CHAPTER 7

(EVA)

I'm sitting at my desk, debating with myself whether or not I need a break, when my Google alert on my phone lets me know that the first reaction to Gideon's interview has probably hit the internet. I glance at my watch it's nearly 11:30, I quickly go through the timeline as I know it, Gideon had to be at the studio for 9:30 so I quickly estimate his interview was probably at 10 or even 10:30, and I'm not sure how long he spoke for so I don't know if this is an early reaction or they have taken their time before reporting, or it could be an alert on something else entirely.

That theory is soon dismissed though as my phone starts pinging constantly, something has got the news agencies riled up and whatever it is, is rapidly going viral considering the fact my phone is now pinging at me incessantly, letting me know that my email is being overrun. I smile, I am wondering what he said, and how long it has taken the news agencies to pick it up and run with it, but whatever it was, it has caused a big reaction.

I glance up towards Mark's office and I see he is not there, so I nervously reach for my phone and tentatively click on the first alert.

I am bombarded with articles from the various news websites, and at first glance it all looks quite positive, they are careful with what they say, but the message I am getting from all of them is a clear one, Corinne should leave Gideon alone and not proceed with her book as it makes her look classless and desperate. I click on social media and find Gideon and his interview trending on all the major sites.

The general consensus there is far blunter and to the point and definitely not as tactful as the news sites, but the message is the same and that appears to be, that Gideon is obviously in love with me and that I'm a lucky bitch to have him and I should hang on him, that part particularly made me smile, that people from his past should leave him alone, that he shouldn't be crucified for his past as everyone has one, that everyone makes mistakes as they grow up and that people who are now in his past are there for a reason, that the 'ghostwriter' should get a life and a real job and the best one as far as I'm concerned, which a lot of people seem to be saying, that Corinne should concentrate on her own marriage rather than try and wreck someone else's and she shouldn't think she could waltz back into Gideon's life when it suits her and pick up where she left off especially after she left him.

I smile as I read some of the more forthright comments, mission accomplished, and it appears to have been accomplished far better than I could have ever imagined. I hesitate, my thumb hovering over a link which will lead me to a shared video of Gideon's interview, which has been liked and shared many times, and which many people seem to be raving about, I am tempted to watch it and in the end, I press it.

It isn't the whole interview so I know that whatever he said will probably be taken out of context but this particular clip seems to be getting the most shares and likes and positive feedback, so that alone is making me curious, as I watch I hear the presenter ask him a question, asking why we married so quickly and I roll my eyes, she is fishing to find out if I am pregnant, as since we announced our marriage, there have been numerous rumours abound in the gutter press that Gideon married me so quickly, because he had made me pregnant.

I look at my tiny phone screen, carefully studying Gideon closely as his face softens at the question, I remember him once saying he couldn't hide how he felt about me and when he spoke about me how he felt was written all over his face, that is obvious as I watch him as he responds to the question.

"When you find your soul mate, when you find the other half of you, the person you know instinctively that you can't live without and who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start immediately", he says and I gasp, the tears start rolling down my cheeks unchecked at that.

I watch as the camera pans to the presenter and she is equally moved by his declaration as she holds her hand to her chest and clutches at her heart and gasps, and the audience erupts into a series of gasps, and 'awws' and I hear one person above the rest shout 'oh my god that is so beautiful!' and I smile.

"Oh, thatis so beautiful" the presenter agrees, as she turns to look at the person in the audience as she pulls herself together.

I continue to watch, wondering what Gideon says next as he clearly wants to say something else, but as he opens his mouth to speak the clip ends, I wonder what he was going to say next, but I will find out tonight when I watch the interview in its entirety. I try and pull myself together, my hands are shaking and I am gripping my phone tightly. I reach for a tissue and wipe my eyes and face and put down my phone, taking a couple of deep breaths to compose myself.

I have just about regained my equilibrium when my desk phone rings and I quickly answer. "Good morning Mark Garrity's office, Eva Cross speaking," I say, impressed with how together that sounded when inside I am still quite scattered – but in a good way.

