Chapter 53 I'll Stand By You

John raked his hands through his hair and paced. Anna sat in a chair watching him wear a hole in the floor. John was set to go in front of the investors in a few moments and he looked practically sick.
“John sit down, wearing a hole in the floor won’t change anything.”
“If I don’t, I’ll probably hit something.”
Anna stood and stopped him as he circled back around to her. “Honey stop.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just…”
“Worried?”
“It’s okay to admit it. I’m worried too.”
John sighed and pulled her into his arms resting his hair on her chin. “I’m so sorry, I’m supposed to be your rock, not the other way around.”
“Please,” she huffed against his shirt “you know that’s not how that works, we are a team, and we work together.”
“How did I get so lucky?” He said with a laugh. Anna smiled against his chest and realized that was the first time she’d heard him laugh today.
“I love it when you laugh.”
John leaned back and smiled at her incredulous, “That’s what you’re worried about right now, I can’t believe you.”
“Well one of us has to be positive.”
“Anna…” Just then the door opened and John stepped back.
“Guess I’m up.”
“It will be fine, I believe in you.”
John smiled and walked inside closing the door.
***
John and Anna stood side by side two hours later staring into the glare of camera lights and the questioning eyes of the press gathered for the press conference. John and Anna held hands and stood confidently facing them all, But Anna could see the worry hiding behind the confidence.
“Ladies and gentlemen I will be making a statement now and I will not be taking questions afterward. I am here today to irrevocably state that the woman in the pictures that were released were not my wife. Those photos were digitally altered to make it appear as if they were my wife. We will be taking legal action against the web site that posted them. I stand beside my wife and believe in her integrity and her honesty and I am glad to be her husband.”
An older man with glasses and a phone pushed his way through the clamoring crowd of reporters and screamed to get John’s attention. “So what about the rumors that you are going to be forced out of your company due to the scandal?”
“I told you I will not be taking any questions,” John said as he turned and took Anna’s hand beginning to walk away.
“So are you afraid to answer me?” The man screamed at their retreating backs.” Afraid everyone will know the truth?”
John tensed and stopped, turning slowly. His hands gathered into fists and Anna knew he was about five seconds from smashing this man’s face in. “I got this.” She said softly.
“Listen you pathetic leech,” Anna said softly as she rounded on the man, “My husband will not be leaving his company now or ever. My husband has made his statement and there is nothing else to say except that it’s people like you that make it hard to live in this town.”
The man’s mouth dropped open and he gaped at her in indignation. “I.. i.. You can’t talk to me like that!”
“Apparently I can.” She said as she held up a hand, nodded, and walked away grabbing John’s hand.
The doors closed behind them and Anna led John quickly out the back door to the executive parking lot shoving him inside the car. John slammed the door and looked at her in admiration.
“Who are you? And what have you done with my wife?”
Anna shrugged, “I’m sick and tired of people thinking that they get to have a say in things. This is our life John and I’m not going to waste it being afraid.”
“You kick A**, God you were amazing, I’m not sure that guy will every open his mouth again at a news conference.”
“Well, he shouldn’t, Slimy little worm.”
“You aren’t afraid of anyone are you?”
“Well maybe your mother, sometimes.” She said with a smile that lit up her whole face.
John laughed and pulled her close for another kiss. His tongue explored her mouth and she moaned into his kiss wanting to forget everything but this moment. John pulled the clip out of her hair and dug his hands into it twisting slightly. Anna gasped but arched into the kiss, loving it. Anna grabbed his hair and pulled him back breaking the kiss as she stared into John’s green eyes.
“Let’s go home and forget this for a while.”
“I would love to but I have to meet with the lawyers and Bess is analyzing the photos for me. I need to drop you off at home so I can get to it.”
“Let me talk to Bess.”
“Okay you talk to Bess and I deal with the lawyers,”
“Teamwork makes the dream work baby,” Anna said with a smile as John groaned at her joke. John put the car in motion while Anna called Bess and arranged to meet her in an hour in her office. Anna watched John get into the car and drive away from the house, wondering if their life would ever just be normal. Somehow she doubted it.