Consequences(52)



She tried very hard not to notice prices as she chose dress possibilities. She liked a cotton pique sheath dress and a gathered bodice sheath dress. They accentuated her trimmer figure. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she judged her image by would Tony like this? She decided he would. According to the associate she also needed shoes. When all was said and done, and she paid for her two outfits, she almost lost her composure. The associate smiled and said, “That will be thirty-six hundred and fifty seven dollars. Would you like to place that on an existing account?”

Claire worked diligently to keep her mask intact, despite the dramatic increase in heart rate, she replied, “No, I’ll pay for it now and my driver will pick it up. Let me give you his number, and he’ll work out the details.” She handed the associate her American Express.

“Thank you, madam, I’ll be glad to take care of that for you.” She rang the transaction. This kind associate definitely needed a tip, appearances.

Claire preceded north, next stop Cartier. She was determined to make it back to the apartment with items to show Tony. She decided on a nice little pair of sunglasses for only five-hundred dollars. She thought about the ten dollar sunglasses she wore all four years of college. Her shopping adventure continued. The crowds of people talking, the cash registers ringing, the smells of exhaust, the sights of tall buildings as she looked up to the sky, all worked together to create the feeling of elation.

By 1:00 PM, Claire was exhausted. She purchased a few dresses, some shoes, a few new lingerie items, and sunglasses. She successfully spent over five thousand. It truly seemed ridiculous, but she was determined to make Tony proud. She didn’t want to shop anymore. She stopped at the Trump Tower, less than two blocks from her pick-up destination, for lunch. She’d been there before and remembered the Trump Café. The people and beauty of the glass caught her attention as she entered the atrium, but her mind focused on food.

In the past four months she hadn’t made one decision about food. Now, she salivated at the idea of ordering anything she wanted. There were even desserts. She took a few minutes wandering around the cases—so many choices. The aroma from the grill caused her to think of hamburgers in the summertime. She could almost taste the foods as she inhaled their delicious scents. She silently debated her options.

Claire found a table near the window and ate her spinach salad, iced tea, and yogurt. It was still her choice but eating healthy made more sense. She ate and watched. New York had always been fun, and even today, by herself, she found it fun. She glanced at her watch, 1:40 PM. She finished her lunch and walked toward the Plaza Hotel. Tony wouldn’t be waiting, but Eric would, and she didn’t want Eric to tell him she was late.

When Eric pulled the car to the curb, Claire was ready; however, she waited for Eric to park, get out, and open her door. She’d learned to perform her part well. Once back on the road, he inquired as to the next destination.

“I believe I’m tired and would like to go back to the apartment. Oh, did you pick up my purchases?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Eric replied, and continued to explain that they were in the trunk. He would have someone take them to Mr. Rawlings’s room immediately upon arriving at the apartment.

Claire sat back, closed her eyes, and let herself be taken back to Tony’s apartment. It wasn’t until she was almost back that it occurred to her—Emily and John were only three hours out of the city. She could get there by train. If she had Eric drop her off near a station, she could get to their house and be back in the span of a day. She used to ride the train all the time. No one would ever know. She couldn’t do it today, but excitement brewed as she began to work out the details in her head for tomorrow.

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