by Maggie Marr
“They go in the center of the tables, next to the neon wigs.”
Todd and Ilko had been very specific with their decoration requests for the launch party and Leo had been clear: whatever Todd and Ilko wanted for decor, Gwen should get. That included the Romanian aerial silk artist who hung ten feet above the crowd with a leg draped around a piece of fabric doing acrobatic tricks in a sequined thong bikini.
Ben looked up at the silk apparatus. “I hope she doesn’t fall.”
“If she does, the whole party will go splat.”
Ben cocked an eyebrow.
“Sorry, unintended pun. Don’t forget the neon ice cubes. Bar number two needs green and blue. There are more in the kitchen.”
“What is this anyway, an eighties retro-fest?” Ben mumbled. He walked from table to table dropping off bundles of the long slender glow sticks.
A voice sounded in Gwen’s ear. “Eagle one? Come in, eagle one.” It was Amanda, the newly hired PR exec for Travati Financial.
Gwen pressed her fingers to her earpiece, sighing. “Please do not refer to me as a bird. What is it?”
“The Lion has landed.”
“Lion?”
“You know, like Leo the lion? He’s in the building.”
Gwen’s heartbeat kicked upward into the panic zone. She wiped her hands down the front of her black dress, flattening imaginary wrinkles. Calm. Cool. Collected. Leo was simply a client now. A corporate client, and she was doing the launch party for his newest business venture. She skirted around the edge of bar number four toward the red carpet entrance. She needed to speak to Leo (for the first time in sixteen days, but who was counting?) to make certain he knew the timing for the evening. The room was already filling. Clusters of guests stood along the edges of the room and milled near the bars.
A server swept by with a tray of Nina’s famous ahi crisps, Nina herself tailing a few feet behind in a black chef’s coat and black pants. She stopped beside Gwen and put her hands on her hips.
“You ready? Everything looks good out here, right?”
Gwen nodded. Her mouth was dry, and she couldn’t quite swallow around the lump lodged in her throat. She was a professional, dammit, but it had really just hit her, a fact that she’d suppressed up until now. She hadn’t spoken to Leo once since the night… The lump grew another inch. Since that night.
“We still think five hundred?” Nina asked.
“The list says two—”
“Which means five. Everyone’s going to want to be here tonight. The entire Yankees team and the Knicks are coming.”
That’d been tough—finding a day when they could get all of the Yankees to a party—but they’d managed. When you were a billionaire, there really wasn’t much you couldn’t do.
Except commit to having children.
Gwen shook her head. She didn’t have time for self-indulgent pity.
“These guys roll deep.” Nina surveyed the room and the growing crowd of New York glitterati.
“Leo does,” Gwen said and sighed.
“How’re you doing with all this?”
“Fine.” Gwen forced a tight smile to her face.
“Which means not fine.” Nina crossed her arms over her chest and directed a penetrating look at Gwen. “Look, I wasn’t opposed to you two dating. I watched him look at you for, what, six months? If anyone could have tamed him, it would’ve been you.”
Gwen’s heart fluttered. She didn’t know if that was a compliment or a tragedy. Right now, it simply felt like heartbreak. “He’s here.” She nodded toward the door, where flashes from photographers’ cameras blitzed the red carpet. With the event’s stellar guest list, the blinding picture-taking would go on for hours.
“I’m heading back to my safe zone.” Nina turned toward the kitchen. “Let me know if anything is off with the food or if you need me.” Her eyes held a knowing look, saying without words that she had Gwen’s back should she falter.
“Thanks,” Gwen said. “I got this.”
“I know you do,” Nina said and headed toward the back.
Gwen angled toward the entrance. She wanted to get her business with Leo finished. Provide him with a quick rundown of the evening and then go about being the active shadow she was at these events. Making certain everything ran smoothly. If she did her job well, then people wouldn’t even notice that she was there.
“Uh-oh,” Amanda said over the headset.
“What is it?” Gwen asked, immediately hyperalert. Not the right time to have a snafu, not when Leo was just arriving, not when the party was filling, not moments before the DJ was meant to introduce Leo to the crowd.
