If The Shoe Fits

by Laurie LeClair

  “No,” Alex cut in.

  The older woman sighed heavily. “More’s the pity about the additional fees.” She shrugged a shoulder. “She’s going to find out sooner or later.” Turning her full attention back to Charlie, she said, “I’m leaving King’s.”

  Charlie jerked her head back. Never had she imagined her stepmother would resort to this. “Quitting?” Her mind raced with thoughts. “Who will replace you as president? Me?” Hope and anxiety balled together in her chest.

  The woman before her inhaled sharply and raised her chin. “I am not a quitter. No, Charlotte, I’ve sold King’s to your husband.”

  Shock reverberated through her body. Blood rushed in her ears. “What!? But, it’s my family’s store.”

  “You, my dear, are not cut out to be in charge of King’s,” the woman said coldly. “I’ve told you that for years. Maybe you’ll listen now.”

  Shaking her head, she looked at Alex. “No, you can’t.”

  “I’m sorry, I did.”

  She brushed aside the deep well of sadness coloring his voice. Then dawning struck. “You,” she pointed at him, and then at her stepmother, “you planned this, didn’t you? Together.”

  He reached out for her. “Charlie, let me explain.”

  Drawing farther away, she said, “No, don’t touch me.”

  “Oh really, Charlotte, must you be so dramatic?” the older woman scolded. “Of course we planned this. How else do you think I agreed to this marriage? You know your father gave me the final say in your choice of a husband. If Alexander hadn’t have said he’d buy the store, he’d never have the chance to marry you.” She could have ended with “silly girl” for the tone of her voice.

  An invisible dagger pierced her heart. “Alex, how could you be a part of destroying my dream? How could you?”

  Who was this man she’d married?

  ***

  In a million years he’d never be able to explain it to her, Alex thought with a heavy weight sitting in his chest. Hell, he couldn’t even explain it to himself.

  Thinking she was close to fainting, he’d helped her out of the office and found Dolly, carrying Charlie’s shoes, near the receptionist’s counter. The older woman had grown alarmed at the sight of Charlie and soon had them all bustling in the car. She’d ordered Edward to whisk them back home again.

  Now, Charlie sat on one side of the car, staring out the window, while he sat on the opposite side doing the same. In the front seat he heard Dolly ask his driver, “What happened, Eddie?”

  “I don’t know.” Edward seemed as puzzled as she did. Maybe even as much as Alex was at the rapid decline of his own marriage.

  Alex felt the quick stare of Edward in the rearview mirror. He shook his head sadly, but didn’t bother to look directly at his friend.

  “When Miss Charlie didn’t come back to the display window right away, I rushed off after her. Don’t you know the barracuda was there and,” she pointed her thumb to Alex in the back seat, “he was there talking to the old battle-ax.”

  Edward groaned.

  “You do know something.”

  “Not everything,” he defended.

  “For Pete’s sake, they’re in cahoots, aren’t they? Why else would he need to go talk to her after the wedding?”

  His friend remained silent.

  The strain stretched awkwardly. “Miss Charlie is fighting back tears and you don’t have the decency to tell me what’s going on?”

  Turning his head to her for a brief moment, Edward said, “Well, he’s not doing much better either. And he’s the one paying me.”

  “We can hear you two,” Charlie said matter-of-factly, still looking out the window. “And, Dolly, he pays your salary, too.”

  The older woman made a dismissive noise in the back of her throat. “I can get a job like that.” She snapped her fingers. “I only took it because of you marrying him. So we could be together again. But, I can leave him and anyone else,” she emphasized, leaning slightly toward Edward, “anytime. Believe you me.” She sat back in her seat and with her chin set at a stubborn angle, she stared straight ahead. “Men!”

  “Women,” Edward muttered.

  Alex groaned silently. How in the world was he going to fix the mess he’d made of everything?

  Chapter 13

  In the entrance of his home, Alex called out to his wife as she headed toward the stairs, “Charlie, we need to talk.”

