by A. C. Arthur
* * *
The idea to construct a runway in the center of an old railway station was brilliant. It was the perfect backdrop for the rebranded King Collection, which was King Designs’s signature men’s collection. Tobias King and his team of designers had always been known for their cutting-edge, streetwise men’s clothes. But in the last two years that line had fallen behind women’s couture and wedding wear. Chaz was aiming to change that.
“It’s important to have the lighting coordinated with the music and the specific beats of the show. I don’t want any lags and every model must be specifically highlighted when they get to the front of the runway.” Chaz had been giving instructions all day while they worked at the venue. It was nearing six in the evening and he was just hitting his stride.
Ram, one of the three show producers, was nodding as he took notes on his tablet.
“Four rows of seats, not five. Three sections of seating and the remaining guests will be standing. We have a lot of room for people to move around, and if they’re standing too far in the back or near the bar during the show, that’s why we have the screens. The idea is to make this feel like a night at the club, not a high-end fashion show.”
“Got it. Alexa’s working with the backstage manager. They were having some deep discussion about where to place the rails and the chairs for the models. The designers are with hair and makeup, going through a hair and makeup test.”
“As soon as that’s complete I want everyone out to do another run-through. Have the designers stand down here and to the sides so we can get an idea of how everything is going to look. What’s the status of the rest of the set? We only have six more days for construction.” Chaz walked the length of one half of the U-shaped runway.
“We normally deal with the show producers.”
Chaz turned at the sound of another man’s voice. He held back a frown when he saw Lenzo Fuchetti, one of King’s top designers.
“I know what’s normally been done, but normal wasn’t working for this particular line. So this time around we’re switching things up.” Chaz normally worked well with the staff, whether at his company or Tobias’s, but Lenzo had a particularly hard time dealing with Chaz’s presence and the amount of impact he had on this upcoming show. Chaz could relate to an extent. Aside from his relationship to Tobias he was an outsider. His specialty was in a totally different industry. Still, Tobias had paid for Chaz’s education, which had given Chaz the tools to create his own multimillion-dollar brand. The least Chaz could do was use some of what he’d learned to help his uncle get back on top. If Lenzo didn’t understand, that was his problem.
“We’ll need sheer drapes at the back, pin lights as well as spotlights,” Lenzo continued.
Chaz nodded to Ram, approving what Lenzo said. Ram made note of it and Lenzo huffed. There was some commotion at the front doors and Lenzo hurried off to assist.
“I have an engagement at seven. We need to get on with the run-through,” Chaz told them.
“I’ll get everyone together,” Ram told him before walking away.
Chaz ran a hand down the back of his head and sighed. This had been a really long day. It had also been the second day of not seeing Riley. He didn’t like that. And when he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone, he didn’t like that she hadn’t sent him a text since earlier this morning. He scrolled through his emails quickly, wondering when he’d become so concerned with whether or not a woman had texted him back. Normally women waited for him to return their messages. He frowned down at his phone for a few minutes more, wondering if he should break routine and text her again.
He didn’t have time because they were ready to do the run-through and getting this finished in the next hour was important.
Forty minutes later they were entering the last minutes of the show. The run-through was going smoothly with two other designers on-site making a few suggestions and changes to the models’ hairstyles and positioning on the runway. Chaz happily stood to the back to let them do their thing. His job was the overall picture. Making sure everything he’d been working on with the designers and his team for the last six months had been implemented. All of that made the arrival of four models on the stage wearing wedding gowns even more disconcerting.
He moved closer to the runway, where Lenzo was now directing. The shorter man was clapping his hands and motioning for the models to come to the spots he pointed to immediately. His midnight-black hair was shaved on the sides and left to hang long in a curly strip down the center, and he was constantly pushing the strands out of his eyes.
“This one should be front and center. So you switch places with her. Yes, just like that. And then turn slightly.” Lenzo looked back to the booth where the lighting guys were sitting. “I want the beading to sparkle. Shine the light right on her so that she glitters throughout the room.”
“What the hell is this?” Chaz asked. He’d spent a few seconds trying to come up with a less irritated way to ask why these models wearing dresses he’d never seen were on the runway, but he couldn’t.
Lenzo turned to face Chaz, annoyance evident in the narrowing of his eyes and the smirk of his lips.
“It is high fashion. I don’t know what these others have done to appease you and your specialty branding idea, but this is what we do here at King Designs.”
Chaz didn’t really have a problem with the dresses. They were fine from a cursory glance. What he didn’t like was someone attempting to usurp his authority.
“The first portion of this show is dedicated to the unveiling of the men’s line—fifteen new designs. There are seventeen women’s designs that will follow. We specifically decided to focus on ready-to-wear designs for this showing, waiting until next year to present haute couture pieces. Therefore, King Designs isn’t offering any bridal wear this year.”
Lenzo sighed heavily. “It’s the spring/summer season—that’s precisely when we would unveil such one-of-a-kind bridal designs.”
