Truth (75 page)

Chapter 50

January 2011...

Tony woke with a start; his wife, for just
over a month, rolled from his shoulder to her side. In the silence
he heard Claire’s soft rhythmic breathing. She was sleeping
peacefully -- a far cry from earlier. Closing his eyes he
remembered their night, their words, and her tears. When they went
to bed everything was fine. Then out of nowhere she said told him
she was bored and wanted to join him on business trips. Normally
he’d like that, but lately nothing was normal; he had too many
fires to count. Fires Claire never would or could understand.

Truthfully, he’d been holding so much in
lately, so many issues: Rawlings Industries, Sophia Rossi – no
Burke, and John Vandersol.

Lifting his head to his
elbow, he watched her. Tony couldn’t fathom how someone so
seemingly compliant could so easily incite his emotions. He could
keep his cool in the middle of chaos; yet, a few simple words from
her and his reactions were uncontrollable.
No
, Tony thought,
not uncontrollable
. He’d
gone there once -- he wouldn’t go there again.

Then why did she need to
remind him? Her insolent question... when he told her she had
invitations, but he had chosen not to share them, explaining he
wanted her safe from more
accidents
... she had the audacity to
ask ... from whom? Tony’s body trembled with pent-up anger –
from whom?
He knew what
she was implying. Of course, she said, from
whom
were the invitations... but
Tony knew what she meant – from
whom
would an accidents occur. It
wasn’t like he didn’t think about that every damn day! He’d never
regretted his actions more, but you can’t turn back
time.

There was something about Claire, something
about her veiled assertiveness, something which provoked Tony like
no one else. She could bring out the best in him. No question, as
he watched her petite body curl into a ball and snuggle into the
soft pillow, he wanted to please her. Not just please, love –
indulge – spoil and pamper her, beyond her greatest dreams.
However, she could also elicit the worst in him. Tonight was no
exception.

Damn, if he didn’t want to
wake her and tell her he was sorry – explain she was experiencing
his frustration with so many other things. He thought about her
words,
Thank you, I’d really like to see
Courtney and Sue
. She had the uncanny
ability to say the right thing. Nevertheless, he questioned her
sincerity... could she be playing him? Had he fallen victim to her
persuasion? Is that why he offered Phoenix?

Tony slid out of bed,
stood silently, and watched as Claire remained sleeping. He
wouldn’t be as cautious upstairs, but he wanted to leave the room.
Ironically, it was her desire to
leave
which escalated tonight’s
emotion. Nonetheless, if she were awake, he couldn’t leave her
in
his
suite –
alone. Her rhythmic breathing continued. Tony eased himself into a
pair of nylon shorts and a t-shirt and quietly entered the
corridor.

His bare feet padded the marble hall into
the foyer, past the grand stairs, and toward his office. The path
was dark, yet he knew every step. Quietly, he eased himself into
the confines of his grand office, pushed the switch, and
illuminated the room.

Bored! She said she was
bored
. Tony tried to push Claire from his
thoughts. He hit the mouse and watched his desktop come to life.
Searching his private inbox, he found the email he’d been
anticipating:

To: Anthony Rawlings

From: Cameron Andrews

Date: January 26, 2011

Re: Ms. Burke

Although Ms. Burke is now living in Boston
in her husband’s apartment, I’ve just confirmed they made an offer
on a small cottage in Provincetown, Mass. I’ll notify you
immediately if their offer is accepted.

Derek Burkes’ employment record is straight
forward. I’ve attached his dossier. I will continue to monitor.
Please inform me if you would like my activities to change in any
way. CA

Tony fired of a response:

To: Cameron Andrews

From: Anthony Rawlings

Date: January 27, 2011

Re: Ms. Rossi-Burke

Let me know the value of the cottage and
their offer.

He hit send.

Tony rubbed his temples and silently berated
himself. He’d looked away for a couple of weeks. A couple of weeks
to marry and honeymoon and everything changed -- Sophia married!
She wasn’t even seeing anyone when he went to her art show in New
England, the beginning of December, just two weeks before his own
wedding.

