The Pretend Girlfriend (27 page)

They reached the ground floor without spontaneously combusting from the tension. And they even managed to walk briskly down through the foyer to the front door. Aiden tried to get that door for her, but she headed him off, pushing it open and then holding it for him instead. He was too distracted to notice.

The two of them piled into the back of the car, where Aiden instructed the driver to take them to the Carbide Solutions building in Manhattan.

Gwen was proud of herself. She managed to wait until the car started going forward before turning on Aiden.

"So now will you tell me what's going on? What was so important that we had to rush down to the car..."

For just one dreadful, heart-squeezing moment, Gwen thought she might have pulled on two different shoes. She squinted down in the relative darkness, trying not to look too weird, trying not to draw attention to her faux pas if that was the case. Her shoulders relaxed when she saw that she had, indeed, put on a matching pair.

"There's been a... development..." Aiden said.

"Development? What does that even mean?" Why did businessmen and politicians have to pick words that sounded like they meant something, but actually meant nothing at all?

"Yes... Sorry, I'm just trying to think of what to say to fix this," Aiden replied.

"Fix what? What's happened?"

"There's been an accident at one of our foundries... one of our plants. People are hurt, Gwen."

Gwen felt her own problems begin falling away. Suddenly, it seemed silly to be upset at something like not being able to take a fancy trip out of the country. Especially in the face of whatever accident had happened.

Her hand sought his, finding it in the shadows of the cabin. She squeezed his fingers, and he gave a reassuring squeeze in response.

"Are there any other details? Where? What? How?" She sounded like a children's grammar book.

Aiden chafed at his face with his other hand. He looked so preoccupied, as though he was barely with her in the back of the Town Car. Pulling himself back to reality, he said, "It's at our main site in China. There weren't many details. This is bad, Gwen. Many of my corporate reforms and charity drives were directed at that site, trying to get more up-to-date labor laws, safety equipment, that sort of thing. I've been using it as a sort of poster child for my work... If something's gone wrong, it could be a scandal."

"I'm sorry for being short with you earlier... I didn't know what was up. I'll help you however I can," Gwen replied.

The manner of her help was something she couldn't figure out. She knew nothing about labor laws, safety equipment, all that stuff. And her knowledge of Aiden's charities came mostly from a few MSN news articles and wiki entries.

Aiden gave her hand another gentle squeeze. "Thanks, that means a lot."

Gwen started to bristle, but calmed down when she detected no sarcasm in the sentiment. He really meant it.
Maybe
, Gwen thought,
he just needs moral support.
Having someone in your corner when things get rough makes all the difference in the world. Gwen knew that from personal experience, thinking back to the all-too-recent past and the financial and emotional difficulties it entailed. She thought about how Beatrice had helped keep her spirits up. Thinking about their recent fight was like a punch to the gut.

The two of them quieted down, both lost in their own musings even as the car sped down the road, the momentum from occasional turns making them sway gently in their seats. They continued holding hands.

In the back of the Town Car, she silently promised herself two things. One, that she would be there for Aiden when he needed her, in whatever capacity she could manage. Two, that she would win Beatrice's friendship and trust back.

That train of thought continued along its tracks, leading Gwen to think more on trust and betrayal, and how much it hurt when someone you were supposed to be able to trust ended up being the ones you should have stayed away from. And that, in turn, led her to thoughts of Henry Manning.

Apparently, Aiden's train of thought rode along on parallel tracks. "It's just so perfect. If I can't get this under control, and fast, it could mean abandoning all my work. It will prove to Henry that he was right, and that all this work just costs the company prestige and money in the end."

This seemed like a good time to voice her opinion on the matter. "Do you think it was Henry who did it?"

"What do you mean?" Aiden replied.

"Think about it. If you really did put all that work into making that plant safer, I'm sure it was actually safer. He doesn't want you doing all this, so he stirs up some trouble to force you to his side of things."

"He wouldn't do that to the company... The scandal..." Aiden breathed.

It must have been hard for him to hear, Gwen thought. On the face of it, such an act would seem beyond even Henry. But the more she considered it, the more plausible it seemed. Aiden needed to hear it, and she'd promised herself to help him however she could.

"Just think about it, Aiden. The company has weathered bad press before. And I'll bet you this disaster is much smaller than you're being told. Where did your assistant get the information?"

Even though the theory fit, that didn't mean that either of them had to like it. Gwen had actually begun to think that maybe Henry had relented, that maybe he was letting off a bit on the two of them. But she also knew that Henry wasn't the type to give his enemies any breathing room, and time to recover between attacks.

And to Aiden, it must be the next in a lifelong series of attacks designed to bring him in line with whatever image Henry had in mind for him. She couldn't imagine how deep such an act must cut. How could someone's own father do that; so callously destroy the thing their own flesh and blood worked to improve?

Gwen tried to think of how it would feel if her own father deliberately sabotaged her, but failed.

She admired Aiden more, then. What sort of strength of will, of determination, would he need to keep going despite all the setbacks?

Aiden broke in, "From a credible source, apparently. But I think you could be right. This does have Henry's signature on it..."

Excited that he agreed with her, Gwen continued, "I know, right? I mean, just think about the other stuff he's done so far. He's set up interviews, charity events, all sorts of things! This is him stepping up his game!"

That brought a small smile to Aiden's face, "Since he's working so hard to get rid of you, I guess that means you're a keeper."

That took her aback. "What do you mean? Is this all my fault?"

In her attempt to help him figure out the source of this new problem, she hadn't stopped to consider her own role in it. Could it be true, though? Could Henry really be trying to destroy his son's ambitions just to split the two of them up?

Seeing her distress, Aiden held both her hands. "No. Not entirely. Not even by a half, or a quarter. Certainly, you're a part of it. But this has been going on long before you came into the picture."

