by Tamie Dearen
“You manipulated me!”
“What’s up guys?” Jared approached the pair.
“Mr. Gherring lied to me to distract me. He made me think he was having an appendicitis attack.”
“Really? Awesome job, Mr. Gherring. You must be a great actor. I’m learning a lot from you.”
“It’s not funny at all! He probably said something to you as well. I noticed you didn’t have any trouble suddenly going blank this time.”
Jared seemed confused. “Well I don’t ever really get nervous, but this is the first time I’ve done one of these. Still, I never expected to forget my presentation—Ow!” He looked at Gherring. “Why’d you kick me?”
“But Mr. Gherring told me that last time you…” Her voice faded and she skewered Gherring with her eyes.
“Now Anne, can’t you see it was for the best?” he pleaded.
She whipped around and stomped out the door, slamming it behind her.
Anne was furious, but she was also hungry. She hadn’t been able to eat breakfast. Darned if she was going to miss lunch because of Gherring. She clomped into the adjacent room, searching for a table with one empty chair. She certainly wasn’t going to let Gherring sit by her.
This is just what Henri warned her about. He’d told her Gherring used people. What was it Henri had asked? “Has he ever done something to keep you in his control? Has he made you feel foolish?” Yes, he certainly had. And this was not the first time, either.
Anne’s furrowed eyes brightened when she heard someone call her name. Henri was standing in the doorway.
“Anne, there you are.” He reached her in three steps, picked her up in a bear hug and swirled her around, to the delight and entertainment of the company board members.
“Ohmygosh! What are you doing here?”
“It is only three hours on the train. I could not have you this close and not come to see you. Good surprise? I was afraid you would tell me not to come.”
Anne hugged him again, all the stress of the morning causing tears to form in her eyes. “Oh Henri, it’s the best surprise. Can we go somewhere for lunch? I’ll have to come back, but I really need to get out of here.”
Henri looked at her puddled eyes. “What is wrong? No do not tell me now. Wait until we are alone. Come. I know the best place just down the block.”
He took her hand, leading her out the door toward the lobby exit.
“Where are you going?” Gherring’s strained voice called out before they could reach the revolving door. Anne halted in her tracks, cringing at the irritation in his tone.
She remained motionless, but Henri turned around to face Gherring. His voice cut the air like a knife. “I am taking her to lunch. I will bring her back when she is ready. No sooner.” He put his arm around Anne’s trembling shoulders and ushered her out the door.
“What happened? What did he do?” Henri asked when he got her outside.
“I didn’t say it was him…”
“You did not have to say. I could see it. I could see how you reacted to his voice. Did he make a pass at you? I will kill him for hurting you.”
“No, it’s nothing like that. He didn’t even touch me.” Anne searched for the right words. “It’s… It’s like you warned me. He manipulated me. He lied to me. It wasn’t a big thing, and I suppose it turned out okay. But he made me feel like a fool. After I worried about him for two hours.”
“Why would you be worried about Gherring?”
“He pretended to be in pain. He was holding his side and making a terrible face. I thought he had appendicitis.”
“But why would he do that?”
“He did it so I would be thinking about him instead of thinking about how nervous I was. You know… when I was giving the presentation.”
“Gherring let you give the presentation? Why did he do that?”
“Something about needing to win over the female board members. It was all just like you said. He used me to get what he wanted.”
“And how was your presentation?”
“I think it was okay. It was all just a blur to me.”
“I am so proud of you. Did I not say you were worth so much more than just a secretary? Did I not say? So Gherring has finally seen that you are valuable. And now he will try to take you from me.”
“Oh he’s not trying to take me. Believe you me. I’m just a big joke to him. You should have seen him afterwards, laughing because I believed his act.” Anne couldn’t decide if she was more embarrassed she’d fallen for his ploy, or she’d been so ridiculously nervous in the first place.
He stopped walking and drew her into his arms. He held her there while pedestrians passed around them, hurrying to their destinations. “You are not a joke to me, my angel.”
