Even though Alex barely acknowledged her, their night together kept intruding into her thoughts and she banished the images by forcing herself to listen to the presentation.
The architect said, “The square footage price is far below the market rate for a commercial building with enhanced security.”
Alex said, “It may be too large for Berceto. We could make do with two thirds of the space.”
Emilia said, “I considered that, but the building is in the right location and I thought if the space was renovated then we could rent part of it. The idea was that if Berceto expands in the future we could give the tenant notice.”
Her father turned to Alex, “What do you think?”
His eyes raked over her. “I agree.”
When the meeting concluded, her father walked the architect out and she was left alone with Alex.
She stood up and faced him. “We need to talk. I think you misunderstood what I said last night.”
She watched a shuttered expression come over him.
“You want to keep our relationship private, si?” He held her gaze and she felt a wall being erected between them.
She moved toward him and tried to get him to understand her position. “I’ve made many changes coming here. I gave up a quiet life and have thrown myself into the spotlight to help the company. I’ve done photo shoots, video clips, attended galas. I’ve told my family that you were the man in the revealing photographs. I would just like to leave anything that happens between us private.”
“I think you are saying that you would like to hedge your bets. If it doesn’t work out, then nothing would be lost. If it does, then you will decide to announce it to your friends and family.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Why is that a problem?”
A stubborn look flashed across his face. “I’m not interested in a relationship built on safety and hedging one’s bets.”
Her father returned to the conference room. Alex shifted the conversation to the overall schedule for moving the business. He elaborated on his plans to finance the building and the renovation.
He turned to Emilia. “I’ll have my forwarding agent speak with your new hire about the procurement process. I’m certain something can be worked out. I’ll stay involved in negotiating the contracts and pricing. I’m thinking that you should focus on the launch and events associated with the trade show.”
After a few more minutes of conversation, Alex stood and shook her father’s hand and then reached out to shake her hand. Her heart seemed to melt at the brief contact his hand made with hers.
He left a moment later and Emilia fell into the chair behind her. She didn’t even try to hide the exhaustion permeating her entire body.
“What is happening between the two of you?” her father asked her.
She shook her head. “Nothing. Berceto doesn’t need the added drama of a romance playing out.”
Her father looked skeptical. “There seems to be a close connection between you. I think you like him and I’m fairly certain the sentiment is returned.”
Emilia gathered her laptop and other belongings. “I didn’t want to give away forty percent of the company. But his knowledge will definitely help us resurrect the business, and without the influx of cash, I don’t know how much longer we had.”
“We were quite lucky that he decided to invest at forty percent. I thought he was set on fifty.” Her father’s words trailed off as he looked at her closely.
She decided not to reveal anything further. They managed to agree on deal that benefitted both parties. Now she needed to put her shattered heart back together.
Emilia finished packing for Las Vegas with a heavy heart. Alex had been a frequent visitor at Berceto all week helping to plan the move and streamline the business functions, but he treated her as if she was merely a business partner.
She had given him several opportunities to seek her out, but he didn’t. She had dressed with obsessive care and had even asked him to lunch, but he had politely declined.
She warned herself not to cling to him, but for some reason the more remote he became, the more she wanted to throw herself at him.
Gathering her suitcase, laptop and bag, Emilia headed out to the waiting taxi. She was supposed to meet Alex along with the marketing team and Liv at the airport. He was using his private jet to fly them to the trade show.
Liv greeted her at the boarding area and within minutes the rest of the team joined them. She noticed everyone was in an upbeat, happy mood. They had thrown a party for the employees last night and had revealed the new designs. The excitement among the employees was tangible. Alex had made time to stop by the event, greeting each employee and spending time discussing the new building.
A flight attendant escorted everyone to the plane after checking each person’s form of identity against the passenger list. The passengers included the security detail and the portable transport cases for the jewels.
Alex boarded last and he had a word with the pilot before greeting everyone. Emilia sat next to Liv and they reviewed the schedule for the three-day event.
She missed Alex terribly. Each night without him had her rethinking her ideas about privacy. Having to work alongside him each day made it so much worse. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her. She was no longer focused solely on the business or designing. Her thoughts were increasingly about Alex and how to reach out to him. The idea that she needed to keep their relationship private no longer appealed to her.
During the flight, Alex moved past her seat and she caught his gaze for a moment. She smiled at him and noticed his eyes lingered on her, but he said nothing. Her nerves were buzzing, making it difficult to sit still, but she forced herself to concentrate on what Liv was saying to her.
Her father and uncle had always attended the annual event. She knew they had disliked it but also knew she would need to seek the spotlight if she was going to draw attention to Berceto. From the pre-press photographs, everyone who attended the show would know she was the heir to the Berceto empire. But the industry press had also reported that Alex Armati now owned forty percent of the company.
Turning her attention back to Liv, she listened to the schedule of events. Liv had pulled up images of their recently constructed booth at the show. It was positioned on a visible corner and had revamped display cases and décor.
