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"That doesn't mean I can'tfeelbloated."
"No, it does not, and I respect how you feel, but I must disagree. You look amazing too. You just walked off the plane twenty minutes ago, and look at you!"
I take Teal’s hand and lead her to a mirrored window on the exterior of the building. I hold her hand up in the air and make her spin under it. Teal tries not to smile, but she cannot fool me. We just flew to Frankfurt on a private jet to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair, and we might land our first real client. How can we not be happy?
Then real life sets in again. I know she worries about what will happen to me, no matter how often I reassure her.
"Have you read any of the articles?" she asks.
"No, I am trying to avoid it all, but I hear it does not look too bad."
"All major news stations are covering it, and some politicians are getting involved. Many see it as a stepping stone, and depending on their political leanings, they claim you support abortion or are against it. They'll say whatever gets them ahead."
"I hoped it would not turn into this, but if Jessica is safe and out of the limelight, that is all that matters."
"With the attention you are getting, all focus has been taken off who the mystery woman is. Although, some stations are still trying to uncover who she is."
"And I have people working around the clock to ensure that does not happen. Jessica has a life now and should not have to revisit the past."
"You have a life now too," Teal says softly.
"Yes, but I also have enough money that people watch what they say about me for fear of being sued, and I have a team of lawyers and publicists to do the work for me. Jessica has a husband and two children, and that is it. Besides, she is the one who had to go through all the pain. I was justthere."
Teal smiles and takes my hand. "I thought you did great in the interview. You came across as sympathetic and not like a man who has to come in and help women solve their problems. It could have gone many ways, but you will have gained the support of most people. And you looked pretty damn handsome while doing it."
"You have to say that since I am your boss."
"You're right. I really think you are a hideous monster who has a heart of stone."
"Good." I smile. "That is how I want to be remembered."
Teal laughs, and her worry slips away for now. I still have her hand and want to pull her into me, but that is not why we are here.
So, why am I here?
I have been thinking about that a lot. There is no need for me to come all the way to Frankfurt with Teal. She can talk to the author on her own, and I do not doubt that she will do a great job of it. If I am not here for business, that only means one thing… I am here for pleasure.
I check out Teal in her simple skirt and blouse, and my eyes fall on her stomach. She is not showing yet, but she will soon. It makes her even sexier to imagine a life growing inside her. She is doing more for the world than I will ever be able to. She is adding life.
"Shall we go inside?" I ask.
"Sure."
I let go of Teal's hand, and we walk into the throng.
I am getting to know events like this well, but this is one of the biggest I have been to. Thousands of tables and stands are laid out as far as the eye can see, each with someone trying to sell their book or a company trying to make money in some way. Near the outskirts of the large hall are stages and platforms with different events, workshops, and presentations.
The place is like a large literary maze, and I know dozens of smaller rooms are shooting off from the main hall where meetings and smaller presentations will be taking place.
"How are we supposed to find James amongst all this?" I ask.
"He dropped me a pin." Teal holds up her phone, showing a zoomed-in overhead view of the building with a red circle near the back corner.
I feel a ping in my pocket and fish out my phone. I do not need to open the message to get the gist of it. I can see enough from the preview on my lock screen.
"Charlie Morton is not here," I tell Teal. I had hoped we would have one more chance to try and influence her decision.
"That means she has chosen someone," notes Teal.
