All He Needs

by Shirley Hailstock

  Carter, in his office, gasped, too.

  The anchor never lost a beat or showed surprise in his voice. “As you can see, Ms. Hart has a method that will basically take your breath away. It’s something every bride can do in her own home. Tell us what you’ve done,” the anchor prompted.

  Carter’s phone rang. Not taking his eyes off the screen, he picked it up and pushed the accept button.

  “Are you seeing this?” Blair’s voice boomed through the phone.

  “I’m not sure I am.”

  “How did she do that? Do you realize this magazine will cause a rush for the newsstands?”

  “Calm down, Blair.”

  “We don’t have anything like this. You don’t even have a director for the bridal division. I’ve been keeping up with it. But this...”

  She trailed off, allowing him to hear what Renee was saying. “We have a patent pending on this technology, so I can’t reveal how it’s done.”

  “Damn,” he cursed to himself. They’d locked up the process.

  Carter was torn. In front of him was the woman he loved, and she’d outdid him. Beaten him at a game he should know. He’d been in this business for decades. She had only taken it up a few years ago.

  Carter didn’t want Blair to know how he felt. Renee’s creation wouldn’t just change things, it would turn their world upside down. She now had a huge advantage over every other magazine on the market, and not just bridal magazines. Her innovation had the potential to change how people read, how they worked, how they shopped. Even if the magazine failed, the royalties she could charge for this technology could eliminate their competition.

  Where had this idea come from? And why hadn’t anyone on his staff thought of it? Why wasn’t she on his staff? Because three years ago he’d told her they had no future.

  He wondered how many other competitors were suddenly planning to attend that launch party.

  * * *

  The phones were already ringing on every desk when Renee walked into the office. The receptionist was trying to take messages. She thrust a handful of papers at Renee. “Your voice mail is full,” she said. “And I can’t answer them as fast as they’re coming in.”

  Renee went to her office. She was still dressed and made up for the cameras.

  “They’re sold out,” Wanda, followed by Stacy, joined Renee as she reached her desk. The smile on her face was ear to ear. “I went by three places a few minutes ago. Every magazine seller said the people descended on them in droves to get copies. One said he never saw a launch issue sell out so fast.”

  Renee’s phone rang. She looked down at the display. It was from News Publications, Inc. Renee knew no one there, but she was sure they wanted her to answer the same questions she’d answered on the morning show.

  “Do we have any more copies?” she asked.

  “Sales reps have been calling for the last hour asking for more,” Stacy answered. “Marketing had the second printing released. Orders will be filled within the hour.”

  “Good.”

  The day went by that way. The phone rang every few seconds. Everyone in the office was on phone duty. By noon, things calmed down as the second delivery was being made.

  “Whew,” Wanda came in. “I never thought I’d hate answering a telephone, but today I could do without this invention.”

  Renee looked up from her desk. “You’ll have time to relax. And the party is tonight.”

  “I hope I’ll have enough energy for it.”

  The phone on Renee’s desk rang again. She smiled and automatically picked it up.

  “How’s your day going?” Carter asked.

  His was not the voice she expected to hear. “It’s going fast,” she answered, giving nothing away. She had the feeling Carter knew exactly how her day had begun and how it was at this very moment. “Why do you ask?”

  “It’s your launch day and I see your issue is making history. That is if television can be believed.”

  Ahh, Renee thought. “You saw the morning news.”

  “Me and several million media professionals, I’m sure.”

  Renee smiled. Just hearing his voice made her heart beat fast.

  “Those who didn’t see it are probably burning up the internet getting a look at the phenomenon. And the lucky ones who already got a copy of the magazine aren’t doing any work today. They’re too busy looking at themselves wearing a Theresa Granville gown.”

  Renee laughed.

  “Don’t laugh. Not only is every woman in my entire company doing nothing today, but you should be indicted for shutting down the workforce of the entire United States.”

  “We shipped some overseas too,” she said, proudly.

  “Congratulations!” Carter said, no detectable sarcasm in his voice. “You’ve pulled off the coup of the fashion century.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What time should I pick you up for the party tonight?”

  Renee hesitated. Her heart jumped to see him, but caution was still necessary. “Carter, that’s probably not a good idea. You’re the competition.”

  “With the excitement going on over the magazine, I doubt anyone will notice who you walk in with.”

  “You are wrong. I have guests from my parent company to entertain. I’ll see you at the party, and I’ll make my own way there.”

  “As you wish,” he said.

  Renee could hear his smile through the receiver. She also heard a whoop of laughter in the background.

  “I’d better go before Hampshire Publications has to declare today a holiday for every female employee, as well as some of the men, who are ogling them in wedding gowns.”

  “Is one of them you?” She couldn’t resist asking.

  “I only ogle you,” Carter said. “In case you don’t know, you look beautiful in a wedding gown.”

