Truth (51 page)

Now, as she held the ownership papers to a
closed, bankrupted car dealership, Marie stood dumbfounded. “I
don’t know what to say. Why did you do this?”

His eyes intensified, the blackness overtook
the already dark brown, “Because they hurt you. I want them to
share in your pain.” He pulled her closer. “I would make them take
all of it, if I could.”

There’d been a time she would have argued
his reasoning. No longer. She’d experienced pain and loss. She’d
been hurt. This feeling of revenge filled places within her soul
she’d assumed destined for emptiness. Her smile unknowingly
appeared sinister. It was a new sensation; Marie couldn’t control
the unfamiliar feeling or its outward manifestation. She could,
however, thank the man who obviously welded unknown resources to
present this unexpected treasure.

Marie gripped the papers
and flung her arms around Nathaniel’s neck. She stretched out her
toes and lifted her face higher. As he always did, he leaned down
to accommodate. “Thank you! No one has ever done anything like this
for
me
.” She
kissed his lips, as her body pressed against his.

Gently he pushed her away, he wanted to see
her face as he delivered his final gift. “That took care of your
parents. Are you not curious about your uncle?” The mention of the
man brought a shadow of sadness across her gray eyes. “Marie, I
don’t intend to upset you. I thought you should know -- he had a
relapse with cocaine.”

“
Is he...
dead?”

Nathaniel smirked. His expression was like
none she’d ever seen. If it had been directed at her, instead of a
reflection of others, she might be afraid. But his expressions
couldn’t scare her. She trusted him with her whole life. “I
considered that,” he said, “but decided death was too easy. He is
serving a sentence for robbery and attempted murder. The police
report suggests he performed those acts in an attempt to score more
money for drugs.”

Marie considered the implications and
searched Nathaniel’s eyes for clues.

He added with a smirk, “Unfortunately, he
drew the short straw of penitentiaries. His facility is under
federal investigation for a highly unusual number of inmate
murders. I believe his imprisonment will be difficult. It’s
doubtful he’ll reach the end of his sentence.”

She absorbed his words. The last she’d heard
of her uncle, he was clean. “But I thought I heard...”

“
Your parent’s recent
financial woes must have contributed to his downward
slide.”

She once again molded into his warm embrace.
The autumn breeze held a hint of the impending winter. The coolness
brought clarity to everything. She’d just received the gift of
revenge -- of vengeance – as redemption for the wrongs done unto
her. Nathaniel had done all he could to restore her world to its
proper place. “Thank you, Nathaniel, I love you.”

He inhaled the sweet scent of her flowing
auburn hair. “I love you, too. I’m still looking for your daughter,
but so far I’m hitting dead ends.”

Marie placed her head against his sturdy
chest. Her words were strong and filled with conviction, “I would
like you to stop looking.”

He didn’t pull her away. Instead he held her
tight; sensing the strength in her voice wouldn’t be reflected on
her face. “Are you sure? Money can open closed files. It just takes
time.”

She looked up at him, her strong-willed
stance now moistened with tears. “I am sure.”

He didn’t ask for further
explanation. If she wanted to offer, he’d listen. Although he
wanted Marie to see her daughter, Nathaniel Rawls decided
this
wasn’t his call. He
would continue the investigation, but he wouldn’t supply her with
the information until she was ready.

Marie wanted to ask about one last
perpetrator. She wanted to ask what punishment Samuel would
receive, but she didn’t. Perhaps that was her battle to fight. Each
dinner, each time she asked him to pass the salt, or stepped on the
grand staircase, she shot a shell into his camp. As long as she had
Nathaniel’s protection, her defenses were impenetrable.

Nathaniel returned to his home office, as
Marie retired to his suite. She hadn’t stayed upstairs since
recovering from her accident. He expected it to feel wrong, having
her in the suite he’d shared with Sharron, but it didn’t. Sharron
hadn’t been there for years. During her absence, his grand master
bedroom suite became nothing more than a showroom for opulence, an
empty space occupied by the best of everything, yet void of
anything.

