Chloe was in awe to hear that. "Thank you. Thank you for saying that."
"Maybe give him a chance to prove you wrong. Wade has this crazy personality that I've never come across before, so I can't begin to decipher him. But, you may just find that he surprises you."
She shouldn't do this to herself. She knew it was a bad idea to even try. But, she wished that could happen. She really wished Wade could surprise her.
Wade
She was long gone by the time that Wade woke up. He'd unintentionally slept well into the afternoon.
There was no trace of Chloe anywhere. Nothing, as if the night before had never happened. When he woke up and saw she wasn't next to him, he searched for her, looking around the house, hoping she hadn't left.
Wade had the misfortune of feeling his heart sink when he realized she had.
It never occurred to him that she would leave. He'd woken with that excitement of seeing her and making love to her again, but she'd left.
Wade didn't know if it was healthy for him to think like that. And miss her. He deeply hurt the last woman he was with. She'd placed all her faith and trust in him, and he'd hurt her.
No one had made him feel the way he did about Chloe, and he wished she didn't feel that she had to leave. Wade knew there was a lot to think about, but he couldn't deny his need for her.
Guided by his desires, he got dressed and jumped on his bike.
It was after two when he got to her house, and he wasn't surprised when Taylor told him Chloe had gone out. He knew from way back that Saturdays for Chloe meant shopping.
He thought he'd use the time to speak to Taylor about other things. Maybe Chloe would return while he was still here and he could talk to her then.
Taylor sat before Wade holding Pisces on her lap. They were on the balcony outside her room. He suspected she must have had some idea about him and Chloe, but his news of Penelope and their father prevailed over any questions she might have had.
Taylor looked just as infuriated and betrayed as he felt.
"What should I do?" he asked, gazing out to the sea. He allowed the momentary distraction of the gentle push and pull of the waves.
"Mom should know," Taylor sighed. "When she told me about Dad wanting joint ownership of Runway I nearly passed out. This has to be related to that."
Pisces purred as Taylor stroked her. That old cat had been through many Vanderville sagas and scandals. She was probably sensing that another was brewing on the horizon.
"I don't know what to tell her."
"You have to tell her what you saw. I work at Runway too. I may not throw myself into it the way Mom does, but I care. Runway is her life and all she has. If Dad is planning something, then we need to be ready."
"Jesus, I haven't even been home for a month yet and I've already landed myself in hell."
He slouched against the wicker chair, resting his head back as the afternoon breeze brushed against his skin.
"I'm so sorry, Wade. I am. But, you know what things are like in this family. There's never a dull moment. There isn't even a breath."
Taylor couldn't have been more right. He guessed he was just holding out for some kind of change that was never going to happen.
"What do you think Dad's up to, Taylor? What could he possibly want with Runway? And Penelope."
"I wonder if it's because of Fashion Week. But that still doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't. Do you think he's planning to ditch Mom and take half the magazine profits and share them with Penelope?" That was one possibility. It was one glaringly obvious possibility, but somehow, he didn't think that was the answer either.
"I think we need to explore everything that comes to mind. But we need to speak to her."
"We?" He offered a smile.
"Yeah. Maybe we." She steepled her fingers and gave him a tentative look.
"So, we're teaming up against Dad?"
"We aren't teaming up against anyone. We're just doing what's right. I'm sick of Dad and his deceit, and I don't know why the hell Mom stays with him." Taylor sighed with frustration. Pisces leaped off her lap and scampered away. "Why does she stay, Wade? Do you think it's for us? We're adults now, and Lord knows she has enough money and wealth. She doesn't need him."
It was a mystery to him too.
"She doesn't. So, how about we go see her first thing Monday?"
Taylor nodded.
He heard the front door open and close, and his mind went right back to Chloe.
"Is that Kelly?" He was trying to act casual.
"Or Chloe." Taylor gave him a sweet little smile.
"Oh."
She giggled. "You are so transparent, Wade Vanderville."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You took my friend from me last night." She raised her brows.
"I didn't take her." Wade smiled. "She came willingly."
"You are such a joker."
"Taylor, are you home?" Chloe called out.
"I'm on the balcony," Taylor called back.
"I'm going to make princess cupcakes, do you want some?" Chloe asked. "I'll put glitter on yours."
"Absolutely." Taylor smiled. He heard Chloe move away, probably into the kitchen.
"What are princess cupcakes?" He smiled.
"Chloe's mom used to make them. She decorated them to look like the dress each princess wore. Mine was Cinderella and Chloe's Belle."
He could see Chloe definitely being Belle. Even he could guess that.
And, he supposed…he was the beast. Him with his dark past and shadows that lurked within his heart.
"Maybe you should go and help her." Taylor beamed.
"Yes, I'd just love to make a princess cake." He shook his head at her and smirked.
"Well, you never know, you may just like doing something different. It may surprise you in ways you couldn't imagine."
"I could see how baking would do that." He smiled. "Eggs, flour, oil, and icing."
