Chapter 70
Cedric heard the door open but didn't turn around. He carefully placed Josephine on the bed before turning to face his visitor.
"Need something?"
His calm composure only intensified Gideon's curiosity. "Cedric, didn't expect to see you here. And with a woman, no less. Looks like congratulations are in order."
Cedric gave him a meaningful look. "What might be good news for me probably isn't for you."
"How so? Cedric, if you find happiness, I'm happy for you too." Gideon's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Since she's my future sister-in-law, let me at least meet her. Say hello."
Cedric's expression turned peculiar.
"You sure you want to call her your sister-in-law?"
So it really was serious. Once these two made it official, David's choice for heir would be settled. All his desperate scrambling for a child—what would that count for then?
No. He couldn't let Cedric be with her.
"Cedric, don't tell me you're not planning to take responsibility? Or is my future sister-in-law just a fling to you?"
Words like that would strike a nerve with any woman.
But oddly, the woman in the bed didn't move a muscle.
She had impressive self-control.
Gideon moved toward the bed, but before he could see her face, Cedric blocked his path.
"Let's talk outside."
"Why go outside? Cedric, don't you want me to meet my future sister-in-law?" Gideon pressed. "I've been married for years, but you haven't even had a girlfriend. Grandfather's been pushing you to marry forever. Since you've got someone now, why hide her?"
Cedric's response was to physically pull him toward the door.
Gideon tried to glance back at the figure in the bed, but Cedric's suit jacket blocked his view.
The jacket draped over the woman revealed only her legs and one hand.
That hand... Gideon found it strangely familiar.
The next second, he was pushed into the hallway. He couldn't see anything anymore.
Cedric said coolly, "Mind your own business. Mine doesn't concern you."
Gideon's lips twisted. "Cedric, you're awfully protective. Must really like this girl."
"I do, actually."
Cedric's tone was loaded with implication.
"Fine, Cedric. If you won't let me see her, I won't push. But... make sure you bring your future wife home to meet Grandfather."
"Anything else?"
Gideon was about to respond when his phone rang. Lorelei.
"Mr. Getty, you've been gone so long... are you... Are you coming back?"
Gideon made a noncommittal sound—neither confirming nor denying—and hung up.
As he turned to leave, Cedric said, "People have to answer for their choices."
Gideon looked at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Just a friendly reminder." Cedric methodically adjusted his cuffs, which had gotten mussed from grabbing Gideon earlier.
"'What's done in the dark will come to light.' You've heard that saying, right?"
Did he know?
Impossible. Lorelei had their arrangement. However stupid she might be, she wouldn't tell Cedric.
Gideon steadied himself. "Thanks for the concern. But my affairs don't need your attention. You should focus on your own marriage situation. Don't make Grandfather worry. If you're not planning to marry her, don't lead her on."
Cedric stared at him until Gideon's back tensed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You seem awfully afraid of me getting married."
"I'm not." Gideon shot back. "I just don't want someone coming around later saying the Getty family produced a scumbag who toys with women's hearts and can't commit."
"Right back at you."
Everything Cedric said today had an edge to it. Gideon was getting seriously uncomfortable. "Cedric, if you've got something to say, say it straight instead of all these cryptic hints."
"Nothing to say. As long as you know what you're doing."
He couldn't be bothered with Gideon's messy drama.
Walking back, Gideon still couldn't figure out what Cedric was getting at. Those veiled comments had his nerves on edge.
Back in the room, Lorelei hadn't expected his return. Joy flooded her face. "Mr. Getty, I thought you'd gone home... I didn't expect you to come back. You must be worried about—"
"Who have you told about us?"
Gideon asked.
Lorelei froze, then explained, "I haven't told anyone. Besides your mother, nobody knows."
"You know I don't like being lied to."
He stared at Lorelei. Thinking it through, she was the only possible leak.
"I really haven't."
Panic crept into Lorelei's heart. Aaron knew—but that guy wouldn't tell Gideon, would he? If he did, their whole arrangement would fall apart.
Gideon watched her for a long time. Lorelei grew increasingly uneasy, cold sweat beading on her back. Just as she was about to crack and confess, he finally spoke.
"Your words better be true."
"They are. I haven't told a soul."
Lorelei secretly exhaled in relief.
Looked like she needed to be even more careful going forward...
When Josephine woke, she found herself in a hospital bed with Cedric sitting on the couch. Her eyes flickered. She took off his jacket, folded it neatly, and placed it on the bed.
"You seem much better, so I'll head out..."
Cedric looked up at her, immediately understanding. She'd definitely heard their conversation. "I'll take you."
"No need. I can manage."
She'd come to the hospital in Cedric's car, but now that she didn't want to share a confined space with him—too awkward—she'd have to catch a cab home.
Except at the hospital entrance, Gideon spotted her anyway.
"Jojo? What are you doing at the hospital?"
Gideon caught sight of her from behind, hardly daring to believe it until he saw her face.
"Are you sick?"
Josephine answered dismissively. "No. Just heading home now."
Gideon studied her carefully. "If you're not sick, what are you doing at the hospital?"
Unless...
He took her hand. "If you're not feeling well, you have to tell me. Can't have people thinking I look after clients but neglect my own wife."
A casual explanation, smoothly delivered.
Josephine turned it back on him. "You came to the hospital to see a client today?"
"Yes. They're fine now. Let me take you home."
"Since they're a client, why don't I come see them with you?"
Gideon draped an arm around her shoulders. "Just a client. Not even that close, really. No need to exhaust yourself. Let me take you home."
She had to admire his nerves of steel.
Josephine knew if it were her, she could never be this composed.
"Don't bother. I'll grab a cab."
"Didn't you buy a car?"
Gideon frowned at her. Somehow, his mind jumped to the woman in Cedric's hospital room. "Jojo, what exactly are you doing at the hospital? Visiting a client, too?"
"A coworker's sick. Came to check on them."
Josephine's casual response met Gideon's scrutiny without a hint of guilt. After all, it was the truth.
He believed her.
"Which coworker? Want me to come along?"
"Better not." Josephine's smile was light. "You and the Getty Group are basically enemies right now. Plus, there's that whole plagiarism mess still unresolved. If you showed up... it'd probably make things worse."
Half-truth, half-deflection—Gideon couldn't really argue.
"Don't worry. At the press conference in three days, I'll give you a perfect resolution."
His overconfidence left Josephine puzzled.
Had he already figured out a solution? Or was he really planning to sacrifice Lorelei?
No. Impossible.
Lorelei was carrying the child he'd schemed and dreamed about. How could he possibly sacrifice her...
She deliberately linked her arm through Gideon's. He looked down at her with a tender smile.
She hadn't voluntarily gotten this close to him in ages.
"What is it?"
Josephine asked bluntly, "What are you planning to do about Lorelei?"