Consequences(55)

Suddenly, Tony broke the silence. The domineering man from the night before was gone. His tone was friendly and inquisitive, “Now, tell me about your shopping trip.”

Claire did her best to respond with the appropriate tone and inflection, “It was amazing. New York is such a bustling city. I wasn’t worried about people, or should I say reporters, approaching me.”

“That concerns you?”

“Yes—after that scene at the benefit, I’m terrified someone will approach me. I know how much appearance and privacy means to you.”

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.