Deranged Marriage (36 page)

‘They’ve all come, even a television news crew. What I am going to do is to introduce you and tell them that we’re here because of Holly’s pregnancy and then you say a few words—what I told you earlier—then they can ask questions. Try to answer all the questions because you need these guys to be on your side. Ready?’ I nodded.

She led me into the room, and it was just like the press conferences you see on TV. There was a table and two chairs for Cordelia and myself, and then a room full of photographers and journalists. As I sat down the flashbulbs went off as one blinding me. I blinked as the flashing continued. Finally one after another they began to stop until I could see again. I blinked and smiled. These people were all here to see me! Cordelia stood up.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I do not need to introduce George Conway, as you’ve all been very supportive of his plight. The reason for this gathering is that we all know that Holly Miller, his marriage-pact girl, is pregnant and unsure if George is the father or not. George wanted to share his reaction to the news with all of you. He will say a few words and then he’ll take questions.’ I smiled at Cordelia and stood up. They were all here for me.

‘I have mixed feelings about the news. On the one hand I am delighted at the thought I could be a father, but because I don’t know for sure I feel reticent. I want everyone to know how happy I am, but there is something preventing me from being completely happy and that is the thought that Joe McClaren might be the father. As you know I love Holly with all my heart and only want to support her through her pregnancy. I have no intention in pushing her to take a paternity test and respect her feelings that this is a decision that she has to make. Thank you.’ I smiled broadly as I sat down. Cordelia nudged me.

‘Don’t look too smug,’ she hissed. I rearranged my facial expression accordingly.

‘Any questions?’ Cordelia asked as people started shouting things out. It was impossible to know who I should listen to. Finally an order emerged, I wondered how these things happened, but had no idea. It was as if I was addressing a rabble, which then subsided and everyone became quite civilised. I’m sure Cordelia must have given them a secret code or something.

‘Do you still love her despite the fact that she has no idea who the father of her baby is?’

‘Yes, I absolutely love her and stand by her.’

‘Why aren’t you pushing for a DNA test?’

‘Because I think that the most important thing now is the health of the baby, and tests are risky on unborn babies. I do not want to put the baby or Holly under undue stress.’

‘What about Joe? Does he want a test.’

‘I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to him.’

‘Do you know the sex of the baby?’

‘No, there is no indication that Holly knows either.’

‘Would you prefer a girl or a boy?’

‘If the baby turns out to be mine, as long as it’s healthy I don’t care about the sex.’

‘Do you still want to marry Holly?’

‘More than ever. She really is the one true love of my life.’

‘Don’t you think she’s a tart?’

‘No, I think she has made some mistakes, but I can forgive her.’

After a few more questions, all along the same lines, we called a halt and stood up, said thank you to everyone for coming and left.

I waited in the lobby for Cordelia who wanted to speak to a few of the journalists and to find out when it might appear on the news. I sat in a faded velvet chair and thought about what had happened. It was amazing, the buzz I continued to get from talking to people about myself. I felt heady, as if I was slightly drunk, even though I hadn’t had a drink.

The cameras had been uncomfortable at first but after a while it was OK. I was thankful that I was photogenic, I looked good in the photos that had been published so far. Life was strange, so much had happened, and now I was able to command the time of important journalists. It amazed me how much we’d achieved.

‘George.’ I looked up and recognised Freddie, Holly’s work colleague.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I found out about the press conference and thought I’d come and see it for myself. Holly doesn’t know yet, I’m going to go to her place and break the news to her. I hope you’re proud of yourself.’

‘What do you mean?’ I was angry that he had interrupted my high, and was trying to take the shine off my success.

‘I mean that you haven’t considered Holly in any of this. None of it. She has been dragged continually through the mud by you. All the papers think that you two had this long love affair that didn’t exist. You had a one-night stand with her, engineered by you. That’s all, and now you won’t leave her alone. You’re ruining her life and you’re putting the baby at risk.’

‘What crap. You know nothing about me and Holly. We grew up together, we shared more than you can ever know. As for love, well you’re wrong, we’re meant to be together.’

‘No, no you’re not. I know that for a fact because I know that Holly loves Joe.’

‘Freddie, I don’t really have time for this, nor am I interested in your opinion. If that baby is mine I intend to play a big part in its life and Holly will eventually realise that we are supposed to be together. Nothing is more certain.’