Anne felt the tension drain from her body, and she relaxed in his arms. “Thank you, Henri. Today, you’re my angel.” She smiled at him. Then she took his hand and pulled him along the sidewalk. “Now come and feed me. I’m starving.”
But he stopped her again. “I know he hurt your feelings. But I was so afraid he had… I thought he had hurt you in a different way. I was afraid you were starting to fall in love with him.”
“I’m not in love with Steven Gherring. Henri, I’ve only said ‘I love you’ to one man in my life. You’ve got to understand, love is more than a word or a feeling to me. It’s a commitment. I don’t expect to say those words again unless I’m positive I’m willing to commit to a life-long relationship.” Anne held up her chin and spoke with passion. “I hope that scares you just a little.”
“I should probably be afraid, but somehow I’m not.” He held her face in his hands. “But I have not said the words to you yet, and I will take your pledge to heart. If you hear the words from me, they will have the same meaning.” His gaze was so intense she had to look away.
When the food came, Anne attacked her plate. “I can’t believe how hungry I am.”
“It is from the adrenaline rush. You will get used to it. You learn to let the nervous energy help you to be sharp. You channel the nerves to help you think.”
“Well I don’t plan to ever do that again. It’s way too stressful.”
“So you say now. But you will see. It is addicting. When you go back and Gherring closes the deal and you know that you had a part in that—you will want to do it again.” He leaned in close. “I am willing to make a wager…”
She was immediately suspicious. “I don’t think I’m very good at bets. I probably shouldn’t.”
“I know some of those people. We have met before. One of the women… Gherring is right… Some of the women demand to have another woman playing a role when they work together.”
“They don’t know I’m his executive assistant. They think I’m part of the CMA group.”
Henri raised his eyebrows. “Is that so? I think I can use that information to my advantage… Oh don’t look distressed. I will not spoil Gherring’s deal. But I think I can bargain for something good.”
“Don’t make him mad at me. I still have to work for him.”
Henri looked at her with a devious twinkle in his eyes. “Trust me, mon ange.”
Anne and Henri walked in the conference room door just as Gherring was about to begin the afternoon session. The smile Gherring gave to Henri didn’t reach his eyes. Henri, however, grinned and shook Gherring’s hand, pulling him to the side to speak to him. Gherring’s eyes narrowed, his lips pressing together in a hard straight line, but he nodded assent. Anne had taken her place at the head of the table next to Gherring. Henri strolled around the table speaking to his friends and acquaintances before making an obvious point of placing a chair for himself next to Anne’s. Her face hot and her pulse throbbing in her temples, Anne pretended to study her handout.
“Let’s begin now,” said Gherring, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. “We’re delighted to have Henri DuBois visiting with us. I know many of you already know him. If this is your first time to meet Henri, let me just say �
��I’m sorry’ in advance.” Gherring laughed and the group joined in… even Henri, who seemed to relish the introduction.
Gherring continued, “As you may know, Monsieur DuBois’ company, La Porte, has had a cooperative agreement with Gherring Inc. for a number of years. This association has been fruitful and profitable for both companies, as I’m sure Henri can attest. He will be an excellent resource should you have any questions about that option.”
After this introduction, Gherring plunged forward in the presentation. Anne found herself mesmerized by him, even though she’d prepared the PowerPoint herself. The time passed quickly. Questions were answered. The companies deliberated privately and questioned Henri about his association with Gherring Inc. And Gherring closed the deal by seven o’clock, without ever threatening to actually buy out the other two companies, although perhaps they knew he was considering the possibility.
“You were right,” Anne told Henri. “It was exciting. It was fun to be a part of it all. At least it was fun after my part was over.”
One of the female board members approached Anne and Henri. “Henri, someone is finally going to tame you?”
“Only because I asked you so many times, and you turned me down. How is Charles? You are ready to leave him for me?”
