Fascination: (Billionaire Venture Capitalist #9): A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Ainsley St Claire

“Better you than me. This would drive me crazy if it happened all the time. Honestly, you really put up with a lot of shit. My breakup with my boyfriend was incredibly anticlimactic compared to yours with Frederic.”

  “The worst part? Frederic and I didn’t have a drama-filled breakup. We drifted, and then he went out with a porn star, and that made the tabloids.”

  She sighs. “I’m glad I know the real you.”

  “I’m really sorry about you having to deal with this mess, but I’m glad you’re coming with me.”

  “I’m good. I’m hoping Vanessa is going to make this trip worthwhile.” She winks at me, and I know she’s back to discussing getting laid. “Maybe had the sex with my ex been better. He just couldn’t figure out how to get me there. It’s not like I’m a Stradivarius. I’m just a regular old violin, and he needed to learn to play the strings. I tried to teach him, but he thought he knew how it worked.”

  “I’ve been there,” I offer. I’m not going to go into any more detail.

  “Are we staying at the Four Seasons tonight?”

  “Yes, we have one of the suites with the living room areas; that way, Jim’s men are close by. But don’t use that as your excuse not to find a date. You’re a big girl, and they won’t bother you.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m not going to let them slow me down.” She leans in and quietly says, “Although, I wouldn’t mind having one of them show me something slow.” She looks up at one of the guards, winking at him and biting the corner of her mouth.

  “I hope you find what you’re looking for in New York.” And it better not be one of Jim’s men.

  “I plan to.”

  Once we land at JFK and make our way to the hotel, I brace myself for the next activity—an impromptu visit. We’re heading to Barney’s to see how our counter is doing. It’s the most expensive of all of our retail space. We sell our cosmetics only in department stores and high-end cosmetic stores, and not only do we rent that space, but then we also pay a small percentage of our sales back to the store. There are established metrics in our lease, and if we aren’t meeting them, we’ll lose our spot. Barney’s is a good gauge of how things are going across our total sales.

  Our space at Barney’s is front and center. When we enter the store, it’s bustling with very chic women—and a few men—all in the New York City uniform of black pants, black tops, black leather jackets. But no one is stopping at our counter.

  I notice our makeup artist isn’t engaging anyone as they walk by. We stand back and watch for a few minutes.

  “What is she doing? She’s not even making eye contact with anyone.”

  I walk up to the counter, and she doesn’t even look up at me.

  “If you need anything, you let me know,” she offers without really looking at us.

  “Can you show me some of your mascara? Which do you recommend?”

  “They’re right there where you’re standing, and the display explains what they do.”

  My spirits plummet. I’m going to give it one more chance. “So, what is it like working for Metro?”

  She shrugs. “It’s an okay job. Their checks cash.”

  “I would think working in makeup would be so much fun.”

  “Makeup isn’t really my thing.”

  I’m stunned by this, and Evelyn raises her eyebrows at me, equally unhappy. This falls under her responsibilities.

  Evelyn reaches in her bag and pulls out her business card. “Hi, I’m Evelyn Stevens, Metro Composition’s VP of Operations. What is your name?”

  She walks over and takes the card from Evelyn. “Marie.” Her attention turns to me, and her eyes widen when she recognizes me. “Oh, shit.”

  “What’s going on?” I can tell from the way Evelyn’s voice is strained that she’s close to blowing.

  “Everyone knows we don’t have a new line because of the Chinese company stealing it, and despite what you tell them, people think we experiment on animals, even though it’s all bullshit.” She puts her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to swear at the counter.”

  I look at her carefully as the tears pool in her eyes. “I know things are tough right now. We’re working on it. Evelyn and I do these drop-bys to see how customers are relating to our products. Marie, I can see it’s tough, but I hope you can reach out to people and be interactive.”

  “It’s just hard because of what’s happened.”

  “I get it. It’s frustrating that people aren’t even stopping, but when we did, you didn’t pay us any attention.”

  “I had $250 worth of sales yesterday. Nobody’s buying, but there are lots of lookers.”