  * * *

  Renee was riding on adrenaline alone. She’d been rushing around all day. The only downtime she’d had was the few minutes she’d used to talk to Carter. His comments had made her face hot and her cheeks bloom with its own internal makeup. Then the frenzy had begun again with more newsstands and stores clamoring for the magazine. All copies except the ones needed for the party had been sent out.

  It was going to be tight, Renee thought as she got home with barely enough time to dress before the limousine picked her up. She put the finishing touches on her outfit then stepped into the limo, which drove her to the Waldorf Astoria for the party. A separate limousine picked up Diana and Teddy, and brought them, along with their husbands, to the event. And it was an event worthy of a Hollywood premiere. The weather was beautiful, warm with just the hint of a breeze. The car pulled up to the curb, and the door opened. Renee took the driver’s hand and stepped out.

  Inside, Renee was one of the first to arrive. Wanda and Pete were already there. The event planners were checking all the details. Fifteen minutes later, the first guest walked in—Carter.

  As hostess, Renee was at the door. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look good enough to eat,” he whispered. She turned her head and smiled. His mouth was very close to hers, and she wished she could kiss him. She wore a strapless gown of deep purple, and the full skirt was made of huge roses that ended in a small train. Dotted here and there throughout the roses were sparkling crystals that caught the light.

  Behind Carter, Renee heard a noise. His arrival started the parade of guests. Renee shook hands and greeted people she knew: suppliers, vendors, bridal shop owners and competitors’ company executives. Some were strangers, but she knew they were there to find out what she, Wanda, Stacy and Pete had done to create the sensation that was storming the day. As soon as the morning show had aired, the phone calls had come in from people who wanted to come and had missed the date to RSVP.

  T
hey all had an excuse, but neither Renee nor the agency handling the party details was surprised. They’d planned for them at Stacy’s insistence.

  Dana came in at the end of the first wave. “I’m so glad to see you,” Renee said as they hugged.

  “I see Carter is already here.”

  Renee nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “Are you two on better terms now?” Dana asked.

  “We’re civil toward each other.” Renee felt bad lying to her cousin. The two had always shared everything, but how she truly felt about Carter was a secret she was keeping to herself.

  Dana moved around as other guests arrived. “I’ll talk to you later,” she whispered and headed toward Carter.

  Renee followed her progression, wondering what the two of them would talk about, since she was the only subject they had in common.

  Diana and Teddy arrived, taking her attention away.

  “I wasn’t expecting this,” Teddy said, surveying the room. “This is truly overwhelming,”

  “And it’s affecting the office back in Princeton,” Diana added.

  “Did something happen?” Renee was concerned.

  “We knew it would be a sensation, but we underestimated the sales it would pull into the shop,” Teddy said.

  Pete and Wanda came up to them smiling. When the guys left to get drinks, Teddy explained, “We hired a temp to maintain the office while we came up for the party, but it didn’t work out.”

  “What happened?”

  “She couldn’t handle the orders or the number of people in the Princeton store.”

  “Did she leave?” Renee asked.

  Teddy shook her head. “It’s our fault. You’d warned us that the magazine launch would create huge demand for the gowns, but we didn’t expect the number of orders to overwhelm us this much. If it hadn’t been for one of our new designers cutting a vacation short and taking over the order processing, we’d be in over our heads.”

  “Everything is under control,” Diana said. “So we can relax and enjoy the party. But tomorrow we’ll head back to help with the overload.”

  “I’m sorry,” Renee said.

  “Don’t be.” Diana waved her concern away. “This is the best thing that could have happened to the business. Don’t think about it again. Enjoy this night—it only happens once.”

  They smiled and accepted the wine their husbands brought. After a sip, they went off to look at the huge posters around the room of wedding gowns.

  Waiters moved through the crowd with drinks and trays of food. By eight-thirty, the incoming flux of people had slowed, and Renee left the door. Carter appeared next to her with a wineglass.

  “Drink this,” he said. “It’s sparkling water.”

  How had he known she was parched? The drink tasted of lemon and bathed her throat. Renee intended to rejoin Diana and Teddy and introduce them to some of the people who’d worked hard to get the magazine launched. However, the moment she looked up from her drink, she was surrounded by magazine executives.

  She knew what they wanted. To find out how she’d pulled off the holograms. And those who wanted a quick five minutes alone with her also wanted to steal her away from Designed for Brides and have her come and work for them.

  With a smile of appreciation, Renee turned them all down. But she walked away on air.

  “You look like someone who’s won the lottery.” Carter came up beside her as she completed her conversation with the vice president of News Publications, Inc. and moved away.

  “Close,” she said. Renee saw another executive heading her way. When the man saw Carter, he veered off and stopped at one of the bars. Turning to Carter, she smiled, thanking him for something he was unaware he’d done. But Renee knew she couldn’t allow Carter to stay with her for long. He wasn’t her protector, and he’d already made the same bid for her services as the other executives were.

  “How’s it going?” he asked.

  “As expected,” she said, trying to be noncommittal in the conversation.

  “They’re all vying for you to join them, or at least have a meeting on the technology.”

