“I prefer to keep my personal life and business separate, but yes, this is my lovely fiancé, Laurel.”
Before I knew what happened, the flashbulbs were clicking away. “What’s your last name, Laurel? Where did you two meet?”
Garrett squeezed my waist with his hand and I could feel the tension rolling off of him. I exhaled deeply and patted his hand calmly to reassure him I could handle this.
“As my fiancé has stated, we’d like to keep our private lives to ourselves, but we will share that we’re very much in love.” I started to walk forward, avoiding any further questions, when he leaned down, placing a small kiss upon my cheek.
“Well played, darling. God, I love you!”
I just smiled. “I would like to say that’s all me, but I’ve learned from the best.” I gave him a wink.
Dillon saw to it that we had clearance to the door. “Would you like me to stand inside with you and Miss Hart, sir?”
Garrett expelled his breath in frustration. “I want both you and Thompson on alert. I’ve got a feeling that something’s up. I’m not sure what, but I’d like you both handy if need be.”
“I’ll let Thompson know, sir.”
I was in awe over all the wonderful decorations. Everything was draped in reds, silvers, and blacks, with an ice sculpture welcoming everyone to the event. I had been a little afraid of the way I’d dressed until I spotted Grace, who was wearing a sultry burgundy number, with Jonathan smiling like a wolf ready to pounce on his prey.
Grace came running over, arms extended for a hug. “My goodness, Laurel, that dress looks amazing on you!” She leaned in and whispered, “You can’t even tell you’re pregnant.” When she pulled back, I was all smiles. She looked me over carefully. “Okay, what are you hiding?”
She always could read me like an open book.
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“Liar!”
I pulled her close, so no one could hear me but her. “I’m just nervous about my stomach showing in this dress, okay? This dress barely hides things and I don’t want people asking questions.”
Grace assured me. “You look fine, hon. You have a wonderful glow about you—enjoy it.”
Jonathan was quickly at her side. “Everything okay, honey?”
All she could do was nod in response, looking him up and down with a sultry glance, which made Jonathan turn a bit red.
She pulled me close. “I’m so happy for you. Know that your secret is safe with me, but if you try to run again, I’ll kick your ass until you can’t sit down.”
“No more running, cuz,” I assured her. “I’ve learned my lesson and realized just how fortunate I am. I’ve found my happily ever after.”
“You sure have and you’d better not forget it,” Garrett piped up with a wink. “Just like I’ve found the one true love to complete my soul and heal my heart.” His warm hand pressed against the bare area of my back, causing a ripple of heat to run through me.
I leaned into him, smiling, as I heard Grace whine, “Why can’t you be that romantic, babe?”
“Because they’ve been dating longer and I can and will if you just give me some time, love,” Jonathan was quick to fire off.
We all laughed at them going back and forth with one another as Garrett and Jonathan’s parents approached with Sarah, Freddie, and Donny in tow. I wonder why Donny and Freddie are here. Did Garrett invite them?
Everyone hugged one another, oohing and ahhing, over one another’s dresses. Sarah shared she’d invited Freddie to join her as her escort tonight, as well as Donny, so they could meet some business people and make some connections here in the Orlando area.
I was very happy to have my family around me. These events always left me feeling a bit intimidated, not to mention I wasn’t feeling that great anyway. I just prayed my nausea stayed at bay for the evening.
The outer area of the ballroom was streaming with people. Garrett and Jonathan excused themselves to talk with a couple of potential clients for WMI while the rest of his family, and mine, kept me entertained.
After a few moments, Sarah excused herself, seeing some former clients walk in. She took Freddie and Donny with her to introduce them and hopefully help them further their careers.
I continued to look around the room, proud of how my man circulated and built business for his company. Both he and Jonathan were forces to be reckoned with. I was beginning to get bored when they announced that they would be opening the ballroom doors soon.
I jumped when I felt warm hands wrap around my waist and a scruffy chin scrape across my shoulder as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of my neck.
“Miss me?” Garrett asked. “I hate spending even one moment away from you, but I’ve had Dillon watching your every move. Are you feeling okay?”
I leaned back against his chest. “I’m fine. I sure hope we eat soon, though. My stomach is starting to rumble.”
Just as I got the words out of my mouth, the doors to the ballroom opened, announcing that dinner would be served in a few minutes and for us to find our seats. I was thankful to find all of us sitting at the same table. I felt bad for my brother, because he looked like he was feeling a bit like the third wheel tonight, so I tried to keep him in as much of the conversation as possible and had him sit between Grace and me.
Our first course arrived as the welcome was made by one of the women heading up the event. My stomach let out a very audible growl when the waiter placed the appetizer down in front of me. Everyone laughed, though my brother looked over at Garrett and asked, “Haven’t you been feeding her lately?”
Garrett laughed but defended himself. “I’m always after her to eat and to control her blood sugar. I all but force it down her throat, but you should know your sister will only do what she wants.”
Donny laughed, smiling. “That’s true. She’s definitely stubborn.”