“One day, Henri, I might say ‘yes’. Then what will you do?” She laughed, and turned to Anne. “Ms. Best, it was so nice to meet you. Watch out for Henri! I am looking forward to working with you in the future. Do you have a card?”
“Uhmm, no, uhmm… I don’t have a card with me. But if you need me, you can reach me on the main line.”
“Excellent. And here is my card.”
Anne took the card, the first of many. Soon Gherring joined their group along with Jared, exchanging greetings and promises of future communication. Gherring kept a close eye on Henri and Anne, until the last person left the room.
Henri clapped his hands with glee. “Well done, Gherring. That should bring a few billion more into your coffers. Where are you taking us to celebrate?”
“Us?” asked Anne.
“Yes,” Gherring spoke with obvious irritation. “Henri suggested he should be allowed to participate in the second half of the meeting and the celebration after, in exchange for keeping his mouth shut about my secretary.”
“Yes, and I believe I did my part to help close the deal. It was Sir Walter Scott who said, ‘O what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.’ He was correct—N’est-ce pas, Gherring?”
Gherring narrowed his eyes, and Henri said, “And the other part of the deal?”
“I have already apologized to Ms. Best, but I will say it again.” He turned to Anne and caught her chin with his hand, turning her to face him. “Ms. Best, as I have told you before, everything I do means something to me. I wasn’t making light of you. I simply wanted to make you feel better. I never meant to cause you more emotional stress.”
Their eyes locked together, and for a moment Anne was lost in a blue ocean. She floated into their depths and forgot anyone else was in the room. She regretted her harsh judgment of his actions. It was Henri’s turn to look annoyed.
“Ah-hem!” said Jared. “Aren’t you going to apologize to me for making up that story about how I blanked out on a presentation? Only don’t grab my neck—I’m afraid you’ll choke me.”
Gherring dropped his hand from her face.
“Really! I’m so hurt!” Jared used an effeminate voice and started chuckling.
The tension broke as the others joined in.
Anne giggled. “Really, Jared. My feelings weren’t hurt. I was just indignant for you. And the appendicitis thing was exciting. After all, I’ve never actually gotten to see one burst open before. I could’ve marked that off my bucket list. Could’ve been even better than getting my passport stamped.”
Jared said, “Now about that celebration…”
A dinner that could have been awkward, with a glaring contest between Gherring and Henri, was instead incredibly jovial. No one was able to maintain a glum attitude for more than a few seconds with Jared constantly entertaining them. One could almost imagine Gherring and Henri were friends. Almost.
“… And we looked everywhere for that pacifier. Finally, at midnight, I was going out to the car to buy a new one from the store. But when I sat down in the car, I felt this hard lump in the back of my underwear…”
Anne had tears pouring out of her eyes, her mascara long gone after a night of sidesplitting stories about Jared wrestling with newfound fatherhood.
“Stop, Jared! I need to catch my breath!” She giggled and wiped her face with her napkin. Anne waited until Jared was telling a new story to Gherring. Then she leaned over and whispered to Henri, “When do you have to go back? Tonight or tomorrow?”
“I have to go back tonight. We meet with the doctors tomorrow. They will tell us the results.”
Anne reached out to take his hand. “I don’t know if you’ll feel like talking, but call me if you do. I’m praying. I want to know.”
“I will call you. I’m so afraid. They haven’t said the word cancer, yet. But…” Henri choked a little. “She doesn’t deserve this. I wish it was me.”
Anne squeezed his hand, but Henri excused himself from the table and went to compose himself. Gherring and Jared turned questioning eyes to Anne.
“I don’t know if he’d want me to tell you…” Anne started.
“Well I overheard the word cancer,” said Jared.
“Please don’t say anything, Jared. It’s not him—it’s a family member. And they don’t know for sure yet. Just act like everything’s normal.”
“The bill’s paid already. We’ll leave when he returns. We won’t ask any questions,” Anne was relieved to see sympathy in Gherring’s eyes.
“I’d never say anything. I’m not that insensitive. I’m thinking what if it was Emery.”
