by Tamie Dearen
When the group arrived, trickling in, she fought the urge to run to the bathroom and throw up. She’d decided that was exactly what was going to happen, when Gherring pulled her aside and spoke in an urgent tone. “I’m worried about Jared.”
“Why? What happened?”
“It’s just that once before, during a previous meeting, he said something inappropriate. You know how he is. He speaks without thinking. And then he panicked and blanked out. He couldn’t even finish.”
“Oh no! Why did you even bring him? You should have left both of us at home.”
“I just had to give him another chance. You know, with a new baby and everything.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Just stick with him while we’re mingling and make sure he doesn’t stick his foot in his mouth. Then be prepared to bail him out if he blanks during his presentation.”
Anne nodded and hurried to guard Jared, who appeared totally at ease. Perhaps he was too much at ease. She listened carefully as he talked. Whenever he seemed to be getting a little too casual in his conversation or seemed ready to tell a story, Anne jumped in and asked questions, steering the talk back toward business.
Several of the female board members came to join the group, asking Anne about herself. She bypassed the questions about her work experience, but talked readily about her children. The other women were older and had grown children as well, and soon they were sharing pictures of children and in some cases grandchildren. She tried to listen in on Jared’s conversation as well, but so far, he seemed to be pretty tame. She wondered just what Gherring meant by inappropriate. She breathed a sigh of relief when the time came for the presentation to start.
Gherring stood up and addressed the group in fluent French. Anne caught a few words, but mostly just laughed when everyone else laughed, as did Jared. She’d never seen Steven Gherring speak to a group before. Even though she couldn’t understand what he was saying, she was drawn to him. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. His blue eyes were so clear. It was like looking at the sky. His voice was powerful, his presence magnetic. Everyone in the room was hanging on his words. It was an amazing thing to experience and observe. Finally, Gherring began introducing Jared and Anne. He switched to English for their benefit.
“So you will hear first from Mr. Jared Hanson, and later from Ms. Anne Best. As I said, this is informal. Please feel free to ask questions at any time. If your particular question will be answered further along in the presentation, we can let you know. But otherwise, we want to answer your questions as they occur.” He turned the podium over to Jared.
Jared began his presentation. Although he was only thirty years old, he was smart, confident, and well spoken. Was he overconfident? Perhaps that’s what got him into trouble. Anne listened carefully, ready to jump in at the first sign of trouble. She was so concerned with Jared she forgot about her own upcoming presentation. She’d worry about that later. There were a number of questions Jared fielded easily. He hadn’t shown any sign of going blank up to this point. Then someone asked a question Anne knew was answered on an upcoming slide.
“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 a 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?”
“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. “I’ve never gone blank before. This is the first time I’ve done something this big, so I guess—Ow!” He looked at Gherring. “Why’d you kick me?”
“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 folded his hands.
She whipped around and stomped out the door, slamming it behind her.
Anne was angry. Furious, even. But she was also hungry, and that feeling won out. Having skipped breakfast because of her nerves, she wasn’t about to miss lunch because of Gherring’s antics. 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. How had Henri phrased it? Has he ever done something to control you? Has he made you feel foolish? Yes, Gherring had done those things, and this was not the first time.
Someone called out her name. She twisted to find Henri 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.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, breathlessly.
“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. “It’s the best surprise ever. Can we go somewhere for lunch? I’ll have to come back, but I really need to get out of here.”
Henri frowned, studying her face. “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 I 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.”
“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 that she’d fallen for his ploy, or that 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.”
Her tense muscles softened until she was barely holding up her own weight. “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.”
“But 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… G
herring 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 PA. They think I’m part of the CMA group.”
“Is that so? I may use that information to my advantage…” Henri raised his hand. “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 straight line. When he nodded, Anne wondered what Henri had made him agree to.
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.”
