It might seem amazing how small the world is and what mysteries lies ahead each step we take. However several questions brewing in our minds in the course of the story would take a pause for later as Tristan decides to finish up with the document. He was going through it all detail for detail as he was not ready to miss out on any bit of information that would aid his taste for vengeance. By the records, the old man had been divorced when the things had happened but he had been around the area at the time where his ex-wife lived. That was years ago in San Francisco. All along it was one place he never wanted to be made to return to or visit. As he had to built himself up into a chef, no one, not even his sister had reached out to him obviously because they had cut ties with him. His father would also not want to be associated with a chef which had been Tristan’s drive. He wanted to prove to the old man that whatever path of life he chose to thread, he would definitely make some big out of it. He did not need his father’s shadow forcing him into his own line.
As he finished reading it, he sat down for a while ruminating over what he had read and what he planned to do. He sent for Claire. She came to him eventually. Tristan was in his piano room still and she was apparently skeptical about entering. He saw her there from the corner of his eyes when she had arrived but pretended not to be watching. It was obviously the memory of his kiss that had her smitten in bits that she was so scared. She stood there and at one time did cross one leg over the threshold not knowing what to do with the second one. So she paused there and spoke to him instead.
“Ahem… you sent for me sir.” Claire said loudly trying to get his attention.
Tristan smiled. She could not see his face though as he took his glass and sipped his wine.
“And I doubt when I sent for you, it was for you to stay at the threshold. Come inside Claire.” he said.
She was shivering nearly as she walked in. When she came over and stood a couple of paces before him, he smiled. He did have an effect after all.
“Take those and tell me what you see,” he said nudging his jaw towards the papers on the piano.
Only now did he turn to look at them. She had not moved an inch as she stared at those papers.
The man obviously wanted her to read them and Claire knew she was in trouble if she dared. Of all times to find out that she was a dullard, Tristan had to pick now. She did not want to make a spectacle of herself and simply stood there turning around gradually to face him.
“Why? What’s in the papers?” she asked him.
That behaviour shows she was obviously guilty; Tristan thought and smiled. There was every possibility that she was already guessing that he was suspecting her of being a fake and would rather get caught on time than being made to catch herself. He however was not going to tolerate her disobeying him and looked at her once again. This was him taking charge of the situation.
“Listen Miss Willows, I want you to take up those papers and read out what you see immediately.” he said
“I can’t.” Claire said
“What do you mean you can’t?” he demanded again
“I can’t.” she said as tears began welling up her eyes
“You can’t or you won’t?” Tristan demanded rising up
“I can’t okay?!! I can’t read!!! There. You happy now?”Claire said as those threatening tears actually fell from her eyes.
Her voice had risen so high pitched that Tristan was shocked beyond measure. He had not expected that response and reaction from her and she did even more. She did a quick bow and turned away from his sight tear filled.
Claire had never felt more pain at being underrated than she did now. It felt like her whole world was crumbling and that she had successfully sent Tristan away from her for good. She did not know why on earth that suddenly mattered to her but she knew one thing, she was done with this job for good. It was to fetch her bag and jacket that was on her mind as she stomped away. She passed Alfredo on the way without actually seeing him or noticing him.
“Claire, are you okay?” the older man had asked pausing to look at her.
She did not answer but simply walked away, grabbed her things and started out of the house.
Tristan absorbed the shock for a bit not totally understanding what had just transpired. He seemed to have been wrong with his hasty judgement and conclusion over the girl. Instantly, he snapped right back to reality. The first thing on his mind was Claire and how to get her to stay as he knew he had messed up chances with her for good.
“Claire!!!” he called after her as he came downstairs.
Alfredo was there looking as lost as anyone could be. He walked past the old man and went to the kitchen expecting that perhaps he might find her there crying and licking her wounds. Claire was not in the kitchen and just then Alfredo entered.
“Are you looking for Claire?” he asked
“Where is she?” Tristan demanded
“She suddenly left.” the confused old man said
“And you didn’t think to stop her?” Tristan demanded further provoked
“I don’t know. I thought you sent her away knowing how angry you can…”he stopped when Tristan suddenly glared at him
“Keys.” Tristan demanded.
The man fumbled with his pocket nervously and handed it over to Tristan. He did not care how he was dressed for once or aim for perfection as he rushed out of the house. Seeing his mood already, Alfredo rushed to get the gates. Tristan got into the car, turning it around quickly and getting on the road. Before he fully left, he asked Alfredo who was breathing heavily from rushing after him which way Claire takes home. It could only be home for her unless… well nevermind.
Tristan drove quickly and luckily for him, it took no long time for him to find her walking briskly. He drove up to her, slowing down beside her and hooting his horn. Once Claire looked and found that he was the one, she increased her pace obviously having nothing to say to him. He followed her for a bit and started calling her but she would not pay him any attention. Angrily, Tristan drove forward, stopped and got out of the car intercepting her. He walked over to her.
“What do you want?!!!” Claire yelled at him again.
He had nothing to say yet at the very least as he grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her into the car.
“Get… in.” he yelled and closed the door.
Walking over to the other side, Tristan caught sight of a man that was taking photos of him. The man was stratled when he noticed Tristan had seen him but did not move an inch. Tristan was obviously vexed as he grabbed the phone and threw it to the ground before proceeding to trample it under feet. He could tell he also shifted his annoyance at having to chase after Claire to the phone as he made certain he destroyed it.
“Can’t I have a little privacy?” Tristan demanded and walked over to his car
“Hey… that was my phone.” the man yelled after him but did not move obviously scared of what might become of him should he complain too much and shock of what had just happened.
Tristan got to his car, opened and found what he was looking for. It was a his card. He went over and slapped it on the man’s chest.
“Give me a call for a replacement or sue my ass!!!” Tristan yelled and walked away.
He knew the man would not try to sue him after all he had been the one taking photos without permission. He looked over at Claire who still had streaks of tears on her face and was glaring at him like he was some mad man.
“Things you make me do.” he said and started the car
“Me? Let me down Tristan.” she said
“Trust me darling, if you wanted to be let out, you would have done more fighting or escaped while I was distracted.” he shot back at her and she went mute.
He drove back home and then asked her to get down. She refused insisting that he should take her back where he had brought her from. Must she act that way too, Tristan wondered. He got done and went to her side opening the door.
“Get down.” he said
“No. Take me back.” she said
“Get down Claire.” he said sounding like he was warning her
“No.” was her reply as she folded her hands across her chest
“I’d count to two and if you do not get down, I’d make love to you right here.” he threatened.
Instantly, she got down obviously doing her mental maths that if he could kiss her shamelessly, he might as well as do more.
“You brute.” she shot at him
“See, that didn’t take much now did it?” he asked and closed the door.
She was still standing there stubbornly when Tristan pulled her by the arm into the house.
“You found her.” Alfredo said.
Tristan said nothing. The rest of the staff stared after him and her but he did not care. Instead, he pulled her straight to his bedroom and pushed her inside gently so she would not fall. Next, he turned the key locking them in. At the sound of the key clicking, Claire’s heart skipped a beat.