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?”