Yep, it was Penderton all right.
Charlie sighed. “The man isn’t known for his timing.”
James smiled and let his gaze linger on her lips. “You’d better get it before he changes his mind about helping us.”
“True,” Charlie said and raised the phone to her ear. “Mr. Penderton.”
“McAllister, here’s what we will do: I’ve made a few calls and set up a press conference for four o’clock. All the major news outlets are sending someone.”
Charlie checked her watch. Not much time to go on. She had known he was well connected, but even so, everything was happening very quickly indeed.
“Okay, and then?” Charlie picked up a pen, readying herself to take notes.
“Start the press conference by playing the video. It’s already out there, and you can’t deny it. All you can do now is attempt to control the narrative. Point out the threat posed by the attacker. How this is typical of the kind of persecution shifters have had to endure at the hands of the Sons of Domnall. Get some photos up of victims already claimed by the struggle. Focus on the protective nature of shifters, how they’d sacrifice themselves to keep their loved ones happy. Make the public love them.”
“Wait… you mean for me to attend the press conference?” Charlie dropped her pen in disbelief.
“Why, yes of course! If they speak for themselves, it’ll be less convincing. Plus, you’re in the video, so you might as well own it. Once you’ve said your piece, let one of the New Alliance take over and confirm the message. The people have nothing to fear unless they attack first.”
James took Charlie’s hand and squeezed it gently.
It’s too dangerous. Let someone else handle it, his voice urged.
She shook her head. Penderton was right. And she was already in the video anyway.
“I understand.” I have to, James. I have to do this. She picked up the pen again.
“That’s step one. Step two; talkshow appearances for those people you mentioned. The brothers who have only recently been reunited and the rest of their family. The public will lap up their story. They’ll do the morning show circuit; regional as well as national. We’ll keep hammering the viewing public with their story until everyone knows it by heart. We want to get people talking about it at work, at school, everywhere. This will take some time to set up, of course, in the meanwhile, have them call me, and I’ll see to it that they receive some media training. At the same time, we’ll get missing persons spots on the reality crime shows. Those features will subconsciously teach the public that a lot of shifters have been harmed by the Sons; that shifters are the victims here.”
“Okay…” Charlie struggled to write fast enough. In truth, her mind was somewhere else already. Penderton meant for her to be the New Alliance’s spokesperson. She’d never been on TV, though, of course, her journalism degree had covered the basics of every type of media, so she’d done some role playing. But that was a few years ago now…
“McAllister. Are you listening?” Penderton demanded.
“I’m sorry. I was just thinking.”
“You’ll be fine. Get to the Grosvenor by three-thirty.”
“Wait, the conference is at the Grosvenor?” How on earth did he swing that?
“The manager owes me a favor. Don’t worry about that. Just get there, understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good,” Penderton said, and the line went dead.
Charlie couldn’t believe what had just happened.
“Oh my God,” she stammered, as she put her phone down on the bed between James and her. She looked up at him and found that he was already staring at her. The concern in his eyes was clear as day. But at least he didn’t argue for her to change her mind anymore. She’d made her choice, so he would accept it.
She glanced down at her notes again. Press conference. Talk shows. Her head swam.
“I’ll go tell Henry the plan. And that Jamie, Alison and Matthew are to contact your boss.” James suggested. We’ll pick up where we left off after the conference. He winked at her, making her smile despite herself. He got up and left her to prepare.
Charlie blinked a few times to get the notes back into focus again.
They didn’t have much time, and she needed to know exactly what she was going to say. The last thing they needed was a newbie journalist fumbling over her words. That would ruin any chance they had to get the public on their side.
But most of all, she needed a paracetamol. Luckily she always had some in her bag. Did shifters take medicines like humans did? She’d make sure to ask James later.
When Charlie arrived in the marble-clad lobby of the Grosvenor hotel with James, Henry, and Gail, they were greeted by the last person she expected to see.
“McAllister. So it’s true,” Diane Goodwin said.
The two rivals eyed each other suspiciously.
“Diane.” Of course. She’d been in town chasing the same story already, so it was obvious Penderton would rope her in to help set up the event.
“The stage is ready,” Diane nodded in the direction of one of the conference rooms. “People will start to arrive soon. We’ll play the video, I’ll introduce everyone, and then you take over.”
Charlie swallowed hard. “Yeah. That’s fine.”
James placed his hand on her shoulder, which did help in giving her some strength. Of course, Diane noticed the gesture instantly as well and rolled her eyes.
“If you need make-up, someone’s waiting for you behind the stage,” she said.
Charlie waited as Henry and Gail made their way to the conference room already.
Diane leaned forward a bit, perhaps hoping to stay out of James’ earshot - an impossibility, as long as they were in the same room.
“One of these days, you’ll have to let me know how you managed all this,” Diane said.
Charlie shrugged. “Just lucky, I guess.”
