Chapter 14 Full Court Press #3
The jet began its descent and Greg felt his ears popping as they dropped back below ten thousand feet.
He yawned, trying to equalize the pressure as they continued down toward Dallas.
Looking out the window during the final approach, he saw the Dallas–Fort Worth skyline stretching endlessly across the horizon.
‘This is a huge city,’ Greg thought as the jet lined up with the runway then finally touched down.
The aircraft rolled toward the private terminal before finally coming to a stop.
Once the fasten seatbelt sign turned off, Greg stood with David and Tessa and made his way toward the exit.
The heat from the tarmac sweltered into the cabin the moment the door opened.
They descended the stairway and crossed toward the waiting limo while the ground crew unloaded the luggage.
Greg noticed how closely together David and Tessa remained as he climbed into the back of the limo with them.
Even now they seemed inseparable, almost instinctively drawn toward one another.
Then he felt the buzz from his chest pocket.
Greg pulled out his phone, swiped in his passcode and opened the new text message.
‘I hope you had a pleasant flight, dear. Looking forward to a private evening with you here. V.’ Greg stared at the message for several long seconds as the limo pulled away from the terminal and into the glowing Dallas night.
“Veronica already texting you?” David said teasingly.
“Of course. She is expecting me for our business dinner.” Greg started writing his reply. “Should I convey our thanks for helping to promote Pimico back in Houston?” he asked wryly.
“That wouldn’t hurt,” David replied thoughtfully. “Tell her we’re looking forward to the luncheon tomorrow, but Tessa and I have a little celebration of our own to attend this evening.”
“Okay, I can do that Boss,” Greg replied with a soft bit of bitterness in his voice.
“Greg?” Tessa cautiously started. “Is there more bothering you?”
“I don’t know, it still feels like I’ve missed something, but I can’t put my finger on it.
” He looked up from the phone. “It’s probably nothing, but,” he started then looked to David then back to Tessa, “I don’t want to interrupt your celebration.
Please have a good evening out together. I’ll figure this out.”
“Alright,” she said softly. “If you say so, brother.”
“I insist. You two have the best news I could have received,” he said and straightened up with a broad smile. “In fact, please have a bottle of wine on my account,” he urged.
“We’ll do that,” she replied. “I do hope you enjoy the evening with Veronica.”
“It’s the paparazzi that I’m not looking forward to. I honestly don’t know how she does that part,” he muttered. ‘Looking forward to the evening with you, G.’ He pressed send. “Anyways, we’ll be at the hotel soon enough.”
The limo turned beneath the covered entrance of the hotel and Greg immediately realized something was wrong. Bright camera flashes exploded against the tinted windows before the vehicle had even fully stopped.
“Oh no,” Greg muttered quietly.
“Looks like Veronica’s already drawn a crowd,” David observed.
“She’s a very popular singer,” Tessa added. “Looks like she’s got her own press coverage going out there.”
Outside, security personnel were holding back a mass of photographers and entertainment reporters gathered behind temporary barricades near the entrance.
Overhead was the marquee – Veronica LaFayette – I’ve Come Home tour.
The next moment the paparazzi recognized the limo, shouting erupted across the valet lane.
“VERONICA!”
“GREG!”
“LOOK OVER HERE!”
“ARE YOU TWO TOGETHER?”
Greg immediately felt tension crawl up the back of his neck.
He opened the door to get out of the limo.
He scanned the crowd, looking for Carry.
Not immediately in sight, but then he saw her.
Veronica was radiant against the backdrop, almost like she was posing for another photo near the entrance beneath the golden lights of the hotel canopy wearing a fitted black dress that seemed designed specifically to dominate every camera pointed toward her.
Completely composed. Completely confident.
As if the chaos surrounding her was simply another stage performance she controlled effortlessly.
“Dear Lord,” Greg muttered under his breath.
Tessa smiled faintly. “Too late to run now, brother,” she said lightly laughing.
