Trey had no idea what to make of it.
Her tone hadn’t been one of passion. Instead there had been an urgency to her voice. So if she was having a nightmare, why would she cry out to him? It was just one more thing for him to ponder about his beautiful boss.
They had just collected their photo badges and were standing outside the doors of the Cannes Exhibition Centre. Sage was pleased to find their badges were marked with a red dot containing the letter R. It granted them access to red-carpet screenings.
Trey may have grown up in Cannes, but he’d never been that involved with the festival. So, much like Sage, he was figuring it out as they went along.
People strolled by in stylish clothes. Some were famous, others weren’t. All smiled brightly when there was a camera pointed in their direction.
He glanced over at Sage as a smile lit up her face. She wasn’t wasting any time trying to save her...er...his magazine. He didn’t like that they were on opposite sides of keeping the magazine. Still, he couldn’t help but applaud her resilience.
“Hello.” Sage stepped forward and held out her hand to the female lead in an upcoming action film. “I’m Sage White with QTR Magazine—”
The young actress immediately withdrew her hand. “I can’t talk to you. I’ve heard about your magazine.”
“But you don’t understand—”
“I understand enough.” The young woman turned and walked away as fast as she could on those five-inch heels.
Sage turned a worried gaze in his direction. He didn’t know what to tell her. His father had done quite a number on the magazine—taking it from stellar reporting to the depths of heresy. They were lucky his father hadn’t put headlines of UFO sightings on the cover.
The magazine had been in Trey’s family for generations. Each generation had made their mark on it. Way, way back in the beginning, the magazine had started here in France.
A few generations later, it had been relocated to the States. New York to be exact. But then Trey’s great-grandfather had moved it to Los Angeles. He was a big fan of John Wayne. But when it came time for Trey’s father to put his mark upon the publication, it was all about profits. It didn’t matter how he got them. He’d taken the Rousseau name and dragged it through the mud.
And now it was up to Trey to put an end to it all. But perhaps Sage’s idea for the magazine wasn’t a bad one—but would anyone even give her a chance? As time went by, she didn’t get past a greeting before people moved on.
“Perhaps we should try again tomorrow,” Trey said, feeling bad for her. “When people aren’t in such a rush.”
“I can’t stop now. I haven’t even gained one new contact.”
He’d give her a gold star for effort. “But it’s only the first day of the festival. People are still getting settled in. There are still ten more days to go.”
“I know. But I had a goal to gain at least one good contact per day. You don’t understand how important this is.” Sage started walking.
Trey kept pace with her. “Maybe you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.”
She cast him a sideways glance. “You don’t believe that, do you?”
He did believe it, but he also knew she wasn’t in the mood to hear his observations right now.
He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a small envelope. “Perhaps this will help.”
She had to admit that she was very curious. “What is it?”
“I’ve secured us an invitation to the Red Heart Gala tonight.”
“You what?” Her mouth gaped. “But that party is totally exclusive. I heard some of the stars couldn’t even get invitations.”
“See. The problem with them is they don’t know the right people.” He sent her a big smile.
“And who might that be?”
“I don’t know if you can be trusted with this highly sensitive information. If it leaks out, I might lose my source.” He winked, letting her know that he was teasing her.
“I swear no one will hear from me. Now spill.”
“It’s Maria.”
“Maria?” It took her a second to figure out who he meant. “You mean, Maria—that works at the château?”
He laughed. “Yes. The one and the same.”
“But I don’t understand.”
“Maria is a part of the housekeeper network. If you need something, her group can definitely pull it off. They are amazing and highly resourceful.”
“I’m totally impressed. These tickets are highly sought after. Anyone who is anyone will be there.”
“And that’s why we’ll be there.”
“You mean to try and gain some interviews?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight. It will be all about enjoying yourself and just soaking up some of the atmosphere. No stressing. No worrying. And no working.”
“But—”
He held up a hand, stopping her protest. “There are no buts. Those are the rules or we don’t go.”
“I still have one but.”
He didn’t want more problems. “What is it?”
“But I don’t have a red dress to wear. I have black, blue, turquoise and deep purple but no red.” When he sent her a puzzled look, she said, “The dress code is red, except for the men. Black tux is mandatory. You do have at least one tux with you, don’t you?”
He nodded. “I made sure of it before we left LA.”
“So that just leaves me with nothing to wear.”
Trey told her about a couple of local dress shops. They agreed to meet up later at the château. As soon as she walked away, he reached for his phone to call ahead and tell them to charge him for anything Sage picked out. But then he paused. How would he explain that to Sage since he hadn’t found the right time to tell her about his true identity? He slipped his phone back in his pocket.
* * *
The evening was amazing.
Sage and Trey had walked the red carpet and posed for a photo. Trey explained that even though they weren’t famous, the photographers made money selling the photos back to the people. Sage had to admit that she would be buying the photo—most definitely. She never wanted to forget this amazing experience.
