by Jill Snow
“The set for the hospital drama,” Dominic said without hesitation.
“You’ve really set your heart on being a doctor, haven’t you?
Dominic nodded but he wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Want me to speak to Zoe about it?”
“Would you? Maybe she’d listen to you. It’s not just for me. I don’t think she’s happy at the garage either. I overheard her talking about some missing money. Don’t know how she lost it, but she was worried about taxes. I thought only rich people had to pay taxes. How can you pay money when you haven’t got any?”
Declan wasn’t about to try to explain tax laws to the boy. He found them confusing enough. In Ireland, they had one rate of tax for the whole Republic. Here in the US, every state had different rules and taxes. It was a nightmare that he was happy to leave to his accountants.
“Will Zoe be there when we get back? I can’t wait to tell her I was in a real studio and saw a film being made.”
“A film being edited. I think your sister would have a problem if I had shipped you off to the Sahara where the film was actually made.”
“Yeah, I guess she would. She’s cool most of the time but sometimes she can be a real pain, you know?”
“You should meet my ma. Then you would know pain. Does Zoe ever hit you with a wooden spoon?”
“No, that’s illegal. I would call child services.”
“Well, back when I was a kid my ma broke several spoons over us. It was her way of keeping five boys out of trouble.”
“Five? I wish I had brothers. They could show me stuff. Zoe’s just a girl.”
Chapter 50
Zoe was having lots of fun despite herself. Clara had her in stitches telling her stories about Hollywood people with names she only knew from the papers. They had gone into more shops than Zoe had ever been in. The shop assistants changed from frosty to over attentive as soon as Clara started to name drop. Zoe tried on long and short dresses but nothing seemed to be right. They looked lovely to her, but Clara wasn’t happy. Zoe’s shoes were hurting her feet, she was tired and sweaty and just wanted to go home and jump into the pool. She had found a swimsuit and bought it, refusing Clara’s offer to pay for it.
“Declan told me to spoil you.”
“I can buy my own stuff, thanks.”
“Okay keep your shirt on,” Clara said.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to get touchy. But I’m used to paying my own way.”
Clara nodded before she went exploring the other items on sale in the store. Then she picked up a dress.
“Zoe, you must try this on, it has your name all over it.”
Zoe stared at the piece of fabric in her hands. It couldn’t be called a dress, there wasn’t enough material in it.
“No way. I’m not wearing that.”
“Just try it on. Please, humor me.”
She put it on with no intention of buying it. But then she looked in the mirror. She didn’t recognize the woman looking back at her. She was attractive, maybe even pretty. She turned this way and that but even from the back, it looked like it was made for her. She came out of the changing room. Everyone stared, not just the staff but the other customers too.
“I can’t wear this.” Zoe’s protest sounded half-hearted even to herself.
“Oh you can and you should. You look amazing. Nobody would ever recognize you, sorry for being blunt but it’s the truth. Look at yourself.”
They emerged sometime later with the dress and matching accessories.
“Next stop is a manicure and pedicure. I’ve booked my hair stylist for 9 a.m. tomorrow. He doesn’t normally work on a Friday morning but he’s doing me a favor.”
Zoe didn’t know what to say. She was stunned that she’d bought a dress just like the one she said she’d never wear. But it was incredible.
Clara had insisted on paying the bill, which was a relief. Despite her insistence on paying her way, she didn’t have a thousand dollars to waste on a dress. It was a disgrace paying that amount of money for a tiny bit of material, but it was beautiful.
She wondered if Declan would like the dress or if he’d think she was trying to be something she wasn’t?
It was dinner time when Clara dropped her off. Zoe almost crawled into the house. She didn’t think she could walk another step. She slipped her heels off and the feel of the bare tiles under her feet was bliss.
“There you are.” Declan picked her up and twirled her around like a little boy with a puppy. “We missed you. I missed you. Did you have fun?”
“Yes, I did. I thought it would be awful but Clara is very funny. She told me lots of stories.”
“She knows just about everything there is to know about Hollywood. Helps that she’s part of the royal family.”
Zoe didn’t understand what he meant. Declan explained she was the great granddaughter of some famous director. She had grown up in this world, never knowing anything different. Zoe thought that explained a lot, but she didn’t put her views into words. Clara was Declan’s friend. She was about to criticize the woman to him.
“How’s Dominic?”
“He’s inside. Says he’s starving. Are you ready to eat? We wanted to wait for you to come back.”
“Sure, thanks. Let me just go change. Do I have time?”
“Maria will make time. Go on. Hurry back.”
He kissed the tip of her nose before letting her go.
Chapter 51
Clara picked Zoe up the next morning and took her to the hair salon as promised. The hairdresser was a magician. Zoe almost didn’t recognize herself when he had finished.
“Thank you so much. I look so different.”
“You are beautiful. It is not hard to make you shine little one.” She was glowing as she looked in the mirror but then she came back to earth with a jolt as the hairdresser continued. “Now Sandra will work on those hands. Such awful marks on pretty hands. You must wear gloves.”