The meal was sensational, or as Grace called it, “sinsational.” I wasn’t able to eat too much because of my nausea. Everyone kept asking if I was okay, since I only took a few bites here and there. I hated that we had to keep things secret until my parents arrived, because I could tell that Garrett was chomping at the bit to tell everyone. Ever since we found out about the twins, his hand keeps rubbing my stomach and I keep having to push it away so we don’t draw any attention.
We danced and ate, the night actually more enjoyable than I thought it would be, until Thompson brought over a note he intercepted from a delivery person outside. Who on earth would be sending him a note at this event?
I watched as Thompson opened it for him. Their faces took on scowls as Thompson leaned down and whispered something in his ear.
Garrett pounded his fist on the table, causing us to jump. “I’m not going to let that bastard threaten me, or my family, and get away with it. Let’s beat him to the punch and call select members of the press in here. I’d like to make a special announcement when I present the donation.”
“Everything okay, son?” Harris finally asked.
I leaned over and wrapped my arms around Garrett, rubbing circles of comfort over the expanse of his back, hoping to calm him. He gave me a disheartening look. His hand reached up, cupping the side of my face. “I’m afraid our world is about to get a lot more public.” He held onto me as he looked around the table. “I’ll be exposed for my true identity as of 11 pm tonight, just in time for the local news, unless I out myself. Apparently the Peterson family is playing hardball, thinking they can make our lives miserable.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, realizing that I’d be subject to all sorts of news media and paparazzi. “We can’t hide from them or give them the upper hand,” I said adamantly. “Do whatever you have to do to subdue some of the fiasco that’s coming.” I looked deep into his emerald green eyes, willing him to do whatever necessary to protect our families. “I’m pissed that they think they can control other people’s lives. They will not control ours, ever! We will be the masters of our own destiny even if it
means we have to live in the limelight for a while.” I tried smiling, though I know I only managed a half-hearted semblance of one, to let him know I’d be okay. Now if I can just convince myself of that!
His frown turned into a weak smile as he leaned forward, kissing me gently on the lips. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Everyone laughed as I replied, “Not in the past twenty minutes.” I tried pushing out my lower lip and attempting to look sad, but I knew he saw right through it.
His family, plus my brother, all rallied around him.
“We support you, Garrett. We’ll do whatever is necessary to keep one step ahead of these jerks. We won’t let them harm either of you ever again,” Harris promised and everyone nodded in agreement.
Another hour passed and the presentation for the cancer benefit got underway with stories of survival, struggles, and the need for newer equipment, assistance in paying for treatments, and so forth. During that time, Thompson and Dillon slowly amassed a collection of TV news, written news and other assorted paparazzi into the back of the ballroom. They were all questioning why they were being brought there, but were promised their time would be worth the story of the year.
I had become distracted by the activity in the back, snapping out of it when I heard huge rounds of applause and watched as Garrett got up, bending to give me a chaste kiss on the lips.
“I owe you everything, my love,” he whispered.
I squeezed his hand tightly. “We are stronger together, babe. I’m here for you. We all are!” It took me running away to realize this, but it was worth the lesson.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Garrett approached the mic on stage. “Good evening, everyone. I’d like to tell you a small story about why Waters Medical Industries believes in supporting cancer research. I wish I could say that it never hit close to my home, but it has. My mother was in her second pregnancy, in the last portion of her third trimester with my sister when they discovered a growth during a routine ultrasound. She had only a month left in her pregnancy when they decided to admit her to the hospital, speed up the growth of the baby’s lungs, and induce labor all within a two week time period.” He paused a moment, swallowing hard. “Immediately after my sister was delivered, they took my mother into surgery, performing a total hysterectomy, preventing her dreams of having more children. But my mother lived and went on to find love in her heart by adopting a couple more kids into their family—me, and a few years later, my adopted sister, Tiffany. I feel very blessed to be a part of this family. I’d just lost my parents a year earlier to an automobile accident and then my only guardian was in a hit and run accident intended to kill me, but my aunt spared my life by pushing me out of the way.”
Everyone gasped in horror.
He waited until the room settled back down before continuing, ever the master of ceremonies. “It gives me great pleasure to present the benefit with a check for $450,000 to help aid those suffering from any form of this dreaded disease.”
The camera flashes went off in the back room like crazy, but I could still hear some muttering, “That’s all to this story? There has to be something more, otherwise my editor’s going to be pissed.”
“I’m sorry for the interruption of the media, but I’ve asked them here not to present the check for this benefit, but for an important announcement. You see, my given birth name was Garrett Anthony Andrews. Most everyone knows that I represent Mr. Waters when he’s away on business and act as the head of Human Resources in acquiring new talent to help thrust his technological advances into the future. However, there’s more to the tale.”
The room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Garrett looked over in my direction and raised his eye brows in question. I just smiled and nodded my encouragement.