She never imagined she’d be in the same room with so many stars. It was dizzying trying to name all the celebrities. And the fact that she was speaking with them as though she were one of them—well, it was a night she’d never forget.
The hotel where the gala was being held was the same one where she was supposed to be staying. The architecture was stunning. Marble pillars supported an intricately designed ceiling. And one crystal chandelier wouldn’t do for this ballroom. Instead, there were at least a dozen. This place was fit for royalty.
She glanced down at her deep-red full-length gown, wondering if she was dressed appropriately.
Her visit to the boutique let her know that she couldn’t afford anything in the store, even if she had maxed out her credit card. But the salesgirl, having noticed the distress written on Sage’s face, told her about a little out-of-the-way shop where secondhand dresses were sold for a fraction of the original price.
It was where Sage had found this off-the-shoulder, figure-hugging gown with a daring slit up her left thigh. It didn’t fit exactly, but a few strategically placed pins in the bodice held it in place. And luckily, she had a pair of black stilettos that paired perfectly with the dress. She actually felt like Cinderella at the ball. Did that make him her prince?
Her heart fluttered in her chest. The most handsome man of all was the one holding her in his very capable arms. She lifted her head and stared up at Trey as he guided them around the dance floor.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Trey’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“I am. I don’t think my feet have touched the ground since we arrived.” She leaned in closer. “Did you see
the jewels people are wearing?”
Trey smiled and nodded as they practically floated past the white marble columns surrounding the dance floor.
“Look at that.” She pointed at the enormous chandelier made up of thousands of crystals. “I love how the light dances off it. Now that is flashy.”
A smile lifted his lips and smoothed the lines on his face.
“What are you smiling about?”
“You. I’ve never seen you so...” He hesitated as though searching for the right word.
“Awestruck? Impressed?” Then she moved her hand, stroking her fingers down over his soft beard. “Captivated?”
His dark eyes lit up as though her touch awakened a part of him. His gaze dipped to her lips. Her pulse quickened. She had a feeling this night was just getting started.
She couldn’t turn away. My, he was handsome. So handsome and sweet that her reservations about trusting him slipped from her mind. Tonight, they were no longer boss and assistant. Tonight, he was just Trey—a devastatingly handsome escort with a twinkle in his eyes. And she was just Sage, his date. So was there any reason not to let down her guard and treat him as she would any man who caught her eye and dazzled her with the most amazing night?
The lyrics from the next song wrapped around them. Their bodies swayed gently to the tune. As her body brushed against the hard plains of Trey, the breath caught in her throat. Every nerve ending in her body was stimulated.
In that moment, with his hand pressed lightly to the bare skin at the small of her back, she couldn’t think of any reason not to give in to her desire. She stopped dancing. She lifted her chin and their gazes caught.
Questions reflected in his dark eyes. His mouth opened to say something, but nothing came out. The next thing she knew his head was lowering toward hers and she was lifting up on her tiptoes. When their lips met, it was like a powerful jolt of electricity zapped through her body.
She had never felt this way with any other man. Trey was unique in so many ways. And she never wanted this magical night to end.
His lips moved slowly over hers. His touch was soft and teasing. A need grew within her. She wanted more of him. All of him—
The band stopped. A round of applause filled the room, jolting both Sage and Trey back to reality. With great reluctance, Sage pulled back.
Her lips tingled as Trey led her from the now-empty dance floor. She had no idea where they went from here, but she was anxious to find out.
They spent the rest of the evening mingling, dancing and sipping bubbly while eating the most delicious hors d’oeuvres, but sadly there was to be no more kissing.
Sage was surprised at her eagerness to taste him once more and was disappointed that Trey didn’t feel the same. Because as soon as they arrived at the château, Trey mumbled something about needing to send an email and he disappeared, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She’d messed up. She knew it. Crossing that line between them was a mistake. Going forward, she was going to have to do better.
CHAPTER NINE
THE NEXT MORNING Trey knew he had to say something to Sage about the kiss. He’d seen the confused look in her eyes when he’d backed off and when he’d made a quick exit after they’d arrived home.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to follow that kiss up with more—a lot more. The problem was that Sage didn’t know the “real” man she was about to get involved with. And if they were about to start something, even casually as he didn’t do commitments, then she deserved all the facts.
After watching his parents, he didn’t believe in living happily-ever-after. Love was fleeting at best—at worst it crushed people. Either way, he refused to end up on the losing end like his mother.
And this morning, Sage was acting differently—cooler. They had just finished breakfast and headed for the festival when he decided to lay everything on the line.
“Sage, we need to talk.”
“I know. We were so busy with the festival yesterday that I didn’t get to touch base with you about the audit prep work. Is it all coming together?”
