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Taylor stiffly turned her head to him. “Derrick, I don’t want to do this.”
His smile was earth shattering. “Too bad,” he said and pulled her without notice across the seat and up into his arms.
And the sound was unreal. It was deafening. Taylor scowled at Derrick as the noise surrounded her, but he merely smiled and kissed her.
It made the crowd go mad.
“Shall we?” he shouted in her ear, and Taylor nodded. Derrick offered Taylor his right arm and then Marty his left, and then the “wranglers” took over.
Marty’s objective had been to make it a media frenzy to the liking of the Oscars, and it appeared she had succeeded. She wanted to raise awareness, get the rich to give money, and fund research. By the way the crowds and media crews took up real estate in front of the Omni Theater, she was going to make a lot of good things happen.
“All right, guys, wave and smile,” the wranglers told them. As Taylor was turned by Derrick, and she took in the insane crowd, she was floored. People were calling all of their names, there were signs of support and condolences and love. It was incredible.
Taylor smiled, and it was genuine, and her eyes filled with tears from the kindness of all the people there. Quickly from there they were paraded through for interviews. They had been prepped for the interviews. Initially they had wanted Derrick and Marty to be together for that part and Taylor to stand by the sidelines, but Marty adamantly refused. They were family, she insisted, and they would do it all together. And Taylor had been secretly pleased that Marty included her.
Derrick turned to Taylor and smiled as the crowds kept cheering to them.This really isn’t so bad,Taylor thought to herself. She wasn’t being fake or hiding anything like she had expected to in this life; instead, she was herself. She was Taylor Preston-Fletcher. She was running a billion-dollar legacy and keeping people employed. She was making greater things happen for the future of Preston Corp. and hopefully for the world. She was married to a fantastic man she loved more than she thought she ever could. And she wasn’t faking any of that.
“You are so beautiful,” Derrick said to Taylor and quickly dipped her back and planted a kiss on her. Taylor took the kiss and was suddenly tunneled into just her and Derrick.
Derrick brought them both up to standing, and Taylor kept her gaze locked into his. He was her everything, she realized. She may have thought that she had nothing when she left, but in reality she had left behind her only chance at having it all. And now she had it, and she was in total bliss.
This was their moment.
Taylor moved herself closer to Derrick’s ear, pulling on his shoulders. “Hey, you know what?” she said in his ear, “I—”
POP!
Chaos erupted as something loud zipped past Taylor’s head.
“Shots, get down!” Henry shouted, throwing Marty to the ground and directing the other guards toward Derrick and Taylor. Derrick reacted immediately, pulling Taylor in front of him and covering her, and then they were both hitting the ground hard.
People were running and screaming, but Taylor heard the “ooph” Derrick let out as they hit the ground and felt him go limp.
“Derrick,” she called to him, but there was nothing. With a sudden strength, Taylor slid herself out from under Derrick’s weight and felt something slick on her back when she hit the air. Getting onto her hands and knees, Taylor turned and saw Derrick immobile. Quickly she pushed him over and saw his eyes closed and his white shirt being covered quickly with a maroon color.
“Derrick!” Taylor shouted and saw his eyes flutter. Whipping her head around, Taylor saw Henry making his way to them, fighting through the current of chaos that swirled on the red carpet as people tried to get out of the area. “Henry! Henry, help me!” she shouted to him and then turned back to Derrick. Taylor laid herself on top of him, getting as close to his face as she could. “Derrick, stay with me. Please stay with me.”
Derrick’s eyes fluttered. “Tay,” he choked out and then he huffed out a breath as he worked to get the air in and out.
“Derrick,” Taylor pleaded. “Please, baby, please hold on,” she begged.
Derrick’s breathing became irregular as she watched and panic choked Taylor. “Derrick,” she said, grabbing his face. “Derrick, look at me,” she told him sternly. There were more ragged breaths, and slowly Derrick’s eyes opened just a little. “Derrick, I love you. I love you so much,” she said. “I love you,” she choked out and felt tears run down her cheeks.”
Derrick’s mouth quivered up, trying to smile. “I’m glad, Tay,” Derrick rasped, his eyes falling shut. “I lo—”
“Derrick!”
But there was nothing.
TO BE CONTINUED