Protecting Her(94)

The phone rings again.

“Shit,” I mumble. I reach over to check the phone. “It’s my father again. What the hell does he want?”

“You better answer it. It must be important if he keeps calling.”

I sigh again as I sit up and lean back against the headboard. I pick up the phone. “Yes, Father. What do you need?”

“I need you to get back here.” He sounds tired, his voice weaker than normal. “I came down with the flu last night. I’m very sick. I can’t go to the office.”

“So stay in bed.”

“I will, but I have that meeting at two today with those men from London. They flew all the way here for the meeting. I can’t be there. I’m too ill. I need you to do it, Pearce.”

“I can’t. I have to go to Wingate’s speech.”

My attendance at his speech isn’t optional. Dunamis is making me go there and say a few words about why I’m supporting Wingate. There will be photographers and reporters present, and Dunamis wants me there so the public sees me supporting Wingate’s campaign. My father knows this, so I don’t know why he’s asking me to take his place at the meeting.

“I called and told them,” he says. “I explained how much I needed you at this meeting and they agreed to let you fly back early.”

Rachel gets out of bed and goes into the bathroom.

I lower my voice. “Father, you know I can’t miss this speech. I’m expected to show my support publicly, by speaking to the press.”

“They want your wife to do it. She just needs to repeat whatever you were going to say. The press knows she’s your wife so we’ll still receive the benefit of the public seeing that a Kensington is endorsing Wingate.”

“She’s not going to agree to that. She doesn’t even want to go to this event. She’ll want to fly home with me. She misses Garret.”

“She can still come home tonight. She can leave after the event.”

“I know, but she—”

“Pearce, this isn’t a choice. This has already been decided.” He coughs. “Goddammit, I’m going to be sick again. I can’t talk. Just take care of this for me.” I hear him stumbling into what I’m guessing is the bathroom. The phone drops against something and I hear a door shut. I end the call, not wanting to hear the sounds of him getting sick in the bathroom.

“What did he say?” Rachel asks as she comes out of the bathroom, wrapped in one of the white hotel robes.

“He has the flu and can’t go to work. He needs me to go to a meeting at two. I told him I would, because this is a very important meeting with a potential new client.”

“So we’re leaving?”

“Come sit down.” I move over on the bed. When she’s seated, I say, “Would you be willing to stay here and attend Wingate’s speech and say a few words about why we’re supporting him?”

“You want me to do to? I wouldn’t know what to say. I haven’t even been following his campaign. This is your thing, Pearce, not mine.”

“I know, but there are going to be reporters there and I want them to quote us in the papers. It will show our support for Wingate’s campaign.”

“But they want to hear from you, not me.”

“As my wife, you represent me. I’ll tell you exactly what to say. I’ll write it out. It’ll be short. Just a paragraph or two saying why I’m supporting him.”

“Can I fly home right after I do this? I don’t want to stay here if you’re not here.”

“Yes. I’ll see if I can get you on an earlier flight.”

Originally, Rachel and I had planned to go out for dinner after Wingate’s speech. It was going to be our anniversary dinner since we weren’t able to go out for a special dinner last night. I made reservations at a five star restaurant that’s supposed to be the best in town. In order to have time for dinner, we booked a flight that leaves at nine tonight.

“So you’ll do this?” I ask her.

She sighs. “If you really want me to, then yes.”

I hug her into my side and kiss her. “Thank you. I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll plan another weekend trip. Just the two of us.”

“You don’t have to. But I’d take a nice dinner, since we’re missing tonight’s anniversary dinner.”

“Deal.” I kiss her again. “Why don’t you go shower while I get the flights changed?”