“You make sure that’s all it is,” his wife warned. She refused to have Byron make a spectacle of himself and their entire family. She wouldn’t give Andrew that satisfaction. She knew why he’d invited the Adams family to his soiree—he wanted to rub their face in it. After all these years, she was amazed that Andrew could still hold a grudge. He’d married another woman and had a son named Jasper and a stepdaughter, Monica. Why was he still holding on to the past?
“I promise.” Byron crossed his heart.
“Well, if that’s all settled, are we ready to go?” Ethan asked.
“Let’s roll,” Shane said.
* * *
The Jax Cosmetics party was every bit as over the top and ostentatious as Andrew Jackson could make it. Shane was surprised that even with all the money Andrew must have spent on it, it lacked taste.
There were too many balloons, too many pictures of Andrew and too much press, including the tabloids. When they arrived, the red carpet was out, but they could barely move across it.
Waiting at the door in all of his six-foot-five glory was Andrew, his wife, Blythe, and stepdaughter, Monica. “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle,” Andrew said with a thick country accent. “If it isn’t the Adams family and Ethan Graham.”
“Oh, don’t sound so shocked, Jackson,” Byron replied when he came face-to-face with his nemesis. “You did invite us.”
“Aw shucks, I guess I did,” Andrew said and laughed.
“And we’re so happy you could make it,” Monica said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Shane wasn’t surprised that Monica didn’t want them there, because it meant there would be seven more people for Andrew to ignore her for. Monica Jackson was always living in someone else’s shadow, and it was usually Jasper’s shadow, Andrew’s son with his first wife.
“Monica.” Shane inclined his head toward the petite woman.
While every other woman was wearing an evening gown, Monica Jackson was wearing a tuxedo pantsuit, and although it was tailored perfectly, it made her seem masculine.
“Well, if it isn’t wonder boy,” Monica replied, looking Shane up and down. “Come up with any new creations lately?”
“Well, if I did, I’m sure Jax Cosmetics would be sniffing around ready to pick up the scraps,” Shane responded and turned back around to his parents.
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Elizabeth,” Andrew said and reached for his mother’s hand, but Byron stepped in the way. The two men locked gazes, neither one backing down.
Elizabeth grasped her husband’s arm. “You as well, Andrew. Blythe.” She acknowledged Andrew’s second wife, who stood silent at his side thanks to her husband’s larger-than-life personality. Blythe didn’t respond and instead merely stared daggers at her. “Why don’t we all go inside?”
“Good idea, Mom,” Shane said and seconds later the family was moving into the foyer. What immediately caught Shane’s attention was the big placard standing at the doorway of the entrance into the ballroom. He was the first to see it, as Ethan and Kayla were talking to several industry leaders and his parents were in what appeared to be a heated argument. Most likely about his father almost coming to blows with Andrew for attempting to touch his mother. A strange sense of foreboding came over Shane, and he knew the evening was not going to end well.
Shane stared at the placard of none other than Noelle Warner, an Academy Award–winning actress who also just so happened to be the ex-Adams Cosmetics spokeswoman. Clearly, Jax Cosmetics had snapped her up at the first opportunity to stick it to the Adams family, and Shane was sure Noelle had wholeheartedly agreed.
Last year, Ethan had hired his ex-girlfriend Noelle to replace Courtney as the AC spokesmodel, which had not sat well with the family. Noelle had seen it as a way back into Ethan’s bed, because Ethan and Kayla’s marriage had started out as one of convenience. But Noelle had miscalculated because Ethan and Kayla had fallen in love. And the fallout was that she’d nearly destroyed their marriage and almost cost them their unborn son when Kayla had fallen down a flight of stairs after an argument with Noelle.
Shane heard a sharp intake of breath from behind him and then he heard, “What the hell!”
“He ambushed us,” Ethan hissed from behind Shane. “He brought us here knowing full well he’d hired that she devil after I fired her. Kayla, I’m so sorry.” He turned to his wife with apologetic eyes.