“Uhmm…” Amanda murmured. “Well…”
“What? What is it? Is a pap giving Leo a difficult time?” Gwen immediately picked up speed, her heels clicking across the floor toward the doorway that led toward the red carpet, the madness, and the photogs outside.
“No, it’s fine. I mean, Leo’s fine, it’s just that—”
Gwen didn’t hear the end of Amanda’s sentence as she looked out the door. She didn’t hear anything, not the crowd around her, the shouts of the paparazzi, or the music firing up in the room behind her. All she heard was a buzzing noise, a thrum in her ears, kind of like a bee was stuck near her brain. Her eyes…was she really seeing what she thought she saw? Her heart hammered and her fingers tingled.
“Gwen! Gwen are you there?” Amanda’s voice snapped her out of her daze. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes…no…I mean, what is it?” The sea of humanity parted for Leo in his black Armani suit, looking, with his black hair and sharp jaw, like he’d just stepped off the cover of Esquire magazine. Yes, he looked every bit the bachelor to snag, and why wouldn’t he? And he’d arrived with the perfect accessory—the heiress and model of the moment molded to his side. If not for the beaded gown cut down to her belly button and her bare skin, you couldn’t tell where the girl started and Leo began. That close. So close.
“I said, he’s not alone.”
“Indeed,” Gwen whispered. “He seems to have found someone to bring.”
*
Leo should have contacted Gwen before he arrived at the launch party with Mischa on his arm. Seeing her there at the side of the red carpet, her face the color of paper, her lips in a thin line, he knew he’d completely misjudged. Yes, he was most certainly the world’s biggest ass. He’d assumed that she’d understand, that she’d know this was necessary for the launch, that he needed to appear the man about town. Yes, of course, Mischa was lovely, and completely down with a convenient arrangement, but he didn’t think he’d sleep with her. No, he’d only wanted a piece of arm candy to bring to the event.
Didn’t Gwen know that?
But how could she know? He hadn’t spoken to her, he hadn’t told her, so why would she know? He maintained his smile for the photographers as Mischa pressed closer to his body and they turned for the flashing lights of the cameras. His gaze swept over the spot Gwen had stood just a moment before. Amanda, their PR person, appeared at his side to filling him in on who was here and who he needed pictures with. He heard Amanda’s words but wondered where Gwen had disappeared to. He had to tell her, really needed to explain.
“Excuse me,” he extricated himself from Ishy’s grip and left both her and Amanda behind in the crowd. The kitchen. Most likely she was in the kitchen conferring with Nina. Wouldn’t that be grand? He’d get to see them both.
He made it halfway across the room before he realized that in the thick crowd and pulsing neon lighting, he wasn’t exactly sure which direction he was headed any more. His younger brother, Anthony, sauntered toward him from one of the bars, a drink in hand. “Brother, this is really something,” he said. “I’m beginning to believe this app might be a big deal.”
“Beginning? Come on, until you and Shelly reconciled, you would have been all over this app.”
Anthony nodded. “True, probably true, but I’ve seen the light, and I can tell you it’s much better on
the other side.”
“Speaking of the other side, where’s Shelly?”
“Mrs. Bello wasn’t feeling so great, so Shelly is staying at our place with her. They both send their congratulations, and Shelly sends her thanks that you haven’t asked me to beta test the app.”
Leo smiled a wan smile, but his eyes darted past his brother to scan the crowd. He looked back over his shoulder. Amanda and Ishy were hot on his heels. He wouldn’t break free of them or his commitments a second time. A glance ahead told him Todd and Ilko were also closing in on him from the far side of the room. Todd wore a hat that looked like a panda bear’s head and Ilko’s dress made her look like Raggedy Ann. “You know where the kitchen is?”
Anthony spun and pointed toward the far corner. “Pretty sure that’s it. I just saw Gwen speeding that way, so I’m guessing—”
“Thanks.” Leo tapped his brother on the upper arm. Anthony started to speak but Leo was gone, ducking and weaving through the crowd, smiling as people congratulated him. Many wore a look of adulation, as if he were spinning gold from thin air. He was pretty used to getting that look from people.