"Yes, and when you put them together, all kinds of marvelous things could happen."
"We aren't talking about baking, are we?" He raised a brow. He already knew they weren't but just wanted to cut to the chase.
"No Wade. But you can do the math yourself, just please don't hurt my friend. If you plan to, then maybe you should leave her alone."
He inclined his head and gave her a pointed look.
She widened her eyes at him. "I'm serious. You're my brother, and I love you to death, but Chloe is my best friend, and when it comes to her, if you hurt her it won't matter who you are."
Damn, he didn't expect that, and he had to admit that it scared him a little.
"Okay Taylor, I consider myself warned."
"Good, now go. I have to do my nails." She put her cheek out for him to kiss her. He did and got up to go.
He rolled his eyes at her as she flicked her wrist at him, hurrying him to leave. Wade smiled to himself as he made his way downstairs, but the smile faded as he wondered if he should indeed leave Chloe alone.
Maybe this was one of those times when he should quit while he was ahead. They had fun last night, and maybe that was all it should be. A night of fun.
He made a move to go, still not settled in his mind, but he stopped when he saw her walk across the living room and into the kitchen. Her beautiful hair was wrapped up in a loose bun on top of her head. It allowed him to see the delicacy of her neck.
Her tanned skin glistened against the pink camisole top she wore, and the white mini-skirt gave him a good look at her long, elegant legs. Legs he had wrapped around him just last night.
Last night was more than fun and…this thing between them was more than fun. It was different. The same difference he craved.
Instead of heading to the door he went straight into the kitchen. Her beautiful face looked surprised to see him. She opened her mouth to say something, but he didn't give her a chance. He cupped her face and met her lips with his. He kissed her and absorbed the sweetness of her, indulg
ed in the softness and the hold she had on him.
He'd been stupid to even contemplate leaving her alone. He'd never been able to, so why did he think he could now?
"Wade." She whispered his name against his lips.
"Why did you leave me, baby?"
She held his gaze and looked at him with a hint of surprise. "I thought you'd want me gone."
"Woman, do you know how hard it was to get you there in the first place?" He probably gave away too much emotion there, but he didn't care. "Come on, let's go."
"Okay."
He smiled, noting that she didn't even bother to look back at the ingredients she'd laid out for the cake.
He took her hand and led her through the door.
Chapter 9
Regina
Gilly, this is ridiculous," Regina snapped.
Gilly slouched against the chair opposite her and sighed with deep frustration. She knew he was working hard, she could see quite clearly that he was, but he hadn't been able to find anything out.
The phone rang on her desk, and she was so mad she slammed her fist down on the cancel button to end the call. She didn't want to speak to anyone.
Last week had been a disaster, and now they were going into another week of nothingness. Not only did she have the whole crazy, creepy, threatening letters to worry about, but she was furious about Penelope, and the fact that she had to hear about her from Wade and Taylor.
Now Gilly was telling her that he'd reached a standstill and didn't know how to proceed. It was more than four weeks ago since Ben put the proposal to her, and now he was getting antsy with her because she wasn't getting back to him.
She genuinely thought they'd have more information by now and hated feeling powerless and frustrated.
"You're looking in the wrong places," she complained.
"I know, but I don't know where else to look. I've explored this thoroughly, and it just doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense." Gilly shook his head and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I'm doing my best, and we'll get to the bottom of it. These things just take time. If he calls tell him we're liaising with the valuation team."
Yes, she would do that.
"Regina," concern filled his eyes. "I'm actually more worried about these letters. I think you should have gone to the police," he spoke in a low voice.
Gilly was the only person she'd told about the notes and letters. She'd set out to keep it all to herself and did for all of two days. He'd noticed her erratic behavior and her anxiety straightaway and knew something else had happened. That was how she ended up telling him.
She bit the inside of her lip and sighed. "Gilly, I know Ben, and I have a really bad feeling about it. I don't know if I can go to the police."
To be honest, she was scared.
She looked around her office and tried to steady her mind by focusing on the Ming vase that held the dahlias she'd bought yesterday to cheer herself up.
Regina was the kind of woman who prided herself on knowing how to handle what life threw at her. This situation, all of it from Ben wanting Runway to the psycho notes, had stumped her.
She was the proverbial traveler standing at a crossroad, not knowing whether to go left or right or even forward.
Gilly reached across the desk and tapped her hand. "I know it's worrying, but if it gets out and the police find out, questions will be asked. Suspicions will be raised on why you didn't go to them. You don't trust Ben so don't leave this to him. I have a friend who's a private investigator. I can run it past her."
Regina observed the wealth of concern in Gilly's eyes. She appreciated him as a colleague and as a friend. She didn't have many of those or people she could trust.
"Will your friend be discreet?"
Gilly nodded. "Yes. Absolutely."
"Okay," she nodded. "Okay." This was best. This was taking the matter into her own hands and controlling how it was looked into.
"Good, I'm glad you're agreeing." He offered a small smile. She met his eyes.
