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“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…”