  She halted. Slowly, she pivoted to him. Her eyes were filled with sadness. “Don’t you think we should have done that before yesterday?”

  “I couldn’t take the chance.” There, he’d been honest.

  “Chance at what?” Dolly asked, lingering in the foyer.

  “This is private,” Edward chastised her.

  “Private, smivate, Eddie. Anything that happens to Miss Charlie is my business.”

  Alex nearly groaned. This was not going to be the easiest conversation he’d ever had, especially with an audience. “Charlie, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

  She inhaled sharply and jerked her head back slightly. “No, Alex, I truly don’t think you meant to hurt me. That’s because you weren’t thinking of me at all. How could you be so selfish as to agree to her terms?”

  “What terms, honey?” Dolly asked abruptly.

  Charlie glanced at her friend. “The barracuda sold me to the highest bidder.”

  “Sold?!” Dolly, Alex, and Edward cried out at the same time.

  “Yes, sold.” Charlie looked to all of them. Finally, she settled her stare on Alex. “What else would you call it? You, my husband, gets a wife, but, in return, you must purchase the family business.”

  “King’s! She sold him King’s?” Dolly’s horrified question ripped through the group.

  He sighed heavily, pushing back his suit jacket and resting his fists on his hips. Between clenched teeth, he pointed out, “And tell me, wife, would I have bought the damn place if she’d offered up Francine or Priscilla? No,” he answered his own question. “I wanted you.” He still wanted her, with an ache so deep and so wide he had no idea if he’d ever get his fill of her.

  For a moment, she seemed stunned as she shook her head and blinked a few times. “You could have anyone. The papers had you linked to high-society women for years. Stunning, elegant, well-mannered.” Her confusion colored her words. “Any one of them would have been more than appropriate. You could have handpicked your wife.”

  “I did.”

  That had her stepping back and grasping ahold of the banister. She frowned. “Not for King’s?”

  He blew out a hot breath. “No, Charlie, not for King’s. It’s more trouble than anything else. It’s losing money and Royale Enterprises will be strained just trying to take it over.” He didn’t dare tell her just how much of a burden her family store would be to his family’s business. And he still had to justify it to Grandfather. How, he had no clue.

  All he’d known from the first night he’d met her is that he wanted her, the beautiful, exuberant, smart, funny sparkling woman. And at any price. Looking at her now, he suddenly realized he’d paid the ultimate price. With his heart.

  He loved her.

  The knowledge slashed through him like lightning, zapping his nerves and shocking his mind even more. “Son- of-a—” he muttered, staring at her in awe.

  “I can fix that,” Charlie pleaded.

  “What?” My heart?

  “The profits. I have so many wonderful ideas for the store. I even came up with a new concept this morning.”

  Dolly piped in, “Oh, Mr. R., she’s got pages after pages of notes and sketches. Why, the barracuda brushed her off for years, never wanting to update anything.” She snorted. “She probably didn’t want to part with any of that cold, hard cash. Greedy woman!”

  For once Dolly was being kind about the woman. Alex rubbed the back of his neck. He’d figured he had to spruce it up a bit to resell the place. But, he knew that’s not what Charlie had in mind at all.r />
  “Sir,” Edward interrupted his thoughts. “It doesn’t seem feasible.”

  He noted his friend’s wrinkled brow, knowing Edward was privy to many of the goings-on.

  He sighed heavily. “No, it doesn’t.”

  Charlie stepped near. “Alex, give me a chance, will you? I can make a difference.”

  Passion and desperation glowed in her look. Admiration shot through him. He loved the fight in her, the drive, the determination, and so much more.

  He recalled her stepmother’s cutting remark about Charlie never being leadership material. Charlie had wanted that opportunity and her stepmother had blocked her at every turn.

  Could he allow this? If he did, how much harm could it do? As long as he didn’t promise her he’d keep the store.

  He even said as much. “Charlie, I can’t promise the store won’t be sold after all.”