  “I’m sorry it’s so hard right now. We’re working on fixing that.”

  “I’ll do a better job,” Marie promises.

  “In the past, I’ve done events at the store. Do you think if we did an email blast out of corporate to celebrate Fashion Week that you’d be up for a flash of people?”

  “Absolutely.”

  I turn to Evelyn. “Let’s reach out to Becca and have the public relations group send out an email blast and a press release. Let’s get some people into the store and get Marie busy. Sometimes if we promise my autograph with purchase, we can make a big splash.”

  “No problem,” she assures us. I know we can’t do this for every store, but I can’t afford to lose this prime piece of real estate in Barney’s.

  Evelyn spends the afternoon with Marie and her manager, preparing for the store event which we’ll do as a flash mob tomorrow. It’s a rush, but it’ll bring people in, and we may just save our spot at Barney’s.

  We make plans to meet back at the hotel and go over together to meet Vanessa and her husband for dinner. I need some time to rest a minute, so I head back with my escorts and decide to lie down and take a quick nap. Maybe I’ll find the energy to be more than a lump on a log at dinner tonight. This week is going to be incredibly busy, and without the fuel that participating in the shows provides, it’s going to be like pushing a large boulder up a hill.

  When the alarm on my phone wakes me at eight o’clock, I’m a bit disheartened that no one from my team tried to call. I didn’t want the interruption, but business needs to continue, and if they aren’t emailing me, they’re stagnant.

  I get ready for our dinner tonight, wearing a new couture outfit that I asked Jennifer to send over. It’s from a new designer based in the Bay Area, a dress that’s a cross between the 50s and today. So classic and chic. I may not feel like going to this dinner tonight, but I’ll look like I want to be there, at least.

  I’m missing Mason. We don’t always talk every day, but I wonder what he’s doing right now. It’s after five o’clock in California, and I can’t help myself. I decide to text him.

  Me: Thinking of you.

  He doesn’t respond. I think he mentioned he was going out for drinks with a client tonight, so I won’t let it get to me. He’s busy, and I don’t want to be high maintenance.

  I meet Jim’s men and Evelyn in the living room. As I walk up, I realize I don’t know my team’s names. They introduced themselves so quickly when we got in the car to head to the airport, and Evelyn was so self-involved at having to go commercial, that I missed it. “I’m sorry, but can you tell me your names again?”

  “I’m Jack Reece, the head of your team. Tonight Will Hamilton will be with us.” He looks at Will, who nods. Both men are dressed in custom-made suits, and they look quite handsome. You can tell they’re hiding stunning bodies and at least one handgun apiece. “I understand we’re headed to Café Fontaine.”

  “That’s correct.”

  “We’ve checked the reservation. They’re expecting us, and we’ll be sitting at a table adjacent to yours.”

  Evelyn comes out in a very fashionable Dolce Gabbana dress with a neckline that plunges to her belly button and a slit in the side to just above midwaist. She looks beautiful; the guys are going to love her tonight.

  “Ready?” I ask.

  �
�Yep. I’m ready. I hope this tape holds, or I’ll be giving it away for free tonight.” I know the tape she’s talking about, and unless she gets nervous and sweats a lot, she’ll be just fine. Angus’s men will have hard-ons all night looking at her, and she should be able to take her pick.

  “You look fantastic,” I tell her.

  “As do you,” she says.

  We’re escorted down the elevator and into the car. The drive is slow despite a nine o’clock dinner reservation. Evelyn and I make small talk about what’s going on back at the office. She received a few calls, but they were mostly about the event we’d planned at Barney’s. “Have you mentioned your plan to relaunch the line to Vanessa?”

  I haven’t told Vanessa that the FBI is looking at Evelyn. I know they’re wrong, but before I can tell Evelyn anything, my phone pings with a message from Emerson: Good luck tonight. We miss you! XOXO Liam and E. Then a few seconds later a picture of Liam appears, his face overtaken by a toothless grin. He’s not even my child, but I love that little boy. I send back a heart emoji.