Again, Lenzo’s logic was not totally wrong, but Chaz’s rebranding plan called for King Designs to do the unexpected. Lenzo turned away from Chaz and continued to instruct the models. Chaz took another moment to gather his thoughts. Then he went into action.
“This run-through is over.” He spoke loud enough so that everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at him. “Thank you, models, stylists, supervisors. We’ll see you again on Monday.” He turned to look at Ram and said, “Shut the place down for the night and make sure it’s locked up tight.”
Lenzo, because the man really was an idiot, continued, “I’m not finished.”
Chaz leveled his gaze at him and spoke with as much control as he could muster. “Yes. You’re definitely finished for tonight.”
Lenzo’s shocked expression didn’t faze Chaz as he turned and walked out. In the car on his way back to his apartment Chaz called Tobias to explain what happened and suggest a course of action to deal with Lenzo’s blatant disrespect for not only him, as an executive of the company, but also for the plan approved by Tobias, the CEO. His uncle agreed. On a heavy sigh Chaz admitted he was tired and needed to unwind. He was grateful for tonight’s engagement, and with that thought checked his text messages again. The one he’d been waiting for had finally come.
Be there at 8.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
RILEY SAT IN the backseat of the car and read the card one more time.
208 Lenholake Avenue, 7:00 p.m.
She had no idea where this was or what she would find when she arrived. All she knew was that after her father left her office this afternoon she’d sat at her desk staring at the flowers and wondering if they could be from a vendor or a cruel joke from Walt. Finally, she decided it was ridiculous to keep trying to figure it out when the flowers had come with a card. She’d pulled the card out of her pocket and read it, the cryptic nature surprising and irritating her. But just
when Riley was going to chuck the card and the flowers into the trash she looked at the arrangement one more time.
That was when she saw it.
The vase was made of rose quartz. Faint white lines mixed with the pale pink of the urn-shaped container. The vibrant colors of the tropical flowers—deep orange, purple and fuchsia—along with the dramatic greenery had completely captured her attention from the moment Korey brought them into her office. Riley hadn’t paid any attention to the container, and as she’d reached across her desk to touch her fingertips to its cool, smooth surface, she’d smiled.
And immediately left her office to go home.
Chaz hadn’t texted her all afternoon, so when she’d come out of the shower, she sent him a simple message: Be there at 8.
The car pulled up in front of what looked like a regular building around the corner from New York’s acclaimed Fifth Avenue. Riley stepped out when the driver opened the back door. She grabbed the lapels of her peach coat closer as a chilly breeze blew and she stepped onto the crimson-carpeted section of the sidewalk. A green awning covered the walkway and displayed the building’s address in stark white numbers.
Riley was still unsure of what she was walking into. The address attached to a lovely flower arrangement in no way expressed what tonight was about. She’d dressed according to her mood and with comfort in mind—black-and-white leopard-print wrap skirt with a peach-colored blouse and knee-length black suede boots. Her hair was pulled back in a stylishly messy knot and she carried a peach-colored leather bag she’d picked up when she first arrived in Milan.
“Good evening. May I take your coat?”
The older man had approached quietly. Dressed in an excellently cut black tuxedo complete with stark white shirt and bow tie, he looked every bit the stately butler. That was when Riley really surveyed her surroundings. The foyer was bright, with cream-colored walls, intricate molding and an immaculate marble floor. To her left was a double-height windowed gallery and a sweeping staircase.
“Madam?”
“Oh. I apologize,” Riley said when the butler had stepped closer, his hand extended for her coat. She removed the coat and handed it to him.
“I believe I’m supposed to meet someone here. His name is—”
The butler had taken her coat and folded it neatly over his right arm. With his left he held up a finger, which had Riley snapping her lips shut.
“Right through there, madam. You will find everything that you are in search of.”
He walked away as quietly as he’d come, but Riley watched him until he disappeared through a side door the same color as the walls. What was this place?
She walked in the direction she was told, choosing one of the two doorways that were separated by a remarkable antique grandfather clock. The room she entered was even more astonishing. The walls were a bold celadon with butter-colored floral-print wallpaper beneath the chair rail. That was just the beginning of what she thought might be eighteenth-century Parisian decor, which was definitely not her taste. The best thing about the room were the magnificent views of Central Park through each of the four large windows.
The strangest thing was the man and two women sitting on a chaise longue and thoroughly enjoying themselves. She gasped the moment she realized the man was gripping one woman’s bare breast while enthusiastically kissing the other woman, who had just freed his hard cock from his tuxedo pants.
She turned and ran back into the hallway, ready to yell for the butler to appear with her coat so she could get the hell out of here. But her phone buzzed and she hustled to dig it out of her purse before it disturbed the threesome.
Come upstairs. First room to your left.
Riley read the text and her fingers immediately began moving over the screen.
I don’t think so. There are people having sex in the front room.