  He watched her swallow hard. “I’ll take the risk. What more will I have to lose than what I’ll lose now if I do nothing?”

  Hope. Faith, he thought wistfully.

  And, when all was said and done, would she end up hating him for it? What if he lost her, too?

  Closing his eyes, he sensed the three of them staring long and hard, waiting for his answer. He rubbed a hand over his face, and then looked at his wife. “All right.”

  “Yippee,” she shouted and Dolly soon joined in. Charlie threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You won’t be sorry.”

  Holding her in his arms, he couldn’t seem to get enough of her warmth and special scent. He prayed she wouldn’t be sorry once the end came to the store.

  “This is so exciting,” she said, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek and then pulling away.

  The imprint of her lips lingered on his flesh and he longed to draw her back for more. But he didn’t. As he watched his wife’s glee while hugging Dolly, he knew he’d done the right thing. For now. Glancing over at Edward, his middle sank at the look of doubt. The little bit of anxiety gnawed at his gut.

  “Conditions,” Edward mouthed to him. He nodded his head in Charlie’s direction.

  Alex cleared his throat. “Yes, there has to be some conditions, of course.”

  Charlie, beaming, turned back to him. “Of course, how silly. Yes—”

  “Wait,” Dolly interrupted. “We’ve got to discuss a few things first.” She whispered in Charlie’s ear. Charlie responded in the same manner.

  Unfortunately, Alex couldn’t hear a darn word either woman said. Frowning, he looked at his friend. They seemed to shrug in unison. Beats us.

  Once the women were done, they linked arms, turning to Alex. “Our first condition is our marriage remains a secret, well, to the public mostly,” Charlie amended the last.

  “Secret?” Puzzled, he couldn’t fathom how that would affect King’s in the least. If anything, it might draw in more curious shoppers.

  “Yes, until I’m” her friend jabbed her in the ribs “we’re comfortable with the announcement.”

  He dragged a hand through his hair. “Just how are we supposed to keep this under wraps?”

  “We have so far. We haven’t been seen in public together, for the most part. No one but the family and a few friends know about the ceremony and none of the papers have asked questions about any nuptials. I think we’ve done a darn good job.”

  Alex blew out a hot breath. “All right. What’s the second condition?”

  “You put me in charge of King’s.”

  This time the request didn’t come out as bold or confident.

  He nearly bit his tongue to keep the question from popping out of his mouth. Was she certain she could handle the pressure? But he refrained, not wishing to hurt her.

  She’d already had too many duties at the store. With taking over the top spot, she’d be stretched to the limit and then some.

  “And remain art director?”

  “Yes.”

  If he put a time limit on this maybe-just maybe-it wouldn’t be too overwhelming for her. Fat chance. But could he completely snatch her dream away from her? This would surely be her one and only chance to fulfill that desire. Who was he to rob her of that, too?

  “Agreed.” He held up his hand as she and Dolly clapped their hands. “But you have four weeks to do it in.”

  “Eight,” she bargained.

  “Five.”

  “Six and we have a deal.”

  He chuckled. Holding out his hand, he said, “Deal.”

  She disentangled herself from her friend and placed her hand in his. Small, soft, yet firm and strong. His wife was a mixture of contradictions. And he loved that about her.

  Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Kiss?”

  Before he knew what was happening, she brushed her lips against his. She giggled as she raced up the stairs with Dolly behind her. Charlie called out, “But you’ve still got to court me. Six weeks should do.”

  Chapter 14

  With neat piles of paper stacked carefully on her desk, Charlie snatched up the ringing phone. “Did you get him?”

  Her assistant’s chirpy voice sang back, “I’m the girl wonder, whatcha think? He’s on line one.”

  “Thanks, Peg, ol’ great one.” She smiled as she punched the one on her phone. “Rico, I can’t thank you enough for returning my call.”

  “Sweetie, anything for you.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way, because I have an offer for you.”

  “Ohhhhhh! Who is he and what does he look like?”

