Lawfully Indulged
Ginny Sterling
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Afterword
Winning the Billionaire
Hopefully Matched
Lawfully Admired
Also by Ginny Sterling
Lawfully Guarded by Elle E. Kay
About the Author
1
September 2015
“Sienna, I can’t believe you went behind my back and chose that red dress after all,” Joel told her in a disgusted voice as he got ready. Tonight was the big reveal of her new fashion line promoting the expansion of her vision, accessories. Not only was she going to be directly selling to stores, she was branching out into shoes and large bauble jewelry- all at fairly lower prices- in order to gain more attention to the brand. It was great to sell purses and wallets in her line at $220 each, but if she could break-out and become better known, then she could sell even more simply by being affordable. Nothing in her new line was over seventy dollars, and that had really made her manager/boyfriend, Joel Fischers, really upset.
“I told you that red makes you look sallow and honestly the flounces around the hips make your butt look much bigger than it is. I never thought you’d actually accentuate that part of your body,” he muttered under his breath as he tied his tie in the mirror. Sienna bit her lip and looked away. She loved the wine color of the dress and thought that the ruddy color had enough blue tones in it to complement her skin perfectly. “I look awful now because the tie and cummerbund I was planning on wearing don’t match and I will have to wear something completely different in order to complement that red nightmare.”
“I’m sorry, Joel. I just really liked the color,” she began and got silent immediately when he whirled around angrily to stare at her.
“You don’t even listen to me anymore, do you? You think that since they are showing your line tonight that you’re the big star of the show, right?”
“Well no, but I am being featured…”
“Because I told them to! That’s what I do, I make you look good and get noticed. Every time I give you advice or try to make you a bigger name, you do something headstrong and stupid to undermine me. Why do I even bother?” he snarled, turning away from her to finish tying his tie.
Sienna stared at him and tried to calm herself down. She would not fight with him tonight and she wouldn’t let him goad her into it. He could be so good sometimes, but others it was like a nightmare. The underhanded comments and snide remarks were normally forgotten after a few touching gestures but this time the pain wasn’t fading. She was angry and sick of it all.
“The dress was supposed to be green, a bright palm green, in order to match the new high heels and tropical earrings we are promoting; or don’t you remember? It’s your career and your wallet on the line by looking like trash, not mine.”
“I don’t look like trash tonight.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said that I don’t look like trash – I never have.”
“You do right now and you look like you’ve got an attitude to boot. I suggest you think carefully on your next words because we not only work together, we live together. What you say will be continued long into the night, so perhaps it should be “I’m sorry Joel. You were right and I was wrong.”
“I think I will go by myself tonight so I don’t embarrass you,” she said flatly and grabbed her phone to call the limo around. She was better than this and deserved more. She barely recognized the smiling man who’d enchanted her a little over two years ago. He’d swooped in and introduced her to several giants in the industry, rubbing elbows and coaching her on what to do or say. She’d been an apt student and had become a titan herself in no time flat with a successful launch of her own fashion line aptly named, Sienna. Never in her life had she ever imagined that she would be a successful billionaire in the fashion industry.
It had been a mix between chic-boho-meets-earthy-elegance. She wanted simple, delicate, flowing lines with creative tasteful colors. The industry had been ripe for the change- instead of leather skirts, taut business wear and stiletto heels, she’d drawn inspiration from the Greek dresses of ancient Rome. Sienna had mixed it with seductive fabrics that begged to be touched, creating a stunning sensation that had everyone talking. This year’s line had been drawn straight from the wilds of Brazil. Deep greens, bright yellows and crisp orange hues that reminded her of the jungle vegetation. Her wine dress had been a tribute to that and she thought she looked amazing.
“You will not go alone,” he said calmly. “You’ll go with me or you won’t go at all.”
“Of course, I will go, don’t be silly. This is my season debut.”
“This will be your finale too if you don’t shut up.”
“Is that a threat?” she gaped in shock, staring at him and the coldness in his eyes. Gone was the man she’d once admired and in his place was a dangerous stranger. Things had been rocky between them for a while, but now she realized that it wasn’t just her that had changed. He’d changed and she didn’t care for it at all.
“It’s a promise. You don’t listen -ever. Your fashion sense is awful and even a blind squirrel will find a nut if it searches long enough. Your fashion line success was sheer luck. It takes skill to keep it going and I’m wondering if you have it in you or not. By the choices you’ve made and your actions, I’m going to say ‘not’. You are a failure with an incredibly wide lucky streak,” he gave a derisive snort that irked her horribly, making her temper rise. “Honestly, the size matches your butt in that gown.”
“Get out,” Sienna bit out, feeling her face flush in embarrassment and horror at the personal jab. He knew she was sensitive about her hips and bottom. Sienna was slim everywhere but her backside.
“I don’t think so,” he said looming over her. “This needs to be said because you are getting too big for your britches in more ways than one. It’s not just the flounces on that dress, you are gaining weight and frankly for someone in fashion – it looks terrible. Why do I even bother with you?”
“You shouldn’t then.”
“No, I shouldn’t, but I care about you.”
“If you did, you wouldn’t insult me.”
“I am telling you the truth because I care.”
“That’s really messed up.”
“No, that’s you refusing to listen to me again. What’s it going to take to get you to pay attention to me?” he said angrily, putting his hands on her upper arms. She felt the pinch of his fingers digging in and realized for the first time that she was done. Done with him, done with his managing her business. Done, done, done.