"Bring me the letters and I'll go see her. I know you won't like this either, but I think it may be a good idea to at least tell Wade."
She sighed, releasing a slow breath. She didn't want to tell Wade. She saw the look of disdain on his face when he told her about Penelope, and she feared the effect this would have on him. She didn't want him to leave again. She didn't want him to think that there was nothing here for him but unhappiness.
"This is all so messy, Gilly, and it's too much. I think I want to hold off on telling Wade. Maybe it will all blow over." It was wishful thinking, but there was no harm in hoping.
Gilly nodded. "Okay. Do you need some time off? I can take charge here."
She shook her head. "I feel safer here. And when I'm here I'm busy. I don't think as much, except for wondering what my evil husband wants with my magazine." She winced.
"I'll get to the bottom of that soon. I just need to find the right angle." He smiled. Regina didn't doubt that Gilly would deliver. It was the waiting game she didn't like. "If we solve that mystery then it will be one less thing to worry about."
It would be great to have an answer. She put her mind back in its brainstorming mode and tried to think outside the box. The obvious reason Ben would want such a partnership with Runway had to be that it was a successful magazine, and this year its recognition in the fashion world would be extended to Fashion Week.
Since the news hit about Fashion Week, they were busier than ever before and received requests for all sorts of jobs all over the world. It was an exciting time for them.
But what could that mean for Ben?
Politics was Ben's life. That was all he cared about.
"What if it's something to do with the state's attorney office or his position?" It took Ben years to get that position and he loved his job, maybe it had something to do with that.
"Like what?" Gilly ran his hand through his dark hair and sighed again.
"Maybe it really is a political thing. We just can't see what it is. Maybe it's about what Runway represents."
Gilly straightened up as she said that, and sucked in a sharp breath. "It represents money. Runway is money," he stated with realization.
"Ben has money." Lots of money. He was practically made of it. Money didn't interest Ben, power did. But money was power.
"Yes, but money can represent all kinds of things. We just have to find out what it represents to a state's attorney. Penelope and Sassy Magazine represent money too." Gilly thought for a moment. "I think we just found an angle, Regina."
"Look into it."
"Sure thing, boss."
When she saw the flicker of confidence in Gilly's eyes, she felt they were on to something and crossed her fingers that she'd have an answer soon.
Chloe
"Beautiful Chloe," Wade whispered into her ear.
Chloe giggled as he nibbled on her and kissed the hollow of her neck. She turned around to face him. They lay next to each other in his bed with the silky blue sheets barely covering them.
Wade placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Baby, don't even think about leaving this bed today."
She smiled up at him as he smoothed his hands over her stomach. She didn't know what she was going to do. They'd been in bed for the last two days and on this wild passion fest for over two weeks. Chloe thought one of them would burn out from tiredness but it hadn't happened yet, and it seemed unlikely that it would. It was like they were trying to make up for the years they spent apart. She'd fallen under his spell by looking into those magical gray eyes of his.
It was wonderful and would probably sound beautiful if she was to describe it to someone, but by the same token, there was a chance she'd get in some serious trouble at work. Chloe hadn't been to Runway since Tuesday, and she'd only stayed until lunch because Wade came and captured her. Chloe didn't even hesitate to obey, and she didn't think once about work in the days that followed. This guy had her hooked and had banished her brain from her body. The only reas
on she thought about work now was that the Pierre Beaumont show was tomorrow. Everything was set up for the show to run perfectly, but she was supposed to be there for the practice sessions with Pierre, the models, and the tech team. Lisa was filling in for her, and everyone was sympathetic towards Chloe and her made-up cold because she'd never had a sick day since working at Runway. However, she had a feeling that while she could tell everyone she had a cold, Regina wouldn't be so easily fooled. She would suspect something with her sixth sense that would tell her straightaway that Chloe was sleeping with Wade. Then who knew what would happen to her. Monday was also when she'd get the verdict on the job. Chances were if she missed work today and tomorrow, things wouldn't bode well for her in any light.
As he ran his hands across her breasts shivers scuttled down her spine, and her worries departed from her mind.
At that moment, as he touched her and kissed her, she didn't care about anything else or what anyone thought. She didn't care if Regina found out she lied about being sick, that she was with Wade, and she didn't care about getting the creative director job.
How could she stop caring about that?
This was what being with Wade did to her. He had this unique ability to rip her from reality and take her to this world where all she felt was happiness and lived her inner most desires.
"Wade." She said his name on the edge of a breath.
"Beautiful Chloe." His voice was low, just above a whisper, and caressed her from the inside out.
She kissed him and ran her hands over his chest, relishing the feel of him.
He turned her over again and kissed down her back. She rose to her knees to receive him, but just then a phone rang. It was her phone, and that was Kelly's ring tone. The momentary distraction allowed her brain to seep back in and wave reality at her.
The phone stopped ringing and she straightened up, moving away from Wade and his paralyzing kisses.
"Baby," he winced, reaching for her.
"Wade, I have to go to work." She smiled, adjusting the straps of her black negligée.
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