  “Quit! It’s not a date.” She heard him mutter in her ear. “Sorry, friend, I’m no matchmaker. But I can get you one of the hottest jobs in town.”

  “Really?” His voice piqued with interest. “Do tell.”

  “With me.”

  “You? Oh, honey, are you finally kicking that place to the curb and starting your own design biz?”

  She laughed then. “Not quite. I am taking over, though.”

  “No way!”

  “Way!”

  “Details, details!”

  Well, she couldn’t tell all, but she did fill him in about her new position. She ended with, “And there are going to be lots of changes over the next few weeks. Remember when we talked about you and your team taking over the salon here at King’s for a week, performing makeovers on our customers?”

  “That was ages ago and the barracuda turned us down flat.”

  “She doesn’t have a say-so now. I do.”

  He whistled softly. “Oh, I love make overs. Publicity? Before and after shots? Clothes, makeup, hair, undies, everything?”

  “The works.”

  “Count me in, honey.”

  After hanging up on the third similar call, Charlie eased back in her chair. “Yes, yes, yes!” Things were working out just fine.

  She’d arranged for one of her friends at an advertising firm to assist in the marketing. And, to top it all off, she’d gotten the best-known print ad photographer to not only take the before and after pictures for the makeovers, but to snap shots for a special advertising campaign she dubbed Operation Charmings. Starring her, of all people.

  She mulled over her predicaments. Two, she knew of. First, Dexter. Would he be so willing to help her? She’d hurt him. Not on purpose, but nonetheless she had. She sighed heavily. Not once had she led him on. His brilliance and ideas had sparked a kinship.

  But romance? No. Well, not on her part. Obviously, it had on his.

  Brushing that dilemma aside for now, she focused on the next one. Alex. His actions stunned her. Making a deal with the barracuda. Buying the store to marry her. Now he wanted to destroy the one thing that she’d dreamt of for so long. How could he?

  She quickly reminded herself it wasn’t her personally he wanted to harm. No, if she believed him, he’d gone to great measures just to get her stepmother’s approval to marry her. At first it seemed difficult to grasp.

  But he’d pled his case and made it plausible. He’d have never done it
for her stepsisters. No, he’d have walked away and not had a second thought or a lingering doubt.

  But for her, he’d bargained.

  “With a master, at that,” she muttered, thinking of how shrewd and calculating her stepmother could be most of the time.

  “Why me?” she wondered aloud.

  “Why not, honey?” Dolly asked as she stood with her hands on her hips and filling the doorframe.

  Surprised, Charlie sat upright. “Dolly? When did you get here?”

  “Just in time, by the looks of it.” The older woman waved a hand at her. “Come on, the unveiling is about to take place.”

  She glanced at the clock on her phone, and then jumped up. “Already?”

  Not quite nine in the morning, Charlie and Dolly rushed to the display windows. A crowd of employees gathered at the entrance, waiting for the curtains to drop and the secretive display windows to be revealed.

  “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you the piece d’ resistance,” Dolly said, huffing the last few yards.

  “More surprises?”

  “Yep. I called Edward to fill him in. He’s bringing Mr. R.”

  Charlie stopped in her tracks. “What?!” It was one thing to create this story of the Charmings, but quite another to have to come face to face with one of the “characters” who didn’t even know he was in the darn story to begin with.

  “Righto! He’s out there now. We’ll watch from outside, too. And with the press. They came just like you said they would after you made the calls. Peg’s gonna pull the drape for each one.”

  “But.” Charlie’s nerves bubbled in her middle. “The shoes.” She pointed past Dolly. “I’ve got to—”

  “Done.”

  “Done. How?”

  “I did it just like you asked me to this morning, don’t you remember?”

  The air rushed out of her. That was nearly three hours and lots of work ago. “Oh.” She struggled for another thought. “You know Peg can’t do both drapes. It would be too much for her to rush from one to the next. I’ll do it myself.” What better way to face her husband’s reaction than by having a thick pane of glass between them?