“Unfortunately, it’s being reported that you were was high on drugs, Bailey,” Nelson said. “Someone snapped a picture of you and sold it.”
Kyle muttered a curse under his breath.
“Honey, your father and I think that you should leave the country for a while,” Lila said. “You can recuperate away from the glare of the media.”
“She shouldn’t be alone,” Kyle said. “We need to make sure she is surrounded by security until we find out who’s after her.”
“I’ve hired bodyguards to travel with Bailey,” Roger announced. “They’ll leave tonight for an undisclosed location. She doesn’t need to deal with public opinion after all she’s been through.”
Kyle agreed with his father. But he was also worried that whoever had attacked Bailey was still out there and would try again.
“I’m going to find out who leaked that photograph,” he vowed. “Maybe that will lead us to the attacker.”
* * *
“I read that Bailey had cocaine on her when she was found,” Liora said as she poured herself a cup of coffee. “It was in one of the tabloids at the grocery store.”
“It’s not true,” Zoe said. “I’ve known her for years and Bailey has never done drugs. She doesn’t even like to take aspirin for a headache. She’s being set up.”
“Have you spoken to Kyle at all this morning?”
Zoe shook her head. “I left early to make sure that everything was ready at Lincoln Center. I only came back here because in my haste, I left this.” She held up her iPad.
Liora chuckled. “I was wondering why you were here when I got up.”
Picking up her purse, she said, “I need to head back, so I’ll see you at the show.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
* * *
A bouquet of roses had arrived for Zoe at the Guava tent while she was gone. She removed the tiny envelope attached.
I wanted to wish you good luck with your show today.
Kyle
“Who sent you those?” Jerry asked. “And where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“They’re from Kyle,” Zoe said. “As for where I’ve been, Jerry, I was here at five-thirty this morning making sure that everything was in place.” She swallowed the resentment she felt. He had been riding her all morning. Actually, he’d been riding her since the night of the cocktail parties.
“I’m sorry for growling at you,” he said. “It’s just that today of all days...”
“I told you that I would never let you down. And I haven’t, Jerry.” Zoe brushed past him without waiting for a response.
“I see one of the skeletons fell out of your precious Hamiltons’ closet,” Sasha said as Zoe walked past her. “I never would’ve imagined Bailey as a cokehead.”
Zoe resisted the urge to strangle the woman.
She brushed past a group of models standing in line for hair and makeup. She set her roses on a table across from the refreshments.
Zoe released a soft sigh when she spotted Jerry walking toward her.
“We have a model that’s running late. Her last show ran over,” he complained. “I hate when this happens.”
“Calm down,” she told him. “They can do her makeup quickly and then she’ll be ready. She’s only a couple of tents away.”
I’m not going to let anyone ruin this day for me, Zoe vowed silently when he walked away.
Her thoughts strayed more than once to Kyle, but she fought to bring her focus back to the show.
An hour later, she stood backstage next to Jerry as the show finally began. “We were only a few minutes late,” Jerry said to Zoe. “That’s not too bad.”
“I told you to stop worrying so much,” she said.
The third model was about to walk the runway wearing one of Zoe’s designs. Zoe chewed on her bottom lip and resisted the urge to peek out at the attendees.
“Go, go,” she heard the producer say. “C’mon, let’s get out there.”
After the finale, Jerry and Zoe walked out, hand in hand.
The room erupted in applause.
Smiling, Zoe waved at the buyers, fashion editors and others in attendance. She was proud of the fruits of her hard labor.
“What did I tell you?” Jerry said. “They loved your designs.”
She smiled. “They loved yours, too. We were a hit.” Zoe was ecstatic. The only low point was the fact that Kyle had not been able to share this moment with her.
“We should celebrate tonight,” Jerry said. “Why don’t we go to the Paradise Club?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Sasha said. “Count me in.”
He looked at Zoe. “You’re going to join us, aren’t you?”
Her eyes strayed to Sasha, who clearly didn’t want Zoe to attend. Sasha didn’t have to worry about her, however. Zoe wanted nothing more than to check on Kyle.
“I’m not going to be able to make it,” she told him. “You all go and have a great time.”
Sasha broke into a smile. “We intend to do just that. Don’t we, Jerry?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Jerry asked her, looking at her closely.
“I have other plans, I’m afraid.” She pointed toward the rack of discarded clothing. “I’ll start packing up.”
“I’m going out to speak with a couple of editors,” Jerry said. “I promised them interviews.”
Zoe’s cell phone rang as she was doing a quick inventory to make sure every outfit, pair of shoes and accessory was accounted for.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was Kyle.
“Kyle, how is Bailey?” she asked as soon as she answered.
