“As long as we are certain on the terms of our agreement and you follow the rules and orders given, I see no problem with you roaming the house.” He reached for the door handle. “It is rather large. I will be working from home tomorrow. Your services will be utilized then, so be prepared for my call. When I have a chance, I will give you a tour of the house and define your limitations. I think it is best that you do not roam tonight. I do not want you getting lost.” He started to leave. She heard the beep as he reached for the handle.

“Anthony? I don’t have any . . . duties tonight?” Her voice began to fail her. She sounded less like the strong, lighthearted woman she desperately tried to project and more like a child.

“I have recently arrived from a series of meetings in Europe and am quite tired. I am glad to know we have a mutual understanding. Good night, Claire.”

“Good night, Anthony.” He shut the door. She heard the beep and the lock.

Her thoughts swirled. He has been in Europe! I have been locked in here while he was on another continent! Okay, focus, the door will be open tomorrow. I engaged in a conversation, the first one in almost two weeks. He didn’t say anything about my appearance. All that work and not a word. Perhaps compliments aren’t his style, only criticism. That was all right, because tomorrow I am leaving this suite. And leaving the suite is one step closer to going home!

Tossing and turning, Claire had too much energy to sleep. It wasn’t just her body, her mind spun with the excitement of her impending release. During the past thirteen days her every need was met, except her need to be with people. She couldn’t remember a time in her life that didn’t include interaction. It was something she took for granted, until now. The isolation was unbearable. While it was happening, she wouldn’t allow herself to think about it, but now that the end was near her anticipation mounted.

She lay in bed and pondered Anthony Rawlings. What kind of man was he? He obviously liked control, complete control. What did he mean when he said, “Be prepared for my call”? Did that mean she should be up early waiting for someone to come and get her? He didn’t give her a time. She looked at the clock: 5:33. Should she get up now? What if she fell asleep and wasn’t ready when he called? Could she end up locked in her suite another thirteen days? She couldn’t take that. Claire needed companionship.

Her mind slipped back to college and recalled living in the sorority house surrounded by girls. She often longed for some alone time, away from the drama. There were always issues between sisters, with boyfriends, classes, or parents. She wished for a place of her own and time by herself. Another of Grandma’s sayings came to mind, “Be careful what you wish for.” She would love to have that camaraderie and even drama again.

At 6:00 a.m. she gave up, got out of bed, and went to the bathroom to get ready for whatever the day had in store. She spent almost two weeks doing the same thing. Now she prepared to venture into the unknown. It both scared and excited her. It was like the unpredictability of weather.

Her breakfast waited on the table when she left the bathroom. Her hair styled in a low ponytail, casual yet classy. Her makeup done, she decided to dress before eating and entered the closet. Stepping into the sea of material Claire wondered if every outfit would be so difficult to choose, and if every action a test? Decision made, she put on dark jeans and a sweater. Entering her suite, ready for coffee, she suddenly dropped her shoes and let out a startled muffled scream.

Lost in her own thoughts, his presence caught her off guard. She hadn’t heard him enter. Damn. Could he learn to knock? The look of surprise and shock on Claire’s face accompanied by the dropping of her shoes made him smile. He startled her. She knew that made him happy. “Good morning, Claire.”

“Good morning, Anthony, I didn’t hear you come in.” She picked up her shoes and regained some composure.

“Are you ready for your tour?” He looked at her uneaten breakfast. “Did you plan to eat first? I have a web conference in forty-five minutes.”

“What’s a web conference?” Suddenly, she thought she shouldn’t have asked, or should she? She just didn’t know what to do or say. She knew it was just nice to have someone to talk to, even him.

“It is like a conference call between many different people, but instead of being on the phone it is over the Internet.”

She couldn’t believe how casual and friendly he spoke. He even looked more relaxed, wearing slacks and a shirt but no tie or jacket. It reminded her of the Anthony she met in Atlanta. “It is okay. I’m really not hungry. I’m more excited to get the tour.” She put on her shoes and sipped a little coffee.

He began by explaining the shape of the house, a main section which housed the dining room, formal living room, sitting room, kitchen, and the grand foyer. The foyer contained the main stairway. Two large wings projected off from the main section. Stairways were also found at the end of each of those wings. The staff had access to an elevator for transporting carts and larger items to the second and lower level.

He continued to explain Claire’s suite was located on the second floor of the southeast wing as they stepped out of the suite. Claire looked slowly down the great expanse of the hallway at many other doors. She hadn’t heard anyone or anything her entire stay. Anthony moved five steps ahead before she remembered to walk. The sensation of stepping out of the suite was frightening, like leaving the security of a nest.

She quickly caught him and did her best to walk at his fast pace. At times he wouldn’t say a word, just walk. Other times he spoke at great length about this piece of art or that antique.

Along the tour he showed her a library adorned with beautiful cherry woodwork and book-lined shelves. It occupied two stories and contained a back wall with a sliding ladder like you see in movies. She could get lost in there for days. She looked around for a computer. Didn’t all libraries have computers? “Is there a computer in here, some way to find books?”

“I think it would be best for you to not have access to computers, the Internet, or telephones.” Anthony’s statement wasn’t an answer to Claire’s question, it was a proclamation.

The tour of his magnificent house held so many treasures that Claire momentarily forgot why she was there. His declaration brought the reason rushing back. She knew all forms of communication were absent from her suite, but assumed that outside the door there would be Wi-Fi. Even though she hadn’t seen her Blackberry for over two weeks, she hoped she would once again be connected to the real world. He looked at her with his dark eyes as he spoke. She did her best to maintain his gaze, swallowed, and nodded in response.

Next he took her to an exercise room in the lower level, complete with all kinds of weight equipment, as well as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper. Attached to the workout room was an indoor pool. Though not full sized, it was big enough to swim laps in. When she saw the pool, the stunning mosaic tiles that covered the walls and floor, the windows that allowed sunlight to penetrate, and smelled the familiar chlorine, she let out a gasp. “Do you like to swim?” he asked.