"Hey baby girl, your old man has kicked up one hell of a stink," My smile gets wider as I hear Cary's voice.

"Hey Cary," I say brightly.

"Have you seen the interview Cross gave this morning?" Cary asks.

I pause, I actually haven't seen it all so I respond with mostly the truth, "No, I'm going to watch it tonight with him, but my Google alert on Gideon has gone into overdrive, so I'm guessing he either did very good or very bad," I say, I am fishing to find out if Cary has seen it and what he thought.

His answer comes swiftly, "He killed it, there was a TV on at a shoot I did today and man, he was on fire, he owned it, and some of the things he said about you, god he's really got it bad for you," Cary says with a small laugh.

"Good, that's what I like to hear," I retort, an unconscious smile filling my face and a warm feeling flooding me as I recall his beautiful words, I return my attention back to Cary, "anyway, don't spoil it for me I want to see it for myself tonight," I add.

"Have you heard anything from that Corinne person since it aired?" he asks.

"No, why?" I ask a sliver of worry going through me at the change in his tone.

"You need to be careful baby girl, she didn't come out of it looking at all good, and if she is as unstable as she appears to be, I mean, he made her sound kind of desperate and pathetic," Cary warns.

"That was the whole idea, she is as unstable as she seems when she learnt Gideon was engaged she took an overdose of tablets, knowing that she was pregnant, who does that? She just wouldn't take no for an answer when Gideon told her there was no hope, and so she then came out with this book, just to spite him I think, that severely pissed him off, and well, you don't get on Gideon's bad side, the intention of this interview was to shut her down" I say.

"Well, he said he wasn't bothered for himself about the book, he didn't even sound interested, but he said he didn't want you to be hurt by it," he says.

"He said that?" I ask emotion welling up inside me once more.

"Yeah he did, he came across really well, he made it clear you were the only person for him and that he really loved you, he also admitted he had made mistakes not only in his past, but with you as well, and he wasn't bitchy, when the presenter tried to bait him over that Corinne woman, he refused to go there, and he stayed respectful about her, but he got his message across loud and clear, so if his intention was to shut her down, I would say it was mission accomplished, and from what I have seen the reaction online has been pretty conclusive, I don't think that book of hers will be seeing the light of day anytime soon," Cary says.

"Good" I reply, there is a brief moment of silence before Cary speaks again.

"In other news..." he begins warily, "is that offer still open for me to crash at Gideon's apartment?" he asks.

With everything that has happened since we came back from San Diego, I had totally forgotten about that.

"Yes, oh god Cary, I'm so sorry it totally slipped my mind with everything that has been going on, so you want to come and live there?" I ask my excitement rising.

"Well, if Cross is still agreeable to it, I'd at least like to come and have a look at the place, I have to say, the idea of having a Fifth Avenue address is kind of appealing," he says.

"No problem, also, I guess I'll be moving my stuff out of our place soon, now that we are officially married it looks a bit odd me having that place now, but Gideon is going to get some remodelling done on the penthouse, if you come and have a look at the apartment anything you want changing can be done at the same time," I say.

"Sounds good, I'll drop by later tonight if that's ok with you?" he asks.

"No problem, do you have any idea what time?" I ask.

"I have an evening shoot tonight, so it will be late, maybe 10ish – is that too late?" he asks.

"No that's fine," I say and after a few moments chatting we say our goodbyes. After he hangs up, I grab my phone and I quickly text Gideon to let him know, but before I can, I receive a reminder text from Gideon about our impending lunch date with my mother and Stanton.

Don't forget - lunch with your mother today in my office at 1 pm x

My response is immediate.

Ok

I hit send, then I send a second message regarding Cary's visit.

Cary is coming to see the apartment next door to your place tonight.

His reply is instant.

OUR place and that's fine.

I smile as I read it, and I can't help but comment on the interview.

Cary said you owned the interview, and by the way my phone is pinging the whole internet feels the same way, so you did good I'm so proud of you and I love you x

I laugh as I read his response.

