Chapter Eleven
Adam
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“HOW ABOUT THIS PLACE?” Caroline pointed at the details of the property on the small screen in my hand. “It’s still in the city, but it looks like a lovely area.”
My attention darted to the property details she was referring to, taking in its location and cost. Naturally, with my money collected, we could easily afford it, and I’d deposited a sum into a standard account with the branch before leaving, so items like our accommodation could be bought online.
The phone shop Claude had directed us to had been content to take cash as payment, as had the café we were sitting in, but companies like Airbnb would be less keen to do so.
Staring at the screen, I realized it had been a long time since I had to ‘buy’ anything.
So much had changed since Ian’s elevation to president had overturned the old capitalism of my youth, and I’d forgotten how every ‘ordinary’ person was required to make immediate payment for the goods and services they wanted.
In my old life as commander general, everything I’d needed had been provided on demand.
There had been no financial price tag, but as it had turned out, there had been a huge cost; an expense to humanity that I was only just fully starting to understand.
“If you like it, then it’s good with me.” Snatching her fingers to my lips, I kissed the top of her hand. I couldn’t wait to get her somewhere we could call home and remind her of all the ways I loved her.
“Sir!” She tutted, sighing with exasperation. “I don’t feel as though you’re taking this process seriously.”
“Did you just tut at me, young lady?” I lowered my voice, my attention locked squarely on her in the corner of the local café we’d chosen for lunch.
We’d been there for an hour, enjoying a proper cooked meal and more caffeine while we searched for somewhere to stay.
“Because I’m not sure what the owner of the cafe’s view of corporal punishment is, but as soon as I have you somewhere private, I’ll remind you of mine. ”
“Adam!” she hissed, apparently unclear if I was joking or genuinely upset with her.
I cocked an eyebrow at her, not giving her an answer either way. “Yes, Caroline?”
“Okay, I didn’t mean to tut.” Her cheeks erupted into pretty pink pools as her voice sped up. “I’m sorry. I’m just saying that this choice is important.”
She motioned to the device, but somehow, I couldn’t drag my gaze from her reddening face. She really was wonderful, and being on the run with her hadn’t changed my mind. Caroline was the reason I was an enemy in my own country, and she was infinitely worth the outcome.
“It is important.” I didn’t disagree with her sentiment.
Wherever we ended up next would become the first place we’d ever shared as a couple. I hardly thought that my unit at Fortorus qualified for the prestige.
“So, I want you to be happy there, too.” Her voice had shifted to that imploring one I’d always relished so much. She employed it when she wanted me to see reason, and when she knew she was on the back foot. “And I want to choose together.”
“You have so many wants, little girl.” I hoped the kisses I was pressing to the underside of her wrist conveyed how much I didn’t begrudge her any of them. “Tell me what you like about this place.”
I’d already decided the accommodation was ideal.
The two-bedroom chalet-style house was roomy enough for us both, but still small enough not to be too overtly opulent.
We wanted to look like every other couple in the city, likeable enough to bid a good morning to and then instantly forgettable as we merged into the crowds.
“Well...” She seemed taken aback by my collaborative approach, her eyes widening as she searched for her words.
I could hardly blame her for her surprise. The commander general she’d met had rarely even taken suggestions, let alone asked for her view on where to reside, but I was a changed man.
She had changed me.
She’d changed everything.
“I like the location, Sir.” She gripped the handle of her coffee cup with her free hand as though the porcelain was offering emotional support. “It’s close to the water and seems like it has some lovely restaurants nearby.”
“Yes, that does sound good.”
It would be wonderful to take her out in the evenings and indulge her. She’d need some new outfits first, of course, but then, we both would.
“And the décor looks pleasing,” she continued, evidently buoyed by my positive feedback. “I like the clean black and white styling of the interior.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, little girl.” I smiled as she met my eyes, her gaze bewildered. “For when we have somewhere of our own. It’s nice to hear what styles you like.”
“Oh.” Releasing the cup, she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Yes.”
“And the bedrooms?” I prompted, already knowing the details but enjoying her overview.
“There are two,” she started.
“I hope you’re not planning on separate bedrooms.” I smirked. “I think it’s a little late for modesty.”
