Socialite's Gamble

by Michelle Conder

  She felt her throat constrict. She promised herself that she wouldn’t think of him for the next three hours at least.

  So far she’d lasted five minutes.

  ‘Never better,’ she finally answered Lucilla, smiling reassuringly at her sister.

  Lucilla regarded her dubiously. ‘You seem different.’

  ‘It’s the brown hair,’ Cara said. ‘I look normal.’

  ‘Cara, you’re far too beautiful to ever look normal,’ Lucilla murmured. ‘No, it’s something else. You seem really … worried.’

  Drat. Her bathroom mirror had lied when it had reflected sophisticated confidence and she straightened her shoulders and blanked her mind of everything but where she was.

  ‘It’s this horrible competition. I hate being on show and the waiting is killing me.’

  ‘I can imagine. It’s a pity Aidan couldn’t make it tonight.’

  ‘Yes.’ Cara swallowed the lump in her throat at the mention of Aidan’s name. She had yet to tell her sister that the whole Aidan Kelly thing had been a ruse and she wasn’t about to do so right now.

  It had taken at least five drops of special eyedrops and six mushy teabags to clear the redness and swelling from her eyes as it was and the only reason she hadn’t put contacts in was because she hadn’t wanted to aggravate them more than the nonstop crying had.

  Which was going to stop, too. Her heart might feel shattered by Aidan Kelly’s rejection, but that didn’t mean that her life had to be, as well.

  And one way to make sure that it wasn’t was to win this annoying competition and keep busy.

  So far she had cried for almost twenty-four hours straight and she knew if she started thinking about Aidan she would start crying again and she couldn’t afford to do that.

  Her reputation was riding on her holding it together tonight and it was past time she looked out for herself instead of waiting for someone—Aidan—to come along and do it for her.

  It was time for Juliet to grow a backbone and not let the loss of Romeo destroy her life.

  Which was easier said than done when she knew how Juliet must have felt. Knew that her heart would have felt like someone had driven a knife right through the centre of it, the pain completely debilitating.

  Sucking in a deep breath before her thoughts took a downwards spiral Cara placed her hand over her stomach and drew her spine up tall. She was fine. Or at least she would be fine. One day.

  ‘Aidan’s really busy right now but I think he’ll be flying in sometime next week. But why don’t you go home, Cilla? You look tired.’

  And maybe it would be easier to pretend that her life didn’t feel like it was hanging over the edge of a cliff without her sister’s observant eyes on her all night.

  ‘What about you? You must be feeling jet-lagged yourself.’

  Cara felt numb most of the time and between that and yesterday’s tortured tears it seemed to stave off the jet lag. ‘I’ll be fine. Really. Harriet said I was a shoo-in.’

  Lucilla hesitated. ‘I should stay.’

  ‘You’re no good to me if you fall over with exhaustion. Go home. I’ll text you.’

  ‘Are you sure you don’t need me? I could—’

  Cara put her hand on her sister’s arm. ‘You’ve always been there for me and I’m not sure I’ve ever told you how much it meant to me as a child. But I’m fine. Really.’ She smiled. ‘Please … You look shattered.’

  As shattered as Cara probably looked beneath her carefully applied makeup.

  ‘It’s Christos. I swear he’s the most … I don’t even know how to describe him!’ Lucilla blazed, a curious light entering her eyes.

  Lucilla had mentioned the tension between her and Giatrakos, but she had never seen Lucilla react like this before, and although Cara’s curiosity was well and truly piqued as to what was going on with her sister, she knew that now was not the time to pursue it.

  Instead she leaned forward and kissed Lucilla’s cheek. ‘I’m a big girl now. Stop worrying.’

  Lucilla heaved a sigh. ‘Okay.’

  Cara watched her exit the swanky room and then turned back to the glittering crowd still in attendance. Usually, if she found herself alone in a crowd like this she wanted to run and hide because she knew almost everyone here was waiting for her to do something outrageous, every one of them holding their breaths in case the wild child struck again.

