At Your Service

by A. C. Arthur

  “Ugh, that’s the last thing I want to talk about.”

  Major chuckled, more so to keep his mind from drifting from the word love to the woman who would soon be meeting him in his office to go home. Or, rather, to his apartment.

  “Fine, then what do you want, man? You come barging into my office at the end of the day like it’s some big emergency.”

  “It is.” RJ leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I was supposed to go to this trade show tonight to check out some new vendors for the Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks coming up, but now I can’t go, so I’d like you and Nina to go instead.”

  “Isn’t that the production department’s responsibility? And did you say you want Nina to go?”

  “Riley’s not the only one thinking about taking RGF to the next level. I’ve had some thoughts about expanding in the area of accessories. We already have purses and luggage. Why not create a full line, accessorize our customers from head to toe? So, yeah, I’ve been looking into Nina’s business a little more and watching the numbers from our temporary collaboration closely. If anybody should be checking out new vendors and giving her thoughts on specific items for the company, I think it should be her.”

  “Wait, you weren’t even certain making this temporary arrangement with Nina was a good idea. What changed your mind?”

  “You’re right. I wasn’t sure about her in the beginning because she was some woman from Pennsylvania who we’d never heard of until you agreed to meet with her and she presented this new app that would tap into our existing and new customer base. She had no experience with large fashion houses. So, yes, I was skeptical.” RJ took a breath and shook his head. “And I definitely didn’t think she was a good pick for this marketing plan. Hell, I wasn’t even certain this marketing plan was a good idea on its own.”

  That was something Major could agree with. The moment Desta and Riley had come to him with the idea, he’d been doubtful and had wanted to beg off, to push it onto Maurice who would have loved spending a few weeks in the company of some random woman. But then he’d thought about the fact that he was planning to jump ship on RGF and figured the least he could do was submit to his family, and this company, one more time. His father would appreciate that in the end.

  “But I’ve seen her at the office every day, working diligently, and I’ve heard of how she’s been handling the press,” RJ continued. “Then, after seeing the two of you together at Mom and Dad’s house, I changed my mind.”

  RJ Gold never changed his mind. Ever. He was a decisive man with a proven track record in everything from commanding the sales force at RGF to building his own unique brand as the next head of the company. He was a debonair young businessman and unapologetic bachelor.

  “It’s her job, and that was just dinner.” Major didn’t believe these words so he only half expected his brother to believe them.

  RJ laughed. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Look, here’s the info and your passes. You, Nina and I will grab some lunch tomorrow and we can talk about her thoughts.”

  Major accepted the envelope RJ had stood to hand him. “She doesn’t work here. I mean, she has her own company, and her own goals. Do you really think we should have her making decisions on behalf of the company?”

  “You’re going to be with her,” RJ said. “And something tells me she’s gonna be around long after this fake scheme you’ve got going. So get yourself together, stop brooding, put your game face on. Do all that, grab your woman and get to that show.”

  RJ walked out the same way he’d come in: quick, unannounced, without taking any questions, comments or concerns.

  “She’s not my woman,” Major mumbled into the quiet office as he sat back in his chair once more.

  Was she?

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “LOOK AT THIS PICTURE! He’s with another woman and this was just last week,” Daisy said, her lips pursed, head tilted as she stared at Nina through the computer screen.

  Nina had been on this Skype call with her sisters for approximately six minutes and already her temples throbbed with an incoming migraine.

  “This woman looks like a model. There was a fashion show that day and I was there,” Nina said as she glanced at the tabloid Angie so helpfully held close to the camera for her to see.

  She remembered the beige outfit Major had worn that day and the model. Of course, the girl, wearing a very short skirt and a gold-lamé blouse that barely covered her tits with its plunging neckline, had draped her slim body over Major’s shoulder as if she were somehow physically attached to him.

  “You were there but he was taking pictures with her? I thought you were supposed to be his arm candy for six weeks.” Angie, the matter-of-fact sister, dropped the paper and stared pointedly through the screen.

  How rude would it be if she slammed the laptop closed and went on about her business?

  “That’s pretty rude of him. But then again, he is the Fashion House Playboy,” Daisy quipped.

  “Is there a point to this conversation?” Nina asked because she did have other things to do. And none of those things included thinking about Major leaving her for another woman. Even though he’d have to actually be with her to leave her. And he wasn’t... Or, rather, they weren’t really together.

  “Aren’t you bothered by this?” Angie asked.

  “Why should I be? This was a business arrangement and it’s almost over.” In seventeen days.

  “What were you doing while he was feeling up on this model?” Daisy asked.

  “I was probably with his brother, Maurice, or seated in the audience where the reporters could see me—or rather, Major’s fiancée. Look, if you two don’t have anything better to do, I do have work to take care of.”

