Page 2 of Degrees of Control
He is still working on his computer and the silence between us is unnerving. “Chase, I’ll plan to take a cab to Jenny’s from the airport. I’m sure she won’t mind me staying with her until I find a place to rent,” I say, finally breaking the unbearable silence between us before we touch down.
“Katarina, things with Alfreita have escalated to the point that I have had to increase security for both of our families. It is not safe for you to be on your own right now. In fact, your mom and dad will both be staying at our home for the next couple of weeks. Let’s not give them another reason for worry right now. You can sleep in the room we’ve been sharing, and I will move to one of the spare bedrooms. Your parents can use the guest wing which is on the other side of the house.”
“I’m not sure what you're saying.”
“Your father is aware I intended to propose and your parents will no doubt be anticipating a celebration upon our return. Expecting your acceptance, news of our engagement was leaked to the press in hopes of drawing Alfreita from hiding. I’m afraid we’ll need to keep up appearances for the short term. In fact, the entire plan to attract him relies on it,” he says.
“You want me to lie to my parents about our engagement?”
“If it makes you feel better, pretend that you said yes,” he says, sliding the five carat princess cut diamond ring onto my finger. I flinch at the electricity his touch creates, but if he feels it, he does not give any indication.
“Katarina, it will be for a very short time. We have much to discuss, but right now, I need to finalize security details. I’ll send you an email outlining all the announcements and particulars shared with the press. We can talk about them in more depth tomorrow.” His eyes are hooded and controlled, and my heart feels as heavy as the new weight he has placed upon my finger.
The pilot announces the upcoming landing to O’Hare, and we’ve no sooner touched down than Jay has us pile into the awaiting helicopter. Chase hands me a pair of earplugs. I am both annoyed, and at the same time grateful, for his thoughtfulness putting them grudgingly into my ears before I pull on the regulatory headset. The ascent is smooth as the pilot hovers, lifts off, and navigates around the expansive sky-rises that are lit up against the dark of the night, over the lake and toward Chase’s home in the country. It is a short flight and the pilot descends, hovers, and puts the helicopter down seamlessly on the helipad which is only a few hundred feet from the house. As we approach, Gaby greets us at the door with warm hugs and a gentle smile.
“Well I certainly wasn’t expecting you two back this soon, but Chase tells me congratulations are in order,” she says.
“Thank you, Gaby. Have Katarina’s parents retired for the evening?” Chase asks, easily averting more questions about our engagement.
“Yes, they were tired,” she says.
“Very good, I’ll let them know we’re back in the morning,” Chase replies, walking into the kitchen.
“I have a few issues which require my attention, and I’m sure Katarina must be exhausted after the long flight,” he says, giving me the perfect reason to retire before excusing himself to his study down the hall.
The clock on the nightstand registers one a.m., and I am emotionally exhausted. I wish it were not so late and was a decent hour to call my mom. She would understand what I am going through. It’s hurtful that Chase has barely spoken to me, but I am the one that called it off, not him. I change into a nightgown, brush my teeth and curl into the bed that up until now, we have shared. My iPad dings with the alert of an incoming message.
From:[email protected]
The attached document will provide you with the details of the announcement, along with the press release, times and dates.
C. H. Prestian
Chief Executive Officer, Owner
Prestian Corporation
The message is as impersonal as he has been all evening, outlining media and press plans. He has included a well-written announcement by Nate Collins, the freelance journalist who now works exclusively for Prestian Corp. I reread it and close the email without responding, suppressing the desire to send Chase a scathing response about lies and deception. Instead, I lay the computer on the nightstand, curling up with his pillow. The smell of his cologne permeates everything around me. I pull it closer, breathing in the smell of Chase and his fresh-scented soap. The tears rush unwelcome and uncontrollably down my cheeks. He always knew it, even before I did. He is right, a relationship would never last without trust. I will do well to heed his advice to survive the next few weeks. I finally fall into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning, thinking of dark green intense eyes.
CHAPTER TWO
I wake early, afteronly a few hours, restless and unable to fall back asleep. Today, Chase will officially break the news of our engagement to my parents. Shortly after that, Nate will publicly release the engagement announcement of Chase Prestian, one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in the country, to Katarina Meilers, a consultant hired by his company to assist with the design of the city’s newest medical centers. It will be in all of the local social columns. Once the Associated Press pick it up I have no doubt it will necessitate dodging paparazzi attempting to get pictures to go along with the stories.
It is evident to me, that like everything else; this announcement was arranged down to the finest of detail weeks before Chase actually proposed. The awkward plane ride home, the need to appear engaged all seem like a bad dream, but here I sit, twirling the white band of gold that holds a stunning princess cut diamond around my finger, a magnificent symbolism of our lie.
I need to go for a run and clear my head. I send a quick text message to Jay.
Message:Leaving for a run in about 10 minutes.
Reply:Ok- Chase wants you to take the orchard route.
I frown at the fact Chase is always apprised of my every move. I will no doubt have a fleet of security guards trailing along with me this morning. I know my annoyance is misplaced, and I should be grateful after everything Jay and his team have done to keep me alive. I zip off a quick text to let him know that I will take the orchard path this morning.
The air is crisp and fresh with a hint of winter’s imminent arrival. The sun is just starting to peek over the horizon creating a pink and purple mixed hue over the blue-gray lake ahead. I ease into my pace, pulling the tie of my hood a little tighter, slowly acclimating to the briskness of the breeze coming off of Lake Michigan compared to that of the warm Aruba runs of the last week. My mind immediately drifts to Chase’s involvement in the Miami explosion and of Ty and his injuries. He did not deny it and doesn’t appear the slightest bit remorseful. I just hope that Chase is able to resolve his issues with Alfreita quickly so that we can move on with our lives. It feels good to expend physical energy after all the emotional trials of the last couple days.
I’ll give Jenny a call a little later in the day when I know more. Maybe there is another assignment she can give me and someone else that can take over the Prestian Corp accounts. I make a mental note to call the realtor and have her begin looking for apartments as I round the corner and see his home ahead.