“Yeah…” Diane glanced at James and back at Charlie. “Well, you best get yourself ready. I’m going to make sure everyone finds their way inside.”
James placed his arm around Charlie’s shoulder, and they both walked into the conference room. Bloody hell. Was she really going to sit up there in just a short while? In front of the stage stood at least fifty empty chairs. Surely they weren’t expecting that many reporters? Not at such short notice?
Charlie inhaled sharply and breathed out slowly, like how they’d taught her during her course. Relax. It’ll be fine.
She sat down behind the stage and closed her eyes while the makeup artist Diane had arranged got to work. There wasn’t much to be done. Just bare minimum touch-ups so she would come across well on TV.
You can do this, James encouraged her.
She smiled. Normally if someone said something like that to her, she might have brushed it away as just politeness. But with James she didn’t just hear his words but felt his true intentions and feelings as well. He meant it.
With her hair and makeup done, Charlie got up and started to pace around while rehearsing her speech in her head. Walking always did help calm her down. As did the breathing exercises from her course. But most of all, it was James’ support that kept her from freaking out.
Before she knew it, it was time. She signaled at Henry and Gail to join her; obviously, James had never left her side. The four of them climbed up onto the stage and took their seats. The formerly empty chairs in front of the podium had mostly filled up. The turnout was amazing.
Charlie squeezed James’ hand underneath the table and scanned the crowd. This was major.
All the big networks seemed to be represented here. Charlie thought she recognized some of the faces in the crowd.
The lights turned on, and Diane marched up on stage, carrying a microphone.
“Esteemed members of the press, welcome! And thank you so much for joining us today.” Diane spoke with so much ease, it was impossible for Charlie to suppress the sting of jealousy. She closed her eyes as Diane introdu
ced them and the topic for the press conference. Breathe in sharply, exhale slowly… Breathe in, breathe out…
She opened her eyes just in time to catch the video on the large screen beside them in her peripheral vision.
You can do this, James encouraged her.
The video finished, and Charlie’s heartbeat surged in a crescendo of nerves and determination as she adjusted the microphone in front of her. “Thank you, Diane.” Charlie nodded in her colleague’s direction. “Hello everyone, and welcome. I want you to know that I am one of you.” Charlie took a deep breath and channeled all her energy into remembering her lines. “But I have been lucky to get to know the members of the New Alliance over the last few days. I have learned of the challenges they’ve faced. And the great love and companionship they’re capable of.” Charlie’s voice grew more steady with each word. “Today, an unfortunate incident happened, which you’ve just seen in the video. We were publicly attacked, for no reason other than James being different.”
Every sentence Charlie spoke was interrupted by camera flashes, but she kept on going just like she’d rehearsed.
“Today was different, in the sense that the incident was captured on camera for all to see. But these sort of hate crimes have been happening for years. The organization led by Victor Domnall has been targeting shifters since before they made their presence known to the world. You’d be hard pressed to find a shifter who doesn’t know of someone hurt or lost in this struggle.”
Charlie glanced over at James, who seemed to not even notice all the cameras and eager faces in front of them; he only had eyes for her. “Yet they haven’t lost hope. They haven’t lost the faith that if given the chance, humanity will accept and perhaps even embrace them. They’re not after a fight; they just want to get by like the rest of us.”
Charlie smiled briefly. James was right. Everything was going to be fine. As she continued through the rest of her part of the conference, her confidence kept growing. She might never have set out to become the New Alliance’s spokesperson, but now that she had started on this path, it felt right. This way she could do her bit to help them. Their faces were already out there. They were already targets unless they could get the public on their side. This was the right way forward - the only way forward.
Chapter Thirteen
James had hardly been able to take his eyes off Charlie throughout the conference. He’d been confident that she’d do well, even when she felt doubtful herself. But in the end, she blew him away along with the rest of the crowd.
When Henry took over and introduced himself as leader of the New Alliance for the audience questions segment of the conference, James grabbed Charlie’s hand again. Although he wanted nothing more than to just look at her some more, he now kept an eye on the audience instead.
Their body language, combined with the sort of questions being asked gave him a reading of the mood in the room. These reporters acted very different than the ones they’d first revealed themselves to. Gone was the shock, the fear.
Perhaps it was because there were so many of them faced with only three shifters this time? Or it was a sign that their efforts to educate were starting to make an impact.
Charlie, of course, had been very sympathetic, whereas Henry wasn’t really. He remained professional and kept a certain distance between himself and the audience. And that was fine; he was their leader, after all. That is why they’d agreed that for particularly sensitive questions, Gail would be the one to answer.
The questions lasted for another half hour. Most of them aimed at Henry, Gail, and even Charlie. Though a few to do directly with the attack were for James himself. Still, he couldn’t wait to get out of there.
The moment everything was over, and the four of them got up and off the stage, James’ focus had completely shifted. Charlie. She glanced over at him, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She knew exactly what was going on in his head.
“Eric will have recorded the live coverage. Let’s go back and review it,” Gail suggested.