Walking into the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas, Emilia caught sight of her cousin Isabel sitting in the opulent foyer. She was glancing at her phone and hadn’t noticed the Berceto entourage yet. Emilia broke away and approached her. Isabel stood, returned her greeting, and hugged her tightly.
“Have you checked in?”
“Yes, a few hours ago. I’ve already been to the convention center and a few other places we may want to consider taking footage.” Her cousin looked happy and gorgeous in her slim-fitting khakis and white button-down blouse.
Emilia needed to find a more private place for them to chat. Glancing over, she noticed Liv approaching with her room key.
“Everything is taken care of. Here is your room key.”
“Liv, this is my cousin, Isabel Neri. Isabel, Liv is my extraordinarily talented assistant.”
“The two of you could be sisters.” Liv looked from one to the other.
Liv guided the two of them to a private elevator leading to one of the secure floors.
Isabel stepped off the opulent elevator. “This is definitely private.”
Emilia moved forward and opened the door to her suite. “We are traveling with millions of dollars in gems.”
“Isn’t it kept in the hotel vaults?”
“Yes, but we need to be mindful of our personal security as well.” It was a part of the process that she didn’t relish. She would much rather be back in her shop designing.
The three women settled into the seating area as Liv brought up the schedule on her tablet.
Isabel said to them, “I have the notes you sent and a few ideas in terms of the shoot.�
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For several minutes, they listened to Isabel intently as she talked about the short clips she would film for the launch.
She said, “I haven’t seen any of the new product images.”
“I decided on aquamarine for the central design theme. We have come up with several new pendants, earrings, and bracelets. The defining piece for the collection is called the ‘Faith Aquamarine pendant’ and is meant as a celebration of an anniversary or milestone.”
Liv pulled up a series of photographs on her tablet and Isabel glanced through them.
“Emilia, this makes it so much harder. Las Vegas is about taking chances and is in the middle of a desert practically. You introduce a gemstone that reminds me of water.”
She glanced at Isabel. She knew her cousin needed a few minutes to get her head around the design. She should have sent her images days ago and not waited until she was here in Vegas.
Emilia stood up and smoothed her skirt down as she began to pace the room. “I don’t want the clips to be about Las Vegas or the setting of the trade show. The launch is here, but I was hoping you could capture the rebirth of Berceto. While I’m hesitant to say this, I want you to capture me stepping into the limelight.”
Isabel shook her head. “You hate being the focus. You are much more comfortable behind the scenes.”
Emilia met her cousin’s surprised look. “That may be true, but for Berceto to succeed, I need to capture interest and convince buyers that Berceto is a viable option.”
Liv interrupted them. “It may not be as difficult as you think. Alex Armati is here and he is hot and knows how to court the media. If you put him in a clip with Emilia, you’ll not be disappointed.”
“I saw some press on him. But you said you weren’t allowing him to purchase stock in Berceto?”
“I had no option but to allow him to purchase forty percent.”
“This is definitely getting more interesting by the minute.” Isabel stood up. “I have to go and find my assistant and rework my ideas. Should we meet after dinner to do a walk-through of the exhibit?”
Emilia nodded. “I really appreciate you coming. I haven’t even had a chance to ask you about your fiancé.”
Isabel hugged her. “We’ll chat later. Right now, we have to figure this out. I want the film clips to be extraordinary.”
Liv left with Isabel and promised to check in later. As the door opened, the valet brought in her luggage.
She spent several minutes organizing her clothing and placing her toiletry items in the bathroom. She took a call from her parents on her cell phone and assured them she was fine.
But her thoughts kept going back to Alex. She realized she had hurt his pride. She had been trying to protect herself and instead had alienated him. She wasn’t sure how to shift their tentative relationship back onto a firm footing. The more she tried not to think about him, the more she found herself obsessed with thoughts of him.
The next day, Emilia stood in the center of her hotel room, dressed in a blue formal gown. A makeup artist was finishing her glamorous look.
Liv sat on the sofa going over the schedule of events, and she was aware of Isabel in the background filming with a hired cameraman.
She silenced the voice in her head that said her look was too showy. Berceto needed a spokesperson, someone to capture the interest of the media. Early in the morning, Emilia cringed as she read Liv’s copy in the press release. While it may be true, she didn’t want to share that much of herself. She was a reclusive designer with a scandal in her background, who was choosing to step into the limelight. She hoped people would be kind.
Repositioning the flow of her elaborate gown, Emilia smiled at the cameraman and pretended she was relaxed.
Liv asked her, “Have you eaten anything today?”
“A few bites.” It was all she could manage this morning as her stomach clenched with nerves.
“I’m going to call downstairs for a protein shake. It would be bad if you fainted.” Liv looked at her. “Just breathe.”
There was a brief knock on the door and someone opened it. Alex strode in and caught her glance.
He stepped within inches of her and said, “You could be a model.”
He was taking in her exquisitely dressed body and she had difficultly taking in oxygen. She wanted to throw herself into his arms but held still. He was dressed in a grey suit with a starched white shirt and blue tie. The cut of the suit accentuated his athletic build and polished mannerisms.
