Chapter 67
These past few days, Lorelei had been a wreck—couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. The more Gideon's phone went straight to voicemail, the worse her panic spiraled.
She was just about to go find him when she opened her door to discover Gideon standing right there.
Her heart leaped, but then she caught the look on his face.
"Mr. Getty..."
Gideon strode into the living room and cut straight to it. "Is it true or not?"
Lorelei's mind raced. Admit it or deny it?
If Gideon came here today, he must have found something. Plus, Josephine's evidence was right there in black and white. Seemed like she'd run out of room to lie...
"Still trying to figure out how to play me?"
Gideon slammed the document on the table.
Lorelei flinched at his words, then rushed to explain. "Why would you say that? I wasn't trying to deceive you. Fine, I admit it—I took that manuscript from Ms. Kennedy's office."
Just as he'd suspected.
Gideon had braced himself, but hearing it confirmed made rage flare hot in his chest. "Why pull something so cheap and dirty?"
Cheap and dirty?
Lorelei never imagined that Gideon—the man who'd shared her bed—would use those words to describe her.
She felt wronged.
"I did it for you! For the company! You think I did this for myself? The project belongs to the company. When it succeeds, the company gets the credit, Frank gets the glory, and you get your grandfather's approval. And me? I get nothing."
Gideon said coldly, "That's your excuse for stealing?"
"It wasn't stealing!"
Lorelei dropped to her knees in front of him, gripping his hands. "Everything I did was for you. I know you want your grandfather's recognition—you'd do anything for it. So I wanted to help you, no matter the cost. I know what I did was wrong, but she's not just anyone—she's your wife! You're married. Doesn't that make her things your things too?"
"Taking without asking is stealing."
Lorelei gave a bitter smile. "I saw her leave that thing in her office. I thought she didn't want it anymore. I thought if Mrs. Getty knew you were using it, she'd be happy for you... I never imagined she'd react so badly."
Gideon's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're telling me the truth?"
Lorelei nodded eagerly. "Of course it's the truth. I promised you a long time ago—I'd give you a child and nothing more. I won't cling to you. However successful your company becomes has nothing to do with me. I won't get a single penny. Everything I've done, I truly did, hoping for your success..."
Her hand slid up his arm to his chest. Kneeling on one knee, she leaned in closer, her voice turning soft and seductive as honey.
"Mr. Getty... I gave you my whole heart... and you come here interrogating me like this... it really hurts..."
Gideon watched with cold eyes as she kissed his lips.
This was Lorelei's usual trick—banking on her youth and seductive skills, her endless bedroom repertoire. Once upon a time, he'd lost himself in it for a while.
But that was just physical pleasure. It had nothing to do with love.
That much, he'd always remembered.
Lorelei kept kissing him, but when Gideon didn't respond with his usual hungry demands, she opened her eyes in confusion and met his icy stare.
Her heart jolted.
"Mr. Getty..."
Gideon grabbed her chin, his voice low. "I'll take your word for it this time. But remember—don't let there be a next time."
"I understand."
Gideon pushed Lorelei aside and got up to leave.
Sitting on the couch, Lorelei gently touched her belly. Her racing heart finally settled back into her chest.
Thank god. Thank god for the baby inside her...
Otherwise, she probably wouldn't have gotten off so easily today.
When Gideon returned to the office, his assistant had been waiting for ages. The moment he walked in, they rushed over. "Mr. Getty, tons of reporters want interviews. Lots of people are watching this trainwreck unfold. Our stock price has dropped five points."
Way too much.
If they couldn't resolve this quickly, the public opinion storm would only get worse. Starlight Group had a reputation to uphold. Plenty of people were watching and waiting to kick them while they were down.
"Got it. Have PR work on damage control and issue a company statement." Gideon strode into his office, tossing his jacket onto the couch and loosening his tie. "Say within three days, we'll definitely provide answers."
"Okay. And what about Mrs. Getty..."
Gideon's eyes narrowed. "I'll handle her myself."
Josephine was out to lunch with coworkers when Gideon called, everyone scrolling through their phones, watching Starlight Group's public meltdown.
She grabbed her phone and stepped into the stairwell.
"What is it?"
"Let's meet and talk."
"Talk about what? The compensation you're planning to offer me?"
Gideon sighed. "Jojo, you said what you said at that press conference because you were angry about your ideas being stolen. I want to resolve this."
Now this was getting interesting.
"Fine. The coffee shop downstairs from the Getty Group Building. I still have work, so I can't go anywhere far."
"That works."
After hanging up, Gideon rubbed his temples. When had things between them deteriorated into nothing but conflict and polite distance?
It hadn't always been like this.
They used to discuss work together, eat together, sleep wrapped in each other's arms, and dream about their future together. Everything changed when Josephine started working, when she joined the Getty Group.
Cedric was such a troublemaker, Gideon thought irritably. Though maybe... this crisis could actually give them a chance to break through their standoff.
That afternoon, 3:00 sharp.
Josephine arrived at the coffee shop on time. Gideon wasn't there yet. She pulled out her phone and sent a message.
[You've got 10 minutes. If you're not here, I'm leaving.]
Gideon: [Okay.]
Josephine set down her phone and ordered a coffee, sipping it slowly. She remembered that six months ago, Gideon had never once been late to their dates.
But over the past half year, Gideon had become a different person.
Sometimes he'd cancel before even showing up, citing work. Sometimes he'd get a call mid-meal and just leave.
Back then, she'd been stupid enough to think Gideon was just too busy. She'd even consciously reduced their one-on-one time together.
Looking back now, she'd basically created opportunities for him and that homewrecker.
When Gideon walked in, his eyes immediately found Josephine sitting by the window, gently sipping her coffee. Sunlight spilled across her profile—she looked absolutely beautiful.
He walked over, instinctively moving to sit beside her, but she stopped him.
"Given where we stand now, I think you'd better sit across from me."
Gideon gave a rueful smile. "Alright. Whatever you want."
Josephine cut straight to it. "What did you want to discuss? I'm on a tight schedule, so make it quick."
"Do you have to be so businesslike even when talking to your husband now?"
"Can't help it. I'm busy at work."
The lab had a mountain of things waiting for her. Every day was packed full—way better than the old days when all she could do was wait at home for him to come back.
Gideon pressed his lips together. "The manuscript theft has blown up online. Starlight Group's stock is taking a hit. I want to resolve this with you."
"How?" she asked.
"If you could publicly state that you left the original manuscript in your office—" Gideon said, "—then there's no theft. At the same time, I'd like to make our relationship public."
He gripped Josephine's hand. "Jojo, I was wrong before. I was misguided. I kept trying to protect you by hiding your identity. I didn't want anyone to see you, to get near you... I only wanted you to have eyes and a heart for me alone. But now I want everyone to know you're my wife. That you're the woman I love."