I live to serve, what time is Cary coming?

He said 10ish – he has a shoot this evening

Are you going to the gym or Krav Maga tonight?

I have a Krav Maga class, but I won't be gone long x

I see Mark approaching and I put my phone down and return to my computer screen.

"Hey, how's it going?" he asks.

"Nearly done," I say brightly.

We discuss the campaign we are working on for a few moments longer, and then Mark glances at his watch.

"I'm going to head out to lunch now, would you like to join me?" he asks.

I shake my head, "No if you don't mind I think I'm going to crack on with this, I'm in the groove at the moment and I want to get the ideas down before I go to lunch, plus I am meeting my mother and my husband for lunch at 1 o'clock" I say with a forced grin, which I fear looks more like a grimace as I think about the impending inevitable confrontation with my mother.

Mark smiles, "Oh I see, well no problem, but you'll be joining Stephen and I for our usual Wednesday lunch tomorrow won't you? I have been given strict instructions to inform you that there is no way on earth you are getting out of it after the announcement on Sunday," he rolls his eyes briefly at that and I giggle assuring him that I'll be there.

I watch as he leaves, and I return my attention back to my work.

A while later I sit back happy with what I have done when my stomach growls, I glance at my watch and see it is nearly 1 pm – nearly time to go and face the music, I rub my stomach and decide to leave it there. As I reach for my purse my desk phone rings, it's an internal call so I quickly lean forward and grab it.

"Hello, Eva speaking," I say.

"Eva, there is a man here in reception asking for you," Megumi says.

I sigh, "I'm just on my way out to lunch, who is it?" I ask.

"He said his name is Jean Francois Giroux," Megumi says.

My heart sinks what the hell does he want again? It clearly has something to do with Gideon's interview this morning, but why does that mean he feels he has come to see me?

"Oh, ok well I'm coming down now so keep him there," I say and hang up.

I pick up my phone and send Gideon another quick text.

Jean Francois Giroux is here again, asking for me.

A moment later I receive his response.

Do you need me to come down?

Relief at his offer floods me and makes me realise that yes, I do want him here with me.

Do you mind? I'm not sure what he wants but I'm not too keen on the idea of meeting him alone, plus I was just on my way up to you for lunch x

Alright, give me two minutes, your mother and Stanton are here already x

I wince as I read that, then I push my phone in my purse and steeling myself I push the forthcoming inevitable confrontation with my mother out of my mind and I head out to reception, to face the equally inevitable current one with Jean Francois. He is sitting in one of the comfortable chairs and as I approach he looks up. He has an impassive look on his face so I can't determine what mood he is in.

"Eva," he says as he stands up.

He comes to greet me with a kiss, and so I quickly hold my hand out instead to stop him, he hesitates and then accepts the handshake.

"Monsieur Giroux, what can I do for you," I say briskly.

"I was hoping to have a private word with you," he says.

"Well, you can but you'll have to make it quick, I have a lunch date and I don't want to be late," I say looking at my watch for effect.

"With Cross?" he spits, his face darkening.

I cock my head to one side at the change in attitude, "Not that it's any of your business but yes, I am going to have lunch with my husband, and also my mother and I believe my stepfather is going to be there as well, is that alright with you?" I ask.

The sarcasm is dripping from my words, and Giroux realises he has crossed a line with his remark, but he doesn't say anything. I know Megumi is listening as I hear her stifle a giggle at my comment which she quickly disguises with a cough.

He glances at Megumi briefly and then returns his attention back to me and stares at me, and pursing his lips he remains silent for a moment, eventually, he recovers himself and speaks.

"Did you know about the interview your husband gave this morning?" he asks spitting the words your husband at me.

I nod, "Yep" I say confidently with an emphatic nod, popping the p for extra emphasis.

