Press Conference
Chapter 22: Press Conference
If there was anything that was the bane of Peter and Cindy other than villains, it would be press conferences. After Peter proposed to Cindy, they broke the news to Anna and Aunt May, in which they were ecstatic and happy about it. They wanted to keep the whole thing a secret between them to not attract attention. However, after what happened at the Stark gala a few days ago, everyone wanted to know the relationship between Peter and Cindy because the whole thing was exposed in front of a lot rich people. In fact, the whole thing was so big that it got to the point where nearly every reporter, journalist, and cameraman from every news media outlet actually staked out near their apartment and Parker Industries for answers.
After dealing with the press and its fake tabloids, Peter eventually decided to have a press conference to end the harassment once and for all. For the past few days, he turned the entire Parker Industries' lobby into a make shift stage for the media and its reporters to get their answers. Right now, Peter and Cindy were behind the make shift stage as they were getting ready for the interview by multiple people.
“You ready?” Peter asked.
Cindy nodded, but there was a bit of fear in it. Peter wasn’t surprised. While Peter had experience with press conferences, Cindy has not. Rather, this was her first time doing something like this.
Peter gently squeezed Cindy’s shoulder. “Everything will be okay, Cindy. I’ll be with you,” Peter reassured. “And if you don’t want to answer a question, you don’t have to,” Peter added. “I hardly answer questions to journalists either. And I used to work at the Daily Bugle. In anything, just be yourself Cindy.”
Cindy nodded, but gulped. “Yeah, I just got to be myself. I can do this.”
“That’s the spirit,” Peter said while patting Cindy on the shoulder. “Again, we’ll all be there with you. We’ll keep you safe if the press decides to get pushy. However, if you want to leave, just give me a signal and I’ll get you out of here.”
Cindy nodded again, but her fingers twisted the ring on her finger. Peter then pulled her into a half-hug to be her support as they headed off to the press conference on the other side of the lobby. He then went over etiquettes on how press conferences work, which included not giving them more than asked, not letting your emotions get the better of her, and not calling on reporters. That would be Anna’s job.
“And most importantly, don’t get caught up in their pace,” Peter said as they reached the doors where all the unbeknownst reporters waited.
“Got it,” Cindy said as she nodded. “Still though, this is scary.
Peter then patted Cindy on the shoulder. “I know it’s scary. Trust me, the first ones always are, and they usually suck. Now, this is scheduled to last for an hour, but you can always cut it short. Basically, the point is that you’re in control of this. You decide which questions you want to answer and when to end it. Got it?”
“Yeah,” Cindy said with more confidence in her voice.
“Good. So, ready?”
Cindy inhaled deeply. “Ready.”
They then headed towards the door and gave it a few taps. It cracked opened and Anna stuck her head out. “Hey, where have you two been? These journalists and reporters are getting impatient. Some of them are even threatening to get onto the stage,” she claimed. She glanced at their faces. “Are you two ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s get this over with,” Peter affirmed.
“Alright then,” Anna said as she propped the door open and turned her back to them. She then stood up next to a podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to introduce you...Mr. Peter Parker and Mrs. Cindy Moon.”
As Peter and Cindy walked out of the door and faced the crowd of journalists, reporters, and cameramen, the entire room surged. People shouted at the two, calling their names to get their attention. Cindy didn’t respond to them and just kept her gazes elsewhere. Peter was doing the same as well, but he was looking at the crowd instead.
“Alright, alright, everyone calm down,” Anna said as she was trying to calm the audience down. “Remember the procedure all of you went through. If any of you have any questions, just raise your hand. Remember, this is a conference.” As Anna was done saying that, a bunch of hands popped into the sky immediately. Anna then pointed at a man in corner.
“Mr. Parker, is it true that you and your secretary are engaged?” the man in the corner asked.
“Yes,” Peter answered.
That earned a lot of gasps from the audience, as they now know that the rumors are true. The reporters’ and journalists’ excitement went up even further.
One person asked, “When did you propose to her?”
“About a few weeks ago in Central Park at night.”
Another person asked, “What was your first date?”
“It was an ice cream date.”
Then it was Cindy’s turn to get some questions. One person asked, “What was your impression of Peter Cindy?”
Cindy looked shy and nervous, but she replied, “He’s a good man. He treats me well and makes sure that I stay safe and happy. If anything, he’s the main reason why I consider myself to be the happiest woman alive now.”
