The house was already free of her annoying presence when he returned and Alfredo himself was already home. Tristan handed him the key with a dreamy smiled clearly relaxing on his face as he steadily made for his bedroom. He had never been more peaceful. He was approaching the stairs when Alfredo called him. The old fellow must have been thinking he was drunk or something.
“Um excuse me sir but is everything alright?” the man asked
“Or trust me my good man, things have never been more better than now.” he said and set another foot forward.
The old man was in doubt and was worried as it were.
“Are you sure or do I need to put out a call for Amanda?” he asked.
Tristan turned now to face him and slowly as he was speaking started making his way towards him.
“And pray tell me where your loyalty lies Alfredo?” he asked
“Sir? Clearly with you. I only worry that something might have happened.” he said and stopped himself when Tristan came suddenly to stand in front of him. The older man drew in a deep breath and he seemed rather thrown off balance.
“I’m just happy okay? Let’s not ruin a blessed night now, shall we?” Tristan said to him as he had come to tap him on the shoulders
“Of course sir.” Alfredo said as he was relieved that Tristan was very much himself.
There was something about the young man he did but quite place his fingers on and he was already beginning to wonder where his young master had been off to when he had taken the car. Certainly he had not gone to the wrong places. Alfredo hoped and prayed it was with whom his heart aches for and not some random whore.
However, Tristan himself had been acting really strange through the night especially as he had gone to his room for a bath but soon came out of it as he made for his piano room. He was playing a soft tone for a really long time that Alfredo had to get off bed after sometime to fix him a drink. He came to Tristan in the piano room a set it before him.
“Something to keep the rhythm going sir.” Alfredo had said.
Tristan stopped playing as he sipped from it.
“Ah. Thanks so much.” he said and Alfredo nodded.
This was the missing part of Tristan Jenkins he was yet to see in a really long time. This was a different Tristan and he had his hopes that a touch of Claire must have done the trick. If only he knew how right he actually was by thinking that alone. Well, he decided to give him his privacy when after sipping the drink Tristan had resumed playing. Alfredo bid him a goodnight then and was making for the exit when suddenly Tristan had stopped playing again suddenly. He called out to Alfredo suddenly and the older man turned to look at him.
“Mmm?” was his response
“About the former staff, do you think I was a little off the radar with them?” Tristan asked.
This probably was a tricky question as there was never really telling or predicting what things Tristan Jenkins had in his head or mind. For all he knew, it might be a trick to discern what he thinks but Alfredo also knew within that he deserved the truth at least. He would however be opting for a different manner of approach.
“Well sir, they were your staff. Do you think in anyway that you might have been a little bit extra with how you handled them?” Alfredo asked him.
Tristan was quiet for a couple of moments as he seemed to be thinking about what the older man had said to him. Dare I say but there seemed also to be a tinge of sadness in his eyes as he thought.
“Well, that is what I have you for and why I asked you first. Well then, you should call them back that’s if they would want to rejoin this household.” Tristan said
“I’m certain they would but they would want you to apologize to them.” Alfredo said
“About what?” Tristan asked
“Oh I don’t know sir.” Alfredo said
“Just invite them to return and we’ll see just how well the rest goes.” Tristan said and resumed his playing. Alfredo knew he had been dismissed for the night but he had a wide smile on his face as he went away. There was this light about Tristan right now at this night and this was something Alfredo was actually hoping would remain with him. Tristan had been all shades and way of harsh but he was hoping this was an upstart of something actually better. The older man went to sleep eventually while Tristan was still up playing. He had no idea if he had actually slept but whatever the case maybe, the next day would decided.
Alfredo was amazed when he saw her walking into the premises that morning. He was then certain of where Tristan had been all night that had suddenly changed him.
“Miss Willows!!! Oh I’m sorry, Claire.” he called her and she rushed over to him and before he could tell her he had been sweaty from morning stuff, Claire hugged him tightly and he patted her back. She was actually really back with them in the house.
“Oh Alfredo, I missed you.” she said
“We all did. Him more especially.” he said jerking his head towards where Tristan’s bedroom would be and she chuckled. Both of them laughed as it would even seem that Claire was even more excited to be back with them. She asked where Tristan was and he told her that the young man was still in bed as he spent a greater part of the night on his piano. She nearly worried that something might have happened to Tristan but the older man reassured her that he was all good. In fact he wanted to thank her for bringing back the Tristan he had been hoping to see in a really long time.
“And what Tristan is that pray tell?” Claire asked
“The Tristan that acknowledges his wrong doing even if it’s indirectly.” Alfredo said and they both laughed it off.
Claire excused herself and made for inside the house. She did not call his name as she was taking in the details of the house she had so missed. The previous night had been her trying to convince her father on the reasons why she must stay working at Tristan’s and the older man although he did not like the thought of it and also refusing to accept that there was nothing going on between them both had agreed. He however made it clear that should he ever find out that there was something, he was going to stop her from working there as he could not support an employee and employer relationship. Should members of the press find that information especially with her being his daughter and her circumstances, then it would be word out that his daughter was kissing up to a man and receiving favours she did not merit but for his pleasure. That was something he would not have at all and she had come to accept it that way.
