Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(43)

“Breathe. It’s all going to be great. Everyone is aware of what needs to be done. Start gathering the press into the large vestibule and we’ll start in about ten.” I smile, putting on my best everything-is-just-fine face.

Most of us call this our camera persona. I’m polite, witty, and always smiling. My cheeks usually hurt for a full day after any press or photo junkets. I’m ready to make Jackson and my bosses proud. This promotion is so close I can taste it, and my contract with Raven will be over soon, and then I won’t have to worry about the morality of dating a client. Luckily, we’ve managed to keep things low profile and the people who do know have been extremely supportive.

“Ready?” Danielle says at my side as we both plaster on our smiles and open the door into the launch.

There’s a small stage and a podium, with bright photos of the new products with a sheet over them for the actual unveil. My adrenaline spikes as the excitement grows. This is the part of the job I love. I command the press and all of my hard work shows in this moment.

“Good morning, thank you all for being here,” I begin with my speech.

After a few minutes of introductions and going over the booklet they were given, I hand it over to Danielle for her portion of the presentation. I’m impressed with her. We spent hours going over camera posture and when to pause to allow maximum attention. Taylor and I prepped her for anything we could think of, ensuring she was comfortable.

She hands the microphone back over to me and I brace myself for any questions. This is the one part of the press conferences I despise. You can prepare all you want, but you can’t predict the way the questions will go.

The first hand rises and I call on her.

“Ms. Pope, can you tell us a little about when the product will be available in stores?”

“We expect the rollout to begin in the next three months. The product has been tested and has been sent to mass production.” I smile and call on the next hand that’s raised.

A short woman with red hair asks, “How do you feel this product differs from the others in the market?”

“This product line is made with all natural ingredients. There are no fillers and Raven is able to keep the prices competitive with what some call over-the-counter makeup lines. You’re getting high quality for a bargain price.”

I field a few more questions regarding the price point.

Taylor signals it’s time to close, since we want to keep this brief and exciting.

There’s time for one more question. “Yes, Miss?” She’s blond with beautiful features, her eyes are wide as she realizes I’m calling on her.

“Thank you for taking my question.” I nod and she reads off an index card. “Can you tell us how Mr. Cole is handling the company considering his injuries?” I’m surprised it took so long for someone to ask.

“He’s doing well. Mr. Cole has stayed in contact with his staff and ensured there has been very little disruption to the company during his recovery,” I say as confidently as possible and begin to wrap up but she cuts me off.

“That’s great, but the company has had a vast amount of change in the past year. What about the fact that the company’s dealt with two new CEO’s in eighteen months, with Mr. Cole’s wife no longer controlling the company, and the last CEO resigning so suddenly? How is Raven coping with this revolving door of leadership?”

And the floor falls out from under me.

Did she just say “wife?”

“I’m sorry, can you repeat the question?” I say trying to catch my breath while appearing completely in control.

“With the company undergoing so many changes, with different CEOs, understandably first when Mrs. Elliott-Cole departed, but then another quick change of hands … How are the staff handling yet another catastrophe?”

My heart falls to the pit of my stomach. I feel dizzy. Everything around me becomes hazy and I grip the podium, trying to stay upright. He wouldn’t do this to me, would he? Would he hide a marriage? How? A wife? Is he still married? The questions bombard me one after another as I try to focus on the people in front of me.

I hear a throat clear from behind me and I realize I haven’t answered the question. “This question would probably be best answered by Ms. Masters. She’s been an employee through these transitions.” I manage a half-mangled smile and the pity in Danielle’s eyes says it all.

It’s true and she knows I didn’t know, which means he deliberately kept it from me.

Married.

I rush off the stage before Danielle finishes her answer. I’m going to be sick. Taylor rushes over with a glass of water and ushers me out the back. I slump in a chair, trying to get a grip on my thoughts.

What the f*ck just happened?

“Cat? Are you okay?” Taylor asks, probably knowing I’m so far from all right.

“Married?” I ask no one.

She rubs my back as I try to hold back the bile building in my throat.

“There’s no way he’s still married, Catherine. You’ve been with him for how long now?” Taylor says as I push to my feet.

“No? I know nothing. No one ever mentioned a wife, Taylor!”

“Maybe because there isn’t one. We researched and nothing ever mentioned a wife,” she tries to rationalize.

My hand flies over my mouth as I try to stifle the scream threatening to escape. “The name. Elliott. Do you remember? All we found was the single name. There was nothing about a first name or a hyphenated name.”