James took Charlie’s hand. How small and delicate her fingers were. He would never tire of how her presence made him feel. And to think how close they came to being forced apart again. This deep connection, the one shifters and their true mates shared had helped them overcome it all.
“Actually, I hope you don’t mind if we catch up with you tomorrow. Charlie has been through a lot today; a bit of rest would do her good,” James said.
You don’t mind, do you? he thought.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, she replied.
Gail and Henry exchanged a look.
“Fine. I suppose there’s nothing more to be done today anyway,” Henry said.
Where’s your hotel? James asked.
Charlie squeezed his hand. I thought you said I should rest.
Of course… eventually.
As if on cue, Charlie’s phone rang.
Penderton, she thought. She excused herself and walked off to the other end of the stage to answer.
“I think it went quite well,” Gail said.
James nodded. “Couldn’t have gone better.”
Their small talk was interrupted by Charlie’s colleague, who had taken the stage to introduce them at the start of the conference.
“Hello, I’m Diane. Nice to meet all of you,” she smiled politely but hesitated before finally offering her hand.
“Good work, Diane,” Henry said.
“Thanks…” she glanced back at the dark stage. Was she nervous?
Now that James had had a taste of what it was like to read someone’s mind, he wished that talent extended to more than just one person. Unfortunately, that wasn’t how it worked.
“You might want to take the back exit if you want to avoid the crowd…” Diane suggested.
Henry nodded and placed his arm on Gail’s shoulder. James watched as the two of them followed Diane out of the conference room. Funny, how fate worked. James had always felt they were a rather odd match.
His idle observations were interrupted by Charlie, who returned with her phone still in her hand. The moment she got close, James’ entire being seemed to respond. His bear was raring to break free and take what was his.
“That was Penderton,” she explained.
“I know,” James responded. “What did he say?”
“He was watching. Thought it went very well.”
“That it did. You were amazing,” James said.
Charlie grinned at him. “You’re just biased.”
“That may be. Doesn’t make it less true.” James smiled back at her.
Those full lips. How he yearned to feel them against his again. They’d been interrupted before, but he wouldn’t let that happen this time.
Charlie had been the first and only girl to ever catch his eye. The years they’d spent apart had done nothing to change that. If anything, she was even more beautiful, more desirable now.
Stop thinking like that, or I’ll give in to temptation right here, and we might have a shifter sex scandal on our hands, Charlie teased.
She was still the same old Charlie, with whom nothing was off limits. James knew she was only half joking, though. He felt her desire as though it were his own.
So let’s get out of here.
He grabbed her hand and took the lead. Out the same double doors which Diane had shown Henry and Gail out from only minutes earlier. Diane’s perfume hung in the air, making it easy for James to follow her route. They rushed outside, avoiding the reporters who would have lingered around the main lobby still.
James put his arm around Charlie’s shoulder. In good old British fashion, the weather had turned during the two hours they’d spent inside for the conference. An icy cold drizzle was falling now as clouds shrouded the city, obscuring much of the skyline.
“Where to, madam spokesperson?” James joked.
Charlie took out her phone for directions. “This way,” she said, pointing up at the road ahead.
He wrapped h
is arm tighter around her, aiming to protect her from the elements as best he could and off they went.
***
Charlie wasn’t sure what exactly had happened through most of the press conference. Equally, she had no idea how she’d found her way back to her hotel.
But here they were.
She looked at James, who was taking off his coat and hanging it over a chair to dry. Charlie followed his example.
Was this actually happening? The culmination of all those forbidden teenage fantasies was finally coming true?
Her sensible side should have doubts. She should wonder about why she could trust him to stay now after he’d just left the last time. She should equally worry about whether they were even compatible at all. Different species, different backgrounds. She should be concerned about what this meant for the future. Did this mean they could never have a family? Who knew how compatible their biology would be?
But her head wasn’t doing much thinking right now; her heart was. And that was convinced that somehow, everything was going to be all right.
James stepped up to her, cupping her face in his hands. She didn’t want to wait anymore. This time, nobody and nothing could interrupt them.
She tiptoed to get closer to his level and wrapped her arms around his neck. His scent filled her nostrils. Like a classy aftershave, only better. The anticipation threatened to overwhelm.
Charlie closed her eyes and felt herself become weightless in his arms.
Finally, their lips touched, releasing a decade of tension and frustrations. So soft, his lips were. So gentle.
He tasted even better than she remembered.
Words couldn’t describe the feeling of the tips of their tongues dancing around each other. Butterflies? Certainly not. Fireworks? Not even close.
It was as though her whole body was on fire, and the only thing to soothe the burn was him. His kisses, his touch.
Charlie opened her eyes and was instantly mesmerized by the raging inferno in his.
James carried her over to the bed and laid her down gently on her back. She refused to let go of him, forcing him to climb on top of her.
Scottish Werebear: A Second Chance: A BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Scottish Werebears Book 6) Page 8