  The car slows and comes to a stop in front of our restaurant. “Oh, look at this place,” Evelyn exclaims. It looks like it was plucked right out of Paris in the 1920s and put here on a busy Tribeca street.

  “Vanessa always knows how to impress,” I reply, in awe myself.

  We’re quickly escorted inside, and I don’t get to tell her about what’s going on with the FBI. I have this nagging feeling that if I don’t tell her first, when she ultimately finds out, this is going to cause a permanent rift between us that will be unrepairable.

  Will goes in first, leading Evelyn and me into the restaurant, with Jack walking behind me.

  Vanessa arrived early and is already waiting for us. Someone is standing at the table talking to her, but she thanks them and focuses on our arrival with a smile.

  “Caroline!” She stands and pulls me into a light embrace, kissing both of my cheeks.

  “Hello, Vanessa. So great to see you! How are you doing this crazy week?”

  “Not as busy as I’d like to be with the loss of your line being showcased this week. I’m truly disappointed about what’s transpired for your company.”

  “We’ll get them next year. We’ll have a new line out that will get beyond this mess. We’re going to be just fine,” I say, though it’s as much for my benefit as it is hers.

  “I know you’re going to be more than ‘just fine.’ There’s nothing but resilience in your bones. I’m grateful to be part of the ride. I’m just disappointed it’s not this year. But tonight, we’re not going to talk about business.” She smiles. “I had Angus bring two of his most aspiring gentlemen for you to go and play with.” She smirks.

  “You know I’m seeing someone,” I whisper, so I’m not totally rude to her other guests.

  “I know you and Mason are finally together. I lost that bet, by the way; I thought you two would’ve gotten together ages ago. But I couldn’t set up Evelyn and not bring a guy along for you. It would throw off the symmetry of my table.”

  “You are so like your cousin Greer.”

  “Our mothers were sisters, and as much as we dealt with, we might as well have been sisters as well.”

  I know the mental illness that she and Greer managed growing up with their respective mothers was challenging, so I don’t want the conversation to dwell on that. “Evelyn is excited to meet a nice man.”

  Evelyn smiles wide and greets Vanessa. “I can’t wait. Rumor has it this is how you introduced Todd from your team, and he’s now getting married to Cynthia here shortly.”

  Vanessa winks conspiratorially. “That’s why these guys are lining up.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Angus and two very handsome men make their way toward our table. Angus is a tall and strapping man. In another life, he played tackle for the University of Texas and still keeps in shape today.

  “Caroline.” He greets me with soft kisses on my cheeks.

  “Angus, it’s so great to see you.”

  “How are you doing? I’m sorry about what’s transpired for your line.”

  “Thank you. It’s certainly a bump in the road, but we’ll weather it.”

  “Let me introduce you to Steve Hatch. Steve, this is Caroline Arnault and Evelyn Stevens,” Vanessa says.

  “Very nice to meet you.” I smile warmly and nod like a bobblehead doll.

  “And this handsome gentleman here is Steve Kanter,” Vanessa continues.

  “Well, it should be easy to remember your names since they’re both Steve,” I try to joke.

  “Please call us Hatch and Kanter. Everyone does,” Steve Hatch says.

  Evelyn sits down next to Kanter. I’ve never been very good at flirting with men I don’t know, and I admit I’m a bit jealous as she talks to him in a low voice, touches her hair, and giggles like a young schoolgirl. The feeling must be mutual, because he puts his arm around her, and she snuggles in tight. It’s a bit awkward to watch, but instead, I concentrate on Vanessa while Hatch and Angus talk about work. “Thanks so much for the warm New York welcome.”

  “I’m just thrilled you came,” Vanessa gushes.

  “We went by the counter at Barney’s today, and we’re going to do an impromptu event at the store tomorrow.”

  Vanessa claps her hands together. “Wonderful! What are your plans?”

  I explain our email blast and my offer of signing makeup purchases.

  “That will bring them out, and you’ll be sold out in no time.”

