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All at once, Hanna understood. “Traditional values.”
“Traditional values,” Vivian confirmed. “Robert has put about how Gregory has no anchors in his personal life. Let’s make a liar out of him. Put this dress on, dear. Sam here will help you do your hair and makeup.”
The maid grinned. “I was the friend who did everyone’s makeup for dances and weddings. And I don’t much care for Mister Lane.”
“Once you’re all dolled up, you are going to go downstairs and make Robert look like a gossiping fool.” Vivian’s smirk was vicious. “Congratulations, Hanna. You are Gregory’s girlfriend.”
11
Fairytale
“I’m disappointed in you,” Gregory said, trying his best to sound like Gran had when he’d misbehaved. “All of you. Since I have known you, I have admired your diligence. Your professionalism. Your ability to adapt to changing times to bring the company through them better. I have always thought you were better men than this schoolyard gossip shows you to be.”
“This isn’t gossip, Gregory,” Robert said, all condescension smothered in honey. “This is the reality of business. Appearances–”
“No, Robert,” Gregory interrupted. “This is gossip. You have done your very best to spin this into a discussion about ‘traditional values’ as a core of Russell Holdings’ company ethics, but we are all well aware this is smoke and mirrors. The very heart of all your objections is baseless high school rumor mongering. Perhaps it’s a fabrication born from your very obvious jealousy.”
“I am not–”
“Aren’t you? Because that is not what your behavior points to. I had a presentation to give, at a partyIthrew inmyhouse, to welcome my board of directors and present our most recent data as a celebration of moving past a difficult time as a company.” Gregory leveled a hard stare on Robert. “You have derailed my party to disrespectfully discuss my personal life, as well as your notions of ‘traditional values’, which have no bearing on my performance. What decade do you think this is? These are modern times. Modern times require modern situations. You are attempting to hold us back.”
“I am attempting to make up for your inadequate–”
The door to the parlor opened. “Greg? I’m so sorry I’m late.”
Gregory felt his jaw slacken as Hanna stepped into the room, a vision of stunning beauty in a vintage blue gown. He’d left her beautiful and comfortable in her tousled hair and lounging attire. Since then, she had swept her hair up into an elegant twist that balanced between simple beauty and sophisticated style, and showed her graceful neck to its best advantage. The dress lent her form a greater allure, polished her natural charisma and enhanced her charms much as he knew his tuxedo added to his own ability to impress.
With her shoulders back and her chin up, she commanded the attention of everyone in the room with her presence. Gregory couldn’t look away. Words escaped him as his mind emptied of everything but the image of her.
Edwin Madeau found his voice first. “Who this this?”
Hanna turned a near-pitying look on him. “Mister Madeau, isn’t it? I’m Hanna Sparrow. Greg’s girlfriend.”
Gregory feared he’d lost his eyebrows permanently to his hairline.She’s what?
“You’re what?” Robert demanded, echoing Gregory’s thoughts.
Hanna turned. “Gregory’s girlfriend. Perhaps his fiancée, if you don’t leave him in too bad a mood to propose.”
Wait, what? Girlfriend? Fiancée? Propose?Gregory attempted to force his mind into working order while Hanna crossed the room to stand next to him. Her hands rested on his arm as she leaned up to place a kiss on his cheek. The touch of her lips electrified him and jolted his mind out of the endless loop of questions that swirled about his thoughts.
“There you are,” he said, smiling at her with all the warmth he’d wished he could show her for days. “I wondered where you were.”
“The time difference is brutal, and that research call took forever. I haven’t missed anything important, have I?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. She knew what direction the party had taken.
“No, you’ve gotten here just in time. My board of directors seems to believe I do not display sufficient signs of commitment or stability, and they worry about the potential ‘scandals’ that might kick up with rumors about Martin. They might go against ‘traditional values’.” Gregory sketched quotes in the air in front of him.
“Seriously?” Hanna laughed, a light fall of sound. “Of course it does. It showsprogressivevalues, which are increasingly important in today’s business landscape. Three interviews with the proper publications, and your reputation would be glowing.”
Robert’s complexion had taken on a reddened cast. “Since when do you have a girlfriend?”
“Long enough for us to have talked about marriage,” Gregory said, picking up on what Hanna had said and running with it. “We put those talks off for a bit. They were rendered inappropriate.”
“Why?” Robert looked like he couldn’t think of another objection around his mounting anger.
“Vivian’s heart attack,” Hanna said, with just enough shock in her voice to imply that Robert’s question left her aghast. “Vivian lost her husband, and then her health was compromised. Then we had to plan this gathering, since it was the proper thing to do. Did you want us to hurry it up? I’m sure, if you give us a bit more time, we could furnish the marriage table with some funeral-baked meats.”
Robert’s jaw dropped. David Gannet covered his mouth with one hand, though by the look of his eyes, it was to disguise laughter.
