Close Love (The Billionaires Club Book 2)

by Adams, Zoe

  “Well, I’ll drink to that.”

  He clinked his little glass on hers and drank it quickly. Lady took down the liquid like a pro. But her eyes were still heavy and serious.

  “I might need another one of those.” Lady ran her fingers through her hair.

  “Why don’t you just absorb the first one?” Del resumed his seat on the chair.

  He knew most men would be watching sports and waiting. But he liked watching Lady get ready. Del didn’t know if his days were numbered, or if their relationship would last, but whatever the future held, he hoped there would be lots of moments like this.

  Watching Lady prepare was soothing and exciting at the same time. He sipped his drink, because he didn’t know what else to do. Part of him wanted to pick Lady up and carry her off to bed. But it would only be a poor confirmation of his earlier conversation when he had told her to finish what she had started.

  He wanted to have the proper amount of time with her. Waiting to start something could be justified by having all of her time, instead of just seconds. He waited until he could do it right.

  Lady was hopping in front of him. She slid one high heel on and tried to stand straight. She grabbed on to the wall to steady herself for the other uplifting shoe. She quit squirming and moved to face him.

  “How do I look?” Lady held her palms up by her sides.

  She was back to the purple gloves and belt. Her black dress was as long as her body. Her black shoes barely poked out from the front of it.

  “You look great.” Del gave her the A-Okay circle with his hand. “But the purple was your first choice. Why did you second guess yourself?”

  Lady shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You shouldn’t question yourself, ever. That’s something that comes with the territory of having opinions.” He finished his drink and ice cubes swirled in his glass. “Now. What am I wearing?”

  Lady looked at him, stunned. “You’re like the smartest man ever but you still want me to dress you.”

  “Well, of course.” Del stood up. “I want us to look like we belong together. Because that’s the truth.”

  Lady kissed him. “All right, then you will wear this.”

  Lady pulled a black suit from the closet rack. Then she fumbled through shirts for a minute.

  “You can choose between this pink shirt and the white one.”

  Del thought they both sounded pretty stiff. “I gotta be honest, I’m a little afraid of the pink shirt. The white shirt sounds pretty traditional. Aren’t there any black shirts?”

  “Oh yeah, black would look good.” Lady found a few and pulled them out. “It’s just so hard for black clothes to match. Let me just hold these up to the light for a minute.”

  She strained her eyes for a moment and considered them. “Here, this one. No, wait, this black shirt will be better.”

  She looked tired, stressed, and near tears as she held out two shirts.

  Del took one and said, “Hey, it’s all right. This one is fine. If you break out and cry you’re never dressing me again.”

  He buttoned the cuffs and tried to lighten the mood. “How about if I pick out what I wear from now on. Then you really will have a reason to cry.”

  Lady giggled. “Oh, Del. You’re so funny.”

  Del didn’t feel funny. He felt more like a hiker’s staff than a clown. But he did what he could for Lady, and if it meant filling different shoes then so be it. Del finished dressing in mild chit chat. Lady put her things away. Everything was neat and tidy when they left for the party.

  ***

  They arrived in the glammed out parade of cars. For the first time Del wished he was driving and not riding in the back of a limo.

  Del didn’t know what to expect from the evening. However, he did know alcohol could eliminate half of his worries. So he sat in the plush limo and sipped champagne. He waited patiently for someone to open his door.

  The moment arrived and his door was held open. He stepped from the car and waited for Lady. She had to slide across the seat. Her face popped out and she quickly surveyed the scene.

  She put her gloved hand on Del’s waiting palm. He knew her dress was so tight she could hardly walk, but she managed to be smooth and graceful.

  This time Lady got to walk down her own runway. The red carpet might as well be the same length of the stage. But there wasn’t the calmness of a reserved audience. Casual business reporters stepped it up a notch.

  Camera flashes were blinding at first, but eventually Del’s eyes adjusted. He knew he wasn’t supposed to be in the pictures but Lady gripped his palm.

  Lady was a star and everyone wanted to know how she shone. How did she put together such tasteful outfits? What had motivated her? Was the man beside her a muse?

  Many other questions were asked as well.

  Lady smiled, nodded, and waved. All of the questions remained unanswered. The high level of interest coming to her remained mostly positive. Her smile seemed extra-large and genuinely happy. Her face was redder than he’d ever seen. Maybe she had intentionally done it for attention, or maybe it was a camera flash burn. But whatever or wherever it came from, Del felt the heat as well.

  Giving interviews came with the job. But standing on the sidewalk was like being heckled in a chicken coup.

  Lady and Del were finally cornered by camera crews and two very good looking reporters.

  “Miss Lady Steele, you look beautiful tonight. Did you design your own dress?” the reporter asked.

  “Thank you. I always design what I wear. Just ask him.” She pulled Del’s arm forward. “He has seen all of my designs.”

  Del knew this moment had been coming. But Lady put him on the spot instead of someone else. She knew how to make his appearance in her life more normal.

  “Yes, I have,” Del agreed. “Little Miss Lady here has got the most incredible brain and work ethic I’ve ever seen.”