  “We’re pulling inventory from the Macy’s and Nieman stores.”

  My cell phone pings and my heart races, hoping it’s Mason.

  Mason: Thinking of you, too. Missing you very much.

  A sense of calm warms me like a blanket. Mason’s attention means a lot to me. I try to concentrate on the conversation between Hatch and Angus, but I’m distracted by Mason. I know it’s rude, but I quickly respond anyway.

  Me: What would you do if I was there?

  “We’re being rude talking about work,” Hatch says to me.

  “You’re fine. Vanessa and I were also talking about work.”

  “Are you here for Fashion Week?”

  “Yes, but we don’t have any shows this year. We’ve partnered in the past with several designers, but we’ve hit a few bumps and are just watching from the sidelines.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “It is.” I don’t want to rehash our drama, so I decide to redirect the conversation. “Are you from the Northeast?”

  “Actually, I’m from your neck of the woods—California’s central valley close to Sacramento.”

  “Really? I love the heat in the central valley. Were your parents farmers?”

  “No, but my dad was a consultant for many of the almond farms.”

  “Wow, I’m impressed. Is he still doing that?”

  “He’s retired. I’d like to get back to California at some point. I understand you know Todd Wellington?”

  Todd also works for Vanessa’s husband and originally moved to San Francisco hoping to date me, but I matched him up with Cynthia at SHN instead. “I do, but”—I point to Angus—“he knows Todd much better than I do.”

  Hatch smiles. “Any help I can get to let me move closer to my family would be greatly appreciated.”

  The waiter arrives with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, a small covered ice bucket, and glasses for the group.

  My cell phone vibrates, and I can’t help but read it.

  Mason: I’d eat that sweet pussy of yours until you released all that sweet honey into my mouth and then start all over again.

  I can’t help but shudder with excitement. Is it getting warm in here? I’m sure my face is flushed. If he isn’t careful, I’ll have to go back to the hotel and take care of myself.

  Another text arrives before I can respond.

  Mason: What else would you like me to do to you?

  Angus pours glasses for everyone, and we toast to a good week in New Yo
rk.

  The list of things I want to do with Mason is lengthy. We’ve been friends for a long time, but I don’t know what he likes or doesn’t like.

  Me: What’s your favorite sexual position?

  “Hatch, how did you land here in New York?” I ask, trying to distract myself from the cell phone burning a hole in my hand.

  “I went to school in Boston, and Angus made an offer that was very tempting, so I moved here to New York.”

  Angus recruits from Harvard, so that tells me a lot about Hatch. “But you’re ready to move back to California?”

  “I will admit I hate winter. I miss the weather back home. And I miss my twin sister.”

  “You have a twin sister? I have a twin brother.”

  My cell phone vibrates, and I have to look at Mason’s response.

  Mason: I certainly like to see your pretty eyes while we make love, so my favorite would be you lying on your back with your long legs wrapped around me while I drill you from the side of the bed.

  Oh, have mercy on me. I need to fan my face. How can I concentrate on my conversation when visions of having sex with Mason are overtaking my brain? My heart is racing, and I’m afraid I’m going to have a wet spot between the legs of my silk pants.

  “Wow, we’re both twins, and you’re from the Central Valley. It’s nice and hot right now,” I gush. That wasn’t awkward at all.

  “I know. What I wouldn’t give for a couple of ninety-plus degree days with low humidity. I miss the smell of all the blooms on the almond trees.”

  “What do they smell like? Almonds?”

  He lets out a hearty laugh that I can’t help but like. “Actually, if you smell almonds, I think you’re smelling cyanide. Almond blooms actually smell like honey. It’s a light scent, but when you’re walking through the orchards, it’s strong. I love it.”

  “It sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time on almond farms.”

  “I worked my summers from the time I was fifteen until I finished grad school working almond harvests.”

  Angus leans in. “You want to know farming futures, Hatch is your man.”

  “Good to know.” I feel my phone vibrate again. I want to respond, but I don’t want to continue being rude, so I excuse myself and head to the bathroom.