Another person asked, “How did you guys meet?”
There was a long pause as that question brought her back to the day where she first met Peter. She remembered it because that day was when she left the bunker after years of isolation. The crowd didn’t notice it, but a single teardrop came out from her eye. After wiping the tear off she replied, “No comment on that.”
“But-”
“You heard the lady. She has no comment on that,” Peter interrupted. In reluctance, the person gave up on his question and shut his mouth.
Then a new reporter near the front row stood from his chair and asked, “Mr. Parker, how long have you two been dating until now?”
“About a year or so,” he replied.
The questions continued, ranging from valid questions about their relationship to the ones where it asked about lies and bullshit. They’ve also generally pinged back and forth between Peter and Cindy. Eventually, they were on the last question and Peter and Cindy were happy that this ordeal would be over.
However, the last question would probably be one of the biggest ones Peter and Cindy dealt with today.
One reporter asked, “Mrs. Moon, you made it clear that you and Peter love each other. However, could it be possible that this love of yours could be a fake love?”
Peter, Cindy, and Anna were stunned at what the reporter said. “What do you mean?” Cindy asked.
“I’m saying that Peter could be using you for publicity reasons. It could be possible that Mr. Peter Parker here could not even be the man you fell in love with. He might even be a fake. In fact, all the love you two felt for each other could be a facade.”
Cindy was in shock at what the reporter just said. It’s like he didn’t believe in their love for each other. In fact, what the reporter just did wasn’t the words of a journalist, but the words of a slanderer. Peter and Anna were the same as well, especially Peter. What the reporter just said gave him flashbacks about J. Jonah Jameson and his constant slander about Spider-Man. At this point, Peter and Anna was almost was about to give the reporter a piece of their minds, but Cindy intervened.
“Listen here,” Cindy said in a calm, yet angry tone. “I don’t care about what you say or think about me or Peter, but what you just said right now wasn’t the words of a journalist. What you just said were slander comments and ideas about us. I don’t like that. However, if you want to know the answer to your question, then no. Our love for each other is not fake and we truly love each other. Thank you.”
For a short moment, everyone stayed quiet as they were trying to process the information. Then an uproar of commotion happened. Anna then gave the crowd an explanation.
“I’m terribly sorry, but we’re out of time today. That is the conclusion of the press conference. Thank you for today,” Anna stated.
Peter, Cindy, and Anna exited the stage and headed towards the doors they came out earlier as everyone let out a groan and got out from their seats to either share notes on what just happened today or think of multiple theories on Peter, Cindy, and their engagement.
As the three went past the doors, Peter said, “I’m very proud of you Cindy.”
“What for?” Cindy asked.
“For managing to survive your first press conference. Not only that, but you also showed great restraint during that last question and didn’t let your emotions get the better of you.”
Cindy smiled at what Peter said. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to make it. Especially after what the last person said. He made my blood boiling after what he said about us. I couldn’t forgive him for that and I had to get him to shut up.”
“I know. Me and Peter were nearly about to punch the guy over there,” Anna stated. “It’s a good thing that you managed to stop us. Otherwise, things would get a bit hairy.”
“Yeah. Anyway, you want to get some ice cream later?” Cindy asked.
“Sure,” Peter said. “You want vanilla?”
“Always,” Cindy said with a smile.
(The next day, in an unknown location...)
The next morning, in another location, a woman was getting the newspaper. However, as soon as she saw the headlines, she ran back into her house in shock to tell her husband about what she just saw on the daily newspaper.
“Honey! You got to see this!” the woman yelled.
“What? What is it?” the man asked.
“This!” the woman yelled as she was showing the newspaper to her husband. While the newspaper seems to be normal, the headlines was not. As the husband looked at the newspaper, his eyes bulged out in surprise over what he saw on the headlines. He then grabbed the newspaper to get a better look at what he saw.
On the headlines, it said, “Parker Industries’ CEO marries his secretary?! Peter Parker and Cindy Moon engaged!!” in big, bold letters. And on the bottom of it was a few pictures of Peter and Cindy at the stage along with an article. The man and women were surprised as they saw the headlines, the pictures, and the article.
“Does...does this mean...?” the woman said in disbelief.
“Yes...I think we found our daughter. She’s alive,” the man said with tears coming from his eyes.
The man and woman smiled at each other as they now know their daughter is still alive. At that moment, they now have a goal in mind, and it was visiting Parker Industries.