  “Exactly,” Renee said. “And like I did with you, I turned them all down.” She took a moment to poke him with a purple fingernail.

  “I wasn’t totally turned down,” he said, drawing that sexy note into his voice.

  Renee’s thoughts went straight to the night in his apartment. Mentally shaking herself, she dispersed the images. Across the room, the event planner waved her over; it was time for introductions and her speech. Excusing herself, Renee headed for the stage.

  The band played a few bars of a song, then abruptly ended it, causing the crowd to quiet down and turn to face the bandstand. Models in wedding gowns formed a line and moved onto the stage set up for them. Posters of the inaugural issue’s cover descended from the ceiling as if they were lights. They’d been especially made and sealed so they wouldn’t flap in the air. Twirling on pearl ropes, they were illuminated by spotlights. On the floor, the brides stepped forward and created a circle. The music began as they faced the audience with linked arms. The wedding gowns projected in front of them. As the circle revolved, each woman’s image changed to a different gown.

  The audience burst into applause. The brides stopped turning and returned to their places along the edge of the floor. The projections disappeared one by one and a spotlight appeared on Renee.

  She gave her short speech, thanking her team and introducing them and the owners of Weddings by Diana. Then she invited everyone to enjoy themselves for the rest of the evening.

  As the music began, Carter captured her before she left the floor and pulled her into his arms for a dance. Renee said nothing. She didn’t resist but went easily into his embrace. She wanted to rest her head on his shoulder and allow the music to carry her away, but she was mindful of where she was and that many of the people in the room were keeping careful tabs on her. Renee didn’t want to appear to favor any of the companies that were courting her.

  Yet Carter’s arms were strong, and she liked the way they secured her to him, the way he whirled her through the steps. They’d danced this way before. Renee remembered that office party years ago. When she’d also found herself wrapped around Carter, and she’d wanted to stay there, live there, spend an eternity there. Tonight was no different. She could easily get lost with him, especially with the music surrounding them like invisible love strands. She heard the lyrics of a love song and knew the singer was directing them to her and Carter.

  Renee allowed the night to take her away. She’d pulled off a coup in the industry, and tonight was her night.

  “Renee, where are you?”

  Carter whispered in her ear, but she barely heard him. Her heart was hammering and heat cocooned her in a bundle of electrical nerves.

  “Renee.” Carter spoke her name again.

  Somewhere in her mind, she realized the music had ended. She stopped and looked up at him. Whatever was in her eyes changed what was in his. Desire was raw and obvious in their gazes.

  “We’d better get something to drink,” Carter said.

  His voice snapped her back to reality. She looked away from him, checking to see if anyone was staring at them. Only Dana seemed to find them of interest. Carter’s arm, still wrapped around her waist, led her to the bar. He ordered her more sparkling water.

  “If you have anything alcoholic,” he said. “You’ll probably forget where you are.”

  Renee shook herself, remembering where she was. She had to remember that all eyes were on every move she made.

  Taking his own drink, a glass of wine, he walked her away from the bar and back toward a table. Wanda and Pete were on the floor, each dancing with someone Renee didn’t recognize.

  “Who was that?” Teddy asked coming over when
Carter excused himself.

  Renee checked over her shoulder, watching Carter’s straight back. “That’s Carter Hampshire...the same one who runs Hampshire Publications.”

  Teddy glanced over Renee’s shoulder. “Good-looking man,” she said.

  Renee nodded.

  “You two seen to know each other well.”

  Renee felt the color rise in her face, but Teddy knew her story. Renee had been very open after she took the job as a consultant. Over the three years she’d worked at Weddings by Diana, she’d told Teddy the entire story of her reasons for leaving Hampshire.

  “Are you two getting back together?”

  Renee was shaking her head before Teddy finished speaking. “We’re history.”

  Yet she’d promised Carter she’d think about a relationship with him after the magazine launched.

  It was officially public now. She’d just told Teddy they were history.

  But were they?

  Chapter 9

  Renee knew exactly how Eliza Doolittle felt after her ball. It wasn’t the dancing all night that had her floating—she was high on the whole event. They had done it. With Wanda, Stacy and Pete’s help, the publishing industry would never be the same.

  The crowds were winding down in the ballroom, and Dana found Renee near the bathroom. “We’re going to have to talk,” she said.

  “About something important?”

  Dana smiled broadly. “About all this.” She looked around, encompassing the entire room, which had thinned out a lot. Renee had a collection of business cards in her beaded bag and invitations to have lunch from at least a dozen people.

  “Call me tomorrow afternoon,” Renee added.

  Dana hugged her, draped a silk shawl over her shoulders and started for the door.

  Renee, too, was ready to leave. After saying goodbye to several more people and promising to keep in touch, Renee found herself facing Carter.

  “You must be tired,” he said. “Sit down.”

  Dead on her feet, she didn’t argue. Carter knew her moods. She took a seat at an empty table. The magazine lay at her place, front side up.