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“Yes, it’s coming along.”
“Unfortunately, I have to go to a meeting with some investors this afternoon. You know I don’t expect you to do this on your own. I’ll tackle it tomorrow and try to get it into a form you can put in the PowerPoint. Sound okay?”
“I’ll just keep plugging along. Katie’s handling all the day-to-day stuff.”
“Great.” His jaw flexed, causing his dimples to appear beside a grimace. “I think we need to talk… about last night.”
“Mr. Gherring, the last thing I want to do is talk about last night. I’d like to forget about it, and I’d appreciate it if you’d help me do just that. So let’s make an agreement not to talk about anything.”
“We can’t not talk about anything.”
“Of course I don’t mean that. I’m your PA. So, we can talk about work-related subjects.”
“I’m not agreeing to not talk.” Gherring huffed as his hands balled into tight fists. “I won’t press the matter right now, because I’ve got to get to this meeting. But I’ll promise you this much—you will talk with me. Or if you prefer you can sit quietly and pretend to listen. It’s going to happen. Just not today.”
He left the conference room, shutting the door hard enough to emphasize his irritation.
What does he have to be irritated about?
Anne’s hands shook with adrenaline. At least she’d managed to put off the discussion until tomorrow. She felt so humiliated. What she needed was a pep talk, and she knew just where to get it—Henri.
His face appeared on the screen, still sporting his scruffy look. “I am so happy to see you. You look amazing. Those deep brown eyes, they are fathomless.”
“Thanks, Henri. I needed an ego boost. And how do you know a word like ‘fathomless’?”
“I have been reading English poetry. And why do you need an ego boost? Someone as beautiful as you should not need boosting.”
Anne didn’t want to share the real reason for her distress. “Even someone as handsome as you must have doubts every once in a while.”
Henri appeared to think hard. “No. I believe I have always been perfect.” He tried to smile, but his expression was strained. “I hate to bring you down when you need a boost, but…”
“What’s wrong, Henri?”
“It’s my niece, Anna-Laure. She said that her leg was hurting, and we thought it was from riding the pony. But now the doctors are afraid it may be something worse. It might even be cancer.”
“Oh no! Are they doing tests? When will you know?”
“She had some blood tests today, and she will have more tests later in the week.” Henri looked absolutely destitute. “I cannot lose her. And her mom and her brother will be devastated.”
“I’ll pray for her—I promise.”
“I must be strong for my sister, but I feel so alone. I wish you were here. You could hold my hand. You understand now, don’t you? You see why I feel strongly for you? I knew from the beginning you were different from the other women. There are many women who want me, who offer themselves to me. But they are selfish, as I am selfish. But you are not selfish, and you make me want to be like you.”
“I’m not perfect either, Henri. You just don’t know me well enough. If you put me on a pedestal, you’ll be very disappointed when you see the real me.”
“I am not so young that I am naïve, mon ange. I know you are human, not a real angel. You will see when you come to Paris.”
“I wish I could come tonight, Henri. I’d hold your hand and cry with you. I hope by the time I come, you’ll have good news.”
“If you would come tonight, I would buy your ticket. But you will not come, will you?”
“I… my job…”
“Your job.” Henri’s expression was sour. “Gherring does not appreciate you. You are more than a PA. You have a degree in chemistry, so you must be very intelligent. Anyone else would know you could be so much more than a PA.”
Anne took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “A chemistry degree and no job experience except being a part-time travel agent and a mother doesn’t qualify you for many positions. I’m lucky to have this job.”
“Still, Gherring does not know how valuable you are. He uses people. He plays with their lives. That is how he makes his living.”