“I brought your necklace.” He held up the slim black Berceto case.
Instead of handing it over to one of the assistants in the room, he opened it to show her.
“It’ll be perfect with your gown,” he said in a low voice.
She looked at the aquamarine gemstones fashioned into an elaborate necklace. It was a beautiful piece. She hoped it would capture the attention of the industry.
In her peripheral vision, she could see Liv encouraging the makeup and hair stylists to pack up.
Alex stepped forward and placed the cool necklace on her chest, trailing his fingers over the elaborate design as he moved behind her and worked the clasp. The cameraman stepped in front of her and captured the image.
She attempted to remain calm as her heartbeat accelerated and her palms tingled. She could feel Alex’s breath on her neck. Was he torturing her on purpose? The only thing she could think about was her desire for him.
As he stepped away from her, he looked completely unfazed by her nearness.
Isabel said to the cameraman, “Let’s go to the venue so we can capture her entrance and the excitement in the crowd.”
Liv handed her the protein shake. “Try to drink this before coming down. I’ll see you there.”
As the door closed, Emilia took a few gulps on the shake and placed it on the table. She noticed Alex checked his watch.
“We should delay about five minutes so you are the last to arrive before the show opens. How are you holding up?”
“Fine. I know this is all part of resurrecting Berceto.”
“The design you came up with is breathtaking,” Alex said as he stepped in front of her.
Looking into his piercing blue eyes, she felt lost. She no longer wanted obscurity. She wanted Alex Armati. Even if that meant courting the media or having her employees discuss her love life. She knew there were no guarantees. Their relationship could fall apart in a few months, but she wanted to take whatever he was willing to offer her.
“Alex…”
“There is no need for us to rehash anything. I know how you feel.”
“No...”
“You need to be mentally ready for the media onslaught. It is a circus down there. I’ll be by your side for much of it, but try to relax and don’t let them scare you.”
“I’m not afraid of them.” It was a strange realization. She was no longer afraid of the media and what they would say about her. She was more afraid of Alex walking away from her. She wanted him more than anything. More than the business. More than her privacy.
“I can see the fear in every line of your body, cara.”
He stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders and pulled her close enough to capture her lips. For a second she thought he would change his mind as his gaze searched hers.
She let out a soft moan and his lips came down on hers. His mouth demanded entrance and she opened her lips and enjoyed the feeling of his tongue sliding erotically over hers. Her entire body seemed to react to him. She didn’t care that stylists had spent literally hours on her hair and makeup; she wanted Alex to unzip her gown so she could feel his hands on her naked body.
He abruptly stepped back. “The fear is gone.”
She touched up her lipstick, and he led her out of the hotel room. Emilia was surprised her body moved gracefully. She fully expected to dissolve at his feet.
A limousine was waiting at a back entrance to the hotel and took them to the convention center. Alex took her hand and brought her t
hrough a private entrance to an elevator.
“You look the part and your designs couldn’t be more spectacular. The opening will go well.”
When the elevators opened, she heard people screaming her name. Alex let go of her hand and gently guided her forward. He stayed close to her but wasn’t giving anyone the impression that they were an item.
In fact, he seemed more like a concerned business partner. She wanted to challenge his cool demeanor but stayed focused on walking toward the trade show.
There were so many flashes going off that she began to worry that she wouldn’t see the entrance. She kept a neutral smile on her face and was careful to elongate her neck to showcase Berceto’s masterpiece.
As the guards let them in, she breathed. The convention hall was enormous. It reminded her of a small city. Alex directed her to the Berceto booth and the sales team greeted her warmly. Liv was there and handed her a chilled bottle of water.
“Did you survive?”
“Yes.” The truth was she barely remembered walking through the crowd. Her thoughts had been on the kiss. She could feel his lips on hers.
Watching Alex, she noticed he engaged the sales team and gave them a quick pep talk as the doors to the show were opened.
Within seconds, the Berceto booth was crowded with industry insiders. Many of the people were buyers for the retail shops and the sales team guided them over to the display cases.
Emilia stood in the center of the spacious booth and greeted people. She received numerous compliments on the necklace she was wearing, but it was too busy to engage in real conversation. A few trade magazines came by and asked to take a photograph and schedule an interview. Liv was on hand to take care of the schedule and Emilia guided people toward her.
She watched as the sales team answered questions about the line of jewelry being launched by Berceto. She thought about the talented workers back at the shop who would have work if this went well.
Alex had left the booth on the arm of a beautiful socialite who barely glanced at Emilia. Liv discreetly told her that the woman, Anita Green, was organizing the charity soccer game and gala that would fund programs to benefit underprivileged children. The woman reminded her of a diva. Blond, powerful, and in control of her sensuality. Emilia watched as men she came in contact with smiled at her.
The Exiled Jeweler: a contemporary romance novel (The Rosa Legacy Book 2) Page 13