I step closer, "You see, it's like this, Corinne just wasn't getting the message that Gideon didn't want her, so we both felt that it should be spelt out to her somehow and the opportunity for the interview arose, and my husband took it, I think it's a little ironic though that the opportunity was thanks in part to her attempt to get Gideon's attention by announcing the book she is writing – does she realise the timing of that makes her look more than a little bit pathetic? I mean the day after we announce that we are married she announces she is writing a kiss and tell, talk about desperate," I say derisively.

I see the anger flowing off him and he balls his hands into fists, I grin at him, "What? Surely you can't be upset that my husband has announced to the world that he is not interested in your wife, that is what you wanted isn't it?... or maybe now, that you know for sure that he isn't standing in your way as you choose to believe he is, you don't have anyone to blame for the disintegration of your marriage, except for the two people who should be blamed – namely, Corinne and you," I say.

"She never loved me as she loves him," he whispers, neatly transferring all the blame on Corinne.

I shrug, but his words send any icy cold feeling through me, he said she still loves Gideon, but I try not to let it affect me.

"That's not my problem, or Gideon's, for that matter, and quite frankly if you married a woman knowing she was in love with another man and was only using you, which I believe she was, and considering what you have just said, you also knew it, then that's totally on you, and you shouldn't try and shift the blame for that mistake on to other people," I say.

I am planting the seed in his head that Corinne had only used him to try and make Gideon jealous to try and win her back, and I see the moment that seed takes root in his head, by the way, his expression changes.

"Did you see the interview?" he hisses, scrambling to change the subject.

I shake my head, "No, but I will be watching it tonight with my husband," I say and I fold my arms, wondering where this is going next.

"He made Corinne look bad," he says.

"And?" I say unconcerned and immediately thinking that must be an exaggeration after what Cary had told me about Gideon being respectful towards Corinne throughout the interview.

I wait for his response to that and when it isn't forthcoming I smile at him, "I think she has managed that all by herself," I add.

"She is not the one in the wrong here," he immediately retorts and I am amazed he is still defending her.

I stare at him, not quite believing what I am hearing, is he as deluded as she is?

"Excuse me?" I say, "Your misplaced loyalty is astonishing, especially after the way she has treated you! Let me just enlighten you on a few things, your wife is so far in the wrong it is unreal," I add stepping closer.

I watch as he looks at me in total confusion, so I step closer and decide to give him the full Gideon and Corrine story as I know it.

"Going right back to the beginning, your wife, who was then Gideon's fiancée after she asked him to marry her at a stupidly young age, realised her relationship with Gideon was going nowhere, it happens as people mature, they want different things and as I already said they were too young and immature when they got engaged, a point which Gideon had come to terms with, hence the growing distance between them, did she sit down and talk things through with him and try and sort out what was causing the problems? No of course she didn't, that would be far too much like common sense, no, instead she tried to manipulate Gideon by calling off the engagement and going off with you, in the hope that it would make him jealous, and he would chase after her and try and get her back, but it backfired spectacularly when he didn't do any of that, he simply let her go with his good wishes and no animosity, so there she was, backed into a corner and what did she do next? She married you, knowing that she didn't love you, which is just wrong on so many levels," I say.

I stop and let that sink in which it does quickly, and he opens his mouth to speak but I hold my hand up to stop him.

"I've not finished! Now, whether or not she did that in another attempt to make Gideon jealous I have no idea, but whatever her motives, it clearly didn't work as he didn't do anything about it. When your marriage inevitably broke down, and just for the record, I can now see why you became... what was the word Corinne used to describe you? Oh yes – 'indifferent,' I mean it must be hard being with a woman who is pining after another man, but even though I understand why you behaved that way, that is also where you have to take a little of the blame in this, because, with your indifference towards her, you didn't give her any reason to fall in love with you, with your indifference, you gave her more reason to love Gideon, kind of like a vicious cycle and self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts."

I pause again for effect and Jean Francois just stares at me totally speechless.

"So having said all that, let's examine what she did next. She came back to New York, which you let her do, you didn't put up a fight for her, confirming to her that you were, indeed, indifferent, because you didn't try and win her back, you just gave up and let her go, which to be honest with you - as I have said, I don't blame you for, why chase after a woman you know doesn't and probably never did love you?"

