Page 20 of Enduring Promise

Russ pulled on his shoes and headed for the door. “We need to find her. She wouldn’t miss this event, right? That must mean she’s in some kind of trouble.”

“I’ll tell Madame Fournier,” Sophie choked out. “Perhaps we should get the police back here?”

“No,” Russ cut back quickly, shooting Hillary a knowing look. “We don’t want to worry all the other guests arriving, right? Madame Fournier wouldn’t be pleased with that.” Really Russ didn’t want that same nosey detective figuring out who he really was.

Sophie hesitated. “I guess that’s right. But I will tell the staff we must find Claire immediately. They will check everywhere.”

Sophie rushed out of the room, clearly distressed, leaving Russ and Hillary alone once more. Russ reached out his hand to her, ready to lead her in the search for Claire, but Hillary shook her head, glancing down at her dress and heels.

“I need to change,” she said firmly. “I don’t know who might be out there or what they plan to do, but I’m pretty sure this dress and the three-inch heels put me at a disadvantage.”

Russ gave her a harried look. “You don’t need to change. If anything happens, you’ll have plenty of time to get away, no matter what you’re wearing. I’ll make sure of that.” He paused, his gaze softening. “Besides, if I’m going out there, I’d rather know if things go south, the last thing I see is you running away in that dress.”

She rolled her eyes, fighting back a smile. “You’re not funny.” After a beat, she relented. “Fine. I’ll compromise.” She slipped on a pair of sneakers under the gown, the juxtaposition almost laughable, but the gravity of the situation left no room for humor.

Together, they set out, moving through the empty hallways and searching each room methodically, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The library was empty, devoid of any sign of Claire. Their unease grew as they moved downstairs and outside, calling Claire’s name, but receiving no answer.

Cars began pulling up to the estate, guests arriving in elegant attire, their laughter and conversations filling the air with a sense of festivity that felt out of place against the growing tension in Russ’s and Hillary's chests. Ignoring the curious looks of a few early guests, they made their way down to the charred remains of the barn.

In the distance, they finally spotted her. Claire was standing by a makeshift fenced area, where one of the rescued horses had been tied up. She was stroking the horse’s neck gently, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. As they drew closer, Hillary could see that Claire looked unharmed, but the weight of the day’s events hung heavily over her, evident in the tear-streaked makeup and the hollow look in her eyes.

Hillary approached her cautiously, her heart aching at the sight of Claire’s grief. “Claire,” she said softly, reaching out a hand to place gently on her shoulder. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you. You need to get dressed for the event. People are arriving.”

“I’m leaving,” she whispered, though her voice was stern. “I’m going back home. I’m going to give him what he wants. My loyalty.”

CHAPTER 21

Russ felt a sharp prickling at the back of his neck as he scanned their surroundings. Standing in the open, far from the safety of the house, left him feeling vulnerable. The charred remains of the barn loomed nearby, a stark reminder of the danger surrounding them. This was not the smartest place to be holding a discussion, exposed and visible.

“We need to go inside,” he said, his voice firm as he looked at Claire. “Let’s sort this out in the house. If you don’t want to go to the event, fine. We’ll figure something else out.”

Claire shook her head, her hand still resting on the horse’s neck. “I’m leaving,” she replied, her tone resolute. “I’m going back home tonight. Michael will arrange a jet for me as soon as I call him.”

At the mention of Michael, Hillary’s eyes flashed with anger, and she stepped forward, her voice rising with each word. “No. You’re not calling that monster. He’s the one who pulled you into this mess. He made you compromise your ethics, endangered lives, and nearly killed someone with that fire in the barn. You are not getting involved with him again.”

Claire’s gaze turned defiant. She’d clearly been thinking about this incessantly since the fire. “I know how this ends,Hillary. So do you.” Her tears fell as she clenched her jaw and explained. “Men like him... they don’t get punished. They get promoted. They thrive because they know the system is built to protect them, to reward their ruthlessness. People in power want someone who can bend the rules, someone who will do whatever it takes to get results. And Michael is exactly that.”

To Russ’s surprise, Hillary was nodding in agreement. He thought she’d be combatting this breakdown with some kind of counter argument. But he also knew the truth.

There were so many stories he’d covered over the years that drove home the fact that he was glad he hadn’t been born a woman. Womanhood seemed like an impossible game to win. At every turn there were unspoken rules, insurmountable expectations, and punishments for not fitting neatly into someone else's mold. Women who spoke out were labeled difficult, hysterical, or worse. Women who kept quiet and played along often paid a different kind of price—one that chipped away at their sense of self, their autonomy.

Russ had witnessed it time and time again. Powerful men shielded by wealth, influence, and a network of others eager to protect their own interests. They didn’t only get away with things; they thrived because of it. And it was the women around them who bore the cost, forced into impossible decisions with no good options. Claire was right.

“The world doesn’t care if he lies, cheats, or ruins lives to get what he wants. It cares that he can do it all without hesitation. That’s what makes him valuable to them. That’s why he keeps getting away with it. They want his data to be true. They want his successes to be theirs. So they will close their eyes to all of it.”

Claire took a shaky breath, her eyes distant as she stared at the ground. “If my goal is to protect my reputation, advance in my career, and stay alive, the best thing I can do isn’t fight him. It’s to submit. To do what he wants. Trying to take him down willonly destroy me. No one will believe me. And even if they did, he’d find a way to come out of it unscathed.”

Hillary nodded slowly, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she met Claire's conflicted gaze. “You’re right, Claire. The odds that you’ll be believed are low. And you’re right about Michael too. A man like that has probably already laid the groundwork to protect himself. I’d bet he’s got a plan ready to make sure that every law broken, every ethical line crossed, falls squarely on someone else’s shoulders.” She paused, her voice softening. “Probably yours.”

Claire’s eyes widened, a flicker of shock flashing across her face. She looked at Hillary, almost as if she hoped for reassurance, something that would make this entire mess easier. But instead, Hillary’s expression was resolute, unwavering.

“Then let me call him,” Claire said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I’ll go back, I’ll do whatever he wants. I’ll fix this, and eventually, it’ll be over.”

Hillary shook her head, a sad, knowing grimace. “At what point do you think that will be? When will it actually be over, Claire? When more patients suffer or die and the truth finally comes out? Do you think you’ll get out of that unscathed? Michael doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. If you go back, you’ll only be getting in deeper, becoming more culpable. He’ll make sure of that.”

Claire swallowed hard. “But we all agreed, didn’t we? No one will believe me. Women aren’t believed. If I speak out, they’ll paint me as a scorned lover who’s trying to ruin him out of spite.”

Hillary’s face softened, a glimmer of sympathy mingling with frustration. “You’re not wrong. It shouldn’t be this way,” she murmured, her voice thick with anger at a system that let men like Michael operate unchecked. “But sometimes...” She lookedover at Russ. “Sometimes, sadly, the only way to take down a bad man is with a good one leading the charge.”

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