“Of course he did,” Shane replied, turning around. “Andrew likes nothing better than to stick it to us.” He walked over to his sister’s other side. “Kayla, don’t let Andrew or Noelle get to you. They aren’t worth it.”
Shane watched Kayla take deep breaths in and out of her nose as the Lamaze coach had taught her. Clearly she wasn’t happy about this latest turn of events, and he could see she was trying her best to keep calm.
Their parents must have seen Kayla in distress, because they quickly walked over. “What’s wrong?” Byron asked, looking down at her.
“See for yourself.” Shane pointed in the direction of the placard.
“That bastard!” Byron yelled. “Where is he?” He glanced around the lobby looking for Andrew Jackson.
“Byron,” Elizabeth warned. “You promised me.”
“That was before he upset our daughter!”
“And I think it’s about to get worse,” Shane said when he saw Noelle Warner come slinking toward them. She was wearing an eye-catching red strapless gown that showed off her sleek shoulders and flawless café-au-lait complexion. She was a woman who knew her captivating allure, but who also couldn’t be trusted. Shane glanced back at Kayla and saw her rushing off toward the women’s room.
“I’ll go after her.” Courtney had suddenly appeared from nowhere and went rushing after her older sister.
Shane stepped in, blocking Noelle’s path from his family. “Noelle.”
“Shane.” Noelle smiled, revealing perfectly even white teeth. She leaned over and saw Kayla’s retreating figure. “Your sister seems a little pale…. Or does that come from being nearly ready to give birth?”
“No thanks to you,” Ethan hissed from Shane’s side. Ethan looked as if he was ready to throttle her.
Noelle’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed at Ethan. “Ethan. I’m so glad to see Kayla recovered after that fall. You know I had no idea she was pregnant.”
“Would that have mattered to you, Noelle?” Shane responded before Ethan could answer. “She was married, but yet that didn’t prevent you from coming to her home unannounced, trying to make a play for Ethan.”
“Shane.” Ethan touched his arm. “I got this.”
“No, you don’t,” Shane replied and inclined his head to the women’s room. “You go take care of your wife.”
Ethan glanced at Noelle. He was ready to tell her a thing or two, but he decided to take Shane’s advice instead and walked toward the restrooms.
“So you’ve aligned yourself with Andrew,” Shane said. “What else are you up to, Noelle?” He had a feeling she wasn’t done with the Adamses yet.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see like everybody else.” Noelle gave him a wink and sauntered away.
Kayla, Courtney and Ethan returned several minutes later. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay?” Ethan was asking, remaining by her side.
“I’m fine.” Kayla waved him away. She didn’t see what all the fuss was about.
“Perhaps we should leave,” Courtney suggested. She didn’t want to see her sister hurt, especially by the likes of Noelle Warner. She’d been mistrustful of the actress from the start. No woman goes to work for her ex without an agenda.
“Absolutely not.” Kayla shook her head. “I refuse to let Andrew Jackson think he got the better of us. He clearly has something under his sleeve and I, for one, want to see what it is.”
Byron Adams scooted next to Kayla and gave her a gentle squeeze. “It’s up to you, baby girl. If you want to stick it out, we will.”
“I do,” Kayla stated.
“Then let’s g
o get ’em.” Shane held his hand out to Kayla. She smiled at him and took his hand and Ethan’s in her other.
Together, the Adams family walked into the ballroom.
* * *
Gabrielle had finished packing long ago. She sat waiting for the car Courtney had arranged to take her to the airstrip and was surprised when a knock sounded on her door.
Without looking at who it was, Gabrielle opened the door. “The bags are in here,” she said, walking back into the living room.
“Gabby.”
Gabrielle was startled to hear her mother’s voice, and a soft gasp escaped her lips. She spun around to see if she was imagining it, but she wasn’t.
Her mother stood in the flesh at the doorway, her eyes brimming with tears. “Oh, thank God I caught you.”
“I’m tired, okay?” Gabrielle sighed, putting her hands up in defense mode. “I can’t go another round with you. I said what I had to say in Marietta.”
Her mother nodded, slowly walking toward her. “You had every right to be upset after the way we’ve treated you.”
