After dinner, Patrick went upstairs with me in his arms.
He wanted to make love. However, I couldn't concentrate and kept thinking about the press conference tomorrow.
Patrick seemed to have noticed that I was absentminded. Without forcing me, he held me in his arms and asked me, "What's wrong? Have you been upset recently?" As he said, he gently kissed me, "Don't be afraid. Everything will be solved soon."
At that time, I didn't understand what he was talking about.
I nodded in his arms, "Okay."
Later, I learned that we two weren't talking about the same thing.
Originally, I thought that Patrick would go to work the next morning as he usually did. However, I got up, got changed, and put on light makeup. While sitting in the dining room and enjoying my breakfast, I saw that he was dressed in casual clothes instead.
I looked at him and couldn't help but be stunned, asking, "Aren't you going to work today?"
He nodded and said faintly, "I'll accompany you."
I would be happy to hear his words at normal times. However, today...
"No, I can't do so."
I was going to attend the press conference today to prove myself. The press conference hadn't been published online yet. Even so, once it started, there would be live broadcasts and advertisements. And naturally, the public would pay attention to it.
I had been planning for it for a few days. And I couldn't give up like this!
Seeing how well I was dressed, he asked me, "Are you going to the studio?"
I opened my mouth, hesitated for a moment, and nodded, admitting it quickly, "Yes, I have an appointment with Nancy today. I will go out in the morning."
I could get it done this morning!
Patrick surely would blame me after I came back home. Even so, the press conference would have been over then. And he couldn't do anything to me.
Standing at the corner of the staircases, he looks at me with a somewhat meaningful and profound look in his eyes. Looking slightly gloomy, he didn't speak for a long time. After a while, he said, "Well, you can go."
On the surface, he didn't expose my lie.
However, as I sat at the dining table, looked up, and met his gaze, I felt more flustered upon seeing his reaction.
I knew that he surely had been suspicious of me.
Even so, I had to do it. I had to solve my own crisis with my own ability. And I couldn't hide under his wings all the time.
After breakfast, I put on my shoes, took my laptop, and prepared to go out. Patrick walked me to the door.
Without saying anything today, he hugged me tightly. Then, he turned around and left.
Standing at the door, for no reason, I felt empty in my heart.
I probably shouldn't have kept it from him.
However, there was no time for me to think about it. I took a taxi and arrived at the scene of the press conference.
By the time I arrived there, everything there had been set up.
Loraine and a few people from Boundless Glory Public Relations were all there. However, the reporters were kept outside. They didn't let them in.
Seeing that I arrived, Loraine walked over and asked me seriously, "Are you ready? Later, you can only rely on yourself. No one can help you."
"I know."
I nodded.
To be honest, I couldn't be more frightened in my heart.
Soon, I would face the reporters' cameras and tricky and unpleasant questions. Was I ready for everything?
As a matter of fact, I wasn't.
However, having no way out. I could only save myself.
I turned on my laptop and prepared everything that needed to be prepared. Then I looked at the time at the lower right corner of the computer.
The press conference would start at 10 a.m.
At 9:30 a.m., the reporters would enter the venue.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Substitute Her to Love You (Charlotte and Patrick)