"What does Viscount Mabrey's letter say, Clarisse?" Joseph asks as he watches Clarisse pace the room in front of the window. He knows it must be bad for her to react this way.
"You better read it. I don't even think I can repeat some of the things he said in that letter. I think his obsession is actually getting worse. I knew he wanted to be the one to marry me, but it certainly was never out of love for me I don't think. Now that I'm happy he's saying the most terrible things." Clarisse sinks onto the window seat and looks out onto the garden.
"He calls you a slut and an adulterer and he threatens you and me! How dare he! Where is he? I'll tear him apart! He has no right to say such things! I always knew he was a bastard, but this is taking it too far! I think we should increase your security Clarisse. We don't know what he's capable of in this state of mind. I want you to be safe. He could even be planning to try and kidnap you or any number of unacceptable things." Joseph rants for a while.
"Joseph we must stay calm. If we react that's exactly what he wants us to do. I need to copy this and get it to Prime Minister Motaz and the police. We're not going to sit idly by and let him say these things, but we're also not going to react ourselves. We'll let other people do the dirty work for us." Clarisse walks over to Joseph and reaches for his hands. Joseph quickly pulls her into his arms.
"I don't like that I can't do anything to change this now that we're engaged. When I was just your head of security I could threaten him a little and I could make everything right for you and Mia. To not be able to do that all of a sudden is counter to every bone in my body. I want to be able to protect you and this is another way of doing that, but it's not what I'm used to." Joseph runs his hands over his face.
"You can't do what you're used to anymore. All the media and Viscount Mabrey need is a hint of indiscretion from you or me and this is all finished. The media is looking for a reason to pick on me and to vilify you. They'll be looking for anything. We need to be squeaky clean or this could get very ugly." Clarisse explains gently.
"I can't believe that the media can still be this way. I thought we'd gotten everything under control when Mia accepted Andrew's proposal and the line was secure, but now I find out we're still on the hook! I hate that our lives can't be lived the way we want." Joseph pulls away from Clarisse and storms around the room.
"You had to know that if we got engaged we'd be under intense scrutiny. You had to be expecting that because of who I am. There will always be scrutiny. That will never end, unfortunately. I am a public figure and that will never change. There will always be questions and people who want to make life miserable. I'm sorry I can't prevent that for both of us." Clarisse sighs heavily. "Listen, you need to get to work and so do I. It may help both of us clear our heads a little after Viscount Mabrey's letter. Hopefully we'll feel much more positive about everything by the end of today."
"Promise me you won't meet with Mabrey by yourself. I have to be there if Mabrey shows up. I will not let you deal with him on your own, especially since I got you into this situation. He will not bully you. I won't let him poison our relationship." Joseph says firmly.
"I promise. Promise me you won't let your colleagues tease too badly. Don't let the insinuations get to you. They'll try to goad you into admitting things, but they're only happy for you. They like you really. That's just their way." Clarisse walks into the bedroom to do her make-up before she has any meetings.
"I could say the same thing of you. Your security services will be all over you for details about me, but don't let them get to you. They're just young and dumb in many ways and Shades will be the worst, so don't think he won't." Joseph follows Clarisse into the bedroom. "I'm off to the security office then. Is there anywhere you're going today?"
"Not that I'm aware of. I'll let you know if there is, but for the most part I'll be in my office working. Please, come and get me for a walk every so often though or I'll go crazy." Clarisse pleads with Joseph.
"I promise. I love you." Joseph kisses Clarisse's cheek and then leaves the room. A few moments later Clarisse hears the door to the suite close behind him and she sighs happily.