is public.” The
failure is not an option
went without saying.

“
SiJo?”

“
The breach has been
resolved. It
has been
since about eight o’clock this evening.”

Claire exhaled, “Thank you.”

Tony accepted her gratitude and answered,
“Actually, I will have Eric take you to your condominium. It’s
probably better if you don’t know what else I’ve been
pondering.”

Claire sat straighter, “Thank you, again.
I’m ready to leave.” She watched as he nodded. The familiar
attraction sucked her into his gravitational pull, and without
thinking she took his hand in hers. Propelled by curiosity as well
as concern, Claire asked, “What else have you been thinking?”

“
Those black lacy
panties.”

Claire released his hand and stood abruptly.
“What did you say?”

“
I’ve been thinking about
your black lacy underwear; there was a small bow.” His smile turned
sensual, “I’ve been wondering what color you’re wearing
tonight.”

Her voice came out an octave higher, “How do
you know about black lace panties?”

Tony stood, his hands grasped her shoulders.
Their chests touched and his breath quickened, “Why can’t you
believe I still love you?”

“
Really? After an entire
night of blackmailing me into being your companion, threatening my
friend’s company with disaster, and now learning that you ... that
you,” her body trembled, tears once again flowed, her voice broke
and became a whisper, “raped me.”

His tone was more of a plea, “No, Claire.
Don’t even suggest that.” He lifted her chin and their eyes met.
“You agreed to everything. You more than consented; you wanted it
as much as I did.” He released her chin and her face fell against
his chest.

She remembered the day he
came to the condominium. She’d been up half the night dreaming
about
him
,
about
them
. She
remembered telling him good-bye,
and
she remembered wanting
him.

Her knees weakened as his arms surrounded
her. The sound of his heart echoed in her ear, and the familiar
aroma of his cologne filled her subconscious. Claire melted into
his embrace; she had no strength left from which to draw. He was
right. She wanted him that day. Truthfully, even at this moment she
enjoyed the familiar touch. There was something about the continual
challenge that kept her senses electrified. The range of emotions
he elicited and the depth of understanding they shared, created a
bond. She’d fought it all night. Closing her eyes she conceded the
current battle. There was no fight left within her.

Tony kissed the top of her head and scooped
her up into his arms.

Her voice was soft, but determined, “No.
Tony, not tonight.”

“
I’m putting you on the
sofa. You’re about to fall.”

She nodded against the silk of his shirt.
The softness against her cheek and the steady drum of his heart
calmed the aching in her temples. Together they sat on a large
white sofa facing the tall windows. With Tony’s long legs stretched
out onto a matching ottoman and his arm still tenderly around her
shoulders, Claire removed her high heels and curled her legs onto
the plush cushions. Molding to his side she accepted the comfort of
his embrace. For the longest time they stayed like that, silent,
watching the vista before them.

The towers of the Golden Gate Bridge glowed
from the street level illumination. That same light reflected
picturesquely onto the water below. The night was clear and the sky
appeared a deep blue black. There were no visible stars, yet the
moon shone low over the darkened land on the other side of the
suspension bridge.

Claire felt his chest rise and fall with the
inhale and exhale of a deep breath. His rich voice resonated
through the silence, “Are you ready for me to call Eric?”

When he spoke the vibration tickled her
cheek. She didn’t lift her head. “What I really want are
answers.”

“
What kind of
answers.”

“
Truthful.” It was what
he’d asked of her in the past. Some of their deepest heart-to-heart
discussions occurred in a similar pose, intimate times when they
couldn’t see one another’s expressions. When Tony didn’t respond,
Claire pushed on, “You say you still love me. You’re a very
intelligent man. Surely you understand actions speak louder than
words.”

“
You said, no.”

“
I don’t mean sex. I mean
actions, like tricking me tonight and setting me up for your
attempted murder.” His chest rose and fell again. She felt his warm
breath blowing across her hair. “Tell me why.”

“
I told you. It was a loop
hole.”

Claire shook her head, “I don’t understand
your puzzles.”

“
You, too, are very
intelligent. I don’t believe you’ve spent the past year and a half
without suspicions.”

“
I truly didn’t
understand, until I received that box of information.”

“
And what did you conclude
from that?”

She contemplated her
answer, as her fingers mindlessly played with the small buttons
down the center of his silk shirt. Finally she spoke, “Well, it’s
hard to answer. You see at first I thought
you’d
sent it. So, I thought you
were adding insult to injury, you know, rubbing salt in my
wounds.”

His embrace tightened, “And you thought I’d
do that?”

“
What else could I think?
You set me up and left me.” Her emotion ladened voice trailed into
silence. Closing her eyes, she remembered him at the jail in Iowa
and saw visions of her prison cell. Her body trembled as she fought
to contain the sobs within her chest.

“
There are few people in
this world whom I’ve cared about.” Tony’s voice had a faraway
quality. “Few people whose opinion of me I value.” He lifted her
chin and looked into her moist glistening emerald eyes. “I know you
have reason to doubt me. Hell,
reasons
. But, Claire, you are one of
those people.” She closed her eyes, and he continued speaking, “I
need you to understand. I made promises, and I keep my
word.”

She didn’t know where the
words came from. It wasn’t something she’d been consciously
thinking, yet they came anyway, “You made
me
a promise, on December
eighteenth...”

He interrupted, each word coming slower than
the one before, “Two thousand and ten, in our estate, to love you
forever. I keep my word.”

