Consequences(240)

“I didn’t move into his house, I was taken to his house,” Claire corrected.

“Why were you taken to his house?”

“Mr. Rawlings and I had a business agreement.”

“What kind of agreement did you have?”


Claire hesitated. “He hired me to be his personal assistant.”

“And how much did he pay you to be his personal assistant?”

“He didn’t actually pay me”—Claire wasn’t sure how to explain this so Mr. Evergreen or a jury would understand.

“You worked for free? Yes or no?”

“No, actually he paid off my debts.”

Mr. Evergreen looked curious. “Your debts? He paid off your debts? Did he pay off your car and maybe a credit card?”

“Yes.”

“And do you have any idea the total amount of your debts?”

Did Claire know? Of course, she knew. Tony mentioned the amount hundreds of times during the beginning of their relationship.

“Yes.”

“Well, Mrs. Rawlings, please share. What was the amount of debt Mr. Rawlings paid off for you?”

“He told me it was 215 thousand dollars.”

“My, 215 thousand dollars to be his personal assistant, was that all? Or were there other benefits?”

Benefits? Claire didn’t know what he meant.

He continued, “Did Mr. Rawlings provide you housing, clothing, or food?”

“Yes, I lived in his house. The staff prepared my food and he had clothes for me.”

“Now, Mrs. Rawlings, were these old clothes or did he buy you new clothes?”

“They were new, but I never asked—”

“Please just answer the question. So the clothes were new. You lived in his mansion, and he paid off 215 thousand dollars—worth of debt. Tell me what you did as Mr. Rawlings’s personal assistant. Did you answer his phone?”

“No.”

He continued. “Did you answer his e-mails?”

“No.”

“Did you coordinate his schedule?”

“No.”

“Did you make him food?”

“No.”

“Did you make him drinks?”

“No.”

“Mrs. Rawlings, what did you do?”

Claire felt her face flush. “I was supposed to be available—whenever he wanted me.”

“Can you please explain yourself?”—Mr. Evergreen leaned into the table—“What do you mean available whenever he wanted you?”

Claire looked down. “I was supposed to satisfy his sexual wants and needs.”

“Did you do your job?”

“I didn’t have a choice.” Claire was still looking at the table.

“Mrs. Rawlings, I asked if you did your job, yes or no?”

Claire looked the prosecuting attorney in his eyes. “Yes, I did what I was told.”

“And, if my notes are correct, you and Anthony Rawlings married nine months after you began your job, is that correct?”

“Yes—we discussed that.”

“Yes, we did. I’m just trying to understand. At 215 thousand dollars, housing, food, and clothing for a period of nine months, I figure that Mr. Rawlings paid you nearly a thousand dollars a day for sexual pleasure. You must be a great lay!”

Claire glared at the prosecutor.

Jane and Paul exploded, “That was unnecessary!”

Mr. Evergreen apologized and continued with his questioning. He asked questions about Claire’s claim of imprisonment. Then he showed pictures of her with Anthony at various activities: dinners, fund-raisers, and outings.