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“But a very,very, rich one,” she laughed before the door slammed shut.
Why did it feel so wronghurting Wyatt’s feelings, she wondered. It wasn’t like she cared about him…she was just feeling guilty about not seeing what was going on around her before now. That had to be it.
Chapter 5
Gabby happily let the next week pass by before she ventured out into public, well, before Wyatt forced her back out into the public. They were attending the ballet with several other colleagues and business associates and she dressed carefully for the evening. Since the revelation that she’d donated money to Donald’s company Wyatt had taken to sleeping in a separate bedroom, it didn’t bother her any, she was able to sleep unguarded for the first time in six months.
She put on the new velvet green dress she’s found a few days before the accident and stared at her reflection. It looked fine but there was a difference, something she couldn’t put her finger on, but it was there. She triple-checked her makeup and when she was sure there were no signs of the bruise, she slipped on her cloak and headed downstairs to meet Wyatt. She was perfectly capable of handling the night ahead of them but Wyatt…she wasn’t so sure about him.
“Nice cover-up on the face,” he said opening the door.
“Ah, such sweet words from my gracious husband,” she laughed sarcastically.
“Don’t push me tonight Gabby, I’ve spent the past week taking apart your mistakes. If you thought giving that money to Graves would help keep him solvent and in the market youobviously didn’t know how precarious of a position he was in. It makes my life a hell of a lot easier but he’s still got a foot in the door that I’m about to break…tonight should do nicely to put the first crack in it.”
“So that’s what tonight’s about is it?” she said. “I wondered why you decided on the ballet.”
“It’s a treat for my wife,” he whispered into her ear as the driver entered the car then pulled out into traffic. “Don’t mistake it for what it isn’t Gabby…I’m a firm believer in keeping up the appearance of a loving couple, after all who wouldn’t expect me to pamper you after your experience?”
“Nothing you do is from the heart Wyatt, I never worried about that for a minute,” she said settling back as they stopped to pick up Joan and her guest for the evening. When they arrived at the theater she could feel the eyes turn towards them and Wyatt stepped forward putting his hand on her back leading her to the coat check.
He must have seen the glimmer of panic in her eyes and he set aside his antagonism for a moment as he flicked the button on her cloak open. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she said pasting a smile on her face. “It’s a bit crowded for being this early, isn’t it?”
“Wyatt, you should have waited,” Joan stated coming over beside them. “Can’t you see this wasn’t the greatest idea? Everyone’s curious.”
“Actually I think it’s perfect,” Gabby admitted. “This way very few people can ask questions, they’ll see that I’m fine, and maybe some of the gossip will die down.”
“That’s what Wyatt said earlier,” Joan said. “Guess you two really do think alike.”
“How do you think we make it work so well?” Wyatt asked slipping the cloak from her shoulders.
“You look gorgeous Gabby,” Joan gasped. “That’s the perfect color for you, isn’t it Wyatt?”
“It is…Christ, Gabby,” he said staring.
“Don’t tell me you object to the dress,” she laughed staring down at her three-quarter sleeve, just above the knee dress she wore. “It’s modest to the modest degree.”
“It’s not the dress,” he stated, “it’s you…you look like you’ve lost ten pounds in the last week.”
It hit her that it was true, that was what looked different from the last time she wore the dress. “I’m fine Wyatt.”
“You’re just now realizing this?” Joan asked shooting glances between them.
“I refused to let him ‘help’ me dress, we’d never have gotten out of the house Joan,” Gabby said covering. “I came down with my cloak on.”
“Uh huh,” she muttered, “though you do look entirely too thin Gabby.”
“I’ve lost a few pounds, but it’s simply because I haven’t felt like demolishing the things your parents and mine have brought over. Honestly, I’m fine,” she implored.
They both shot her looks of disbelief and she sighed, all right, she hadn’t eaten much the past week because she was worrying about her sister and niece, Donald and his goons, and Wyatt and his wavering moods. Thankfully there were interrupted by the addition of their guests and she was able to enjoy the ballet. Dinner afterwards was a long drawn out affair, and she was practically drooping by the time their main entrees arrived.
“Gabby, you’ve got to tell me where you found that dress,” Rita, the wife of their attorney, stated. “You look amazing in it.”
“She looks too thin,” Wyatt argued as she pushed her food around her plate.
“Wyatt,” she said with a light warning.