Before Greg could answer, Veronica was already moving toward the limo. He watched nearly mesmerized as she glided toward him.
“Greg!” Veronica called brightly as the flashes intensified around them. She reached him before he had fully stepped away from the limo, wrapping both arms around him and kissing his cheek while the cameras exploded even harder around them. “Welcome to Dallas, dear,” she said warmly.
“Thanks, Veronica,” Greg replied awkwardly as microphones immediately started pushing toward them. He moved his left arm around behind Veronica almost instinctively, letting his hand sit gently on her lower waist above the hip.
“Veronica! Are the rumors true that Greg Garrelson is in fact your new boyfriend?”
“Miss LaFayette! Are you investing more money with Pimico?”
“Greg! Are you joining the tour full time?”
“Veronica, we’ve heard that Veronique is expanding into Texas? Can you confirm this report?”
Greg blinked against the camera flashes while Veronica simply smiled like she’d done this a thousand times before.
She turned and whispered in his left ear, “I love you Greg Garrelson, and though we might be under scrutiny here, my heart belongs to you alone.” Then she turned completely toward him, placed her left hand gently on his right cheek and turned him into a passionate deep kiss.
Greg held her gaze after the kiss finished while cameras flashed all around.
He wrapped both arms around her, then pulled her tight to himself and kissed her again, slow and deep.
He looked from Veronica to the crowd then back to Veronica before slowly letting the words slip from his lips without intending to say them aloud, “I am indeed dating Veronica LaFayette.” It was almost as if he didn’t have any choice in saying them as he looked completely under her spell.
“David? Is this what Greg’s been doing all this time with Veronica?” she nearly protested.
“Yes, dear. This is what has happened every time he’s around her,” David admitted quietly behind the reporters closing in around Greg and Veronica. “He’s literally nothing but putty in her hands. Honestly, it’s almost worse than the way that Erica would manage him.”
“No wonder Carry would break down all the time. She’s competing with all of this glamour and spectacle?” Tessa shook her head. “How is she supposed to compete with this?”
“That’s an excellent question, my dear wife. I wish I knew the answer to it.”
“Well, we might not have long to wait to find out how she’s going to react to this,” Tessa said, nudging David and pointing toward the entrance where Carry and the girls were stepping forward out from the doorway in their Veronique modelling outfits.
“OMG! We’re headed for a disaster,” David softly proclaimed. “Can we do anything to stop it?”
“I doubt it,” Tessa said. “Just hope and pray this doesn’t explode in front of the cameras.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Veronica called aloud as she spun out of Greg’s arms, “I’d like to introduce you to the Face of Veronique, Miss Carry Mitchelson!
” she announced as she made a motion toward the four girls gracefully walking in precision, rhythm and unison of fluid movement, holding up their respective scents of Veronique perfume.
“This is where you find that I’m more than a singer and songwriter.
I’m also a woman of business.” She paused then turned back toward Greg, “And my boyfriend and his company have helped to make this dream real.”
“Miss LaFayette! Is this your dream or his?” a reporter asked.
“This is my dream, concept, and now, thanks to Greg and Pimico,” she said as she winked strongly at Greg, “a reality.”
“Miss Mitchelson, how does it feel to go from a Personal Assistant at Pimico to the Face of Veronique?” another reporter called from the line.
Carry glanced at Veronica who gave her an almost imperceptible nod, before moving out in front of the other three girls. “I am deeply honored to not only be the Face of Veronique, but also to be trusted with managing this part of Veronica’s business as a founding partner.”
Veronica winced slightly at the last wording then spun quickly to the front beside Carry.
“This is exactly why we women need to stick together. Talent like this should never be wasted,” she said smiling brightly.
“It must be developed and guided on to new heights. I am quite happy to have Miss Mitchelson running Veronique and also displaying her poise, charm and grace as the Face of Veronique being Miss Vanilla Rose!”