Zoe stared as he walked away. Gloves? As a mechanic. That wasn’t going to happen. Once she got home and found Dominic was happy playing, she decided to catch up on things back home.
Zoe phoned the garage to check how things were going. Jim wasn’t happy.
“Since when did you give Old Epstein permission to sneak around the garage?”
“Sneak around? What do you mean?”
“He’s been here asking all sorts of questions about stock and stuff. What’s it to do with him?”
“I asked him to check the accounts for me. That’s all. Nothing to worry about.”
“Well, I told him to stop it. I’ve enough to do with you on vacation without him spying on my every move.”
“Sorry Jim. I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that. I’ll speak to him okay?”
Jim muttered and grumbled before hanging up. She hadn’t even had a chance to ask him if he was busy.
Getting herself together, she called Mr. Epstein. She knew if she didn’t face it now, she would put it off.
“Morning Zoe, how is your vacation?”
“It was good until I phoned the garage. Mr. Epstein, I’m not sure how to say this, but Jim seems upset.”
“He is.”
“Oh.” Taken aback by the fact Mr. Epstein knew Jim was upset and didn’t seem too worried about it, she wasn’t sure what to say next.
“Zoe, I believe that man is stealing from you. I shared my suspicions with Declan but we both felt it was better to gather proof before ruining your vacation.”
Why would Declan hide things from her? The business had nothing to do with him. Anyway this was Jim they were talking about. Not some outsider but someone who had known her almost all her life.
“Jim? Are you sure? But he worked with my father.”
“Yes I wanted to be sure before I presented a case. I don’t take destroying a man's reputation lightly.”
Zoe ran her hand through her hair, forgetting she’d just had it styled for the premier. Her world was collapsing around her.
“So I didn’t los
e the money?”
“No Zoe, I don’t believe you did. Declan didn’t tell you about my suspicions?”
She was far too upset to pretend. “No, he didn’t. But I’m glad you told me. Well, not glad but I needed to know. Declan just said you were worried the garage was no longer a feasible business.”
“Oh. I see. I must apologize, Zoe. I should have said it to you first but I didn’t want to hurt you. You’re a very dear friend.”
“Thank you Mr. Epstein, not just for stepping in to help my family but for your discretion. I would hate to accuse someone I’ve known for years and be wrong,” Zoe said, struggling to keep her voice firm
“Zoe, I didn’t want to say anything until you came back from vacation. I think Jim may have been involved with Chris Lyons working together to put you out of business. It makes sense if you think about it. ”
“But why? If the business goes, Jim loses his job.”
“I believe, but I have yet to find proof, Jim may have been offered a similar deal to the one I got. A higher price for his house and perhaps some money to help put you out of business.”
Zoe’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the phone harder. Jim knew of her disability with numbers. Surely he hadn’t knowingly used that against her. She didn’t want to believe it even if the current evidence suggested it may be true.
“But how did our accountant not see it?”
“I can’t answer that yet, Zoe. But your accountant has been doing the books since your father’s time. The person involved was quite clever. It was never large amounts of money. Not until recently, that is.”
Zoe let the silence linger. She didn’t know what to say or do.
“Zoe, please listen to me. Try to enjoy your vacation. Nothing you do now is going to make any difference to the outcome. Let me gather the evidence and present the full picture to you when you return.”
“Mr. Epstein, I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You don’t have to. You’ve always been a joy to deal with. Other garages would have told me to get rid of my car years back, but you kept it going. I admire you very much Zoe. If I had been blessed with a daughter, I would hope she turned out like you. I’ll call you when I have everything you need.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t know how she managed to get those words out.
She stared at the phone long after he hung up. Jim. How could he? He was almost a member of the family. Her dad had given him a job years ago as a favor. She never knew the reason behind it, but her dad had trained Jim. He trusted him. She’d thought it was her stupidity about math that had lost the money.
She didn’t know how long she sat on the bed. In the background, she heard Dominic shrieking with laughter. Judging by the splashes, he was in the pool.
What was she going to do? Her business was dead. She was in love with a film star. Someone who lived in a different world so far from the one she inhabited he might as well come from Mars.
Chapter 52
“Hey you, what’s up?” Declan said after knocking on her door before opening it.
“Hi.”
“That’s a nice big welcome,” Declan teased as he came to sit on the bed beside her. “Your hair is amazing. It really suits you.”
That morning seemed so long ago. She tried to smile but couldn’t pull it off.
“Why didn’t you tell me about Jim?”
“Oh. I wasn’t sure how. You’ve known him a long time. I didn’t want to say anything until Mr. Epstein was sure.”
“But why not tell me? I’m a grown up and this is my business. I don’t like being treated like a child,” she said, her anger bubbling over.
“I am not treating you like a child. I admit to being protective of you, but I thought you had enough to deal with. You were the one who told Mr. Epstein he could tell me if he had any concerns. At first, I thought it was just a hunch on Mr. Epstein’s part. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
She didn’t respond. He had done it for the right reasons, but he should have told her.
