Beyond the Velvet Rope

by Tiffany Ashley

  “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish,” Thandie mused aloud.

  Elliot did not answer her. Instead he guided her deeper into his home. Thandie quickly lost her train of thought when she stepped into the grand entryway. The scent of sunshine and fresh linens licked the air. The calming sound of trickling water, hanging plants and rotating ceiling fans overwhelmed her senses. She was astounded by the beauty surrounding her.

  Elliot walked through the house, pointing out where the pool and exercise room were located. By the time he directed her to the guest rooms, her bags were lined up in the hall.

  “There are five rooms down this hallway,” he said. “You can take your pick of which ones you want.”

  She peeked into the rooms. “This is a remarkable home, Elliot. It looks just like—”

  “The Tower,” he finished. “I know. Does it meet your approval? Is it enough to make you change your mind about running away?”

  She frowned. “I never said I would run away.”

  “But you were thinking it.” He retrieved a key from his key ring and pressed it into her hand. “You’ll need this. Don’t lose it. I’m particular about lost keys.”

  She looked at the key. “What’s this for?”

  “My house.”

  “Huh?” Her mind was still spinning from the event that had stranded her here.

  “My house,” he repeated. “Mi casa es su casa.” And he turned and started down the hallway. “Make yourself at home,” he called out over his shoulder. “If you need anything, look for Lucinda.”

  “Wait,” she shouted nervously. “I can’t speak Spanish.”

  Elliot stopped and turned around. “Lucinda speaks English, just not very well. Keep it simple, and be respectful.”

  Thandie frowned at his last comment. As if she would ever be disrespectful to his housekeeper. When Elliot turned away again and began moving down the hall, she called out to him. “Where are you going?”

  Elliot grinned at her over his shoulder. “I’m going to take a shower and then I’m going to bed. Would you like to join me?”

  Thandie rolled her eyes. “No.”

  He shrugged. “So you say.” He turned and disappeared around the corner.

  * * *

  Thandie knew immediately when Len and Raja arrived at Elliot’s home. Their screams shook the paintings on the walls.

  “This is so hot! Raja, look at this...and that over there.”

  “Len, look at this TV. This guy is loaded!”

  Having claimed a guest bedroom for herself, Thandie had quickly climbed into bed. But after an hour of staring at the ceiling, she was ready to admit sleep would not come easily. She welcomed the arrival of Len and Raja. She found the girls exploring, and still dressed in what they had worn the night before.

  “You two haven’t slept yet?”

  Len spun around. “You should have been at Babylon last night, Thandie. It was freakin’ awesome!”

  Raja leaned against the couch while she slipped off her heels. “I would say you missed out on all the fireworks, but it sounds as though you had a pretty interesting morning.”

  Len shook her head. “Warren told us what happened, Thandie. He was pretty bummed that you’re mad at him.”

  “Are you all right?” Raja’s eyes scanned the vaulted ceiling of the room. “This place is really cool.”

  “I’m fine,” she offered, even though both girls were occupied with examining a sculpture piece. It was pointless, retelling her brush with death. They were much too absorbed in their new surroundings to pay attention. “We’ll have to stay here until our project is over,” Thandie said. “Warren needs a little space, due to his divorce. It might be a good idea to keep your distance while working at the club. His wife might decide to drop by, and we don’t want to create a scene.”

  “You mean like the one you two made this morning?”

  Thandie threw a dirty look at Raja. “We all need to be respectful of Warren’s situation.” She told them. The girls were again examining the room. “Your bags are upstairs in the hall on the left. If you need me, I’ll be in my room.”

  Both girls nodded absentmindedly, neither caring nor listening. Thandie eyed them closely. Although they were clearly excited to be in Elliot’s home, there were dark circles under their eyes. “You two should get some rest,” she added. “We have a lot to do tomorrow. You’ll need your energy.”

  “Yes, Thandie,” they chorused.

