Consequences

Sunday. Mr. Rawlings is usually home on Sundays.” The young lady left the suite. Claire made a mental note: Watch out for Sundays.
    Timidly, Claire approached the mirrors in the bathroom. Lowering the soft robe, she saw long red stripes on her back and new bruises. She didn’t cry. She steamed with anger. Of course, it was directed toward him but also at herself. She wanted this nightmare to end, but she couldn’t figure out the solution. Helplessness was not an emotion Claire was accustomed to feeling, and she didn’t like it. Her only solution was to remain resolute until an opportunity arose.
    At eleven fifty-seven, Claire knocked on Anthony’s office door. The door opened, and he looked up from his desk. “Good afternoon, Claire.”
    Smiling respectfully, she said, “Good morning , Anthony, I believe it is still morning.” She looked at his eyes and wondered who he would be today.
    Claire walked into his office and stood before his desk, the same place that twenty-four hours earlier had been the terrifying scene of his rage and domination. She stood with her back straight, chin high, and smile plastered on her lips. The blouse she chose and her makeup covered the visible signs of the prior day’s happenings. Anthony sat quietly and studied her. The silence made her uncomfortable. She prayed he couldn’t hear her heart beating too fast or notice her wet palms. Long ago, she learned that awkward silences were an interview technique. She wouldn’t be the one to break the silence.
    Finally, “I believe you are correct, for another two minutes.” Anthony’s eyes seemed lighter. Claire breathed easier and smiled. She was on time.
    “Lunch will arrive here in a few minutes. I thought we would discuss some of the glitches that our business deal has encountered.” He stood and moved toward Claire. She kept her ground, neck straight, and watched as he circled the grand desk. He stopped only inches away. She could smell his fragrant cologne and needed to tilt her neck upward to see his face. He didn’t speak but indicated with a gesture that they move to the conference table, where he pulled out a chair for her to sit; she did. He sat at the head of the table with Claire to his right. The room was silent as Claire thought to herself how his gentlemanly behaviors were such a farce.
    “Glitches? I am not sure what you are referring to.”
    Before responding, he sat back and contemplated Claire Nichols. Her eyes contained an intense fire, and she possessed more daring than half of the presidents of his many companies. After what he put her through, he couldn’t help but be astounded. “I wasn’t sure you would come here today.”
    “I wasn’t aware I had a choice. I believe my job duties include doing as I am told.”
    “That is correct. Perhaps you can be trained.” He chose his words carefully.
    Claire’s mouth twitched, but she stayed steady. Getting upset would only accomplish losing control and giving it to him. He may take it, but by god, she wasn’t giving it. “I am trying my best. Now glitches?”
    A knock came as the door opened and their lunch arrived. They sat in silence as the young lady placed their food in front of them and asked Mr. Rawlings if they needed anything else. He informed her they were currently fine. She retreated from the office and closed the door behind her.
    “Glitches, yes. I spent $215,000 for a business deal. I make deals that will be lucrative to me. I expected a better return for my money than I have experienced in the last three weeks.”
    If this was supposed to shock Claire, it didn’t. She casually picked up her fork, ate a piece of broccoli, and responded, “I would believe that yesterday you successfully increased your return.” And stabbing another piece of broccoli, she added, “Besides, wasn’t it you that decided your business holding would be locked away for almost two weeks?” She ate more broccoli. Part of her feared retaliation, but the other part believed he appreciated the bravado.
    “That is true. I am considering the possibility that it was worth it, after what I am currently witnessing.” He watched her expression as he spoke. “And we have no deadline for completion of our contractual agreement.”
    Claire didn’t know if she should be happy that he seemed impressed, and she did think an estimated timeline would be nice, but she didn’t mention that either. Instead, she said, “Then apparently, the glitches have been