  “Yes, she is quite delightful,” the male correspondent replied. “But isn’t it true she was carried away from the fashion show today?”

  Del knew enough about tabloids and quotes to say nothing. He looked to Lady and prayed she knew the right answer. He didn’t want there to be any reference to Lady being weak or unable.

  “That’s my fault.” Del pointed to his chest. “It was the fastest way to leave.”

  “Oh. You two must have had a lot to talk about,” the female reporter said slyly.

  The next designer arrived. Lady and Del were shuffled along the sidewalk.

  They lined up in front of a wall. Del felt it must be something like getting your mug shot taken. They were forever stamped into the halls of fashion amid bulbs flashing and suggestions to hold hands or step back and straighten their heads.

  A minute later and they were continuing the trek to the wide double doors. The goal up ahead was Del’s only concern. Once inside the building, Del’s whole idea about fashion and celebrities changed.

  Del had never been around so many beautiful people and things. He felt like the frog that turned into a prince. And even here, he didn’t need the grace, class, or dignity of a prince. But he had it anyway.

  “Are you ready for the wolves in sheep’s clothing, Minister Del?” Lady whispered so only he could hear.

  It had been a long time since he’d been called that name. Lady usually preferred other words of sentiment.

  Tonight, everyone was happy to be there and mingle with their associates. Lady introduced Del to a few of the people she knew. Del recognized some other iconic faces. They mingled and eventually met up with Lady’s mother and father.

  “Darling, you did wonderfully.” Mrs. Steele leaned in for a double cheeked kiss for her daughter.

  She stood back and looked at Del. “You two are the talk of the ball.”

  Lady and Del exchanged a look of bewilderment.

  Mrs. Steele explained, “Don’t you see? Lady introduced a whole new type of male models, a manly type. Her dresses were so-so, but her vision of romance
and telling stories with fashion brought a whole new level of competition. You have everyone scattering about trying to vamp up their own fashion shows. I’m sure tomorrow will be interesting.”

  Both elderly Steeles chuckled.

  Lady grinned and her mother took both her hands. “I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

  Mrs. Steele had been holding Lady’s hand and suddenly began to frown. “Is that a ring on your finger underneath this glove?”

  Lady nodded silently.

  Mrs. Steele was quite reserved; if only the spectators weren’t there, Del wondered if she would’ve yelled. Her face flushed a bright crimson red and Del realized where Lady got it from.

  “You have plenty of time to wear that ring. But I wouldn’t do anything rash if I were you. It would be very strange and uncourteous if you two were spontaneous or negligent of my feelings.”

  Del smiled but kept his voice low as well. “Don’t worry. Tonight is not about making permanent plans. It’s about celebrating what she’s already done. Of course, I will be the first to know if any of Lady’s plans change. But you will be the second. I promise you.”

  Del escorted Lady away and they left the party soon after.

  Lady wanted to get good sleep tonight. And Del agreed. She looked like she might collapse. She had done well at the fashion show and its after party.

  Their car bumped over a pothole in the road and Lady jumped.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know, Del. I didn’t know being creative could take so much out of me. I feel like I’m fifty years older.”

  He slid across the bench seat, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. He wanted to agree. He had felt more tired than usual, but he could chalk it up to the obvious. Instead he consoled her.

  “It’s all right. We can have our close love back now. Just relax. Are you hungry? I couldn’t eat a bite all night. Those places make me nervous. How can someone eat when they’re on display?”

  Del could feel her start to breathe more normally as he spoke. “I’ve got an idea. Let’s order takeout from our favorite restaurant.”

  He felt her nod silently on his chest. He automatically reached into his pocket for his cell phone. He called and placed an order for carryout. Del rolled down the window and told the driver about the change in plans. The window went back up quietly.

  In a few minutes, Lady was asleep. A few minutes more and they rolled to a stop beside the restaurant.

  Del begged the driver, “Please. I’ll tip you a hundred bucks to grab the food. I can’t leave her.”

  The driver nodded and quickly returned with a few paper bags.

  That was one thing Del liked about money. It sure made everything easier. Lady was still sleeping against him when they arrived home.

  “Lady,” he said softly. “We’re home.”

  She sat up, startled. “Where are we?”

  Del shook his head. “We’re at the high rise. Remember your grandpa’s place?”

  “Oh, I thought we were at the farm.” Lady’s door opened and she stepped out.

  Del got out behind her. He carried the bags of food upstairs, and Lady carried herself.

  Chapter 22

  The next day was a day of reckoning. Lady and Del decided to wear comfortable clothes and show up early.

  The first fashion show came from a well-established designer. The lights dimmed and the audience hushed. This show was blaringly different from Lady’s. Loud music and big TVs carried the brunt of attention.

  The music was loud techno and repeated itself on a spun out table. A bright light centered on the stage. A beautiful model walked out quickly, then another walked out, then another. It was easy to see the style of the dress because it was the same thing over and over, but in different colors of grey, silver, black, or charcoal.

  There was also a model on the TV. Every time she moved her dress changed color, like some sort of Technicolor miracle.

