Consequences

that if she wanted something she needed to ask. They lounged at the pool, enjoying the last few days of the season. “Tony, I have a favor to ask of you.”
    He lay on a lounge chair, his dark hair soft and wavy after drying in the sun, relaxing following a recent encounter in the pool. He wore his swim trunks, which showed his firm defined tanned body. His eyes hidden behind sunglasses, he didn’t move but answered, “Go ahead.”
    “I would like to call my sister.”
    He sat up slowly, removed his sunglasses, and shot his piercing eyes her direction. “I believe this has been discussed and you know my decision. I have determined it is better that you don’t have contact with your family.” It sounded like a final statement. She persisted.
    “I remember you saying that. However, a lot of time has passed. I won’t say anything to her that you don’t want me to.” She could see Tony becoming irritated but decided to add more information, “Her birthday is on the thirty-first.”
    He took a breath, exhaled, and lay back down. Claire waited, he didn’t answer. She put her head back on the chair and contemplated how to revisit the subject without being disrespectful of his answer or lack thereof.
     
    Tony closed his eyes against the sunlight. He thought about the framed pictures hidden in his suite, the ones from Claire’s Atlanta apartment. He’d wondered how long it would take for her to ask to contact her family. It took five months. No doubt if the means had been available she would have contacted them sooner.
    If her family consisted of poor farmers from Indiana the call wouldn’t be much of a risk. Actually, Tony wasn’t concerned about her sister. It was her brother-in-law, John Vandersol, an accomplished attorney that was a potential threat. From humble beginnings, utilizing his intelligence and intuition, he had become an associate at a top-notch law firm in Albany, New York. This was a firm that rarely hired outside of Ivy League schools. The man was even under early consideration for partnership. Tony didn’t feel comfortable with Claire having contact with him.
    As far as Tony was concerned the past five months had taken favorable unexpected turns. Claire’s behavior was a pleasant surprise, much better than he’d anticipated while planning her acquisition. Truthfully, while wanting to keep her and use her for himself, he hadn’t been sure it would work. Plan B had always been and supposedly was still an option. But now that she’d been seen with him in public it would be difficult to remain completely detached. He didn’t want the addition of Emily, and especially John Vandersol, to upset his perfect equation.
    Tony contemplated and a rush of fury swept his consciousness. He realized that she was questioning—no, arguing his decision. Not only was she arguing, he was considering her request. It was the damned pictures in the stupid frames. A small part of him cared that he’d taken all that away from her. That hadn’t bothered him five months ago. It had actually been quite the coup, but now . . . Hell, it is just one call. Maybe if he could control the content. Reassuring himself—of course he could control the content, he controlled her. He could control a telephone call. Tony decided that first he would see how badly she wanted to make this call. He would stand back and watch, see how far Claire would push, observing her resolve in the face of much adversity, as she attempts to manipulate him. Yeah, no lie, that courage turned him on. Finally, he said, “I will think about it.”
    He didn’t bring up the subject again on Sunday. Monday came and went, they spent time together but he didn’t bring up her request. Tuesday was Emily’s birthday. He could sense Claire’s impatience. Her self-control since Sunday was impressive. He wondered if she would just abandon the idea if he didn’t bring it up.
     
    Claire wasn’t sure if Tony thought that by avoiding the subject she would forget her own sister’s birthday, but she didn’t. She’d been good and hadn’t pushed. She rationalized he’s busy, maybe he forgot. Deciding to wait through dinner, if he didn’t mention it, she would bring it up.
    They ate on the back patio with a slight breeze blowing her hair. The evenings were becoming increasingly cool and Claire regretted not bringing a sweater or light jacket to dinner. When they’d finished eating Tony began to stand, Claire bit her lip and spoke. “Tony, today