“She’s coping with everything,” he said. “She’s talking to the police right now, but she doesn’t really remember much of what happened.”
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” she told him. “I can tell by your voice.”
“I’m upset that somebody sold a photograph of my sister unconscious with a bag of coke. She is not a drug addict and I will not see her defamed.”
“Kyle, anybody that knows your sister will know that it’s not true.”
“What about the millions who don’t know her, Zoe?”
“The truth will come out.”
There was a long pause. Zoe could tell Kyle wanted to ask her something. She held her breath.
“Zoe, would you like to spend the evening with me? We can order in and watch a movie or just talk.”
Zoe couldn’t help the giant grin that spread across her face. “I’d love that, Kyle. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Zoe saw Jerry coming toward her and said, “I have to get back to work, but I’ll see you later.”
“Sounds like you have a big date tonight,” Jerry said, sounding annoyed.
She smiled. “I wouldn’t exactly call it a date, but I do have plans with a friend.”
“Anybody I know?”
Zoe gave him a firm look that clearly said it was not any of his business. She knew that Jerry meant well, but there was a boundary he would not be allowed to cross.
* * *
“I have a good idea who she’s spending the evening with,” Sasha told Jerry.
“How would you know anything about Zoe’s personal life? She can’t stand you.”
“Jerry, I’m going to give you a little piece of advice. You need to be very careful who you allow in your inner circle. There are some people who will do whatever it takes to make it in this industry, including betraying those she works with.” Sasha took a sip of her champagne as she watched him over the rim of her glass.
“So? Who do you think Zoe is seeing tonight?”
She met Jerry’s curi
ous gaze. “I think you can answer that question yourself.”
“Kyle Hamilton.”
Sasha nodded. “She’s involved with him.”
Jerry shook his head. “He’s just using her.”
“I wish he would just take her back at RHD. We’ll be fine without her.”
“No,” Jerry said. “I am not going to let Kyle win. Not this round.”
“What do you plan to do?” Sasha asked with a look of delighted surprise.
“I’m not sure yet,” Jerry said. “But Zoe is Guava’s rising star, and she’s not going anywhere. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Chapter 14
“Your show was a hit,” Kyle said when she arrived at his apartment. “You’re blowing up all over social media. Congratulations.”
Zoe broke into a smile. “Thanks. I read in the Times this morning that RHD hit a home run as well, but then, I’m not surprised.”
He eyed her for a moment. “You really seem to be in your element with Guava.”
“I love what I do,” she said. “I believe that designing is in my blood.”
“It’s true. You’re very talented, Zoe.”
She followed him through the apartment to the den, where the television was on.
“How is Bailey doing?” Zoe inquired.
“She’s okay for the most part. I know that she’s not sleeping well. She’s still staying with my parents for now.”
“So what are you working on now?” she asked, dropping down on the leather couch. “Have you already moved on to the collection for the fall?”
“Not yet. I’ve been playing with several ideas, but nothing’s concrete.”
His response stunned Zoe. He was not one to sit around idly. Kyle was usually way ahead of the game. In the past, he’d had the next collection sketched out by the end of Fashion Week.
“Kyle, are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “I just wish that I knew who was after my sister.”
She reached over and squeezed his arm. “At least she’s safe now.”
“We just have to keep her that way.” Kyle took her hand for a moment and gave it a squeeze. “Let’s eat. I ordered us Italian.”
As they sat at the dining room table, Kyle gazed at her. “I’m glad you came over, Zoe,” he told her.
“So am I,” she said. Zoe picked up her wineglass and took a sip. “After the day I’ve had, this is a nice way to relax.”
Kyle broke into a grin. “I understand. So are you ready to see what your fans are saying about you?” Kyle handed her his phone, and she looked at the Guava Facebook feed.
Zoe smiled as she read what some of the attendees were saying.
The first highlight came the moment Harley Paul stepped onto the catwalk in a stunning black shantung silk-and-lace gala creation by Zoe Sinclair. Last season she dazzled, but this year she outdid herself with a dramatic collection.
“It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?” Kyle asked her.
Zoe nodded.
“Just from the pictures I’ve seen so far, you and Jerry outdid yourselves. I won’t be surprised if Jerry gets his own label soon.”
“He’s earned it,” she said.
“Zoe, I’m really proud of you. I want you to know that.”
She broke into a wide grin. “It means a lot to me to hear you say that.”
Zoe and Kyle returned to the den after they finished eating.
“Still in the mood for that movie?” he asked.
“Actually,” she confessed, “I’m tired.”
“I’ll give you a ride home.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“No, I want to,” Kyle insisted. “I’m going to take you home.”
She smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
Zoe was touched that he was not going to try to get her to spend the night at his apartment. She knew that if he really pressed the issue it would not be easy for her to turn him down. Her body craved his touch, although she was working feverishly to keep the craving under control.