“When I was adopted, I went by another last name for the longest time. When my success in this industry began to grow by leaps and bounds, I was plagued by people for donations, continually followed around by paparazzi trying to get a picture of an embarrassing moment, and most distressing of all, used by two people I considered close friends, one of whom I thought I loved. Sadly, it was all a farce when I discovered my girlfriend and manager were embezzling funds from WMI. At that point, I decided to change my image, emerge as a new person, and be in the public eye on my terms, not theirs.”
A slow round of whispers began to grow around the room as some people were starting to put together the pieces of the puzzle.
“That’s right, I’m not just Garrett Andrews, but I’m also G.A. Waters, the adopted son of Harris and Olivia Waters.”
The reporters began dialing their cell phones, asking their editors to hold the presses, promising the story of the year, as the photographers flashed away for pictures. Garrett had just outed himself to the public to prevent Walt Peterson from succeeding on his threat to do that very thing.
“I would like to apologize to everyone for the façade. I am actually Garrett Andrews by birth, so I haven’t actually deceived anyone, I just didn’t tell many that I was also Mr. Waters. I value the safety and the privacy of my family, as well as my own. I will allow this story to run with the facts only. I will enforce any trespassing laws at my place of residence and all my offices. All of my employees have signed non-disclosure agreements, so no one will have any luck attempting to talk with them, and my family will flat out refuse to comment. So I ask, beg even, please leave us in peace.”
The members attending the benefit stood, some with tears in their eyes, and began clapping for Garrett. All of us stood, following suit, offering our support and letting everyone know we stood as a family, united.
Some of the press spoke up.
“So that means, not only is Garrett Andrews engaged to be married, but in actuality, Mr. Waters is, too?”
“When do we get the scoop about Laurel?”
“When is the wedding date?”
“We heard that you went to the courthouse for a wedding license today. Does that mean a ceremony will be imminent?”
The press was getting restless as Dillon and Thompson tried to hold them back.
“The media outlets that were allowed in here were chosen so based on the merits of their stories, and in an attempt to set the record straight with actual fact, not prefabricated fantasy to sell a tale,” Garrett commented. “My private life will remain private, which includes that of my family and my fiancé. Yes, I’m to be married to the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She does work for my company and is one of the most brilliant minds I’ve encountered in a long time. Any attempt to harm or slander her or my family with falsified information will result in that company taking meetings with my lawyers. I’m sorry, but that’s one area of my life I will not comment further on.”
The reporters were restless and shouting to get Garrett’s attention.
“It’s not fair that you won’t let us know about your family, especially your fiancé.”
“How about giving an exclusive interview to an honorable news source?”
I felt everyone’s eyes staring at me and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and cry. I knew I couldn’t, that I had to put on an air of confidence. Donny grabbed hold of my hand and squeezed it tightly.
Grace came over and put her arms around my shoulder, whispering, “We stand as one, cousin. If you need us, we’re all here for you!”
To my surprise, Garrett seemed to consider the reporter’s words. “I can’t promise an exclusive without talking with my fiancé and family first, but, if I do, I’ll be deciding with whom and when. That’s all the questions and comments I’ll be making for the evening. Please remember to keep to the facts.”
I started to feel a bit light headed. I was thankful Grace and Donny pushed me to sit in my chair and have a drink of water.
Garrett ran off stage to my side. “Are you okay, Laurel?”
Just great, what a time for my nausea to kick in. I brought my hand close to my mouth and gave him that knowing look. He understood
immediately, as he whispered to me, “Please try drinking some water and nibbling on a little bit of the bread to see if it passes. If not, we can be out of here in no time.”
Thompson and Dillon had finally managed to extract the reporters from the ballroom and close the doors, bringing us back into a more peaceful setting.
Garrett stood. “My apologies everyone for the commotion.”
Laurel was looking a little flushed after the announcement was over. I rushed to her side; she looked like she was feeling nauseous again and I knew she needed a moment to collect herself before we tried to head home. I couldn’t wait to get out of the ballroom and back into the security of my penthouse.
I didn’t like the idea of the Petersons threatening me. I knew Walt played dirty; it was obvious by the information we were uncovering about him daily. I’ve had my security team and lawyers scouring every possible source to get as much on him as possible, just to counter any attacks he decided to throw our way. So far we’d learned his company was floundering financially, some of his top people had left, and he was contacting some unscrupulous people for funding. But, he didn’t hesitate on tracking me down and threatening to out my identity, thinking it would provide him the upper hand.
It was only a matter of time before I remerged into the world as Garrett Waters anyhow. The façade was getting harder to keep up, plus, I’d be marrying Laurel soon and insisting she take the last name Waters, so the secret would have been revealed at some point.
To my surprise, I had one person after another come up to our table and congratulate me on a well delivered speech. More than one person wished they’d thought of disappearing from public existence and most everyone apologized for my new exposure to the scrutiny of the press. The sentiments went on and on, but it made me feel a little more validated in my decision to come out.
Laurel was finally feeling well enough to leave, so I asked Dillon to clear a path for us through the back entrance of the hotel while Thompson retrieved the car. Before we left, we said goodbye to our family and friends.
Learning to Love Again Page 5