  Well, she didn’t intend to tonight.

  Tonight, she was showcasing not only herself but Jenny’s pearls that Aidan had given her.

  Before leaving the island Cara had approached Jenny with the idea of importing her pearls and setting them up on the world stage.

  Jenny had been overwhelmed and Cara had told her they’d start small. That she would buy a few pieces and wear them herself and see how they were received. If tonight was anything to go by, Jenny was going to need to open a factory.

  ‘Miss Chatsfield, you look radiant tonight.’

  Oh, no. She smiled at the elegant white-haired patriarch of the Demarche Group and sucked in her stomach. This was showtime.

  ‘Thank you, Monsieur Demarche. I hope you’re having a great evening.’

  ‘Most definitely. And may I say that you look very elegant, my dear.’

  Cara stared down at her navy blue gown. It was the most conservative piece of clothing she owned and if she wasn’t wearing Jenny’s pearls to lift the garment she’d feel completely boring. ‘Thank you so much. It’s such a pleasure to be here. I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity tonight.’

  ‘I have to say, after last week, I wasn’t sure which way to play this. You’re a beautiful girl, Miss Chatsfield, but that Vegas hoopla came as a shock. As was the news that you and Aidan Kelly were an item. Tell me, my dear, is it serious?’ He gazed around at the nearby guests and frowned. ‘I would have expected to see him here with you tonight.’

  And was her winning the contract riding on that? Cara frowned. And more importantly, did she want to win it if it was?

  She recalled the paparazzi outside the hotel screaming the same question at her when her limousine had pulled up at the main entrance. This time she’d had the benefit of security and a barricade so she’d effortlessly deflected those questions by pretending that she hadn’t heard them.

  Unfortunately the only thing between her and the regal Monsieur Demarche was thin air, so pretending she hadn’t heard him was probably not going to go down very well. Nor would walking off, but that was exactly what she felt like doing.

  ‘Oh, he’s …’ About to pretend that Aidan was busy and that everything was rosy between them, Cara stopped. The truth was that she and Aidan had never been a real couple. And telling half-truths to save her skin wasn’t the way she wanted to live her life anymore. Nor was burying her head in the sand when things went wrong.

  She had changed, she realised with a faint smile. And she no longer felt like she needed other people’s approval to feel like a success.

  Feeling as though she was short of breath she stared at the Demarche patriarch, who had raised his eyebrow at her delayed response. ‘The truth is, Monsieur Demarche.’ She cleared her throat. ‘The truth is, I’ve decided I don’t want to be part of your business unless you want me for me and not because of what I’m wearing, or how I look, or who I’m seeing.’

  The older man shook his head. ‘Are you telling me you’re pulling out of the running?’

  ‘Yes.’ Cara felt a tremulous smile form on her lips. ‘Yes, I am.’

  ‘But what will everyone think?’

  ‘I don’t know and I don’t really care.’ Cara raised her chin. ‘I’m going to open a shop. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and it’s time to live my life for me.’

  And if that meant without Aidan, then … then … Her throat tightened. She couldn’t think about that now because she had other things to do. ‘But I thank you for the opportunity and for considering me,’ she said graciously. ‘And as for Aidan Kelly … well, he’s—’

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sp; ‘Late.’ Aidan pulled up beside her and gazed down at her. ‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart.’

  Cara’s heart thumped inside her chest as she stared at the dashing figure he made in a tuxedo and … tie?

  ‘You’re wearing a tie.’

  He pulled at his shirt collar as if it was strangling him. ‘The occasion called for it. Bryce. Nice to see you again.’

  ‘Aidan.’

  He curved his arm around her waist and all she wanted to do was lean against his broad shoulders. ‘I have to say, I applaud your taste in spokesmodels. You couldn’t have chosen better. Do you need another drink, darling?’

  Darling? Oh, no, this was like the paparazzi rescue all over again. He was here because he felt sorry for her.