  The style of clothes on the runway changed, but again, the same hues made it look more like factory clothes instead of summer clothes.

  The model on the big screen was still the same, but her outfit matched the ones on stage. Here again her chair and dress remained the same but different colors of it showed up simultaneously with the music.

  It went on for another thirty minutes. It ended with a happy designer surrounded by beautifully applauding women.

  The light in the auditorium came up and Lady finally spoke to Del. “Wow that was an expensive production. He spent a lot of money to make sure my little show looked like a county fool tinkering in this business.”

  Lady huffed and looked around.

  Del knew he was her sole comfort and he played up his role. “Hey, it’s all right to be a little different. Let’s go grab a snack and come back for the next show.”

  Del took her hand and lightly led her away from the stage. They weren’t dressed up and Lady didn’t wear any jewelry. They could navigate the room much easier that way. Lady started to be her old self, by way of being reserved and candid.

  “Let’s take our seats back.”

  Del knew that fashion week was a big deal for her, but he didn’t know how many more performances he could sit through. So far they had proven to be a little jarring and unsettling. But this next one would take the cake.

  It was another well-known artist. The lights dimmed to a stringed orchestra back drop. The models were spread out on stage nearly the same as Lady’s team. The outfits and themes were very similar to hers as well. Except there was one major difference. Every outfit was black, whether it was long, short, frilly, or flat. They were all black. The show didn’t have the same rainbow effect as Lady’s.

  Del looked at his companion. Her face was pale and still. He tapped her arm with his finger.

  “Del,” she said, “I have to leave right now.”

  Del was never one to argue, and this was certainly a time to move. They excused themselves from the long row of attendees.

  Lady gasped big breaths of air into her lungs.

  “Del, she copied me.” Lady groaned.

  “What do you expect?” Del stood back and put his thumbs through his belt loops. “There aren’t very many ways to walk down the line.”

  “It’s not just the catwalk. Some of the dresses are mine as well. It’s like Cruella de Vil copied my designs. Instead of a picnic theme, it’s a let’s go sit in a somber black graveyard theme.”

  Del could appreciate half of what she was saying. “Cruella who? Is that someone famous I need to know about? She sounds mean.”

  Lady was still in distress. She hugged her stomach and it stooped her back.

  “Please think very carefully about the accusation you are saying.” Del put up his hands reasonably.

  Lady stood up tall. Her brown tiger eyes shot him a moment of patience.

  “I know that designer got inspiration from me. These were things that were not public yet. They were drawings on sketch boards, and just recently got finished. How could another designer see my things?”

  Lady looked paler and weaker by the second.

  “Hidden surveillance,” she said, and began to faint toward the floor.

  Del was there to catch her. He sat them on a nearby bench and tried to be an inconspicuous couple. Lady could never be camouflage. Even in her shocked state of mind she was still beautiful.

  Lady looked like she was going to cry.

  “All right, that’s enough. We’re leaving now.”

  Del didn’t expect an argument and got what he wanted.

  ***

  They arrived back at the penthouse. Lady paced back and forth like a caged tiger. She looked at one corner of the room, then another.

  “Where could the cameras be?” she demanded from the unyielding walls.

  Del swished his drink and spoke quietly. “Do you remember all of the pranks and jokes on TV about catching people doing weird things? They hide cameras everywhere. These cameras are simple. They only take information from you. If
a camera doesn’t have to display anything for you, then guess how tiny it is? The camera that takes from you is like a TV for someone else. It is being broadcasted somewhere else. It’s a tiny prick that sucks information from you and gives it to someone else.”

  Del had been processing information through his head. The more he considered it the madder he got.

  “That means someone invaded the private property of my farm.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. He didn’t know if he could live a life like this. Who knew where all the cameras were? Were they in his bedroom as well? How about his bathroom?

  He didn’t want to think about these things because it made him want to throw up. And poor Lady. Just looking at her moved him and he was compelled to her side. Up until now, he thought he could handle it, but he didn’t want to be intruded upon by ‘guests’ in any way, shape, or form.

  And that was the polite way to express himself to the cheap fakes. If his language of dealing with thieves and liars was more defined he could have given them countless names. Instead he sat in his chair and watched as Lady cried her heart out.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  Del looked at Lady questioningly. He wouldn’t open that door unless Lady wanted it open. She sniffled and nodded. Del stood up quickly.

  He opened the door to her parents.

  “Hello, Mrs. Steele. Mr. Steele.” Del shook their hands politely.

  He turned his head to another person at the door. “I haven’t met you yet.”

  “My name is Royce,” the dark man said without committing any more information on his name or presence. He walked into the room without invitation.

  He abruptly asked, “May I sit down?”

  He didn’t wait for an answer and took the dominant chair in the room. Tom and Lucy Steele sat down on the couch. They didn’t sit together, instead they each sat anchored to different ends of the Persian cushions. They hoarded the lamps and table stands for their things.

  Lady cuddled the loveseat with a snuggly blanket and a box of tissues. Del stood by the door and considered his guests.