‘But the baby is probably Joe’s.’

I knew he said that to taunt me. ‘No, I know it’s mine. So if that’s all you’ve come to say then you can leave now.’

‘I should knock your fucking infuriating head off.’

‘Go ahead, the newshounds will be out any minute, I’m sure they would love to see that.’ I smiled as I watched Freddie walk away.

‘Who was that?’ Cordelia asked as she came up to me.

‘Holly’s colleague. He was trying to do a macho “leave her alone” thing.’

‘Well the good news is that the papers are all carrying the story and you’ll be on the Ten O’clock News tonight. It will probably only be a brief mention but we’re lucky because it’s a quiet news day.’ She smiled. ‘You were brilliant, and your reward will be given to you back at my place.’ She licked her lips in that way that drove me crazy. I just couldn’t wait until they were round my cock.

‘Fantastic. Let’s go.’

There is nothing like a good fuck while watching yourself on television.

Chapter Thirty-two

We got got the papers in the middle of the night from King’s Cross Station. I loved that, it was something that Cordelia and I had been doing more often, almost a routine. We would be part of the seedy side of London for a few minutes as surrounded by prostitutes, drunks and the night people, Cordelia would park up her Mercedes while I would get out and buy the tabloids. I always bought the later editions, but the early editions in the middle of the night, that was something else. I would clutch them to my chest while we drove back to Cordelia’s flat. When we got back we would lay the papers out, and go through them, one at a time. Both with the same sense of anticipation. When we found something about me, I would get so excited that I would barely be able to read the copy. In just a few weeks, this had become addictive.

The newspapers were my friends; they didn’t disappoint. Our story was in all of the ‘populars’. The four main tabloids had a small picture of me on the front page. It was one taken at the press conference and thankfully I looked quite startled as if I had had a shock, not as if I had been taken by surprise by the cameras, which was the reality. Although most of it was taken up with the latest government scandal, there was still a small bit dedicated to my story. And more inside. I looked at Cordelia, unable to stop smiling as I read each one twice.

Daily
News

WHO’S THE FATHER?

Poor
spurned
George
Conway
was
given
another
shock
yesterday
when
fickle
Holly
Miller
told
him
she
was
four
-
and
-
a
-
half
months
pregnant
and
had
no
idea
if
he
was
the
father
or
if
it
was
Joe
McClaren
(
31
).
George
bravely
told
us
that
he
was
delighted
with
the
news
,
and
believed
in
his
heart
that
the
baby
was
his
.
He
also
said
he
would
give
Holly
his
full
support
during
her
pregnancy
.
Does
he
care
too
much
?
Opinion
on
page
13
looks
at
the
whole
picture
.

Herald

A TALE OF TWO DADS

George
Conway
(
30
)
yesterday
discovered
his
marriage
-
pact
girl
and
love
of
his
life
was
up
the
duff
with
no
idea
who
the
father
was
.
Joe
McClaren
(
31
),
is
the
other
contender
for
paternity
.
If
it
wasn’t
enough
to
break
his
heart
,
Holly
Miller
(
30
),
has
gone
too
far
.
We
think
George
should
insist
on
a
paternity
test
,
and
clear
up
any
misunderstanding
.
Full
story
,
page
7
.

Daily
Informer

MARRIAGE PACT GIRL PREGNANT!

Holly
Miller
,
the
girl
involved
in
the
marriage
-
pact
scandal
has
announced
she
is
over
four
months
pregnant
.
The
problem
is
that
she
has
also
admitted
she
has
no
idea
if
the
father
is
George
Conway
,
her
childhood
sweetheart
,
or
Joe
McClaren
with
whom
she
was
having
an
affair
.
George
called
a
press
conference
last
night
,
keen
to
give
Holly
his
love
and
support
and
to
say
that
he
would
be
overjoyed
to
be
the
father
.
Full
story
,
page
3
.

Post

UP THE DUFF WITHOUT A FATHER

George
Conway
,
the
man
rejected
by
the
girl
he
was
set
to
marry
has
been
shocked
to
discover
that
he
may
be
the
father
of
her
baby
.
Holly
Miller
is
heavily
pregnant
and
has
announced
she
doesn’t
know
who
the
father
is
.
She
says
it
could
be
George
,
or
someone
else
,
but
sources
say
that
it
could
be
any
of
a
number
of
people
.
For
full
story
see
page
6
.