  ‘Aidan, please, can I talk to you for a minute?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Cara smiled at Monsieur Demarche.

  ‘I think we all underestimated you, my dear. If you should change your mind, please let us know.’

  ‘I …’ Cara felt choked up. ‘Thank you. I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.’

  ‘Good luck with the future. Aidan, we should catch up sometime.’

  Aidan nodded and took hold of Cara’s arms. ‘Of course. Now if you’ll excuse me, Bryce, I’d like to talk to Cara in private.’

  Cara felt as if she was in a daze as Aidan led her down a corridor and tested two doors before opening one and finding an empty room. ‘Mind telling me what that was all about?’

  Cara stared at him and blinked. ‘I’m not sure. I think I just turned down a really lucrative job because I want to open a shop.’

  Aidan gave her a slow, knowing grin. ‘Good for you.’

  Yes, good for her but … Her palms felt sweaty and she steeled herself to confront him. ‘Look, Aidan. I appreciate you coming here. But I don’t need you to do this for me. I’m fine.’

  ‘Then you’re doing better than me.’

  Feeling like her heart was already in her mouth, Cara paused at his flat tone. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘After you left I felt awful. Nothing seemed right and I wanted you with me.’

  ‘But I offered to go with you and you told me not to.’

  ‘A mistake I won’t make again.’

  ‘Aidan, you’re not making any sense.’

  Aidan shook his head. ‘The AFL board think that as well.’

  ‘Oh, God. I forgot. Did you save the business? Did you beat Ellery?’

  ‘I don’t know. I left Ben in charge of negotiations. As far as I know they’re still going on. I haven’t checked my phone.’

  ‘You haven’t checked your phone? And why are you smiling all of a sudden.’

  ‘Because you were right, Cara.’

  Feeling her pulse race at the unexpectedly heated look in his eyes Cara stared at him. ‘Right about what?’

  ‘So many things, sweetheart.’

  ‘Aidan, please don’t call me that. I—’

  He took her face between his hands and her resolve to try and remain detached along with it. ‘You were right about the fact that I was too emotional over Ellery—’

  ‘Aidan, that’s perfectly understandable after what he did to your family, but—’

  He kissed her and Cara was so shocked that when he finally raised his head all she could do was stare at him mutely. ‘Stop interrupting me, woman.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘And you were right about the fact that when you fall in love, really in love, you want to be with that person all the time. For the rest of your life, in fact.’

  Cara’s heart fluttered inside her chest like a bird flexing its wings for the first time. ‘Did I say that?’

  ‘Yes. And I’m hoping that’s the way you feel about me.’

  ‘Why would you hope that?’

  ‘Because I think you’re wonderful and I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’

  Cara swallowed. ‘You … love me?’ She almost couldn’t voice the word it sounded so surreal to her ears. ‘You think I’m wonderful?’

  Aidan grinned. ‘Completely.’

  Cara shook her head, not sure she wasn’t dreaming. Hope warred with her deep-seated uncertainty and she couldn’t think straight. It didn’t help that he was holding her around the waist but when she tried to step back he held her fast.

  ‘Sorry, sweetheart, I’m not letting you close yourself off from me again. Tell me what’s wrong.’

  Cara felt tears sting the backs of her eyes. ‘You say all that to me now, but what about when I don’t think before I act? What about when I hijacked your car—?’

  ‘Borrowed,’ he corrected.

  She looked at him. ‘I’m too impulsive for you. My life isn’t as well planned out as yours. My reputation—’

  ‘Cara, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that when I’m with you I’m happy. When I look at your face I want to kiss you. When I hear your voice I want to listen to you. What matters is that without you my life is grey. You’re the colour I didn’t think I had time for and if I have a choice I don’t want to go back to that. I need you, Cara, and I want to make you happy.’

  ‘Really? Oh, Aidan.’ Finally, Cara threw her arms around his neck. ‘I can’t believe it. I love you so much.’