Claire pretty much knew how tough if not impossible that would be but she was ample prepared to take her changes with everything. She started climbing the stairs as she reminded herself that everything was worth it with Tristan when her phone started ringing. It was Jake and suddenly like a stray arrow from cupid himself it hit her. This was a second fiddle game that she was playing with him and she was feeling hurt. Not guilty as she felt when it was Tristan at his side of the coin now but she felt like she was actually manipulating him and hurting him. Yet Claire did not want to start to totally lose the only friend she had at the moment. Yes, she had never been more open to anyone else as she had with Jake even though she could not understand what special things she had told him. She pretty much was actually keeping things from him like her relationship with Tristan but just as the latter, he knew about her condition which was her biggest secret yet. There was nothing different and if she was being real to herself, it was the clear fact that she was even more open to Tristan than she ever was with him.
Claire took his call on the fourth ring and said hello. He was calling to check up on her and tell her something about a job when Claire stopped him telling him she was at work now. He went cold and downcast instantly.
“Oh. At his place?” Jake had asked
“If by that you mean Tristan’s then yes.” she said
“But I thought…” he began
“We’ll talk better on this when I return Jake. I have to work now. Bye.” she said and quickly hung up. She asked herself if she was doing the right thing at the moment briefly before continuing to Tristan’s room.
It had been a while and suddenly it came in flashes, the things that had happened between them in that very room. The dark things he had done to her and the forbidden fruit she had taken full bite off. She felt weak in the knees and had to force herself to get into order as she cleared her throat. She wanted to get inside straight up as she was already longing to see him but cautioned herself as there was nothing bad about a little composure. Tristan was in there and she would see him anyways. Claire cleared her throat as she called him the first time but he did not answer. Probably he was deep asleep but she needed him to wake up as she wanted to see him or if she was being true, she wanted him to see her. She called out to him yet again but he would not answer. Claire was getting both worried and impatient as she called him again. She had grown tired of calling nonstop with no response so she opened the door.
Tristan was still in bed facing the other side in the most awkward position that she feared instantly. She rushed over to the bed and climbed out as she mad made to turn him over when he suddenly grabbed her underneath the arms and drew her into the bed as he laid over her laughing.
“Tristan!!! You scared me.” she said as she tried catching her breath but he was still smiling
“Well that’s what you get for taking so long and calling me by my name at the door. Damn!!! I was hoping we could have done away with all those little formalities between us Claire.” he whispered
“I know but everyone thinks I’m working here including my dad.” she whispered
“Oh yes. Of course you are working here. You’re working on your man.” Tristan said as he started kissing her.
The sound of that, her man he had said. Claire felt really excited when he said that but then broke off the kiss suddenly. He asked her what the problem was and she gestured to the door.
“What if someone walks in on us Tristan?” she asked
“You worry a lot. Although I doubt the possibility but I don’t think anyone would. Besides I’m thinking it’s just about time we went public.” he said kissing her again
“Public? You mean like you and Janet? Tristan I don’t want that. That’s a scandal.” she said.
Oh and she was ruining his mood with all her inquisitiveness. It was ruining everything he had planned for the morning. Their first morning since their fight. Tristan smiled and sat up looking at her without breaking eye contact. Slowly Claire herself sat up looking at him. He began on how he still was very sorry about all that had transpired between he and Janet but he wanted to assure her that the lady was gone from his life.
“I cannot lose you Claire but trust me on this. There is no more Janet. Only Claire.” he said
“Yes no more Janet. What about the rest of your celebrity pack?” she asked feeling a tang of jealousy. Anyone could hear the pain in her voice and tone when she spoke.
Tristan could see already where whatever this was would be leading to and he could not give any chances. He could not blame her for how she was feeling about Janet but he was tempted to play the game with her on how she had not caught him with Janet but he could not say same for her whom had been kissing another man. But he knew that was no way to win her back and over again. That certainly would be him pushing her to the other lad and this thing she was playing at was merely a way of finding out if he should be with her. He knew women very well as well as all their antics and he was not about to fall for one. He had to play this cool as he took her hand and placed it on his chest while boring into her very soul as he had maintained his eye contact with her all through.
“You must trust me Claire Willows when I say there is only Claire within her and none other. Janet was a mistake I hope to avoid making again.” he said to her and she rewarded him with her wide smile. He quickly ceased the moment and drew her in for a kiss. The kiss was already gone far beyond just a kiss as he already had thoughts and plans for them both.
Tristan made her lay on her back once again as he resumed kissing her while his hand explored her body. He had missed her and everything about her. Her scent and her feel especially how she twisted as he immersed pleasure within her. This was exactly what he had come to understand as the feeling of being with the right ones at the right time.
Tristan’s free hand found a button and undid it and then another as he started coming all the way up. Her shirt had been unbuttoned fully in a couple of minutes and he broke that kiss to come toy around from her navel area as he traced an invincible line with his tongue all the way up to her breasts in their enclosure. He needed to free those babies as he had missed them so much especially the feel of her soft rose buds each time he rolled then on his tongue and suckled at them. Tristan helped her up halfway as he pulled the shirt from her. His hands found her behind and he unclasped the binding of the bra holding her breasts captive. It came undone and he took it away from her revealing the bountiful bosom before him. He had just cupped one and was about to place his tongue on the other peaking nipple when the knock came to his door. He wanted so much to ignore it but it came again.
“Sir?” Alfredo called from the outside
“Oh curse his soul.” Tristan said and Claire giggled.