  Feeling like a taskmaster, Thandie mumbled a “good night” and returned to her room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Thandie awoke well past noon. Rolling out of bed, she pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and began to wash up. Brushing her hair away from her face, she studied her reflection. Her pale brown skin looked ashen, making her look ill. For an instant, she considered climbing back into bed and sleeping a few hours longer. She didn’t give herself time to consider it. She had phone work to do. Rest would have to come later.

  With the help of her cosmetic arsenal, she made up for the lack of color in face before heading downstairs in search of caffeine. She’d been slightly frantic when she’d first arrived at Elliot’s house. She hadn’t taken the time to appreciate the home’s details, nor establish some sense of orientation. After two wrong turns, she found her destination. Elliot’s kitchen was vast and well-stocked. Not exactly what she’d had in mind for a thirty-something bachelor. She spotted the coffee pot, and filled it. She was determined to enjoy one cup alone before she woke the girls. She could use the quiet time to get her head together.

  While she waited for the water to percolate, Thandie amused herself by studying their new surroundings. It was nothing like Warren’s place. It was much more modern. The home was an open layout, allowing natural sunlight from its many windows to fill the rooms. The kitchen was conveniently pocketed just off the main living area, and accessible to the dining room. There were two large entryways into the kitchen, offering a sense of welcome and privacy at the same time. The countertops were black granite, which complemented the stainless steel appliances. Situated in the center of the room was a massive island, which acted as a prep station and kitchen table. Six sleekly designed barstools lined the island on one side.

  Thandie’s observations were interrupted by the hissing sound of the coffee maker. She poured herself a mug and took one long sip. It was perfect. It was probably the best coffee she remembered making. She leaned over to study the brand name of the machine. Perhaps she should buy one for her office?

  “Good morning.”

  Thandie turned around at the sound of Elliot’s voice. He was barefoot and wearing a pair of sweatpants. His bare chest was hairless, rippled with muscles and wonderfully golden skin. He had a light five o’clock shadow along his jawline, and his eyes were smoky. For a guy who had just woken up, he was exceptionally breathtaking.

  “Good morning,” she said, unable to help herself from staring at him over the rim of her mug.

  Elliot flashed her a sinfully charming smile. “You realize you’re a woman after my heart, don’t you?”

  “Wh-what?” she stammered, nearly choking on her words.

  He stood before her, so near she could smell the fresh scent of his skin. He placed his hand on the countertop behind her and leaned close. His chest was inches from brushing hers. “Coffee.”

  “Huh?” she squeaked.

  He smiled. “You made coffee. It’s a luxury for me.” He reached around her and pulled the carafe free. He smelled the aroma. “Hazelnut?”

  Thandie nodded, watching him pour a cup. He poured creamer and sugar in, and when he was satisfied with his creation, he tasted it. Elliot exhaled deeply before resting his mug on the counter. He reached out and pulled her toward him before dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose.

  “You’ve discovered my weakness,” he said.

  Elliot stared down at her with those damned glowing eyes, completely at ease with touching her. She was too paralyzed by his nearness to protest.


  Thankfully, Romero took that moment to enter the kitchen.

  “Hello, Thandie,” he said as he stepped past her. He took a seat at the counter, appearing quite at ease. Without a word of greeting to his employer, he held out a cell phone. Elliot accepted it and, pressing the phone to his ear, immediately dived into a serious conversation. Thandie watched as Elliot’s whole demeanor changed from a sleepy-eyed flirt to a no-nonsense businessman in a matter of seconds. It was interesting to watch the seamless transformation. Thandie wondered how many personas Elliot possessed.

  Forcing herself to leave, she headed upstairs to retrieve her laptop, and find a quiet place to work. Thankfully, Elliot wasn’t the type to laze about the house.

  Thandie and the girls spent the day responding to emails. It was a slow evening. Without Elliot around to distract them, the day managed to be fairly productive. The dining room was currently their office. The long dining table gave them ample room to spread out their materials.