“Yes. But this isn’t about the audit—”
“Good. I’ll check my emails when we head back to the château to dress for this evening’s movie premiere.”
“Sage, wait.” And then realizing how abrupt that sounded, he said, “Please. What I want to talk about isn’t work—”
“Stop.” She quit talking and turned to him. “I know that I crossed a line. It was wrong of me. It won’t happen again.”
“Sage, if you’d let me speak.”
“No. Just let it go. Please. It was just a lapse of judgment. It didn’t mean anything.” When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “I just got caught up in the excitement of the evening.”
So he’d misread the situation? Good. They could get back on track.
“So how about we get to work,” he said, wanting to end this awkward conversation.
“We’re okay?” Her gaze searched his.
He nodded. “Let’s go.”
They continued toward the festival. Trey shoved aside the awkward moment with Sage. It was best not to dwell on it. But still, a strained silence lingered between them.
When they reached the Grand Theatre Lumière for the morning showing, Trey excused himself to get them both coffee. The truth was that he needed a few moments alone to gather his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Sage had zeroed in on a young actress and planned to go introduce herself. He hoped it went well. Wait. There he went again, wishing for Sage to succeed. Was that really what he wanted?
The line at the café was long. Fifteen minutes later, Trey stepped up to the counter. He ordered espresso for himself and a vanilla latte for Sage.
He was on his way back when he spotted a tall, slender woman approaching Sage. The woman had her back to him, but she was much taller than Sage. In fact, the woman was almost as tall as him. Her willowy figure was draped in a snug black dress. Her platinum-blond hair was cut short and not a strand was out of place.
He paused near one of the large pillars outside the theater. If this woman happened to be an actress or person of interest, he didn’t want to interrupt Sage’s chance to nail down an interview.
He could only hope this was the break Sage had been hoping for. It would be a good way to ease the tension between them. And then they could go home and what? He’d reveal the truth of his identity to her?
How exactly would that go?
She’d most likely fire him. And that would be the easy part. The other part—the one where there is pain and possible tears in her eyes—well, he wasn’t so sure that he was up for that.
He moved a little closer. Neither of the women appeared to notice him.
“Sage, my dear, what are you doing here?” The older woman’s voice held an icy tone. “Shouldn’t you be off cleaning floors or some such thing?”
This woman knew Sage? And then the woman turned, giving Trey a full view of her face. It was Elsa White.
His body tensed. He wanted to move to Sage’s defense. But at that moment, Sage’s gaze met his and she gave a slight shake of her head, warning him off.
Standing on the sidelines was not a position he was used to taking. When it came to caring for his mother, he may have been young but he’d stepped up, making sure she made her doctors’ appointments and took her medicine. But Sage wasn’t like his mother. Sage was strong and more than capable of taking care of herself.
Sage’s face instantly hardened. There was absolutely no sign of that famous smile that she shared with everyone. “Elsa, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Trey couldn’t have been dragged from his spot. If Sage needed him, he’d step up. But he wasn’t the only one to notice the exchange. These two women were oblivious to the observers. Right now, their sole focus was on each other.
His gaze volleyed between them. There was so much tension arcing between these women that it could light up all of Cannes. To say there was no love lost between these two was an understatement.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Elsa said. “You don’t belong.”
“I’m right where I need to be. Shouldn’t you be in New York plotting your next devious deal?”
Anger lit up Elsa’s eyes before they narrowed with an evil glint. “I don’t have to be in New York to do my plotting. You are out of your league here. You best be on your way little girl.”
Sage squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I’m not a child anymore. Your scare tactics no longer work on me.”
“Oh, dear, you misunderstand me. I’m not trying to scare you. I’m warning you to get out of my way before I roll right over you.”
And with that the older woman turned and strode away.
Sage stood there for a moment as though gathering her thoughts. Trey approached her. He really wanted to question her, but he knew now wasn’t the right moment. She would open up to him when she was ready and not a moment sooner.
Sage began to walk and he fell in step beside her. She was quiet for a moment. She didn’t stop until they were at an overlook. The morning sun danced upon the water. The multitude of yachts looked like toy boats from this distance. But Trey’s attention was on Sage and what he could do for her.
She paused at the railing. “I’m sorry about that. I seem to be making a habit of apologizing to you.”
He handed her the latte. “Don’t be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m sure you’re wondering about that woman back there.” Sage continued to stare straight ahead, not giving him a chance to look into her eyes.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it.” He meant it. Even though he was curious, he had never seen Sage so upset. It was best to let the subject rest.
“You’re right. I don’t want to talk about her.” Sage glanced at him. Determination reflected in her gaze. “But I have to.”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
She took a sip of her coffee. “Elsa is my stepmother. My mother died when I was young. And for many years, my father and I were alone. Then one day my father tells me that he met someone. I was genuinely happy for him. I knew how lonely he was without my mother.”
Miss White and the Seventh Heir Page 8