Closing his eyes, he remembered seeing her
across the room. She was stunning, wearing a long red gown with
sparkling, dangling earrings which hung to her shoulders. It wasn’t
a style he’d like on Claire, but they looked beautiful on Sophia.
Her people skills were constantly improving; her gray eyes looked
confident and steadfast.

Then a month later, she not only married;
she married Derek Burke.

Derek Burke wasn’t
a
large
blip on
Tony’s radar screen, but Tony knew of him. When Sherman Nichols,
aka Cole Mathews, worked to bring Nathaniel Rawls and all of Rawls
Corporation down, he was assisted by Jonathon Burke, a securities
officer. Their testimony, along with Anton’s father’s, hammered the
final nails in Nathaniel’s coffin, literally, as far as Tony was
concerned.

Nathaniel’s quest was to return the favor --
to bring down these men and their families. Sherman had one son,
Jordon, who had two daughters, Emily and Claire. Jonathon had one
daughter, Allison. Though married, she had no children. Well, at
first they thought she had a daughter, Cindy. It later turned out
Cindy wasn’t her biological child, but rather the child of her
husband’s sister. All very complicated -- the first miscue on their
road to fulfilling Nathaniel’s quest; after Allison and her husband
tragically perished in a hiking accident, Cindy was left alone.
Marie reached out, posing as one of Allison’s old friends. Since
that time, Cindy has worked on the estate. All of her needs were
met: college tuition, (she was currently taking online courses)
clothes, and housing. She has also accumulated a nice nest egg.
Never would Cindy suspect her saviors were anything but.

The direct line of Jonathon Burke was
gone.

Nevertheless, the reason
Derek Burke was on Tony’s radar was in reality Cindy was his
cousin; Derek’s grandfather was Jonathon’s brother. In the past
month, Tony had spent a great deal of time learning more about
Derek Burke. A few of Tony’s recent trips weren’t
business
at all. He
couldn’t very well take Claire to watch the new Mr. and Mrs. Burke
in person.

Tony’s observation: Derek was nothing like
Sophia -- their relationship wouldn’t last.

Past suitors were tested, induced with great
temptations. All failed. Sophia may have interpreted it as personal
failure; however, Tony believed he was only accelerating the
future, in essence, saving her from greater heartache. He needed to
decide how to do the same with Derek; test him, before it was too
late. This would take time.

After all, just because, Tony allowed his
defenses to wane, he couldn’t allow Sophia’s rash decision to
change his ultimate plans. Her art career was finally receiving
warranted attention. She truly had talent. He even owned many of
her pieces. They were displayed in New York, Phoenix, and Dallas...
if he remembered correctly. It didn’t seem right to have her work
displayed at the estate. Damn, if he hadn’t been so preoccupied
with Claire...

Leaning back in his luxurious leather chair,
Tony’s mind slipped back to his wife. He didn’t regret marrying
her; it surprised him how much he usually enjoyed being with her.
In the past, beautiful women had their purpose, like anything else:
a nice car, a priceless antique... It took Tony awhile to realize
Claire was different, not someone to use when he wanted and forget
until the desire returned. No, she wasn’t like one of his many
expensive cars. And she wasn’t just a beautiful ornament to have on
his arm at functions, although she played that role to
perfection.

Tony’s realization hit months ago when he
realized it didn’t matter if she were dressed in designer gowns
with perfect hair and perfect makeup or newly awake with no makeup
and tussled hair. He no longer saw the difference. For a man who
valued outward appearance as much as Anthony Rawlings, that insight
was shocking.

When he first brought her
to the estate, he never intended to enjoy her, much less love her.
Truthfully, it was initially determined she and her sister would
have
accidents
,
much sooner -- years sooner, like their parents. However, as he
began following Claire and her life, there was an undeniable
attraction. Then at her parent’s funeral for no particular reason,
Tony fought the urge to comfort her. At that moment, he knew he
wanted her for himself. Truthfully, Emily’s survival has been a
byproduct.

