Page 22 of Enduring Promise

“He does.”

“You have to let him think he’ll have it forever. Go see him and convince him you’re so glad he came. As if it was some grand gesture of love and you are touched.”

Claire stared at her, horrified. “That’s an awful prospect. I hate him. I hate everything he stands for. You want me to go actlike I’m in love with him again? Like I’m that stupid girl who fell for all his crap again?”

“Exactly,” Hillary said. “Make him think that being here, surrounded by family and the beauty of Willowbrooke, has reminded you of all the plans you two made together. The life he can give you. Tell him you’ve been thinking about the work he’s doing, and you believe in it, in him. Apologize for panicking before. Say you were feeling insecure and needy.”

Claire’s face twisted in disgust. “That’s vile. I can’t do that.”

“It’s a shame you have to and even more shameful how well this will work,” Hillary admitted grimly. “Men like him thrive on the illusion that they’re in control, that they’re irresistible. If you give him that, he’ll let his guard down. And that’s when we strike.”

Russ, who had been silent up to this point, stepped in, his expression guarded. “She’s right, Claire. It’s a power play. You won’t win by confronting him directly, not here, not now. You have to play his game—just long enough to get what you need.”

Claire’s eyes darted between the two of them, her jaw clenched, her hands trembling. “And what happens if he figures out I’m lying? What if I screw this up?”

“You won’t,” Hillary assured her, her voice steady. “Because you’re going to stick to the script. Keep it simple. Flatter him, boost his ego, and don’t overthink it. The goal is to make him feel safe, like you’re still on his side.”

Claire looked down at her hands, her expression a mix of revulsion and fear. “This is insane.”

“It’s survival,” Hillary said quietly. “You said it yourself—no one will believe you if you go up against him directly. This is how you get the leverage you need. And you’re not alone in this. Russ and I will be right here.”

Russ nodded, his voice calm. “We’ll be watching. If anything feels off, if you need to get out, we’ll step in. But Claire, this is the best chance you’ve got to start turning the tables.”

Claire closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before finally nodding. “Okay. I’ll do it.” Her voice was barely audible, but there was a spark of determination in her eyes when she opened them again.

Hillary squeezed her arm. “Good. Now, take a moment, compose yourself, and remember—this is a performance. You’re in control. Stay close so we can hear that everything is okay.”

CHAPTER 23

Russ leaned against the bar, his drink untouched in his hand, as he cast a sidelong glance at Claire and Michael. Hillary stood close beside him, their proximity designed to make their eavesdropping appear like casual party posture. But the tension radiating between them was anything but casual.

Claire was doing exactly what Hillary had coached her to do, and Russ had to admit, she was good. She stood close to Michael, her hand lightly brushing his arm as she tilted her head the right way, her smile warm and inviting. To anyone watching, she looked like a woman utterly enraptured by the man in front of her.

“You really came all this way for me?” Claire asked, her voice soft and tinged with disbelief, as though she couldn’t imagine how much he cared for her.

Michael smiled, the kind of smile that screamed self-satisfaction. “Of course I did. When you stopped answering my calls, I got worried. I had to check on you, make sure everything was okay.”

Claire laughed lightly, brushing her hair behind her ear in a practiced gesture. “That’s so thoughtful of you. It’s such a long trip and I’ve never had anyone go so far out of their way to checkon me. I’m sorry I wasn’t answering your calls. I don’t know what came over me. I was being silly, immature. I overreacted.”

Russ’s grip tightened on his glass. It was hard to watch this without stepping in, without doing something. But he stayed rooted, knowing this was the only way to get Michael to lower his guard.

“You don’t have to explain,” Michael said, his tone indulgent, like he was speaking to a child. “You’re so young. You haven’t had the opportunity to experience real adult relationships. It can feel overwhelming, but honestly those feelings are just not something you should allow in. We’re grown-ups.”

Claire nodded, her expression earnest. “Being back here, surrounded by family and everything at Willowbrooke, it’s made me realize how much I miss what we had. The plans we made, the future we talked about... I believe in you, Michael. I believe in the work we’re doing together.”

Michael’s chest puffed up slightly, his smile widening. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I’ve always known you’d come around. You’re so bright and special. We make an amazing team and we shouldn’t let anything get in the way of that.”

Russ caught the flicker of disgust in Claire’s eyes before she quickly masked it, leaning in a little closer. “We had a scare here earlier today. A terrible fire broke out in the main barn by the stables. It was terrifying and all I could think about was how much I wished you were here. You make me feel safe.”

Michael reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face in what he probably thought was a tender gesture. “I’m here now. You don’t have to worry about anything. You’re right to be scared. The world is a mess right now. You know the work we’re doing is cutting edge and people will want to tear us down. They always want to throw rocks at things that shine. But if we stay united, we’re so much stronger.”

Hillary shifted slightly beside Russ, her jaw tight. Russ could feel the barely restrained anger radiating off her, but she kept her composure, her gaze locked on Claire and Michael.

Russ leaned closer to Hillary, murmuring under his breath. “She’s holding up better than I expected.”

“He is a complete ass,” Hillary replied, her voice low. “If he touches her like that again, I might lose it.”

Michael’s hand dropped back to his side, and he glanced around the room as though taking stock of the audience. “Why don’t we step outside for a moment? I’d like to talk somewhere a bit more private.”

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