  Just before dusk was upon them, Thandie retreated to her bedroom to change clothes. She’d made plans to meet Victoria Day at her studio. She pulled on a pair of jeans, a tank, and sandals. While she was looking for her lip gloss, she heard Len shout, “Thandie! Your phone is ringing.”

  Hoping it wasn’t Warren calling again, she trotted down the stairs. Len held her cell phone up. Thandie took it from her and answered, “Thandie Shaw speaking.”

  “Thandie, it’s Gage.”

  “Two days in a row?” Thandie teased. “Is everything all right?”

  “Things are fine for me. Bad for you.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I was curious, so I decided to call your office today. Amanda is in over her head. You do know this, right?”

  “Oh, dear.” Thandie pinched the bridge of her nose. “Cam said as much.”

  “Oh?” Gage’s interest was suddenly piqued. “You and Cam are talking again?”

  “Calm down. We’re not dating. I called him the night before.”

  “What for?”

  “I needed to hear—it doesn’t matter. We only talked for a few minutes. Nothing serious.”

  “Are you going to give me details?”

  “You’re very nosy, Gage.”

  “I work in PR. It’s my business to know details.”

  “Getting back to your point.” Thandie sighed. “Cam visited the office recently. He mentioned that Amanda might have a little too much on her plate. I was hoping to talk with her and give her another week to get her feet wet.”

  “That’s a bit risky.”

  “Amanda is my best assistant.”

  “That’s sad,” Gage said under her breath.

  “She deserves a second chance.”

  “You’re a lot braver than I. I’d be afraid that she’d scare off my clients.”

  Gage was right. It had taken Thandie years to establish herself on the Manhattan club scene. Amanda was a great employee, but if she didn’t watch her carefully, she could easily lose a valuable client. “She’s learning. If she fails, it’s because I didn’t train her well. Her workload isn’t too heavy for the next few days. Just playing host to a few B-list stars. However, the Simmons’s party is fast approaching. If Amanda hasn’t learned the ropes by then, I’ll have to fly up to handle the assignment with her. At any rate, I’ll check in with her more often.”

  “I’ll do the same.”

  “I really appreciate that, Gage.”

  “You’re welcome. So...anything new with Elliot Richards?”

  She grimaced at the sound of his name. “No, nothing new,” she said quickly.

  Thandie had spent the better part of the night thinking about him, and her first waking hours being unnerved by him. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about him.

  “Liar.”

  “As much as I’d love to entertain you, I’m afraid I can’t today. You caught me on my way out.”

  “Oh, yes, you’re meeting with Day.”

  “How did you know about that?”

  “I know everything,” Gage said. “Promise me you’ll call if something happens.”

  “Something like what?”

  “Surprise me.”

  * * *

  Warren strolled into Elliot’s office unannounced. Somewhat annoyed, Elliot looked up from his computer screen. Michelle, who normally guarded his office as if it were Fort Knox, hadn’t stopped him. He knew Michelle was at the door, but for some reason he’d chosen to display a generous amount of tolerance toward Warren.

  Elliot was not pleased. This was becoming a bothersome habit amongst his staff. Everyone extended favors to Warren. Perhaps they did it because he was an investor, because of his age, or because they simply liked him. Whatever the reason, Elliot would have to put a stop to it.

  Warren threw himself on the couch and ran a hand through his white hair. “Are Thandie and the girls all right?”

  For a moment, Elliot considered amusing himself by dragging this out. However, he could see Warren’s discomfort. Even Elliot wasn’t that cruel. “They are fine.”

  “Which hotel did you take them to?”

  “I didn’t take them to a hotel.” Answering the curious look on Warren’s face, he said, “They’re staying with me.”

  Warren’s face froze in shock. “With you?”

  Elliot raised his brow, not caring for the hint of accusation in the older man’s tone.

  “These are my friends, Elliot,” Warren said solemnly. “Their well-being is important to me.”

  “If that were true, you would have taken better care of Thandie,” Elliot retorted. “I imagine it’s not every day she has a knife pulled on her.”

