Page 37 of When You're Gone
Fielding: Dempsey and Cole suggested we get a life-size vinyl of you to put on the wall of the Valet House until you come home. Turn around and smile for me so I can take a screenshot.
The idea of flipping them off again was tempting, but she thought better of it now that she was aware of the potential scrutiny of her every move. She turned around and smiled for the camera just like he asked, but added in an eye roll for good measure, only righting herself in her seat when a murmur rose up from the crowd. She tucked her phone away and turned her full attention to the stage.
Rhett emerged from the wings, followed by several other stern-looking people dressed in dark suits. Everyone took a seat except him. He sauntered to the podium, adjusted the mic, then smiled. He looked so confident as his eyes roamed the room.
Her heart beat double-time when he finally locked her in his sight. He gave her the most dazzling smile, then mouthed “love you” just for her. She lifted her hand to her chest, overcome with pride.
Even though everything felt hard and so much was uncertain, she couldn’t help but marvel at the resilience Rhett had shown over the last several days. There was no question as to whether he was up for the challenge: he was already performing the role beautifully. He was prepared and poised. He was commanding and confident. As he greeted the room and started his speech, she realized just how perfectly suited he was for this job.
She sat in rapture as she watched him in his element. He was a natural speaker. He maintained a perfect balance between respectful and authoritative while still making everyone feel at ease. He answered question after question with tact, his confidence and consistency never faltering. She didn’t know half the things he was talking about when it came to the business updates he shared, but she could tell he was nailing it.
After almost an hour, the questions became more casual and less hard-hitting. One reporter asked him about his workout routine; another inquired about his fantasy football roster. Quinn had pulled his beloved devices back out, so she took that as a sign she could relax in her seat. Surely this was almost over.
A new reporter accepted the mic and began to speak. “Everhett, we know you moved to Norfolk last year, but now that you’re stepping into this new role, I’m sure you’ll be looking to put down deeper roots.”
Her skin prickled with awareness as she gleaned the reporter’s line of questioning.
“Have you and your wife given any thought to which suburb you’ll call home when it’s time to start a family?”
Rhett chuckled into the microphone, clearly stalling—it was the only time he’d faltered. He locked eyes with her for just a second, an apology clear on his face.
She smiled at him reassuringly; it wasn’t his fault the reporters felt like they could pry into their personal life. She knew he’d navigate around the false assumptions with ease, just like he had handled every other question they’d thrown at him today.
It wasn’t until the first flash went off that she realized he wasn’t the only one looking at her.
Rhett’s eyes widened in horror as the repercussions of his blunder played out in slow motion. His apologetic glance had just exposed her. Up until now, she had been an anonymous face in the crowd. Now they knew. Now every person in the room knew. She was the wife of the newly-appointed CEO of NorfolkStar. And it was open season.
She physically shuddered as more bursts of light erupted around her. The room slipped into chaos as everyone vied for a shot. She lifted a hand to her chest on instinct, desperate to cover herself and shy away from the camera clicks and prying eyes.
Rhett cleared his throat in an effort to reclaim everyone’s attention. But even when the flashing lights stopped, she could feel the room’s gaze lingering on her as she sat stock-still and stared straight ahead.
“It’s been a whirlwind week, so I’ll have to get back to you on that one,” he smoothly supplied.
Too little. And way too fucking late.
She swallowed twice to make sure the bile that had risen in her throat wasn’t still threatening to spill out. Had that really just happened? Her flight instinct was raging. Adrenaline surged through her limbs. She didn’t dare so much as shift in her seat, though, just in case someone was still watching. Just in case they tried to trap her again.
“That’s all the time we have for today. On behalf of the entire board of NorfolkStar Transport, I’d like to thank you for being here, and for your continued support. Everyone in attendance is invited to join us at the luncheon set up in the Waterview Room.” Rhett rapped his knuckles twice on the podium, effectively ending the press conference.
He met her gaze again as relief washed through her. Those thirty seconds of awkwardness had felt like a whole lifetime. She moved to stand, to make her way toward the front of the room and join him. But she stopped herself when she watched person after person rush the stage, lining up to shake Rhett’s hand and garner a moment of his time. His eyes reluctantly shifted off her as someone thrust a hand out to greet him. A literal line began to form.
As much as she wanted to be in her husband’s arms, she had absolutely no interest in converging on the mass of people vying for his attention.
The room was buzzing around her just like before, but now she was numb to the excitement that everyone else was experiencing. She felt itchy and claustrophobic, desperate for a moment alone to catch her breath.
She glanced up at Rhett again, but she could only see the top of his head surrounded by at least a dozen other people. He wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. She would have to navigate this on her own.
She pulled out her phone and opened her text thread with Fielding. She reread his previous message, then responded with hesitation.
Tori: I’ll be home by this weekend. I have to work on Saturday, but I’m free all day Sunday.
Fielding: Music to my ears, Victoria Thompson. I’ll get one of the guys to cover my shift so we can work on camp stuff. They all know they’re on standby when you’re home.
Tori: Perfect. See you soon.
She blew out a long breath, then slowly rose to her feet. She looked to Quinn to ask if he wanted to head over to the luncheon with her, but he was still buried in his work. The guy somehow had a third device in his lap now—this one an iPad—which was playing back snippets from the press conference they had just endured.
She shuddered when a picture of her own face filled the screen, then she slipped away toward the exit before anyone could speak to her.