“What?” Gabrielle’s mind reeled with confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“You were right, Gabby.” Her mother walked toward her, but Gabrielle stepped backward, leaving her mother standing there, awkwardly clasping her hands. “Everything you accused us of was on the money. We’ve been cold, distant and unfeeling toward you for years. It was just that after Seth… We didn’t know how to go on. But there you were every day, needing me. And I just couldn’t get out of my own way to help you. You were grieving, too.”
“I was.” Gabrielle nodded in agreement. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to lose Seth? To know he sacrificed his life for me?” Her voice rose slightly. “I’ve had to live with survivor’s guilt my entire life. And with the knowledge that it seemed like you guys wished it had been me who had died instead of Seth.”
Her mother shook her head fervently. “No, honey, that’s not true.”
“It’s how you made me feel,” Gabrielle responded. “And the way you kept his room exactly the same, never changing it. It was like living with the memory of a ghost.”
Her mother touched her chest. “That was all my fault. Your father wanted to take down the room and give everything to charity, but I couldn’t bear it. He was my only son…”
“And I was your only daughter. A daughter you’ve forsaken—”
“—When we should have been cherishing you and showing you how much we loved you, and how thankful we were that you had survived,” her mother finished. “But instead we pushed you away. I’m so sorry for hurting you, Gabby. I’m so sorry for the years I’ve wasted not knowing my own child. It took a lot of courage for you to finally stand there and tell us the crappy job we’ve done as your parents, but you did. And it broke my heart to hear you say you considered yourself an orphan. And that you were washing your hands of us forever.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
“Yes,” her mother indicated. “I’m here to ask for your forgiveness and to see if there’s a chance we could try and be mother and daughter again.”
“I don’t know…” Gabrielle said warily. “It might be a little too late. I don’t know if I can forgive you and Daddy.”
“I’m not here to plead your father’s case,” her mother replied, “only mine. I guess I knew about your father’s drinking and I turned a blind eye. But I was horrified to not only hear he had a gambling habit, which he’d covered up from me, but to hear what he’d done to you, his own child. So I asked your father to move out of the house.”
“You did what?” Gabrielle struggled to comprehend what she’d just heard.
“Your father and I have separated. And I’m here today because I don’t want you to leave without knowing that I love you with all my heart. And I’m truly sorry for all the pain I have caused you. I want you to know that you still have one parent left, if you’ll have me.”
Gabrielle’s knees buckled underneath her and she fell to the floor, unnerved by the sudden change of events. She blinked in shock. To finally hear everything she’d wanted to hear her entire life was monumental.
Her mother came and touched her shoulder and Gabrielle looked up at her. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Gabby, but I’m asking for it anyway. I love you so much and I thank God every day that I have you.”
“Oh, Mama.” Gabrielle grabbed her mother’s knees and hugged her tight. “I’ve missed you so much,” she cried.
“I know, baby.” Her mother squatted down to her level and enveloped Gabrielle into a bear hug. “I have missed you so much.”
They held each other for a long time, Gabrielle didn’t know how long. Eventually, Gabrielle made it to the couch and she and her mother talked about why she was leaving Atlanta. Her mother was afraid of losing her again and asked her to stay.
“It’s not that easy, Mama,” Gabrielle replied. “I wish it were.”
“Because you were fired?” her mother asked. “But you didn’t do anything wrong. It was your father. Didn’t you explain that to the Adamses?”
Gabrielle was silent.
“So you took the fall for him?” her mother surmised. “Oh, baby, you didn’t have to do that. You’ve worked too hard to get where you are to go down like this.”
“I know.” Gabrielle hung her head low. “But as much as I’m angry with him, I didn’t want him to get into any more trouble. Shane could tell I was covering for someone, and he didn’t appreciate it one bit. And now Shane hates me, so I have to go.”
“But if you explained everything…” her mother began.
“I doubt it would make much difference,” Gabrielle replied. “Shane doesn’t believe me or trust me.”