She hit Send and looked around. It was relatively quiet considering what was happening in that other room. Curiosity had Riley stepping tentatively through the second door. This room had a much lighter color scheme but Riley was beyond the decor at this point. Another man dressed in a tuxedo was standing against a wall, his head leaned back, eyes closed, face contorted in desire as the woman on her knees in front of him sucked his cock deep into her mouth. Not six feet from them was a woman wearing a gorgeous orange gown with a split high up her right thigh. She was making use of that split because one of her legs was draped over the arm of the French armchair while her fingers toyed with her exposed clit.
Riley’s mouth clamped shut, not just because she was shocked, but because of the flush that quickly came over her skin. She felt warm and... She didn’t even want to admit it. Her phone buzzed again.
Come on up, Riley. I’m waiting for you.
She turned and walked slowly out of that room, still trying to figure out what was happening. Without any clear answers Riley started up the stairs.
When you come in, close and lock the door and then wait for me.
What the hell was this? And who did Chaz think she was? Riley did not do games and she definitely did not do sex games. She should leave right now and let him play at whatever this was by himself. But she didn’t. She walked up to the painted door and touched the bronze handle. Her hand stayed on the handle a few seconds longer than necessary as she stepped into the dimly lit room. The floor was carpeted, walls a rich mahogany filled with bookshelves and large gold-framed paintings. There were also a lot of chairs in this room. One in front of each of the three windows, a couch centered beneath a painting, two side chairs and two cherry-oak wood stools with brass legs. Across from all the chairs was an ornate bar, fully stocked.
Riley’s heart beat faster, her breasts feeling a bit full from what she’d seen downstairs and her mind curious enough to have her closing the door and locking it.
“Now what?” She spoke into the room because she presumed that Chaz was here somewhere, but then she recalled his last text said for her to wait for him.
Take off your clothes.
That was the next message and Riley was already shaking her head.
“Not on your life, Chaz. If this is your idea of a date, it’s no wonder you’re still single.”
There’s nobody in this room but you and me. Take off your clothes.
Riley was about to type no. She was going to answer him and run down those stairs, find her coat and go home. Alone. To do what she did every night—work until she fell asleep and then get up in the morning and work some more. She held the phone in her palm and looked around. There were only two other doors in addition to the one she’d just come through. One was probably a bathroom and the other a closet, maybe.
It’s just you and me?
She typed the reply, not totally sure where her mind was going.
Yes. I want you naked.
Riley read his words and her pussy throbbed.
She stood in that spot, hearing her heart pound like a drumbeat throughout the room. Chaz wanted her to do the things these other people in this house were doing. He hadn’t asked her, they’d never discussed anything like sex parties or exhibitionism. She should feel offended that he would make this type of assumption about her. But she wasn’t.
Riley was definitely aroused. She could picture herself sucking Chaz’s dick just like that woman downstairs was doing. She’d done it before when they were in Milan and she wanted to do it again. Besides, there was no exhibitionism in this room, alone with him. Chaz obviously wanted to watch her get naked knowing there was a houseful of people. The thought had her pussy jumping again and her breath skipping as she contemplated what to do next.
I want YOU naked.
The response came to her mind quickly and she typed it before she could rethink it. Feeling emboldened she typed a quick follow-up.
Take off your clothes and come to me.
The room was silent and she moved to the co
ffee table to set her purse down. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms and wondered if he were just going to leave. The door across the room opened and Riley got her answer.
Chaz stepped through the door and he was gloriously naked. Riley had seen him that way before but this was different. It was on her command.
“What are you going to do with me now that I’m here?”
There was no hint of play in his tone or the way he was staring at her. There was only hunger and need, both so thick the room felt instantly full.
“You’re not close enough,” she said and watched him walk closer.
Every part of him was toned or muscled—his biceps, calves, abs, ass. She couldn’t have sculpted a more perfect male body. Her fingers ached to touch him as he stopped just a few inches in front of her, but she refrained. Instead Riley walked around him, looking him up and down from head to toe.
“There’s a scar here.” She didn’t touch that part of his lower back that snaked around his waist jaggedly. This one was longer than the scar beneath his pectoral. She’d felt and seen both before, but had never asked.
“Motorcycle accident when I was twenty.”
She was in front of him again, noting that out-of-context question had done nothing to still the desire threatening to burn through her clothes.
“You didn’t answer my question. What are you going to do with me, Riley?”
She only took a second to think before bending her knees and going to the floor. His dick was in her hand one moment, in her mouth the next. He was thick and heavy as her fingers stroked the inches her mouth did not cover. She loved the warm feel of him resting flat on her tongue. On a soft moan she sucked him in, holding him inside her warm mouth until she heard the wisp of breath come from between his lips.
He would try to hold on to control; that was the type of guy Chaz was. But not tonight. Tonight was for Riley. She was in control and she was going to get everything she wanted.