  Warren grimaced, his shame evident. “I know I screwed up, Elliot. I’m not perfect.”

  “I’m well aware of that fact.” Elliot’s eyes flashed. “You should have never allowed them to stay with you. Someone could have gotten hurt.”

  “You’re right.” Warren dragged his hand through his hair again.

  “I have everything under control.”

  “I’d feel better if they stayed at a hotel,” Warren said in a low voice. “I’ll pay for the expenses.”

  “They’ll stay with me for the duration of their assignment,” he said with finality.

  Warren looked away sheepishly. “How bad is it?”

  “I imagine it’s pretty bad.”

  “I’ve called Thandie numerous times,” Warren said helplessly.

  Elliot stiffened at the thought. “And?”

  “She won’t take my calls,” Warren finished miserably. “Do you think you could—”

  “No.”

  “But I haven’t even asked—”

  “No,” Elliot said, slicing his hand in the air. “You got yourself into this mess. You can certainly figure a way to get yourself out.”

  “I’m asking for your help, Elliot. I messed things up. I need to apologize to the ladies properly.”

  * * *

  Thandie looked around Victoria Day’s studio. Bundles of brightly colored fabric were stacked into tall piles on almost every flat surface. In the center of the room was a small platform, with a pedestal used to display garments. Situated on the stage was a voluminous ball gown fitted to a dress form. The gown was dyed the richest shade of blue, with a train that blossomed out from the back, creating a waterfall of foamy tulle. It was an exquisite gown. Nevertheless, Day was not satisfied. She knelt over the hem of the gown, examining the stitching; shaking her head and swearing to herself.

  “My life is filled with one disaster after another,” she declared.

  “Don’t you think that’s a bit dramatic?” Thandie asked.

  “Not if it’s true,” Day said with a groan. She stood up and walked around the gown, examining every angle. “I know something is wrong with this design, but I can’t quite...” She tapped her chin with the tip of her finger. “I can’t see it, I feel it.” Day dug her fists into the pockets of her cutoff jeans, and continued to stare at the dress.


  Thandie watched Day concentrate. She’d done little else since Thandie’s arrival. Her obsession to discover the unseen flaw in her creation was interesting to watch. That Day could create something so elegant and classic was amazing, especially since it was so different from her personal style.

  Day had always been a free spirit. Even today, dressed in a tank top and stilettos, with a heel so thin it seemed ready to snap under serious pressure, Day looked terribly trendy. Having styled her short hair into a spiky Mohawk, few could compete with her effortless edginess. Standing next to the lavish splendor of the gown, it was hard to believe she was the designer behind the masterpiece.

  Day stomped her foot and said, “I still can’t find what I’m looking for. This is bothering the hell out of me. How can I do a show in a few short weeks when my finale dress looks like garbage?”

  Not daring to contradict Day, Thandie changed the subject. “How are the plans for your show going?”

  Day made a sound of disapproval. “My show will most likely be a calamity of epic proportions.” When Thandie raised her brows, Day groaned in surrender. “Nothing is going right. There’s never enough money. Ever since I was a little girl, I always had dreams of starting my own fashion line. No one ever prepared me for the monetary challenges. Even with my family helping me pull everything together, I’m barely able to do it. We finally found a location for a price I can afford, but the place is too far from downtown. Every vendor is demanding an up-charge for travel expenses. And then, the manager of the site informed me yesterday that ‘due to management changes’ I’ll be required to pay a premium rate for...oh...I don’t even know anymore!” Day released another groan. “And now this.” She pointed to the ball gown. “Even if I find the problem, I hardly have the time to fix it. I’m creatively tapped out.”

  Thandie could see frustration roll off Day’s shoulders like vapor.

  “Have you made an appointment with Fernando yet?”

  “Who?” Day’s question jarred Thandie. It was such an abrupt change in topic, it took several minutes to register the question.

  “Fernando, the masseur.”

  “Oh, not yet. Things have been a little crazy about the club lately.”