His lips found hers and passion glued them
together. It wasn’t fevered, like a wildfire roaring through the
California Mountains. It was deep and painful; the kind of bond
that yanks at your heart, until your only desire is to remove the
pumping organ with your bare hands.

Abruptly, Claire stood. The room spun from
her quick movement. Tony reached up and steadied her. She heard the
honest concern in his voice.

“
Are you all right? What
happened?”

Claire picked up her shoes and smoothed her
dress. “I’m fine. I want to go now.”

He didn’t argue, though his gaze never left
hers. He reached inside his pocket and removed his phone. She
waited while he spoke to Eric.

“
Eric will have the car
ready in the private garage in a few minutes.” Her expression must
have asked her unspoken question about the location. In the past,
cars were always outside. Tony replied, “If we enter the car in the
garage, we can avoid paparazzi.”

“
Oh, good idea. I need to
use the restroom, and I’ll be ready to leave.” Claire turned to
walk away and then turned back. “We? Tony I don’t need you to ride
with me.” She paused, “I’d prefer you didn’t.”

“
Then I will escort you to
the car. If that is acceptable?”

Claire nodded and walked away; her dress
swept the cool floor, while her shoes dangled from her
fingertips.

Though considerably less tense than the
earlier decent, the ride down the golden elevator was awkwardly
quiet. Their reflections in the gold mirrored doors were much less
polished than before. Claire’s eyes displayed signs of her multiple
emotional breaks. Her lids were no longer painted to perfection and
her mascara was gone. While freshening up in the restroom she
cleaned the dark circles from under her eyes. If they’d planned on
exiting through the lobby, she would have needed to redo a great
deal of her make-up.

Tony’s jacket was gone and his tie hung
loosely through his unbuttoned collar. His shirt contained clues to
the location of her missing mascara. Multiple dark smudges stained
the now wrinkled white silk.

When the elevator opened to the private
parking area, Eric immediately opened the door to the back seat.
Claire nodded to Tony’s driver and sat down. She heard Tony’s
voice, “Ms. Claire would prefer to ride back to Palo Alto alone.
Please call me when she is safely to her door.”

“
Yes, Mr.
Rawlings.”

Claire heard Tony say, “I can get this.” She
then saw Eric move around the front of the car to the driver’s
seat. Next, Tony’s face appeared in the opening of the door. She
looked into his dark tired eyes. In his outstretched hand was her
cellphone. She took it and placed it upon her lap.

“
Thank you, Tony.
Good-bye.”

“
Don’t forget the news
release.” His sturdy voice once again held his authoritative CEO
tone, the one that gave orders and expected unquestioning
obedience. She’d heard that tone for years, directed both at her
and at others. Instinctively, the tone heightened her defenses,
caused her neck to straighten, and eyes to blaze. She never liked
that tone.

“
How could I?”

“
We will need to discuss
it further.”

“
I’m discussed out.” Later
Claire would reflect on their candor in Eric’s presence. Sometime
ago Tony’s intimate staff became part of the woodwork. Claire
didn’t mean to say they weren’t people, but, on most occasions
she’d forget they were even present.

“
I can tell you’re tired.
Go get some sleep. We can continue our discussion tomorrow before I
leave for Iowa.”

Claire closed her eyes. The last thing she
wanted was Tony in Palo Alto with Harry. “I have plans tomorrow.
Call me after you’re back to Iowa.”

“
This would be better
discussed in person.”

She exhaled, “Let me meet you
somewhere.”

His eyes returned her blaze. “Ten o’clock.
Text me the location. Palo Alto is fine.”

Claire nodded. She didn’t want to meet, but
the concession was better than having him at Amber’s condominium.
“Tomorrow.” she replied.

“
Tomorrow, Claire.” He
closed the door.

Eric eased the Mercedes C-Class out of the
underground garage and around the front of the Saint Regis Hotel.
Along the sidewalk, under the bright lights of the canopy, were
multitudes of people. Some had cameras while others only wanted to
see the attendees of the gala, as they made their way to the line
of waiting cars. Claire reclined against the soft leather seat,
thankful for Tony’s discretion, and the tinted windows. No one
seemed to notice the dark grey sedan as it made its way to US
101.

Once on the highway Claire turned on her
iPhone. The time appeared, 12:13 A.M., where had the night gone?
The screen filled with messages: 16 missed calls, 3 voice mails,
and 11 text messages. She debated. Should she listen and read, or
should she just call?

Sweeping the screen with her finger she
sought her call log and tapped Harry’s name. Her heart beat rapidly
as the sound of ringing filled her ears. Glancing forward she saw
Eric’s eyes in the rearview mirror. She knew anything she said
would be repeated to Tony as soon as she exited the car.

Harry’s voice sounded strained,
“Claire.”

She took a deep breath, “I’m finally on my
way home. I should be there in about an hour.”

Silence... finally he asked, “Can you talk
right now?”

Her heart broke hearing the emotion in his
voice. “Not really.”

“
Is
he
with you?”

She imagined his clenched jaws and strained
blue eyes. “No, I’m being driven by his driver.”

“
And he can hear you?”
There seemed to be relief in the knowledge Claire wasn’t currently
with Tony.

“
Yes.”

“
I’ll tell Amber you’re on
your way. Will you please come here first?”

Although she was exhausted beyond belief and
didn’t want any more confrontations, Claire knew she owed this to
Harry. “Yes, as soon as I can.”