  ‘Thank God.’ Aidan crushed her lips beneath his and neither one came up for air for a long time.

  When Aidan finally lifted his head he smoothed her hair back from her face. ‘I love you, Cara, and I’m sorry I hurt you yesterday. I’m sorry I didn’t see what was right in front of my face. I’m sorry it took nearly losing you to see what I needed to see.’

  ‘It’s fine, Aidan.’ Cara kissed the corner of his mouth. ‘I won’t ever leave you again. But you do know you still owe me a thousand pounds for breaking my shoes.’

  Aidan threw back his head and laughed. ‘You’ll have to marry me to get that, doll face.’

  Cara grinned. ‘I did really love those shoes….’

  Aidan slipped his hand around to the nape of her neck and tilted her face up to his for another searing kiss. ‘And I love you. For ever.’

  Cara’s lip trembled and a tear slipped over the edge of her lash. Aidan groaned and whipped out a tissue.

  Cara smiled as she took it and finally she knew that if there was one man’s love she could always count on, it was this man’s.

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this book, look out for the next instalment of THE CHATSFIELD:

  BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET by Chantelle Shaw.

  Coming next month.

  UNCOVERED!

  Read on for an exclusive interview with Michelle Conder

  Creating a world as large as The Chatsfield must be very exciting—did you discuss the hotels with the other authors?

  Not the hotels specifically, but definitely the characters and how they related to each other.

  What was the most fun bit about creating this luxurious, scandalous world?

  Imagining myself living in it! Particularly the casino high-rollers room and being put up as a stake at a poker game. Totally fantastical and totally awful at the same time. I felt so sorry for Cara.

  Did you do any extra-special research for writing this book? A sneaky cocktail at an exclusive hotel perhaps?

  I went to the casino in our city and e-mailed the head of the casino to get some information. I wish I could say that I visited Fiji again—but most of those parts were written from my memory of a trip there a couple of years ago.

  What did you most love about writing your story?

  The opportunity to connect with some of my fellow writers and be part of something bigger than writing a stand-alone book.

  When writing your hero and heroine’s story, did they surprise you in any way?

  Yes! Most of my heroines to date are fighters when they are pushed into a corner or challenged. Cara is the opposite. She would rather walk away and she gets very teary. Aidan, too, had such a nice streak for someone who could be so ruthless.
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  To your mind, who is the most scandalous Chatsfield?

  Definitely the twins, Orsino and Lucca. Cara seems scandalous, but really she’s young and has been a little gullible in her quest to have people like and approve of her.

  If you could have given your hero or heroine a piece of advice before they started on their journey in your story, what would it have been?

  I would have told Cara to believe in herself a little bit more and that everything really will be OK.

  Cara has a tendency to worry about things and she is supersensitive.

  Name five things on your desk when you write.

  My computer!

  3×5 cards

  A precious memento of my first book made by a dear friend

  Books

  Hand cream

  Do you listen to music when you write?

  No. I would love to, but to my utter surprise I can’t seem to do the two things at once!

  What is your worst habit when writing?

  Thinking about food and then going to look for it.

  Do you have a writing routine? If so, could you share a bit about it with us?

  Weekdays I drop the kids off at school and come home and write. Usually I make many trips to the kitchen for cups of tea that I often forget about because another thought has come to mind. Then I pick the kids up, do the mother/wife thing, put the kids to bed, talk to my husband and write some more. When I’m writing the first draft of a novel, I try to achieve a certain word count per day and I never go back and edit the book until it’s done.

  UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

  Read on for an exclusive interview with Cara Chatsfield

  If you had to pick your most public scandalous moment, what would it be?

  That awful rock music video I agreed to star in that the British censorship board eventually pulled. Thank heavens.

  Was there an even more scandalous event that didn’t make it into the press?

  Yes, but only Aidan knows what that is!

  What is your biggest secret?

  Well, it’s not a secret any more, but I felt responsible for my mother leaving me and my siblings. It seems silly now but … Aidan helped me get past it.