The Billionaire’s Savior

The hands were on her shoulders again and the man was speaking slowly and calmly. “It’s okay, hey, hey, hey, it’s okay.” Robyn tried to focus on the man. “Breathe with me, lady, okay? In,” the man paused to inhale, “out,” and again to exhale. He continued, all the while keeping his eyes locked onto Robyn’s. Robyn focused on syncing their breathing and eventually she could feel the tips of her fingers again and the approaching darkness backed away.

Robyn could breathe on her own after a few minutes. It was only after her mind stopped swimming that she realized she’d started crying during the ordeal.

The man smiled at her, still sheepish. “There ya go, there you are. It’s okay.” The man backed away and Robyn felt a weight come off her chest. “You wanna join us?” The man gestured to the party at hand, and Robyn was thankful that no one else was privy to her moment of panic. “C’mon, we got food, drinks. You could keep taking pictures and whatever.”

Robyn finally found her voice. “Sure.” She said, though she’d been fairly intent on declining and instead rushing back home.

The young man led her into the gentle fray of the wedding reception, and Robyn felt like the sorest thumb imaginable. Everyone around her was in at least slacks and a dress shirt, if not full on formal clothing. In her ratty Msfts shirt and black jeans, Robyn felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. Despite this, though, she lifted the camera again and started taking photos.

She learned that the young man who helped her was named Jaden, and he was the brother of the groom, Josiah. (With a round of laughter, both brothers explained their family’s obsession with ‘J’ names, and Robyn found herself enamored with the family.) Robyn was introduced to the bride, a lovely red head named Georgina.

Robyn knew she probably wouldn’t ever see these people again and yet she found herself soaking up every aspect of them. She relished taking pictures of them, even taking pictures of the half eaten cake. Even though they had a hired photographer who was surely a fu*k of a lot better than Robyn, many of the guests piled around Robyn for photos. Robyn took plenty of candids, blurry motion shots, things that were fun but far from professional.

She attempted to shoot the professional photographer an apologetic look, but was waved off with a smile.

By the time the festivities wound down, Robyn felt pleasantly drunk and full on cake and hors d’oeuvres. She shook hands with all the guests and then left her name and number for the bride and groom with the promise of copies of photos for them.

Robyn stumbled away from the music with a grin firmly stuck in place. She was more exhausted than she’d been in years, but it was a wonderful feeling. Her legs were burning from exertion; her whole body was tired from the half-hearted dancing. She finally wound up back home but her thoughts were still stuck back at the wedding when she opened the door to their house.

Speaking of, Chris sat on the couch feigning nonchalance. Chris’s jaw was firmly set and his brow was drawn together angrily. He had a book in his hands but he wasn’t reading a single word, hadn’t been for the hour and a half he’d been waiting for Robyn.

At the sight of her husband on the couch looking like Judgment Day, Robyn was brought quickly and harshly back to reality. Robyn rushed to the couch, her camera bouncing on her chest. “Fu*k, Chris, I’m sorry. Sh*t. I’ll fix something for dinner in a jiffy.” Robyn took off the camera as quickly but gently as she could, and set it on the coffee table. She then went for her phone that had sat silent in her pocket all day, and her heart sunk.

Four missed calls. Seven texts. Two voicemails.

Robyn groaned. “I’m so sorry, fu*k. I wasn’t thinking, I didn’t realize it was on silent.” Robyn took the book from Chris’s hands so the inventor would finally look at her. “Dude, come on, look at me. I’m sorry, okay? I got wrapped up in it, I got invited to a wedding and just got su*ked in.” Robyn pleaded. She ran a hand through her hair and her leg began to bounce nervously.

Chris still wouldn’t speak though his stony expression softened a bit.

“I got through a panic attack,” Robyn admitted as a last resort. It sparked a swell of pride inside, given that any of the past attacks had rendered her completely incapacitated for some time. “I mean, one of the guys from the wedding helped, but I got through it. I didn’t pass out.” She added softly.

Chris finally turned to Robyn and spoke. His voice and face were genuine; he gathered Robyn in his arms as he talked. “Hey that was why you married me right? It’s great, Robyn. Amazing.” Chris kissed the side of Robyn’s head. “I’m proud of you. Wish I was as brave as you; I was just worried because you weren’t answering and I didn’t know where you were.”

Robyn sighed in relief. She clung to Chris in return, relishing the embrace.

“Did you get some good photos?” Chris asked, pulling back. He stared at Robyn like a starving man stared at a buffet. It was a hungry stare, but not a s*xual stare—more desperate, delighted.

“Yeah, I think so. I didn’t really think about it, I just.. Clicked.” She laughed a bit nervously. “I guess we’ll see how good they are once they develop.”

Chris nodded; his hands were still roaming over Robyn’s neck and shoulders as though she might vanish at any moment. “I was worried.”

“I know.” Robyn closed her eyes in an attempt to block out her guilt. “I’m, fu*k, I’m sorry. I should’ve called.”

“It’s okay.” Chris finally smiled. “As long as you’re happy, then it’s okay.”

Robyn smiled back, a small and delicate smile.