Now, when he entered the
suite and found signs of cohabitation, he felt it was once again
a
home,
a
refuge
. Sometimes he’d
find Marie resting on the sofa in front of the large fireplace.
With warmer weather she might be enjoying a rest on the adjacent
terrace. The scent of vanilla and flowers lofted from his attached
bathroom as lotions, gels, and perfumes filled his countertops and
Sharron’s dressing table. His closet glowed with colors, dresses,
and filmy blouses, where for so long he’d only seen suits in shades
of gray and black. He smiled with each welcomed
intrusion.

Nathaniel eventually
planned to make their comfortable arrangement something more
permanent and legal. He knew Samuel would protest, but wasn’t that
always the case? Nathaniel hoped he could count on Anton’s support.
His grandson provided it on numerous occasions since the
accident
on the stairs.
What he truly didn’t know and what terrified Nathaniel was Marie’s
response to his request. It was no secret she wanted children. He
wasn’t exactly a spring chicken. Yes, everything worked. Her recent
pregnancy proved his swimmers still swam, but would she want to
intentionally plan a family with a man three times her
age?

He wanted to prove she was more than a
caring woman, nursing a sad old man back to life. She deserved to
know how special she was to him. He wanted to wine and dine her and
bestow the proper title of Mrs. Rawls upon her. However, as close
as they’d become, they rarely went out into public. Sharron hadn’t
been gone that long, yet. They had time.

Nathaniel had a trip scheduled to Europe,
more specifically Geneva, soon. He planned to ask Marie to
accompany him. Maybe, he’d even share his Switzerland investments
with her. He hadn’t shared those with anyone. There was something
about starting with nothing, that made a man want a reserve, a card
in the hole, so to speak.

Focusing back on his desk, Nathaniel read
Clawson’s latest report. There were two struggling companies in
Ohio that looked ripe for the picking. There were also multiple
possibilities in Illinois, but that was a trickier battle ground.
Sometimes greasing hands cost more than actual purchases.

As he shuffled the
reports, a manila folder caught his attention. It was the report
Samuel presented to him while Marie struggled to survive the
accident
. Nathaniel
thought his son’s timing couldn’t have been worse. If he would have
learned anything from Samuel’s investigation, it was unlikely he’d
have kicked her out of his home while she was recovering from
internal injuries. Nathaniel shook his head. He continued to hope
for Samuel’s business prowess. Hope may dawn eternal, but it wasn’t
worth a dime in the face of tenacity. Perhaps there was hope for
Anton, or children yet to come.

Nathaniel stuffed Samuel’s
report in his side private file drawer, under
C
for
Catherine Marie
. After all, with any
hope her last name would soon change – to Rawls.

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men.

--Robert Burns

Chapter
33

The traffic slowed as the SiJo limousine
moved in short bursts. Claire recognized the sensation, after an
almost hour long ride she was finally nearing her destination. Even
though it had been a long time since she’d rode in the back of a
limousine, her opinion hadn’t changed. She liked driving better. It
gave her more of a sense of location and direction.

Through the tinted windows she saw
multitudes of people gathered behind velvet ropes. Looking around
the vast cabin of the car, she wished desperately for Harry. How
had their evening changed so dramatically, so fast? Claire tried to
convince herself it was all coincidence, but a voice in the back of
her head warned otherwise.

Just before the SiJo car arrived to take
them to the gala, Amber and Harry’s phones rang. The urgent message
to both of them was the same: the computer systems at SiJo Gaming
had been hacked. It wasn’t just their current operations, but also
prospective projects and technology. One of their designers
recently created a unique application which theoretically
threatened cellphone gaming forever, the next Angry Birds. That new
creation was in jeopardy. To make it worse, clients’ billing
information had been assessed -- a potentially huge public
relations problem for SiJo. If they couldn’t keep billing
information secure, no one would ever buy their games.

