Chapter 48
"Jojo, why didn't you tell me you'd be here too?"
Gideon strolled over casually, acting like Lorelei clinging to his side wasn't even there.
Sometimes Josephine had to admire his audacity.
"I'm representing the Getty Group, you're representing Starlight Group. Doesn't exactly scream 'let's carpool,' does it?"
Gideon's expression darkened slightly.
Lorelei chimed in, "Mrs. Getty, you're being so formal. Honestly, working at Mr. Getty's company would be so much better for you. With Mr. Getty there, you wouldn't have to worry about exhausting work or office politics... Now you two are at separate companies, practically adversaries."
"I work to build my career, not to ride coattails."
Josephine's words hit like an invisible slap across Lorelei's face.
Everyone knew who was really riding coattails here.
Lorelei flushed with embarrassment, instinctively tightening her grip on Gideon's arm.
"Jojo, let's go say hello to Mr. Henderson," Kenneth suggested.
Josephine nodded. "Sounds good."
The two headed left together while Gideon watched their retreating figures with an unreadable expression.
Lorelei asked tentatively, "Mr. Getty, should we go over and say hello, too?"
"Sure."
She'd expected him to refuse—he never usually listened to her suggestions.
But he'd actually agreed.
Angus Henderson was listening to Josephine explain their collaboration proposal when he spotted Gideon approaching and quickly greeted him.
"Mr. Getty, it's been ages."
"You've been too busy lately. I tried to set up a golf game before, but you couldn't make it."
Angus looked sheepish. "Really bad timing on my part. My secretary mentioned it, but I was out of the country and had to decline. I'm back now, though, and my schedule's clear for the next week. If you're still up for it, we could arrange something."
"Absolutely. I'll have my secretary coordinate with you."
Just like that, they'd made plans. Men always seemed to connect more easily—shared interests and all that.
Josephine stood nearby with a neutral expression. Seeing them getting increasingly animated in their conversation, she decided to move on with Kenneth to find their next target.
The moment she left, Gideon became distracted.
Angus noticed. "Mr. Getty is interested in that, Ms. Kennedy?"
He remembered Gideon being married, though he wasn't sure to whom or what she looked like. Word was he'd been married for years to a wife who'd lost her bloom—understandable if his eye had wandered.
"If Mr. Getty's interested, I could arrange dinner sometime."
Gideon gave him a look that was almost amused.
"I don't think I need you playing matchmaker for dinner with my own wife."
Lorelei stiffened beside them.
Understanding dawned on Angus, and he turned mortified. "Oh God, I had no idea Ms. Kennedy was your wife. I'm so sorry—"
"Business is business. Maybe leave the pimping out of it."
Angus could only nod awkwardly.
Gideon turned toward where Josephine had gone, and Lorelei automatically followed.
He said quietly, "Wait here."
Lorelei stopped dead in her tracks.
...
Josephine emerged from the restroom, tossing her paper towel into the trash. Looking up, she found Gideon leaning against the wall—no telling how long he'd been waiting.
She glanced back at the sign on the wall. Ladies' room.
"Standing here's a good way to get labeled a creep."
"Can't help it when you're in there."
Gideon moved closer, trapping her between his arms against the wall. "Seeing me bring Lorelei tonight—no opinion on that?"
He didn't want her to make a scene, but her lack of jealousy, her indifference, bothered him even more. Only love made you care. Indifference came from not loving at all.
Josephine buried her sarcasm and asked instead, "What opinion could I have? She's your secretary, isn't she?"
"Yeah, she's just a secretary. You're the one I love most."
Gideon pulled her closer by the waist, leaning down to kiss her.
Josephine turned her head away. "Everyone at tonight's event doesn't know about our relationship. If you don't want to create a scandal, I suggest you let me go."
He paused, neither moving closer nor backing away.
"You're my wife. If someone finds out, worst case, we go public with our relationship. That's hardly scandalous."
Josephine looked at him mockingly. "Do you think saying that should make me grateful? Thrilled beyond belief?"
"That's not what I meant."
But he did think Josephine should be happy. He'd always known she wanted their relationship acknowledged publicly.
"Don't you want people to recognize your status?"
"So you've known all along."
Josephine's heart grew colder.
No one wanted to be the hidden party in a marriage. Even if Gideon claimed it was for protection, it still hurt.
She never said anything, and he never asked.
But apparently, he'd known everything—just pretended otherwise.
"Let go."
Seeing the ice in her eyes, Gideon slowly released his hold.
He knew if he didn't, she might actually get physical. His Josephine had always been fierce.
Josephine straightened her dress and said coolly, "Who you bring to events is your business. Word of advice, though—during our marriage, be careful. Don't get too brazen. If any scandals break, I won't help you clean them up."
The "Gideon Getty's Wife" account could be used for damage control once, but not repeatedly. After all, no one knew if that account was actually run by Gideon Getty's real wife or someone else.
Too many times would raise suspicions.
And she had no interest in doing something so disgusting.
"Are you jealous?" Gideon actually smiled, following behind her to explain. "The only reason I brought Lorelei is that you've been so cold lately, refusing to come home. If you'd agreed to come with me, what would Lorelei even matter?"
A woman who'd borne his children, and in the end, all she got was "what would she even matter."
Josephine shook her head. "Think whatever you want."
"I swear, nothing's happened between Lorelei and me."
He kept rambling behind her until Josephine couldn't take it anymore and stopped.
Gideon nearly crashed into her back, looking up to meet her gaze.
"You don't need to swear. Whether you two have something going on has nothing to do with me."
Gideon's expression gradually darkened. "Do you have to pick fights with me?"
Then, realizing his tone was too harsh, he softened.
"I just want you to know that besides you, there's no room for another woman in my heart. You know what they say about friends' wives—I have zero interest in Lorelei."
If she hadn't witnessed that disgusting scene of them together in bed with her own eyes, Josephine might have almost believed him.
"I really have to admire you."
"Admire me for what?"
Josephine shook her head. "Nothing. I'm here representing the Getty Group today. I have work to do. You should go handle your own business, too. Stop following me around."
She turned and walked away quickly.
Gideon followed at a distance, watching her work the room with Kenneth, wearing a bright smile she never showed him anymore.
It left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Soft hands touched his arm as Lorelei smiled up at him brightly. "Mr. Getty, does that thing you promised me before still stand?"