Chapter 49

Book:Undaunted Published:2024-5-1

He wanted really to do more than the cheap torments he had been giving her. He wanted to tell her why he was going to keep punishing her but had to decide against it. His grumpy attitude towards her did not change. At a point while he was acting up, he made reference to someone telling lies and asked what her tolerance level towards liars was. Claire had paused to think which he had of course interpreted as her being aware that he was actually talking about and was certain it was about her. He continued watching her for a while as she thought of an answer. When she spoke up, it was about how she detested lies all her life and would prefer the truth, no matter how it hurts. He smiled when she said so and continued with what he was doing without saying another word to her.
What Tristan did not understand was the fact that all they had been talking about was affecting Claire in a way that would be considered extremely contrasting to what he was thinking. It was her life she had given a thought to and how those she called family ended up lying to her and making her inferior. She blamed no one really for her dyslexia but the lack of love from their side was solely up to them. She was not the one at fault for all that. It started when her parents had recently divorced that they had to come up with a lie on what to tell her. It was all about her father having a lot on his desk due to travelling and that her mother had been transferred. You can only begin to imagine how long she had to cope with all that lies and how she felt when her mother told her after her father stopped visiting that he had begun ghosting and did not care about them.
The last time she spoke to her father before he disappeared, he had said he was occupied with work but merely looking at Andrew and Deanna, she could tell he was busy with jobs of baby making. It was always a lie. All those times when they told her they loved her was all lies. They only loved their selfish personalities and whatever it was they wanted to do. That had been what Claire had been thinking about when Tristan Jenkins asked what she thought about liars.
All the rest of her time at work, she had been very quiet as a lot seemed to be going through her mind but the man himself was thinking otherwise. She was busy all through as he demanded that she fixed his bedroom. Claire observed things about him through his properties. He was one really neat freak and that was obviously the first trait of a good chef. Claire did her bit calmly barely noticing all he was doing to her and then, it was time to go home. She did not go see him at all but rather, she bade Alfredo and the other women bye before leaving.
He saw her from his window when she was leaving. He had a glass of wine that he barely liked as he was craving something stronger. He had been expecting that she would come see him before she leaves and maybe he would steal a kiss that would be boldly stamped on her lips so the other intruder might keep his distance. He had sent for Alfredo however as he had a new mission for him. He really needed to know who she was really and what she wanted with him.
When Alfredo entered, the old man asked if he had tasted Claire’s food. He did give him a reply and the man went on to ask how it was. Tristan could not understand and began thinking otherwise again that probably Claire had put him up to it to steal a compliment off his lips. Well, he was not going to give her that benefit, he was going to have to hold on to the compliment unless of course she comes to him and asks nicely by watering his lips with her ever soft lips.
When he told the old man what assignment he had for him, the man was stratled. His first question was if the young miss had done something wrong. The young miss? Tristan could not believe his ears. He however asked the man if he was paying him to ask him so many questions at once. That seemed to get him to recollect himself and apologize for taking things to far. He agreed he had overstepped his bounds and promised to get off things about Claire as soon as possible. He asked if there were specific areas he should look into and Tristan told him everything. No stone was to be left unturned im the search for all her secrets. The old man had a quizzical look on his face when he left the room.
He was sure that he was making everything seem all too personal but he cared less. He had to make him understand that he really wanted the information he was seeking and nothing was to keep him off it. He was still thinking when his phone rang, it was Amanda. He asked himself if he was to think it a coincidence that she had called that very instant or that perhaps his driver was doing a lot of talking and had told her that he was obsessed with some nobody. If eventually that was the case, Tristan swore to himself that he was going to sack the old man for good and that would be the very last straw break the camel’s back. He ignored the call the first time and only picked it up the second time.
“Hello doctor.” he said
“Why Mr Jenkins, took you long enough.” she said over the phone
“To what do I owe the displeasure of your outreach?” he asked distastefully.
Tristan had never failed to make it clear to the woman that he did not fancy her or what she was doing for him. She was merely a shrink and it is as well a known fact that anyone seeing a shrink has big reasons to question their sanity. He was trying his hardest for this insane part of him not to be seen and yet it seemed that both she and Claire Willows were hell bent on showing the world how crazy he was. Not like he cared but his personality and who he acts out on the out did really care.
“You don’t seem quite happy I called. Is this a bad time?” she asked innocently.
Alright, it was not seeming like Alfredo told her anything which puts him off the hook but then, one cannot deny that shrinks also know how to fake things. He was however not going to act all fake with her but tell it straight to her whatever was on his mind.
“Come on doctor, has there been anytime I ever seemed happy to talk to you? This is all Ted’s fault.” he said
“Your friend only cares about you.” she pointed out
“Yes, enough to care for me as a mad man. Tell me shrink, what do you want?” he asked her angrily.
She was upset when he called her a shrink but managed to hide it. She cleared her throat and went on to the reason why she had called. According to her, she had been worried about him all along as she had not seen him. Besides there was the thing with him and going back to things that would cost his life eventually. Tristan knew well enough she was talking about his recent smoking and drinking incident. He should have known that the doctor was not going to let that slide and braced himself simply for what was to come.
“Well Mr Jenkins…” she began
“Tristan.” he corrected her.
“Oh sorry. Tristan, I would be coming to Norman for a conference and I was wondering how we would get to sit and talk.” she said
“Why doesn’t this sound like a request to have a session with me?” he asked her.
She chuckled.
“Because it isn’t. It’s very much not a request.” she broke it to him
“Are you not becoming controlling doctor?” Tristan asked amused obviously
“I hope not. Pick the date Tristan and get back to me.” she said and hung up.
This was new attitude, he had to agree. She was all bossy and that was something Tristan did not want with people. He was the boss but for once, he decided he might as well as listen to her. He did after all enjoy her silly questions in a way. He would call up Alfredo to fix him up with her whenever she comes around.
Now, it was back to Claire and stuff about her. He took his phone and dialed Alfredo to know where he was. The man picked up and told him he was on the operation find out who Claire was really. That sounded really cool to him.