“No, Sir,” she whispered, seemingly conscious that the patrons at other tables might have overheard.
Glancing around, I had news for her. None of the other visitors to the quiet café looked even vaguely interested in our upcoming plans, although the guy sitting at the next table smiled from over the top of his newspaper as we made eye contact.
“I just mean the place has some space.”
“For all our furniture, you mean?” I couldn’t resist playing with her and chuckled at her exasperated expression. “Caroline, it’s perfect. Why don’t you go ahead and book?”
“Me?” She sounded stunned, as though I’d suggested she crawl across the ceiling upside down.
“Yes, you.” I slid the phone across the wooden table in her direction.
“I guess I’m still not used to doing things.” She blew out a breath. “It’s going to take some getting used to.”
“Nonsense,” I chided gently. “You used to do things for me all the time.” I winked at her, remembering all those dark and delicious orders I’d so enjoyed giving. “And anyway, this is a fresh start, remember?”
Lips curling, she reached for the phone, but as I produced the bank account details from my pocket, her smile faltered.
“What is it?” I knew her expressions, and the one currently painting her face didn’t bode well.
“I just thought... we won’t be able to pay for this with a bank transfer.” Her shoulders fell. “Airbnb needs a credit or a debit card.”
“Ah.” That was going to be a problem since the bank would take days to produce one, and as of that moment, we had no address for them to send one to.
“Shit.” Her brows knitted. “What are we going to do? We have all this money and nowhere to stay.”
“It’s okay,” I soothed, though I wasn’t sure how I was going to find a solution, and with the morning bleeding into the afternoon, we urgently needed somewhere safe to stay.
“Verzeihung.”
I turned as the man from the table beside us interrupted our conversation.
“Yes?” The rising stress meant my tone was terser than I’d intended it to be.
“Excuse the intrusion.” He placed his newspaper down on the table before him. “I couldn’t help but overhear some of your predicament, and I wonder if I can help.”
My pulse accelerated at his admission. Caroline and I hadn’t been talking about anything confidential, and I didn’t think we’d done anything to identify our pasts, but it was still disconcerting to hear she’d been right. The innocuous man with the broadsheet had overheard what we were saying.
“How can you help?”
It was Caroline who answered him, and peering her way, I was once again surprised at the way she kept her composure. With no credit card and only one forged passport, we were staring down the barrel of a night on the streets, yet her chin rose, and her voice was steady as she spoke.
“I own a number of properties available for short-term let off Seestrasse,” the stranger continued. “And I’d be happy to accept cash for one if you wanted to lease it.”
“That’s very generous of you.” I was instantly suspicious of the stranger’s motivations to help us.
Too many years around men like Ian had twisted me into assuming every person I met was only out for themselves. But then, Hans had already proven me wrong on that point, hadn’t he? He’d reminded me that there was a whole world outside Ian’s reach where people were sometimes kind and charitable.
Not everyone is terrible. The words echoed around my head. I have to learn to trust again.
“Seestrasse?” Caroline was on the phone again, looking up the location of the street on Google Maps.
“Yes,” the man replied. “Between Erlenbach and Herrliberg.”
“We’d only need a very short-term lease.” She didn’t even glance up from the screen as she spoke. “Can you be flexible about that?”
“Shouldn’t we start by asking your name, Sir?” Pride was bubbling inside of me at the way Caroline had taken the bull by the horns, but I wasn’t even considering doing business with anyone unless I knew their name first.
“Of course.” Rising from his chair, he strode the short distance to our table and thrust his palm in my direction. “I am Fabian Schmid.”
“Fabian, I’m Adam Clément, and this is my wife, Caroline.”
The words were out of my mouth in a heartbeat, Caroline’s eyes widening as she acknowledged our abrupt fictional marriage.
I hadn’t intended to ensnare her as my wife, especially in such a mundane and unromantic fashion, but the reasons we were in Zurich needing a house were going to be difficult enough to explain to Fabian.
Better that he assumed we were wed. I hoped he might ask fewer questions that way.
“It’s a pleasure.” Fabian’s grin seemed sincere as he motioned to the chair beside me. “Can I sit?”
“Yes.” Caroline caught my eye, bemusement gleaming in her gaze at our sudden betrothal. “Please.”