  “Work? That looks like a new dress you’re wearing. And by the looks of the pictures you’re showing up in with him, it seems like you’re living one big shopping spree,” Angie said.

  “And going to lavish restaurants and Broadway shows. I read somewhere that you even met Michelle Obama at one of her appearances in the city. You’re having the best time there and it’s not fair!” Daisy whined.

  “First, I got both of you a signed book from Michelle Obama when I met her. And I am working. The app is doing great numbers for me and for RGF. I’m certain they’re going to extend a formal contract for me to keep working with them at the end of the six weeks.” She huffed. “Besides all of that, the press I’m getting personally as a result of this business deal will have my name firmly set within the industry. And from there I’ll be able to move on to other companies. But I’ll be home soon and then we can get Dad moved into the assisted-living facility and all of our lives will get a little easier.”

  That had been the plan from the start. So why did saying it aloud now make her feel unsettled?

  “Are you really coming back here after the six weeks are up?” Angie asked.

  “Of course I am. Why would you ask me that?”

  Daisy rolled her eyes. “Because you look like you’re having the time of your life.”

  Angie elbowed her sister. “Because you look like you might be taking this business a little more personally than you planned.”

  “Knock, knock.” Nina looked up from the screen to see Major standing in the doorway. “Hey, we’ve got a change of plans for this evening. You ready to go?”

  “Yeah. I’m done here, so we can go now,” she replied and then looked back to the screen. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” She hurriedly disconnected the chat and closed her laptop.

  “You okay? Did I interrupt something?” he asked as he entered the office.

  She shook her head, trying to clear it of her sisters’ accusations and the picture of him and that model that still floated there.

  “No. Nothing. Just my sisters calling with an update.”

  “Oh yeah, how’s your dad doing?”

/>   “He’s good.” She stood and grabbed her purse, adding, “He has a doctor’s appointment in the morning and Angie’s going to take him, so I’ll check in with her tomorrow afternoon to see how that goes.”

  “I had my assistant get a list of all the facilities in York and two of them are owned by people my dad’s done business with at some point. I wanted to run it by you first, but if you approve, I could reach out to them and see if we can get your dad in sooner and without any big payments on your behalf.”

  She put her purse strap on her shoulder, slipped her laptop into her bag and stepped around the desk. Coming to a stop in front of him, she looked up in surprise. “What? You would get my dad into a facility for me?”

  “Yeah, I want to help you in any way I can. You want your father to be well taken care of and you said you didn’t plan to move to New York, so I found some places in York.”

  He was talking as if he’d just told her he’d selected something off the menu for them to eat. His tone was nonchalant as he stood with one hand in his pocket. He reached out the other hand to tuck some strands of hair that had escaped her messy bun back behind her ear.

  “Thanks,” she managed to finally say. “I mean...really. You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me,” he said. “I wanted to do it.”

  “But why? You didn’t have to take time out of your busy schedule or ask Landra to do that. It’s not your responsibility. But, again, I really appreciate you doing it.” She smiled at him then because she wasn’t sure what else to do. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him tight, but she wasn’t going to do that. Since her admission that night after the family dinner that she wanted him, and the subsequent nights she’d spent in his arms, she’d been trying to rein in her emotions where he was concerned.

  “This is why,” he said, tracing a finger along her cheek and down below her lips. “Because I like seeing you smile. And when you talk about taking care of your dad, you always frown with the stress of it.”

  And now she thought she might break with the force of her growing feelings for this man.

  “What’s the change in plans?” she asked when the silence stretched between them.

  He dropped his hand and pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit jacket. “Accessory trade show at the Javits Center. RJ needs us to go and check it out. He specifically wants your input on new vendors.”

  RJ. The one who hadn’t been sure of her after their first meeting in the conference room.

  “Sure. I’d love to provide input. Let’s go.” Now this, she could do. Work. Focus on her company and her most prominent client so far. The rest—her sisters, the way that picture had made her feel and the subsequent reaction of Major’s soft touch and sweet words—she could deal with later.

  * * *

  The convention center was full of booths with vendors displaying everything from earrings to nose piercings, belts to custom-designed hats and patterned socks.

  “This is going to be great,” Nina said, pulling her phone out of her purse. “I want to take some pictures. You said Major wanted to get my thoughts on items for the upcoming shows overseas? Do you know if he’s looking for anything specific?”

  From the moment he’d mentioned this show, her spirits seemed to have lifted. When Major had walked into her office earlier, he’d been afraid something had happened to her father because she’d looked so distressed. He’d been glad to share his news about assisting in her facility search, even though it was in York and not here in the city...with him.

  “He’s actually looking for two things—items for the upcoming shows and your thoughts on specific pieces.”

  “Why specific pieces? Does he need a gift for someone? Does RJ have a girlfriend?”