“Zoe, you couldn’t do anything about it from here. From what Mr. Epstein says, it has been going on for years. You need some time away from everything to work out what you are going to do.”
“That is my decision to make.” She struggled to keep her temper under control. If she had been in his place, maybe she would have taken the same decision.
“Zoe, tonight is the premiere. Your first. I wanted you to enjoy it like you seem to have been enjoying the preparations. I didn’t want anything to spoil it. I’m sorry.”
He held out his hand to her. Taking it, she allowed him to pull her close.
“I know what you have heard from Mr. Epstein is hurtful and confusing. But nothing is proven yet. Can you put it to one side for now and just enjoy tonight.”
“I don’t know, Declan.”
“I admit to being selfish. I want to show you off to the world. My stunning incredible girlfriend. Please. For me?”
She looked into his eyes. He was so excited, like a child on Christmas morning. He had gone to so much trouble. Clara and Maria had too. The garage could wait for a day or so. It wasn’t as if she could do anything from here anyway.
“Okay. I will. I’m sorry for getting annoyed. I have been doing this alone for so long, I am not sure how to share my problems.”
“We will learn together. You are a fiercely independent woman and I like that about you. I don’t want you to change Zoe but I can’t help being protective of you.”
She wrapped her arms around him content to cuddle. She may want to be independent but it was a lovely feeling to know someone was in her corner.
“Do you want to try and have a nap? It will be a late night.
“Sure, thank you. Even though I am not convinced Clara will agree to my messing up my hair.”
“She will be fine. She likes you. She told me so.”
He kissed her on the top of her nose and then left her.
She lay on the bed, firmly believing she wouldn’t be able to sleep but soon her alarm went off. Maria came into the room with a tray of coffee and some sandwiches.
“Best line your stomach a little for tonight. There is a lot of waiting around. It isn’t all glamorous you know.”
She grinned at Maria not wanting to contradict her but to Zoe, nothing about this night would be ordinary.
Chapter 53
Dressed in his tuxedo, Declan took Zoe’s breath away. He was sexier than ever and the urge to kiss him almost undid her. She had to be careful with her makeup.
“You look so beautiful. I’m honored to walk beside you tonight.”
He gave her a box before they left. She looked to him before opening the red velvet jewelry case. Inside she found a glittering diamond necklace and matching earrings.
“Let me,” he said huskily as her hands shook. She held up her hair as he fastened the necklace around her neck. Then she put in the earrings. He stood her in front of the mirror. “Now you look spectacular.”
“Declan, these must have cost you a fortune.”
“I wanted you to have them. To remember your first premiere. If I have my way, it won’t be your last.”
His smile and look of love was too much. She turned to kiss him, her makeup the last thing on her mind. She didn’t care what she looked like. The night was already perfect.
They kissed for a few moments before a discrete cough announced they weren’t alone. Maria stood with her hand on Dominic’s shoulder.
“Whoa Zoe, you look like an actress.”
“Your brother is right, you’re stunning. The two of you together will be the most gorgeous couple of the night.”
“Thank you both,” Zoe said. “Maria, I told Dominic to behave. It will be a late night.”
“We’ll take him over to our place tonight. Save us staying up late waiting for you two.”
Zoe blushed at the look in Maria’s eyes. She was obviously giving them space but didn’t want Dominic to guess why.
�
��Yeah. You two will be all kissy kissy when you get back. I don’t want to see that.”
Everyone laughed at his comments but the electricity between her and Declan seemed to intensify.
“Come on gorgeous or we’ll be late.”
The limo had already arrived. Zoe took the wrap Clara has insisted on buying to go with the dress and walked out the door. She had a feeling it would be the best night of her life so far.
Declan hoped Zoe would enjoy herself. She looked amazing but he caught the nervousness in her eyes. He held onto her hand hoping to reassure her everything would be fine as they arrived in a blaze of flashing cameras.
“Can you help me out of the car? I’m afraid my dress will get caught on my heel.”
“Couldn’t have that happen. That certainly would make front page news. Every red blooded man in America will envy me tonight.”
He got out first before walking to her door and holding out his hand. She almost fell into his arms as he pulled her gently up.
He grinned as he put his arm around her waist. “Now everyone knows you’re mine.”
The feminist side of her brain should be protesting but she loved it. She cuddled into him as they made their way up the red carpet.
“So is it wedding bells, Malone? Or just the flavor of the week?”
Declan glared at the reporter. Zoe quipped, “I think you should be asking me that question.”
“You’ve lasted longer than most of his one night stands. What’s your secret?”
Declan was about to reprimand him but instead Zoe took over. She blew the man a kiss. “That would be telling.”
He loved this new confidant side of her. He wasn’t the only one. The reporters and crowd loved it.
The rest of the night passed in a dream. The film wasn’t her type but she was glued to his side. She couldn’t stop smiling. Afterwards they went to an exclusive party together. She danced for ages with Declan, him holding her as if she were the only girl in the world. Then his agent came over with a look of thunder on his face.