Should have thought of that first, missy! I warned you! I suggest you learn to suck a mean dick real quick-like, or stop taking your birth control and start poking holes in condoms. Either you'll be kept as a mistress or be forcing his hand, because that man isn't going to give up his cushy life for you. And after that amazingperformance last night, I don't think any pussy of yours is gonna cut it in the sex department.
Inanely, all I could think of as a rebuttal was that Dirk wasn't gay. Could have been the lack of oxygen to my brain though, because really, that was the least of my worries right then. My hand clutched at the back of the chair I stood by, but it did little to help hold me up as dizziness overwhelmed me.
"Shelby! Calm down, damn it! What's gotten into you?" There was a knock at the sitting room door, and voices filtered to me from faraway. "I don't know what happened. She just freaked out."
A moment later, cool hands firmly gripped my arms and maneuvered my body until I was sitting, then my head was pushed firmly between my knees. I didn't even care that I might be flashing my underwear since the position helped to calm both my stomach and my heaving chest. I wasn't sure how long it took to calm myself, but when I felt able to control my anxiety, I peered up between my lashes to find Jerry crouched down on one knee in front of me.
"In and out, Miss Shelby, just in and out." Despite the heated utter mortification creeping up my face from melting down in front of not only Dirk, but also the butler, I kept my respirations in sync with his example. When I was sitting normally and had my skirt respectably covering everything it was supposed to, which Jerry didn't bat an eye at, he fixed me with a kind but stern stare. "Mind telling me what happened to put you in such a state?"
I started to glance at Dirk, not wanting to air what had caused the panic attack, but Jerry put a finger to my chin to keep my attention on him. "I'd rather not talk about it in mixed company," I whispered with a wince. Anger filled the older man's eyes as he turned on Dirk.
"Sir, may I speak with Miss Shelby alone?" His tone was clipped but even, and Dirk was completely bewildered.
The blood drained from my face quickly enough to leave me dizzy again as I realized the implication. "No! That's not what I meant." They both pinned me with stares, one expectant, the other impatient. "It's embarrassing. I'm so sorry. The comment you made, Dirk, about Cindy, and after the restaurant…" I shrugged, not wanting to go into it further, but Jerry surprised me by answering.
"You ignore those women. They had no right to attack you in the bathroom like the shrews that they are," Jerry consoled as he stood up with a creak from his knee.
"You told everyone?!" My accusation landed directly on my fiancé who glared right back at me.
"No, darling, I told you Jerry knows everything. The gossip made the rounds before we even finished our dinner. Now, can we get downstairs before my father runs out of patience?"
Another wince twisted my features as my teeth worried at my lower lip. I couldn't believe I'd made us late to meet his dad. Sensing my worry, Jerry reassured me, "I came up when they were approaching. The driver rang ahead from the car to let the gate know to be ready. If you would care to straighten yourself, you may have a minute."
My nod was swift and grateful, then I dashed to my bathroom to pee and fix my hair before making sure I hadn't wrinkled or damaged my dress. I'd have to deal with Dirk later. My chest still felt achy, and I wanted answers, but I needed to know what was going to happen first, and hopefully make a good enough impression to garner his father's approval.
Best behavior then, missy!
Oh, shut up! You caused that as much as he did. Now I have a headache and feel like I sprinted a mile!
Pausing at the door to the sitting room, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to center myself before pasting on a smile and walking out with my head held high. "I apologize for the scene, gentleman, thank you for waiting." Internally, I cringed at the farce, but what the heck else was I supposed to do?