I pause again and Jean Francois is now opening and shutting his mouth like a goldfish.

"But what I do hold you entirely responsible for, and dislike you intensely for, is your attitude since you arrived here in the States, you didn't even bother to fly your ass here until my husband called you, telling you that Corinne was behaving bizarrely and that you needed to take care of her, because it was your place to, as her damn husband! So you did, which I assume was grudgingly, but the minute you got here, you started whining that Corinne should be with you, you made incorrect assumptions and allegations about my relationship with Gideon and placed the blame solely on him for the breakdown of your marriage and you have tried to repeatedly drag me into it, when in truth the majority of the blame lay with Corinne as she was the manipulative bitch who had caused everything that happened," I stop again as shock registers on Giroux's face and he actually takes a step back.

I continue, my voice not quite so harsh now, "So, as I was saying she came back to New York with the express intention of getting back with Gideon, but he had already moved on, with me, so instead of backing off and wishing him every happiness – like he did previously all those years ago for her, she decided to stir up trouble instead, first of all she tried to split us up, by trying to make me think she had slept with him, a ploy which she pulled not once but twice, I fell for it the first time but I was ready for her the second time, and I called her out and let her know that I knew she was lying and had lied on the previous occasion as well, she didn't like that one little bit because she knew then that I had her number and wouldn't fall for her games anymore, that was when she started making a nuisance of herself and ramping up the crazy behaviour, when she started phoning Gideon constantly and acting all hysterical, needy and clingy, he tried to be her friend, he tried to help her, but she wasn't having any of it, as that was all part of her scheme, if he was with her, paying attention to her, then he wasn't with me, but that didn't work for her either because that was when he called you."

I stop again, wondering if I should tell him about the baby, it would be a low blow but my decision is made as he shakes his head in denial either not believing what I have just told him or more likely believing it but not wanting to believe it.

I glance at Megumi, I don't want her to hear this part, so I grab his arm and pull him further away and lower my voice significantly as I hit him with the final blow.

"And, just so you know exactly what sort of person she is, did you know that both Gideon and I believe she knew she was pregnant and didn't care when she took that overdose?" I pause as his face loses all its colour.

"Y...Y...You're lying," he croaks as he shakes his head vigorously and he reaches out blindly grasping a chair, he sits down heavily as if his legs have lost all their strength. I sit down beside him and touch his arm gently, he looks at my hand on his arm with a slightly dazed expression.

"No, I'm not" I say in a softer, kinder voice.

I watch as he puts his head in his hands, and I touch his shoulder, "In fact I wish I was, but I can actually prove our suspicions that she did that, and I would be willing to show you, you see, she went to see Gideon at his penthouse, and he showed me the footage of the encounter, it was awful, she was so cold when the matter of the baby came up, her whole demeanour spoke volumes, and we both feel very strongly about the way she reacted that she knew and she just didn't care."

I wait until he pulls himself together, a small amount of sympathy for him blossoming.

He looks up at me, desolation in his eyes, and I finish but not getting any pleasure in totally destroying this man.

"But it was when she then tried to emotionally blackmail Gideon again, when he told her once more that there was no hope for a relationship between them, she threatened him that she might do something else to herself, and he called her bluff, and that is what convinced me without doubt that she had overdosed the first time knowing she was pregnant. I swear to you I'm not making this up, I couldn't be that cruel, but I watched the whole interaction with my own two eyes".

I wait a moment as he takes in what I've said.

"Gideon made the announcement that we were married, which should have driven home the message that there was no hope for her once and for all, but it didn't."

I gently squeeze his arm once more.

