Her Best Match: A Romantic Comedy (The Best Girls Book 1) (31 page)

“I believe that’s on slide forty or forty-one. Am I right Jared?”

Jared looked ahead on the presentation. “Yes, you’re right as usual, Anne. That answer is coming up three slides from now.” He sent her a grateful smile, but he didn’t look particularly stressed. She wondered what it took to make him forget everything. Or perhaps he’d already figured out how to prevent that from happening again. She had to make sure he did well. He needed this job to support his family, especially since his wife had chosen to stay home with baby Emery.

Finally, Jared got to the end of his section and answered all the questions, with Gherring fielding a few and putting off some questions until after the next presentation. Gherring declared a fifteen-minute break and refreshments were served in the back of the room. Since Anne no longer felt the need to worry about Jared, she began to get nervous about her presentation again. She felt the blood drain from her face and her tongue felt as if it were sticking to the roof of her mouth. Gherring approached her with glass of water. She took it with trembling hands, and he watched her take a sip.

“Thanks for helping. He did quite well this time. Much better than before.”

Anne nodded her head, but her mind was racing along with her heart. She was starting to feel a bit faint again, when Gherring suddenly grabbed her hand. Startled, she turned to look at him and noticed his face looked pained.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” He let out a slow breath. “I have a pain in my abdomen. But don’t let anyone know.”

“What if it’s appendicitis?”

He gave her a strained smile. “It’s going to have to wait. I’m going to sit down right over there next to you.” He took another deep breath and grimaced. “Walk with me, okay?”

She followed and watched him sit down gingerly. “How are you going to be able to finish the presentation? You’re in pain. This is ridiculous. We should cancel—”

“No, this is important to me. Please… I’ll be fine. Just go as long as you can with the presentation. Maybe if I rest a bit, the pain will ease up.” He bit his lip and breathed slowly. “It’s time. You’ve got to do this… for me.”

“Let me tell Jared to call a doctor…”

“No,” he hissed. “Don’t say anything.” He frowned at her, but she returned the glare.

“Okay, but I’m watching you. I’ll put a stop to this whole thing if I think I need to.”

“It’s easing up a bit. It may just be that twelve-course meal from last night.”

She could see the pain etched on his face, even though he said it was getting better. He was probably lying to keep her from calling off the meeting. She needed to hurry this thing along and get him some medical treatment.

“Excuse me.
Excusez-moi
! If we can gather again, please. Feel free to bring your refreshments with you.”

The board members obediently returned to the table. Anne glanced at Gherring, who was studying his handout. At least he wasn’t clutching his abdomen. She forced herself to focus on the presentation. Gone were the nerves that had plagued her earlier. She pulled up the first slide and started speaking, while keeping Gherring in her side vision. Anne proceeded through ten slides before the first question came up. She glanced at Gherring, but he averted his eyes downward. He must be feeling worse. She fielded the question and continued on.

She was so preoccupied with concern for Gherring she went through the presentation on auto drive. She’d spent so many hours on the preparation and study to understand the concepts she didn’t really need to think about what she was saying. She noticed Gherring moved slightly and sat back in his chair. From the corner of her eye he almost appeared to be relaxed and smiling. But when she glanced his direction the smile dissolved into a grimace and his right hand was pressed to his side. Anne tried to recall which side the appendix was on. Wasn’t it the right side?

Someone directed a question at Gherring, but Anne rushed to protect him. “I believe the answer to that question is coming up here on the next slide.”

She proceeded far past the point she’d originally aimed for. When the door opened, she noticed with relief it was one o’clock. Time for lunch. She could check on Steven and get him to a hospital if need be.

To Anne’s surprise, when Gherring stood, he appeared to be pain-free.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it seems lunch is served next door. We’ll take up where we left off after we eat. This door will be locked so you can leave your things at the conference table.”

As all the board members filed out the door, Anne grabbed his arm and forced him into his chair.

“You shouldn’t be standing. Should I call the doctor now?”

“Oh, no. I feel quite fine now.” He grinned.

“I don’t believe you could suddenly feel fine. You were in pain the entire time. You can’t risk your health for a meeting, no matter how important you think it is.”

He gave a hearty laugh. “I assure you, I have no pain whatsoever. It must have been indigestion.”

But Anne was trembling now. “I know you’re covering something up. No one recovers like that. You were holding your side five minutes ago—your right side. Isn’t that where your appendix is?”

Gherring stood up and grabbed her shaking shoulders and forced her into the chair. “I’m sorry. I lied to you—”

“I knew it—” Anne tried to jump up, but he kept pressure on her shaking shoulders to keep her seated.

“No, I lied to you when I told you I was hurting.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Well… You were just so nervous. I had to appeal to that selfless nature of yours and get you worried about someone else. I knew you’d be great if you weren’t thinking about it.”

“But… But I saw you… I watched you the whole time.”

Gherring immediately demonstrated a pained look and pressed his hand to his side. Then he changed back again to his smiling, smug demeanor.

“I can’t believe you! I can’t believe you’d let me worry about you for two hours!” Now Anne was trembling from anger rather than fear. “You let me go twice as far as I was supposed to go—I was worried
sick
about you!”

“But can’t you see I did it for your own good? Look what a great job you did. You weren’t nervous at all, right?”

“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.”