  He chuckled as they moved further into the exhibit hall. “Not hardly. The very last thing RJ’s interested in is a girlfriend or any other type of commitment other than the company.”

  “Is that true of all the Gold men? Because Maurice makes it known he loves his player status and isn’t looking to stop anytime soon. And you...”

  Her words drifted off, but he filled in the blanks.

  “I’ve been focused on Brand Integrated and making my personal mark on the fashion industry.”

  “Everyone has a reason,” she said with a shrug. “I have mine.”

  She didn’t want to be abandoned again. A completely understandable reason, but one that made him much sadder than he thought anything ever could.

  “Anyway, no, RJ’s other reason for this outing is based on this preliminary idea he has about adding a full accessory line to RGF.”

  “Oh.” She took a few steps farther before stopping at an earring vendor. She picked up a set of gold hoops that were almost as big as her hand. There were flecks of sapphire around each hoop and she held them up, staring, he presumed, at the color in the light.

  “A full accessory line will eliminate the need for an app like mine.” She put the earrings down and continued walking.

  “It’s not my idea,” he said because he felt the need to defend himself against the suddenly bland tone of her voice.

  She waved a hand and crossed in front of him to get to another table. This one had more earrings, but these were made with feathers. He watched, entranced by her fingers as they moved lightly over a deep burgundy feather earring.

  “It’s a smart idea,” she said, moving to investigate another pair of earrings. These were of peacock feathers and she picked them up, holding them to her ear while she stepped over to a large oval mirror sitting on a glass case. “If RGF is making their own accessories, they’d be cutting out the middleman and making a bigger profit, all while catering to their customers in a one-stop fashion shop.”

  “Which was exactly what your app offered,” he said. He was standing behind her, so she could see him staring at her through the mirror. When he shook his head, she nodded her agreement and put the earrings back on the table.

  “Everybody wants the complete effect. RJ’s thinking of gaining a competitive edge. There are plenty of other designers that have already ventured into accessories. And there are some accessory designers who’re trying to dip their feet into the high fashion arena.” She shrugged. “That’s business.”

  “Are we business?” He had no idea where that question had come from.

  No, that was wrong and he knew it. The idea came from the myriad emotions playing throughout his mind since the night at his parents’ house.

  She turned to him and smiled. That genuine one he looked forward to seeing every second of the day.

  “We—” She corrected herself. “What we’re doing is probably one of the most innovative ideas I’ve ever come across. Riley says the uptick in searches on the Golden Bride website is in direct correlation to our engagement announcement and each time a picture of us is printed in a tabloid, they get even more hits. Orders are trickling in.” She paused when a woman bumped into her and then continued, “There’s even one from an R&B singer. She already had a dress but when two of the designers appeared on one of those stylist reality shows and mentioned they were working on my gown, she had to have an original design for her wedding that’s coming up in four weeks.”

  “And you said people who already had their gowns wouldn’t buy another one,” he replied with a smirk.

  “Yeah, I did say that. I was wrong.”

  And so was he. This was no longer just business between them. Thinking back to their first meeting, he wondered if there ever had been.

  They walked for a few more minutes, passing other stalls. She stayed a bit ahead of him and he took that time to watch her walk, not in a way that aroused him, but more in a way that amazed him. She’d come all the way to this city just to meet with him and pitch her business, and had ended up staying as part of a business deal and to begin an affair that neither
of them had been prepared for.

  “Do you design and manufacture these?”

  He snapped out of his reverie when he saw Nina had stopped and was holding up a leather handbag. She was talking to a tall man with gold, wire-framed glasses perched on his nose, his hair styled in locks.

  The man walked over to the end of the table. “Yes,” he replied in a heavily accented voice. “The bags, necklaces and earrings. I design and make them all. Do you like this tote?”

  Nina continued to glide her hand over the dark purple bag.

  “This is great craftsmanship,” she said.

  “It is called the Mawu, named after the African goddess of creativity,” he told her.

  Major stood at the other end of the table, watching the exchange, curious as to what she was thinking.

  “Yes, I’m aware of who she is. The leather is supple, sustainable.”

  He nodded. “From the Karoo region of South Africa.”

  She seemed pleased to hear that and left the bag to pick up a necklace from another section of the table.

  “And this is an African talisman,” she said.

  “Yes, you are familiar. It is the Springbok Horn and it is believed to bring good luck to those who wear it.”

  “It’s simple and beautiful, whimsical and magical,” she whispered.

  “We’ll take it,” Major said, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet as he stepped up to the display table.

  “Oh no,” she said, shaking her head. “I didn’t mean for you to buy it. I was just admiring it.”

  Major passed his credit card to the man and waited while it was being swiped. “It’s pretty. You like it. You should have it.” He ended with a shrug because he wanted everything with her to be that simple.