She didn’t know how much longer she could keep up her guard. And she was starting to wonder why she bothered in the first place.
There was nothing more dangerous than that.
* * *
The next morning, Jerry stopped her in the hallway. “How was your date last night?”
“It was fine,” she said, meeting his gaze. “How was your little party?”
“Oh, we had a good time.” He followed her into her office. “I’m sure you’ve heard about Bailey Hamilton.”
Zoe nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard the lies that the media is spreading.”
“Lies? I know that you have a fondness for the Hamilton family, but pictures don’t lie, Zoe. She was found with a bag of coke and she was clearly so high that she couldn’t model. Her sister had to take her place.”
“Bailey is not abusing drugs.”
Jerry waved his hand as if to dismiss her words. “People have been known to live secret lives, Zoe.”
“Bailey would never use cocaine.”
“I wasn’t aware that you and she were so close.”
She met his gaze head-on. “That’s because my relationship with Bailey has nothing to do with this job.”
Jerry cleared his throat. “Well, I’m glad she’s okay. I’m sure the Hamiltons were worried.”
“We all were,” Zoe murmured.
“Kyle is lucky to have you to comfort him.”
“If you’re going to get started on your rant about Kyle, I would rather not listen to it. I have work to do.”
She was not in the mood for Jerry’s attacks on Kyle. She knew that he was fishing around to find out the extent of their relationship, but Jerry had no right to delve into her personal life. He was her boss, but Zoe intended to make sure he did not cross any boundaries with her. It was a lesson she had learned from Kyle.
* * *
With Fashion Week behind them, Kyle and his family worked nonstop with police and private detectives, all looking for some clue as to who might be stalking Bailey. The Hamiltons also had to deal with the ever-intrusive press, who wanted to find more evidence of Bailey’s drug use.
“They just won’t let up,” Kyle complained to Zoe one afternoon while they were having lunch. “Even after releasing the toxicology results, people are still trying to prove that Bailey was high the day of the fashion show.”
“Have the detectives come up with anything?”
He shook his head. “They have interviewed everyone Bailey may have encountered that day, but they’ve come up with nothing.”
While Kyle knew that Zoe sincerely cared for Bailey, he wanted to keep his emotions intact. Just a few weeks ago, she would barely say two words to him.
“Hey,” she prompted. “What are you thinking about?”
“It’s nothing,” Kyle replied.
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
Zoe didn’t press him any further.
Kyle cautioned himself to slow down where she was concerned. He had shown her what kind of man he was. Tried to make sure Zoe understood that she had someone to count on. She could let down all her defenses with him.
Only she chose to continue keeping her feelings locked up. Zoe had been so upset with him all these years—Kyle was not sure that she could just let the past die down completely. Was it possible that she was out for some type of revenge?
Zoe was not the type of woman who would play games. But then again, she could hold on to a grudge. Kyle knew that much. She had also flirted with his cousin to make him jealous. He shook the troubling thoughts away. He was running out of reasons to keep his distance from Zoe. She was in his blood and there would be no escape.<
br />
* * *
Zoe left Kyle’s apartment puzzled by his behavior. She knew that he was upset by the media’s portrayal of Bailey and worried for her, but there seemed to be something else bothering him. She could see it in the lines of his face. Hear it in the strain of his voice.
She could feel it in the pit of her stomach.
He was distant in much the same way he had been all those years ago. When she’d readied herself to leave, Zoe had had the distinct impression that Kyle was relieved, and it brought back all the pain she had struggled to keep buried.
What kind of cruel game was Kyle playing? Did he have any idea how much she wanted him in her life, how afraid she was to let him near her heart? She didn’t want him to shatter her world like he had five years ago.
Kyle had been pursuing her zealously, but since Bailey’s kidnapping he suddenly seemed to be backing off. Maybe all he wanted from her was friendship.
But was that possible, after the kiss he had given her that night?
Zoe decided it was best to just keep her heart shielded. She had no interest in getting sucked back into the vortex of churning emotions—shame, embarrassment, anger and frustration. She wasn’t going there again.
“You don’t deserve my love, Kyle Hamilton,” she whispered. The words opened an emptiness inside her.
Zoe made a cup of hot tea and carried it to her bedroom. She climbed into her bed and just sat there staring into space. A lone tear rolled down her cheek.
The words, the laughter, the intensity of the connection between them...was it simply Kyle reeling her in? Was he securing her attraction so that she would become his lover? His friend with benefits?
A part of her did not want to believe this of him. Would he be this cruel to intentionally hurt her?
No, Zoe thought. A connection like the one between them couldn’t be faked.
Styles of Seduction Page 11