The hand-holding bolstered her nerves, but still left her less than sure. "So you're saying that even if I gave in and ended it, he still wouldn't leave you alone?"

"He wouldn't. Besides, I need you here with me. I really can't tell you how much of a help you've been."

Gwen felt glad that the cab was darkened. He couldn't see the blush creeping up her cheeks. She never used to blush like this. He simply had that effect on her. Before Aiden, she'd always thought the books and movies exaggerated the effects someone could have on you. It was just one of many new experiences she'd had since he came into her life.

"And unless Henry manages to buy the whole city and demolish it, London will still be there when this is all over," Aiden said.

"You still want to go?"

"Of course! You thought all this made me forget, didn't you?" Aiden replied.

"Something along those lines, yeah," Gwen said.

Aiden straightened up, then held her hands together with his. They locked eyes. "I promise to take you on that trip when I've sorted all of this out."

A moment of tension followed, Gwen not sure whether she should break eye contact first. In fact, she had the opposite urge. It seemed like the perfect moment for another kiss. But she resisted, telling herself not to push too hard. She needed to help Aiden prepare for this impromptu press conference, not find out how he tasted.

So, giving him as mischievous a look as she could muster at the moment, she batted her eyes sweetly and said, "Really? Can I get that in writing?"

"You!" Aiden said, pulling his hands back even as he grinned. That broke the spell. Frustration twinged in Gwen's stomach. Forcing the feeling down, Gwen told herself that there would be plenty of time for other activities after the conference.

Both of them more confident, ready to face whatever came at them, they leaned back against the seat.

Gwen watched the streetlights flicker by and felt the hum of the car as the tires went over all the tiny imperfections in the asphalt. In spite of the situation, she actually felt good.

Henry wasn't going to win this one. If anything, it brought Gwen and Aiden even closer together than before. She couldn't be certain, but she thought that maybe they'd just reached the next level in their relationship.

She was wrong.

O
nce Gwen and Aiden actually arrived at the Carbide Solutions building, Gwen's role became minimal.

The press conference happened in a large room dedicated to that purpose, with a raised dais at one end on which sat a podium, and rows and rows of theatre-style seating facing it.

It rather reminded Gwen of the White House press conference room always shown in the news and in probably hundreds of TV shows and movies. Except this one didn't have flags bearing the seal of the office of the president behind the speaker.

Gwen sat in a chair on the stage which rested against the wall. From that spot, she could watch Aiden address the room full of reporters as he took position at the podium.

Right away, a redhead in a pantsuit sitting in the front row stood and started asking him a question. Aiden silenced her with a raised hand and asked for people to hold their questions until the end of the conference.

For coming into this totally blindsided, with the only time to prepare being those precious few minutes in the car ride over, Aiden did well. Amazing well, really.

He spoke as though he'd had a speech ready to go, talking about corporate responsibility, the obligation to take care of employees and see that they were treated well.

The word "Family" came up a lot. The corporation was not just some soulless, faceless entity bent on extracting profit on the broken backs of its employees, as Aiden put it. No, they were all one large, intercultural, extended family. With obligations going both ways.

He expertly segued into the topic of his charities and corporate clean-up measures, talking about how he was sure that with just a little more support, Carbide Solutions could live up to its promise of becoming an ethical business.

Gwen wished that she could stand by his side. Well, almost, that is. She wanted to help him and comfort him and give him whatever strength he needed, but she also didn't want to be the target of all those cameras and microphones and questions. The recent past taught her that she and reporters didn't mix well.

Although, one thing did surprise her. Aiden kept glancing back her way, shooting a quick look over his shoulder as though to reassure himself that Gwen didn't take this opportunity to beat a hasty retreat and leave him to his own devices.

Each time she caught him doing it, she smiled and nodded. And each time he would turn back to the press as though recharged.

It was amazing how he changed when beheld by the lens of a camera. Rather than the reserved, self-conscious man he was in private, he became animated, confident in the extreme. Unwavering in his faith to the company.

It must take so much out of him,
Gwen thought. About halfway through the conference, he started gripping the podium. At first, Gwen took it as a sign of his fervor and passion. But from the way he kept his knees locked, she realized it was to hold himself up.

From that point, she just wanted it to end. How could they do this to him? Demand he stand there for an hour talking about something that his father had done to sabotage him?

Was Henry watching this broadcast from some huge room filled with gaudy paintings and varnished bookcases? He probably was. There was probably a glass of expensive scotch or brandy clutched in his hand, which he swirled gently while a small, devilish smile curled only one corner of his mouth.

But then, mercifully, thankfully, the conference ended. Sweat glistened on the back of Aiden's neck, and his knuckles turned white with the effort of gripping that podium.

He'd apparently done such a great job that not a single reporter had an additional question for him. Not even the redhead in the pantsuit.

They filed out of the room, Aiden watching them as they went. A company aide came over to begin disconnecting the A/V equipment.

When Gwen checked her phone, she gasped. It was nearly midnight! Now that she saw that, she did feel a weary weight behind her eyes. Probably a combination of tiredness and the unrelenting glare of the fluorescent bulbs above her.

Her stiff legs complained when she levered herself out of the chair, and she resisted the urge to press her hands into the small of her back and stretch. And there was something else inside, too, intertwined with the exhaustion. A sort of manic energy that she knew would keep her from going to sleep for hours.

If I feel like this, how must Aiden feel?
Gwen wondered.

"Aiden..." she said, coming up behind him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

A long sigh blew out his cheeks. He looked ready to fall over. All that false confidence and assuredness had drained him. "Let's go, okay?"

Gwen nodded, linking her arm with his. They got out to the car, both of them welcoming the relative privacy of the tinted windows.