"Gideon isn't interested in her, he hasn't been interested in her for years. He told me he never loved her as he loves me, and I truly believe that, as he has let me into his life as he has never let anyone else in, he tried to be her friend when she returned to New York for old times' sake, but he made it totally clear to her many times and in front of many witnesses, myself included, that friendship was all he could offer her. She is obsessed with him and it's not healthy, but that isn't Gideon's fault, and you need to stop blaming him for everything, he hasn't done anything wrong, he has been totally straight and honest with her right from the beginning when he let her go, you are blaming the wrong person, you dislike Gideon because your wife wants him more than she wants you, but he doesn't want her, he hasn't wanted her for a long while."

I stop and my words seem to be getting through to him, as tears appear in his eyes.

"It would seem I have had this all wrong," he says quietly.

I nod, "you have".

I look up and see Gideon standing silently just inside the doors, he is listening, I'm not sure how much of what I have said he has heard, but as our eyes meet he approaches me and I rise to my feet, Jean Francois also stands his head down staring at the ground.

"Angel," Gideon says and Jean Francois turns and it's like the fight has totally gone out of him. His shoulders slump and he looks up at me.

"I will bid you good day, and I won't bother you again," he says and with that he leaves without another word.

Gideon steps aside so Jean Francois can pass him and Jean Francois looks up and simply nods in acknowledgement, a small gesture but I know it signified more than what it appeared to.

Gideon returns the nod and watches him go, then he turns his head towards me.

"Everything alright Angel?" he asks.

I nod and walk into his arms, wrapping mine tightly around his waist, "I think he now realises it's not your fault, whether or not he accepts it is another matter" I say.

Gideon holds me tightly and presses a kiss to my head, I lift my face up for him to kiss me on the lips and he doesn't hesitate, kissing me with abandon and pulling me even closer.

"Let's go to lunch, your mother and stepfather are waiting," he says when we eventually break apart.

I nod and he grasps my hand leading me out.

He glances at me and I plaster a smile on my face, "Ok, let's get it over with" I say as we walk towards the waiting elevator.

I grip his hand tighter, "I saw what you said," I whisper, changing the subject so I don't get hung up on the impending conversation with my mother.

He stiffens and looks down at me, "What did I say?" he asks.

"I saw a snippet of the interview when I checked out all the alerts I was getting," I say.

He nods in understanding, "Which part are you referring to?" he asks a little warily.

"The bit where you said 'When you find your soul mate, when you find the other half of you, the person you know instinctively you can't live without and who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start immediately,' well, I liked it, I liked hearing that," I say remembering the words from the clip. I swallow hard and Gideon smiles at me and touches my face with his hand, his fingers sweeping over my cheek.

"I meant every word," he says.

"I know you did, which is why I liked it so much," I say.

Gideon's reaction is immediate he lifts me into his arms and pressing me against the wall of the elevator he devours me, kissing me with such passion and ferocity I eventually have to push him away to catch my breath."

He presses his body into mine and I feel his erection against me and I feel my body responding to him, we are brought back to our senses by the elevator pinging and I watch as the doors open, Gideon puts me back on my feet and discreetly adjusts himself before leading me out and towards the Cross Industries doors.

I glance down at him and grin, "facing the in-laws with a hard-on isn't a good move you know," and his eyebrows rise at the comment and a reluctant smile catches his lips.

"I can assure you the thought of the forthcoming lunch date is rapidly rectifying that situation," he says wryly.

He is buzzed in immediately and the red-headed receptionist smiles widely at him and then glancing at me her smile fades, but she pulls herself together and manages to give me a forced brittle smile.

I grip Gideon's hand and beam at her, I'm not going to let her pettiness get to me, she can be as jealous as she likes, he's mine, I have him and he wears my ring, I glance at her again as we walk past, yeah he's mine get over it!

We walk towards his office and I come to a halt outside as I see my mother and Richard sitting waiting patiently inside.

"Come on Angel, you know you have to do this" he encourages, and urges me through the door.

I take a deep breath and step inside his office, I catch sight of the catered lunch waiting and then I turn my attention to Gideon who has gone to frost the walls of his office offering us total privacy.

"Hi mom," I say, and I glance towards Richard, and offer him a nod, "Richard," I say.