“I’m so sorry, baby.” Her mother hugged her. “But just know, wherever you are, you will always have me.”
Gabrielle looked up through eyes laced with tears and said, “Thank you, Mama.”
Chapter 15
The party at Jax Cosmetics continued much as all the other industry events Shane had been to. But then, just when he thought the evening would end with no further disasters, one of the Jax Cosmetics models walked past him and he got a whiff of her perfume.
Shane grabbed the woman’s arm and she turned. “Sir, may I help you?” she asked, clearly frightened by Shane’s aggression.
“What perfume are you wearing?” Shane asked, peering into her face.
The model smiled naughtily. “I can’t tell you that. It’s a secret.”
Shane softened his grip on her arm and turned on the charm. “Of course you can, darling,” he whispered and focused his eyes on her. Women could never resist his eyes. “There’s nothing better than sharing a secret with someone else, is there? Then we’ll both be in the know.”
The young woman looked up at him. “Well,” she said and blinked her eyelids several times. “It’s the new Jax Cosmetics fragrance.”
Shane fumed inside. Like hell it was. It was Ecstasy. He’d know the fragrance anywhere. Andrew had changed a couple of notes, so it wasn’t exact, but it was still Shane’s creation. And Jax Cosmetics had stolen it. “Thank you.” Shane stroked her cheek and stormed over to where his family was congregated by the buffet table.
“Have you forgotten about Gabby so quickly?” Courtney asked when Shane approached. She’d seen him stroke the model’s cheek.
“Not now, Courtney!” He pushed past her to their inner circle.
“What’s wrong, son?” Elizabeth saw the distressed look on her son’s face.
Shane was about to speak when Andrew Jackson appeared onstage.
“As CEO of Jax Cosmetics, I want to thank you all for coming tonight,” he said loudly through the microphone. “We are excited about our fall product line. We have some lovely models walking around displaying our latest eye shadows and lipsticks. These are exciting new products that our consumers will love. Many of you have seen the placards placed throughout showcasing Academy Award–winning actress
Noelle Warner. Noelle, would you come up here, please?”
Shane watched Noelle saunter to the stage. The audience burst into a big round of applause. Noelle bowed as if she was overcome by the outpouring, but Shane found it disingenuous considering she had been onstage with the Adams family just last year.
“We at Jax Cosmetics are determined to stay at the forefront of the industry, so effective immediately, Noelle will be appearing in our current ad campaign as the new Jax Cosmetics woman.” Another round of applause. Once it had died down, Andrew continued, “But that isn’t all… .” He paused for effect. “We are excited to share that we are expanding into fragrance.”
Shane glanced at Kayla and then Ethan. Without speaking, they knew the worst had happened. Shane expected smoke to come out of Ethan’s ears any minute and Kayla looked defeated, but all Shane could feel was anxiety and he breathed in shallow, quick gasps. They’d suspected Andrew was behind the theft thanks to the picture with Gabby, but now they knew for sure.
“We’ve partnered with this beautiful woman here—” Andrew turned to Noelle “—to create the electric new fragrance. Everyone, I give you Noelle.”
Screens around the room popped up with images of Noelle Wagner and Jax Cosmetics’ first perfume Noelle in a cylinder-shaped bottle.
“The models around the room are wearing Noelle right now and are holding spritzers for everyone to smell. And as a special token of our appreciation, every guest this evening will receive a small sample. Enjoy, everyone!”
Shane felt sick as reporters swarmed the stage. “Mr. Jackson, you don’t feel that Jax Cosmetics is imitating Atlanta’s other local cosmetics giant, Adams Cosmetics, by coming out with a fragrance on the heels of their success with Hypnotic?”
Andrew turned and momentarily glared at the Adams family, before smiling back at the reporter. “Adams Cosmetics doesn’t own the market on fragrance. There’s room for all of us at the top, and with Noelle as the Jax woman—” he smiled at the actress, who’d left the stage to circulate “—I know we’ll be a success.”
“What the hell is going on?” Byron rushed over to Shane’s side. “What did Andrew do? I know he did something, so you might as well tell me.”
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