As a man who makes money -- lots of money,
buying and selling -- rarely does Anthony Rawlings become
emotionally vested in projects or people. Initially, he saw Claire
the same way; however, after his acquisition, as weeks and months
passed, despite her situation, she worked her way into his being --
into every fiber. Her strength to meet him with eyes on fire while
her words and body appeased, fascinated Tony. Never had anyone done
that.

Smiling, he recalled their amazing
honeymoon. The isolation of the island paradise kept he and Claire
within the confines of a private bubble. Yet, as always, life
intervenes. Back to Iowa meant disruptions. Being a multibillion
dollar company, there were always issues with Rawlings Industry.
The stock price was up, but there were always fires in need of
dousing. A recent acquisition in Missouri was currently raging.

On top of Rawlings Industries and Sophia,
Tony had to deal with John Vandersol. The man absolutely infuriated
Tony. Never had he met a more arrogant, self-righteous prick. Tony
did his research. He knew John was accomplished. Every account Tony
uncovered was flattering -- some to the point of nausea. It was
hard to believe anyone could be as perfect as everyone’s account of
John Vandersol.

During their first meeting, Tony was
determined to play nice, for Claire. It was after all, his olive
branch to his fiancée. Thanksgiving went well. The ladies didn’t
seem to recognize the subtle feather ruffling and posturing which
occurred on multiple occasions.

He tried to endure John because of Emily,
Claire’s sister. Tony knew Claire wanted to see her family. He also
knew Claire obeyed his rules while alone with her sister. After
all, he listened intently to the recordings of each private
conversation; from their after dinner catch-up in New York, to
their giggling girls’ sleep over prior to the wedding. Never once
did Claire allude to her and Tony’s less than conventional
beginning. He was extremely proud of his wife’s obedience.

Allowing his mind to change directions,
perhaps Claire had earned the right to spend some time away from
the estate. He would reconsider that possibility.

Rubbing his temples, Tony contemplated John
Vandersol’s future as he remembered the man’s past. Their first
open disagreement occurred the night following Thanksgiving,
regarding the prenuptial agreement. Tony was both amused and
shocked by John’s impudence. The man actually thought he could
persuade Claire to defy Tony’s authority. Smiling to himself, Tony
knew he’d trained Claire too well. Public defiance from his wife
wasn’t a concern. Nonetheless, John’s audacity agitated Tony beyond
words.

And then there was the
wedding rehearsal -- where John
didn’t
give Claire away. It was at
that moment, as Tony stared into Claire’s anxious eyes, when Tony
determined
John Vandersol will
pay
. This insolent man not only upset him,
but his words caused Tony’s future wife distress. Her connection
with John was his only saving grace. By causing
her
discomfort, at
her
own wedding
rehearsal, John secured his own demise.

Tony’s first plan was
brilliant: offer John a job. It
appeared
as though Tony was taking
the high road, recognizing John’s superior legal abilities,
offering him an exorbitant amount of money and pleasing Claire. It
was win – win. Rawlings Industries could always use another
competent attorney, but he’d be under Tony’s thumb.

Nonetheless, in the ultimate act of
defiance, John Vandersol refused Tony’s offer. It was an act which
has infuriated Tony ever since he learned of it two weeks ago. He
hadn’t told Claire until a few hours ago.

Tony was certain Claire understood the
implications (her ability to see her sister now or in the future
was in serious jeopardy) without Tony spelling them out. That was
good because the thought of his wife’s family caused his blood to
boil, and it was truly better for Claire, if he didn’t experience
that feeling while in her presence.

Tony poured himself a drink, perhaps it
would help him sleep. Pacing the confines of his regal office he
contemplated his wife further. He thought about Catherine’s words.
She claimed Claire’s strength in the face of Tony’s adversity was
proof of Claire’s true competence. Truly, Catherine’s encouragement
regarding their relationship helped propel it beyond the original
plan. Catherine claimed she saw Nathaniel’s positive qualities in
Tony when he was with Claire. Comparing him to Nathaniel was no
small compliment. Catherine’s approval of Claire continued to mean
a great deal to Tony.