"Hello, Eva love," Richard says with a kind smile as he stands to greet me. Almost immediately I see tears appearing in my mother's eyes and she is wringing her handkerchief in her hand as she stands and as I pull away from Richard she wraps her arms around me.

I'm shocked and it takes me a moment to hug her back.

"Come on mom sit down," I say quickly hoping I can get her sat down before she starts having an emotional outburst.

My mother takes a seat and I see the handkerchief once more being twisted, I know she is on the verge of some kind of emotional outburst and to be fair I can't really blame her, I sit opposite her and Gideon immediately sits beside me and reaches for my hand, and I see Gideon has also noticed the handkerchief twisting and he quickly steps in to speak.

"I'm glad you could join us here today," he says.

This has an immediate positive effect on my mother as she flashes him one of her winning smiles, "It was very nice of you to call and invite us" she says.

Before I can speak Gideon nods and steps in once more, I realise what he is doing, he is handling her.

"No problem, right, firstly I want to apologise for the way you found out about what we did, Eva and I had every intention of telling you personally on our return from San Diego but she wanted to tell her father face to face while she was there, and unfortunately he didn't take the news too well and he demanded that Eva tell you immediately, which resulted in the very late call you received," he pauses and my mother leans forward.

"Why didn't you tell me before, we spent the evening together getting ready for the gala?" she says a note of hurt in her tone.

I reach over the table for her hand, "Mom, we had a house full of people, it would only take one person to leak that sort of information to the media and it would go viral immediately, and I assure you if dad found out via the internet, his reaction would have been ten times worse than what it actually was, and trust me, it wasn't pleasant, Gideon and I kept it to ourselves until I had the chance to go and see him in person and tell him," I say.

"You married the previous weekend Eva, you had a whole week to tell me, have we really drifted so far apart that you couldn't tell me?"

I feel my anger rising, "Well mom, if you want the truth then yes we have," I feel Gideon squeeze my fingers slightly in warning, but I ignore him and my mom gasps at this and the handkerchief wringing increases.

"There is the pesky little matter of tracking devices and bugs in my belongings, violating my privacy which I still haven't totally got over." I regret my words as soon as they leave my mouth. "You put a god damn bug in my watch mom, it was a graduation present which meant something to me, that crossed a line," I say in a slightly calmer voice.

"Eva love, your mother worries about you," Stanton steps in at this point he has wrapped his arm around my mother.

I stare at him coldly, "Richard, she wouldn't have been able to do half of what she did without your help or resources, so you were enabling her unreasonable behaviour, what she was doing was stalking and that is illegal, I am a grown woman who is entitled to privacy and not have her every move monitored and watched."

I glance at Gideon who shifts slightly as I say this, as that was a clear message to him as well.

I sigh, "Look mom, Nathan is dead, he is gone, so there is no possible reason or excuse for this behaviour to continue now, I don't excuse or condone what you did previously, as whichever way you look at it, it was a gross invasion of my privacy, but part of me can understand why you felt you had to – even though it was wrong on so many levels, but I warn you, if I find out you are still stalking me I won't be so reasonable about it".

An uncomfortable silence spreads out between us then Gideon once more steps in to try and smooth things over.

"I can understand you are upset about not being told sooner than you actually were and as Eva has explained we had every intention of doing so after we had had the chance to speak to Victor about it. I also want you to know that it was nothing personal against you as to why you were not included in the ceremony and not told about it, nobody was, and I am entirely to blame for that decision - Eva had no idea until I got her there what I had in mind, but I just wanted it to be us, no press, no intrusion from the outside world, just me and the woman I love" he glances down at me. I feel my heart lurch at his words.

I look at my mother once more and notice that the handkerchief has gone, he has got her eating out of his hand once more as he continues to speak.

