Page 83 of Gideon
My heart sinks, and Frankie gives a humourless laugh. “I knew it. Did you really think he’d claim you in front of millions of people, Eli? Get real. Gideon’s gay, not desperate.”
I open my mouth, but I’m not sure what to say because it looks like he’s right, but then Steven leans forward. “Is that part of your conflicted feelings about your sexuality raising its head?” he says sympathetically. “You can’t even say the word boyfriend?”
Gideon looks slightly revolted. “No, I just hate that word. Makes me sound like I’m thirteen and going to Roller World.” Oz laughs, ignoring Frankie pacing and sweating.
Gideon shoves his hand through his hair. “Let’s just say that he’s my person.” I gasp loudly and Milo squeezes my arm with a huge smile on his face. “And yes, he is responsible for the change in me,” Gideon carries on. “Mainly because he’s a wonderful person and if he sees something in me that’s worthwhile, then maybe it’s really there.”
“Aww,” one of the ladies says from behind me. “That’s so sweet.”
Steven starts to wind the interview down, his expression friendly and engaged as he and Gideon laugh at something. I’m dimly aware of the women leaving as I stare hard at Gideon. He looks so vulnerable all of a sudden, and I want to grab him and hug him and I actually want to cry. He’s done it. He’s bloody done it. And in his own inimitable way. I start to laugh.
My laughter stops as Frankie rounds on me. “You,” he hisses. “This is all your fucking fault.”
“How?”
“Turning his head. Making him think he can have a relationship.”
“Well, he can,” I say simply and coldly. “He can have any relationship with me he wants.”
“Because of his money,” he sneers. “I see you, Mr Jones, and what you’re after.”
“Not for the money,” I say steadily. “But because he’s clever and funny and he needs me like no one has ever needed me before. Because he’s gentle and kind and needs to be shown it’s alright to be like that rather than a cutthroat shark like you.”
He grunts and comes round the sofa at a fast pace towards me. Niall stands up but I wave him back.
“I would really suggest that you don’t hit me,” I say sharply, coming to my feet. “Because I don’t want to hit you back.”
“Oh really? Why? Does it go against your nursing code?”
“No, it’s because I’m a nurse and I know in detail where to hit you back so it really fucking hurts.”
“Oh, you’re a nurse now. You weren’t one when you turned my fucking client gay.”
“Has he got a magic penis then?” Oz enquires, laughter rich in his voice. “Does it do tricks too? Maybe it can do my bookwork.”
Frankie ignores him, pacing to get into my face. His breath is sour, and I can smell the sweat on him. “I’m going to have you struck off,” he hisses.
“How?” I say tersely.
“For fucking your patient.”
“I haveneverfucked a patient,” I say angrily. “He wasn’t my patient when we got together.”
“So you say.”
“It’s the truth,” I say loudly, feeling my fists clench and anxiety flood me.
His eyes sharpen and I know he’s reading me. “Well, your truth probably won’t be believed when I make this public.” He drills one long finger into my chest. “And I will. I’m going to let the press know that Gideon’s nurse took advantage of him when he was at his lowest and weakest point and is taking advantage of him now by living off him. When I’m finished with you there won’t be anything left to whore out.”
A deep, rich voice comes from behind us. “Goodness, how extraordinarily quaint. Now I suggest you take your hands off my boyfriend.”
We both gasp and turn to the door to find Gideon standing there with a man dressed in a very expensive-looking suit next to him. The man is extremely good-looking with jet-black hair and very blue eyes behind black-framed glasses. He’s also staring at Frankie with a frown on his face.
Milo looks at the TV where Gideon is shaking hands with Steven and then back at his brother. “How are you here?
He smiles. “It was recorded a couple of hours ago when I got to the studio.”
“Gideon,” I say stupidly. “Are you okay?” I inhale as he turns to look at me, his eyes fairly eating me up. He has spots of colour on his cheeks, but he looks resolute and even calm now.