When Henri returned, the foursome went to the car. The mood had turned somber, and no one seemed inclined to talk. Henri asked, “Can you take me to the train station on the way back?”
“Henri, if you want to stay the night, Gherring Inc. will pay for a room. You really did help close the deal today. I never actually thanked you.”
“No, I need to be back before the morning. But thank you for the offer.”
At the station, Anne walked in with Henri while the others waited in the car. Out of Gherring’s sight, she hugged him hard, and they shed a few more tears together.
“I’m praying, Henri. I wish I could do more. You rescued me today, and I won’t forget it. I owe you, now.”
“You are still coming next week, right?”
Anne smiled. “I’ve got the ticket taped to my bathroom mirror! I look at it every day. But Henri, you don’t have to entertain me when I come. If you need to be at home or at the hospital, I’ll be there with you.”
“Of course you would say that, mon ange. I will have time to show Paris to you, no matter what happens.”
Anne stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.
“I cannot believe that I, the great Henri DuBois, am reduced to a kiss on the cheek. Next week, I hope to kiss these again.” He touched her lips gently with his finger before he turned and departed.
When Anne returned to the car, Jared and Gherring were discussing the schedule for the next day. “I’d love to see Switzerland, don’t get me wrong,” said Jared. “But I miss my wife and my baby girl. So I was thinking about getting a commercial flight home. You said I was getting a bonus if we closed the deal. You could just take the extra cost out of my bonus.”
Anne said, “You don’t have to do that—I feel bad. Mr. Gherring, it’s okay if we go back tomorrow. I still got a stamp on my passport, even if I didn’t do any sightseeing.”
Gherring silenced them without raising his voice. “Jared, you can go back any time you please, and Gherring Inc. will pay for the ticket. This will be a lucrative deal at some point in the future. I am certain of it. However, Anne, as I was
telling Jared, I have plans to go to Jungfrau tomorrow. You can come along,” he offered, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief, “or go back early with Jared if you prefer.”
“Well, I don’t know what Jungfrau is, but I’m going!” She grinned so hard it hurt.
Anne was so excited about the trip she arrived twenty minutes early to Gherring’s suite for breakfast. She knocked gingerly on the door, and listened for sounds of stirring inside. Then the elevator door opened and the breakfast cart emerged, heading for the Presidential Suite. This time she rapped loudly on the door, and Gherring opened the door clad only in a towel, his hair still dripping. The butler was unfazed by his state of undress, pushing the cart into the room and setting up the grand breakfast on the table.
She lagged behind, expecting Gherring would hurry to his room to change. Instead, he lounged casually and chatted in French with the butler before giving him a tip. She tried to act nonchalant. After all, she’d seen his chest and his legs before, in the gym. Why was her heart racing this time? It was nothing new. Just a chest. Well, not just a chest. A very nice, well-muscled chest with a firm stomach underneath. He certainly didn’t have the stomach of a fifty year old. There didn’t seem to be any flab there at all. Didn’t all fifty-year-old men have at least a little paunch? He looked very fit, but it was nothing she hadn’t seen before. Maybe it was the fact he had on a towel. There was that vague idea it was only a towel, and it might somehow fall off. Not that she hoped it would. It was just that it might—you never knew. But it looked like it was tucked in pretty well. It probably wouldn’t fall off. Not that she wanted it to.
“… Hello… Anne… Are you in there?” He was talking to her. Ohmygosh, he was talking to her! The butler was gone already. When did he leave? How long had she been standing there staring at his towel?
“Oh! I’m sorry. I was just… uhmm… thinking about being hungry—I mean—thinking about breakfast.” Anne could hear her own heartbeat in her ears.
Gherring, however, acted totally oblivious. “You’re hungry? Let’s see what they’ve brought us.” He walked between her and the table and bent over to examine the contents under the silver domes. This afforded her a fantastic view of his backside. Under that towel. And when he bent over… Did the towel shift a little? Was it lower than before? Ohmygosh, what was she doing?