That look was nothing like the one he got when he rounded the corner to the kitchen. Nina saw him first, her eyes flashing fire. She stood with Gwen in the long narrow hall that led to the restrooms and the kitchen. Nina had her arm around Gwen, who had one hand pressed to her forehead.
Leo edged toward them.
“Not a good time, Travati.” Nina shot him a glare that could have set his hair ablaze. “We’re trying to sort out a problem with one of the appetizers. Maybe you could give us a moment?” She was lying, obviously. She was attempting to save Gwen from the humiliation of looking like a whipped puppy in public due to Leo’s thoughtlessness.
“Right.” Leo took a step back, feeling like even more of a jerk. His gaze landed on Gwen. As if she could feel his eyes on her, she glanced up from the floor at him. In that light, the glow from the kitchen spilling into the darkened hallway, he could see her naked look of pain and anger and surprise, simple surprise. It hit him that she was also the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.
She gained control of her expression and straightened as her hand fell away from her forehead. “Leo, do you need something? Is there something…” She paused, took a deep breath. “Is there anything wrong with the party?”
“No, the party…” He stepped forward again, “Gwen, the party is—” What could he say? He felt like a cruel, shallow ass. “Nina, can we have a minute?”
Gwen nodded. Nina backed toward the kitchen, flashing Leo a disdainful look. Gwen turned and walked further down the hall to a side passage, where it was wider and quieter.
“I’m sorry,” Leo started. “You have to know that I brought Mischa for appearances, for business. Having her with me fits the image that I need to project for the launch.”
Gwen crossed her arms over her chest. He could appreciate how hard she tried to look uncaring and professional and stoic. He might have bought it if he hadn’t spent the last couple of months making love to her, practically living with her, and falling in love with her.
His heart jolted. Falling in love with her. He cleared his throat. “You can be certain there’s nothing between me and Mischa—”
“I know,” Gwen said. “I understand. Because really, there’s nothing between you and any of your dates, is there? I mean, that’s the whole premise of this app, right? That there doesn’t need to be anything but the physical and the now.”
How could he answer that? Well, yes, that was the premise and before…before he’d met Gwen, spent time with and fallen for her, that premise and that lifestyle had seemed like enough. But now, standing here across from her, seeing false bravado barely disguise the pain in her eyes, he knew that his before-Gwen life was no way to go through life at all. Those kinds of liaisons didn’t mean anything, weren’t meant to mean anything. Like eating cotton candy for dinner seven nights a week, they couldn’t provide nourishment—they could only leave him feeling empty. But he couldn’t say those things tonight, not all that, not now. Not when he was launching the app and needed to just get through this party.
“I’m sorry.” He straightened his spine and inclined his head toward her. “I should have at least had the courtesy to tell you that I was bringing someone. I didn’t mean to throw you off your game. I know you’re a professional, and I wouldn’t want to put you in a difficult position.”
She shook her head, gave him a faint, distant smile. “A difficult position? No, no, Leo, I’m not in a difficult position. I’ll be just fine.” Her eyes lost focus, and she put her fingertips to her ear, holding one upright finger toward him. “Okay, okay,” she said into the wire mic next to her mouth. Her eyes returned to him. “You need to go, they’re ready to introduce you. The DJ is ready.”
He nodded and started to turn away, but glanced back to look at Gwen one more time. He wanted to see his Gwen—to soak up her legs, her figure, that dress, her high heels—but his Gwen was already gone.
Chapter 19
Gwen needed a vacation. She needed to get out of New York City. She sighed and took one final circle of the venue. The partygoers were gone, the servers were finished, and the DJ had packed his equipment. Even Nina and her kitchen staff were nearly finished.