“So, what brings you both to my lovely city?” His gaze scanned us while he waited for one of us to reply.
“We’re here on honeymoon.” Caroline practically beamed, conveying her alleged joy about the event rather too convincingly.
Had I known how good she was at duplicity until that moment? Mirroring her smile, I recalled the time she’d kept Fern’s whereabouts from me, but I couldn’t think of another instance when she’d lied.
“Congratulations!” Fabian clapped his hands together excitedly. “Marriage is such a fundamental institution. But wait,” he paused. “You don’t have your wedding rings on.” He gestured to our hands, which were bare of gold bands.
“We’re unconventional.” Taking Caroline’s lead, I leaned back in my chair. “We don’t need rings to prove we love each other.”
“Exactly.” Caroline took my outstretched hand. “Plus, this has all been such a whirlwind for us. We haven’t really had time to think about trinkets yet.”
I respected the way her lie at least leaned into the truth.
We had known one another for a relatively short time, and amidst the conflict and destruction of Fortorus, what we’d experienced together had been close to a proverbial ‘whirlwind’.
A few months prior, I’d never even heard of Miss Craness, but sitting there in Zurich with Fabian, she was the center of my whole universe.
“Ah, how exciting!” Fabian seemed genuinely pleased for us. “So, you’re here on honeymoon, but you have nowhere to stay?”
With that one question, Fabian identified the crux of our untruth. Even a short-lived engagement would have involved us planning somewhere to stay in Switzerland.
“That’s my fault.” I scowled, playing the same card as Caroline because there was some truth to my lie.
I was responsible for us being there. I had been an architect of Ian’s empire, and by the same measure, I’d decided to get us both out of his ticking time bomb. Our current homelessness was on me.
“The website I used to book our hotel turned out to be a scam site, and now we have nowhere to go.” I squeezed her hand.
“It’s the last thing we need.” She shook her head sadly. “As things stand, we’ve lost all that money.”
“I’m so sorry,” Fabian frowned. “And if I’ve heard you correctly, then you’ve lost your bank cards, as well?”
I sensed that Fabian could see right through our flimsy web of excuses, but we were in way too deep to go back. If he did have somewhere for us to stay until we had an opportunity to go elsewhere, I was prepared to suck up his cynicism. It was a small price to pay for comfort and safety.
“We left them at home.” That much was true. Whatever bank cards I’d once owned were all still in my safe at my old unit.
“It’s not been the best day for us.” Caroline sighed wearily. “But it’s okay because we have each other.”
I turned to gaze at her, moved by how she’d expressed the sentiment. Our reasons might have been made up, but I knew our feelings were real.
“I can see that you really do love each other.” Fabian smiled. “So, I’d like to help.”
“We’d appreciate it,” Caroline replied. “We have the money.”
“In Swiss francs?” Fabian’s attention shifted from her to me.
“Yes, in francs,” I assured him, thinking of the stacks of cash we had in the bag under the table. “Is there a way we can see your properties online?”
Reaching into his pocket, Fabian produced his phone and searched for the website advertising his letting business.
“Here.” He passed the phone to me. “I have six in total, but three are currently occupied. Look at numbers three, five, and six.”
Passing the phone to Caroline, I decided to find out a little more about our unknown benefactor.
“Bist du hier, Fabian?” I asked, inquiring whether he was local to the area.
“Ich wohne 15 km entfent,” he told me with a nod. “Your German is very good, Adam.”
“Danke. I had the opportunity to study multiple languages as a younger man.”
“Such an asset.” Fabian nodded. “Languages are so useful to know.”
“Number five looks lovely.” Caroline turned Fabian’s phone in my direction. “What do you think, darling?”
Suppressing the laughter that rose at her choice of vocabulary, my focus fell to the screen. She’d never called me darling before. Until recently, she’d never have dared refer to me as anything other than ‘sir’.
“It looks ideal,” I agreed, casting an eye over its credentials. “Can we have it for a week, Fabian?”
I didn’t even bother to ask the cost. Whatever it was, I would pay it.
“Absolutely.” Fabian nodded. “If you follow me by taxi to my office, you can have the keys within an hour.”