"I'm sorry if that sounds selfish to you, but as we have already pointed out there is a certain amount of public interest which surrounds me, today has been a prime example of that. We will, of course, be doing a whole public wedding so our family and friends can celebrate with us and as such I know that there is more than the possibility that it will degenerate into a circus. This is why we had a wedding where it was just us, the two people who mattered most, I hope you understand our reasons behind what we did?" he stops and stares at my mom and Richard.

I am impressed, he has stunned my mom into silence and that isn't an easy thing to do, especially as she was clearly working herself up into a fit of hysterics when we arrived, and I didn't help with my accusations of stalking.

My mom clasps her hands together, and starts to speak, "I won't lie I was a little upset after you called me" she says. "But now you have explained everything I totally understand why you did it, and why it took you so long to tell me about it, but we need to start organising if we are to have a vow renewal in December that is no time to arrange everything, and…"

Gideon holds up his hand, and silences her in mid flow.

"Which is why I am proposing using one of my hotels, they will organise everything and all they will need is numbers and basic requirements for colour schemes and the like, you won't have to do anything and as Victor has insisted on paying his share, I feel this is the best way to allow him to do that without him feeling like the poor relation".

I could kiss Gideon, he is handling my mother beautifully.

My mother looks stunned, but I see her mind starting to work and churn over ideas, I decide to step in, at this point as I realise in a rush that I have already had my perfect day on a beach in bare feet and a rose in my hair, I don't care about anything else except for one thing.

"Mom, we want to keep it small and intimate, close friends and family only, and it is important to me that my dad gives me away, no offence Richard, but he is my dad and it is his job," I stop and my mother nods in agreement.

"Of course he should," she says "But small and intimate isn't going to be possible Eva, a man of Gideon's standing would be required to have..." she is cut off once more by Gideon who steps in again.

"I am perfectly happy with small and intimate, I'm not interested in inviting everyone I've ever met, I'll send you a list of everyone who should be invited from my side, but I'm not interested in turning our wedding into a publicity op," Gideon says.

"But won't people be insulted?" she asks carefully.

Gideon shrugs, "I don't really care about what other people want, the people who matter most will be there, and that is people who mean something to us both" he turns towards me, "I know you've already said that you want Ireland as a bridesmaid, but I would also like Maggie."

He glances at my mother once more, "Maggie - Magdalene is one of my oldest friends and Ireland as you know is my younger sister," he explains.

I watch as my mother nods and immediately submits to Gideon's request. I'm shocked she would have argued with me for ages over who we should be inviting!

I nod in agreement, Magdalene and I have worked out our differences and while I don't think she will ever be someone I can be close to, I have no problem letting Gideon pick her for a bridesmaid.

"I want Cary as a groomsman, so that's fair" I say, "Who are you choosing to stand with you as your best man?" I ask.

"Angus," Gideon replies immediately, and without any hesitation and I smile, of course there was no doubt about that one, after all, he witnessed our wedding.

"Alright, small and intimate it is aside from that, is there anything you particularly want?" my mother asks.

I shake my head and grip Gideon's hand, "I already have everything I want" I say.

Gideon smiles at me and squeezes my hand and then lifts it to his mouth giving my knuckles a sweet kiss, then he turns to my mother.

"Are we clear on everything?" Gideon asks my mother beams at him and nods. "Right I suggest we eat now then," Gideon says standing and gesturing toward the buffet.

"I do have one more thing I would like to say," my mom says and I freeze I know that tone of voice.

"Mom if you mention the damn pre-nup I will get up and leave right now!" I hiss at her.

She stares at me in disbelief, "Eva you are not a lawyer, you signed it without counsel," she says.

To my great surprise, before I can say anything Richard steps in and tries to calm my mother down.

"Monica, please don't do this, I have told you, I already saw it, Gideon sent me a copy to look over and there was nothing I could add, it was more than fair to Eva, in fact I was tempted to ask if his in-house counsel had seen it, as I'm sure they would have argued against it," Richard says soothingly.

"They did argue against it – quite strenuously as it happens," Gideon puts in.

"Oh," my mother says and I watch as the fight leaves her, and I wonder and not for the first time what my mother's obsession with money is all about.