Gwen had three other events before Shelly’s bridal brunch, which was almost completely planned. Since she was no longer meeting with Milan every Monday for the Vanderpelk wedding, Gwen had a week, maybe two if she stretched it, where she could go out of town and take a vacation. Maybe Hawaii? Or Tahiti? Or that place Aubrey raved about…what was the name? Mesquale. Yes, she could go to Mesquale. The Travati family had a condo at the resort Aubrey had invited her to use more than once…but did she want to? Maybe she actually needed to distance herself from all things Travati. Well, all things but Aubrey and Shelly…maybe just Leo and family events. Because family events meant Gwen would see Leo, and right now she didn’t want to see him at all.
She’d been professional, she’d done her job, a damn good one, even with the distraction of watching Leo with Mischa twined around his body. My God, but the woman wouldn’t get off him. Perhaps Mischa also desired more than an arrangement that was simply convenient? The heiress hadn’t appeared to be on Leo’s arm tonight just to enhance her own business pursuits, but to please Leo and perhaps any whim he wished to indulge after the party.
Heat bloomed in Gwen’s chest.
Not her problem. She shook her head, trying to remove the unwelcome thoughts of Leo and Ishy and their evening together from her mind. A vacation, she definitely needed a vacation. Maybe after Aubrey had the baby she could find a way to get out of town for a bit…
“Want to share a cab?” Nina emerged from the hallway that led to the kitchen. “We’re headed the same direction.” Gwen nodded. Nina stayed with Aubrey and Justin when she was in town. Better to share and split the cost. Her feet ached. Damn, this had been a long event. And emotionally brutal.
“You did a great job tonight, by the way. Held it together really well,” Nina said as they walked into the brisk spring night.
A compliment from Nina meant something. Nina didn’t fib, and she didn’t sugar-coat. If Nina told her she’d done a good job, then she had. “Thanks. Fooled them all?”
Nina nodded. “Everyone but me and maybe Leo. But he’s an ass. He should feel like the shit someone scraped off the bottom of their shoe.” She stepped off the curb and waved her arm at the passing taxis.
“Stop.”
“No, really. I don’t care how convenient an arrangement someone might have or not, there’s such a thing as common courtesy.” A cab pulled to a stop and Nina opened the door. “He knew you’d be here. He should’ve at least sent you a text or an email. This crap makes him a boob in my book.”
Gwen slid across the leather seat to sit next to Nina. “He wasn’t thinking about it in terms of me. He was thinking about product image and business.” She sighed. “Which isn’t a
ll bad. Guess I never noticed how myopic he can be.”
“That happens when the sex is good.” Nina leaned forward and told the cabby Aubrey’s address.
The great sex hadn’t been the only reason she’d ignored that Leo was too self-involved, but she didn’t want to think about it now. She believed Leo when he said he hadn’t thought that he should have called to warn her. He’d assumed that Gwen would treat the situation the same as he did: business. Tonight had been business. The potentially personal nature of the evening didn’t occur to Leo until he saw Gwen’s reaction. Ishy meant nothing to Leo, and knowing that somehow hurt more.
“15 CPW,” the cabby said, pulling into the private entrance.
Gwen hugged Nina. “Thank you.”
“No problem. I’m here, Aubrey is here.” Nina smiled. “Of course, she wishes the baby was here.”
“Don’t we all,” Gwen said. The baby. Yes, she didn’t want to leave New York until Aubrey’s baby arrived. They’d all been waiting for what felt like forever.
Nina waved and slid out of the car. Gwen told the cabby her address, then leaned back and waited for the cab ride to end.
*
“Our numbers are the shiznit!” Todd lounged in a chair in Leo’s office, wearing an eye-watering combination of a pink fedora and red glasses. “Beyond our expectations. We’ve already recouped our startup.” Todd held up his hand for a high five and Ilko slapped his palm.
Leo was just as pleased as Todd and Ilko. He had reviewed the app’s earnings report, and it had clearly taken off since the launch party two weeks before.
“We want to move on to the next app,” Ilko said, running her fingers through the front of her dyed purple mohawk.
“Send me a proposal. Similar to ACA?” Leo poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the low table and leaned back into the leather sofa.