Fortunately, the breach
was discovered virtually minutes after it occurred. Unfortunately,
it doesn’t take long in
computer
terms
to steal millions of gigs of
information. Everyone was needed back at SiJo immediately to work
on the problem; every creator, forensic specialist, computer
specialist, everyone.

As the car inched forward, Claire thought
dreamily about Harry in his tuxedo with his hair gelled into place.
Despite his unease in such an outfit, he looked wonderful, sexy,
and handsome. Mostly he looked different -- a very good
different.

It was painful to watch his expression.
Claire could tell immediately he was torn. He wanted to go to SiJo:
his skill set was needed. It’s his sister’s company, and he’d do
anything to protect it. That being said, Claire knew he also wanted
to be with her.

After Amber hung up she looked at both of
them and said, “I can’t believe this! Harry, if you want to make an
appearance at the gala and then come to SiJo, I understand. Lee’s
at SiJo, but we need you sooner rather than later.”

It would have been easier for Claire to
assure Amber and Harry of her ability to attend the gala alone if
they hadn’t just learned of Tony’s attendance. Truly, Claire didn’t
mind going alone; although, she hated the idea of being unescorted
and seeing some gorgeous model on Tony’s arm. The idea rekindled
ideas about him attending this gala in 2010, while she was held
captive in his house.

Thoughts start out as
single idea:
attend the gala
alone
, and soon stream together:
Tony with gorgeous companion
, and become a river flowing uncontrollably:
he went out with other women while I was there;
what did he do with those women?
Claire
knew what he did with her, many late nights when he’d return home.
If she hadn’t had the medical examination in prison, these thoughts
surly would have propelled her straight to the doctor checking for
every possible disease known to man.

Before the figurative damn broke and her
thoughts became too difficult to contain, Claire secured her formal
mask and spoke earnestly to her friends, “I’ll be fine. You two do
whatever needs to be done. SiJo has enough problems right now
without wasting two dinners at this gala.”

Amber responded, “The tickets are part of
the donation. If you don’t want to go alone, I understand.”

Claire kissed Harry’s cheek and spoke
sincerely, “You two go do what you do. I’ll do the one thing I’m
good at doing. I’ll hob-knob for SiJo. I will do my best to make
you two and Simon proud. Now go!”

Harry’s angst quickly turned to relief. He
kissed Claire. Not on the cheek, as she’d done, but a kiss full of
emotion. His lips took hers as his arms embraced her. She sensed
thankfulness at her understanding and concern for her evening
alone. Thankfully, Amber turned away and pretended not to notice.
His voice was strong, “You’re amazing. IF you need me, call and
I’ll get there as soon as possible.”

“
I’m a big girl. I’ll see
you here later tonight.”

Amber looked at her phone. Her words
staccato, “Claire, the car is here.”

Harry volunteered, “I’ll walk her to the car
and meet you in the basement garage.”

Now, alone in the limousine, through the
windows, Claire watched the people in the car before hers. They
were waving to the people behind the velvet ropes. Claire
remembered Harry’s penetrating blue eyes as he helped her into the
SiJo car. His voice was slow and steady, “I know you’re a big girl,
but if you have any problems with Mr. Rawlings, call me
immediately. I hate not being with you. You should know every man
there will want to be your escort. You are undoubtedly the most
beautiful, brave, and intelligent woman I know.”

His words warmed her soul. She smiled
bashfully as he closed the door to the SiJo car.

That same car now stopped. While Claire
waited for the driver, or an attendant, to open her door, she
secured her mask. As the door opened, the voices from behind the
rope came into range.

“
Ms. Nichols, why are you
representing SiJo Gaming?”

“
Ms. Nichols, how does it
feel to be out of prison?”

She followed Tony’s
instructions, from so long ago at the Symphony,
“
Do not act surprised or shocked. Just
flash a beautiful smile and radiate confidence.”
Claire smiled, nodded politely to the crowd, and
gracefully made her way into the Saint Regis Hotel.