“You’re fired. Get out of my house,” Sienna whispered firmly, staring at him boldly while clutching her phone. Her heart thumped wildly as she tried to keep the fear from her eyes. She wondered idly if he would hurt her and saw the fury in his gaze. “My car is here and I am going alone tonight. You can remove your things while I am gone and I suggest you do so, or when I return, the police will be with me.”
“You can’t threaten me.”
“In your words: it’s not a threat. Get out of my house by the time I get home.”
“I will destroy you.”
“I’m sure you will try because you are angry right now.”
“You are making a huge mistake.”
“I might be,” she admitted softly. “I m
ight be making the biggest mistake of my career but it’s also the first step to getting my freedom from you. I think I will be much happier with my own decisions rather than living with yours. Goodnight Joel – and goodbye.”
“I will never leave you alone. If you need space, fine. You’ll never get rid of me, ever. I will have everything from you. Your heart, your money, your clothing line – everything! There will never be anyone else for you, nor anything. You hear me? You are mine. MINE!” Sienna stood there staring at him feeling almost a sense of dislocation from the scene, as if she was watching from a distance. His chest was rising and falling with each word ground out at her. He was angry and she was numb or in shock.
“Goodbye,” she repeated and stepped back from him, shrugging off his hands. She didn’t even look down to see if he’d left bruises like last time. He would never, ever, grab her or shake her again. Never tell her that she was stupid, dumb or overweight. She felt like freedom was within her grasp as she put her hand on the doorknob to leave her home. She would never be told what to do again or insulted.
No one would.
2
September 2017
“Let’s go. We’ve got just under ten minutes until we are on stage. Wrap it up and let’s line up!” Sienna called out. This was to be another amazing show and she’d learned so much over the last few years on her own. Each time, each project, had been a true education and she realized now just how much control Joel had taken over her life. She was blossoming now that he was out of the picture. Where she’d done well before, thinking she was a titan in the industry – she was now learning exactly what that status brought to her. Proverbial doors were opening everywhere for her and the red carpet was being rolled out. She was recognized, fawned over and adored as she stepped in stores or shops.
Jewelry stores called her, clamoring for her to wear their newest pieces in public or in photo shoots. Shoe designers wanted to work with her. Makeup and fragrance companies wanted her own line, her name attached to their brand. Sienna Angelica was a name, a brand, a logo…a true titan.
“Ms. Angelica, these were sent backstage for you. Would you like them in your room?” her assistant asked, holding a massive bouquet of classic white roses. White was stunning but cold, informal and matched everything. It was sweet and touching – almost polite. Most of the time she was given a bouquet of red roses to walk out with and not a large vase full. Perhaps they did things different this year for a reason?
“Let’s put them in my room. Part of my walk will be to display the beaded sari shawl that goes with my outfit and I can’t hold it out to be shown if my hands are full. Thank you, Melinda. You’re a doll and I appreciate your help so much with this show.”
Sienna slid a sly look over towards the young brunette who’d been a lifesaver the past few weeks setting up. She had been present every year, at every show. She’d first noticed her when they both insisted that they were planning on using the illuminated catwalk instead of spotlights. The young woman had excellent taste and they got along famously.
“What do you think about coming to work with me full time? Not just to set up? I could use someone that thinks like me, and we work well together.”
“I’d be honored,” Melinda admitted, looking stunned and taken aback at the offer.
“Think about it and let’s meet for lunch tomorrow to talk more about the details. Are you busy?”
“Not anymore!”
“Fantastic. How do I look? Do I need more blush?”
“No, I don’t believe so. You’ve got an elegant, classic look to your face and pardon the expression – but if you wore more makeup, you’d look gaudy.”
“And that is what I like about you. You are honest and candid without being insulting. Trust me, there is a difference.”
“I don’t mean to be rude or insulting,” she stammered looking alarmed.
“No, I know. I don’t think you have a mean bone in your body and you’re always looking out for me. Thank you again, my friend,” Sienna said, hugging the young woman. They were about the same age, yet Melinda had such an innocence to her where Sienna felt almost frozen on the inside. Wary.
Sienna felt like she was protecting herself from the outside world and wearing a mask when entering it. Her clothing line, her very serenity was a sham. Joel still haunted her and was toying with her from the peripheral edges of her existence. He’d been skulking around for the last few months, becoming more and more persistent. It began back in May when he’d mailed her evidence that he’d bought stock in her company. He said he was coming for her and he’d meant it. She’d began aggressively pursuing the market, ensuring that she remained the majority stockholder. She didn’t want to be a figure head. It was her company, her life, her very freedom to make decisions that he was threatening again.
Lining up, Sienna heard the music begin and felt herself smile inwardly knowing that the next twenty minutes would be a televised blur. The models had done the walk repeatedly during practice and everything was running like clockwork. Model one began her walk down the runway, as her next change of clothing was awaiting her arrival back behind stage with a bevy of attendants to get her prepared for her next outing. Organized poetic chaos.
As the third model of twelve women prepared to walk down the runway, Sienna heard a horrified outcry from nearby. It was a sound a designer never, ever wanted to hear: the sound of alarm with no time to repair. Looking over, she felt her mouth drop open as the gray fitted evening gown was held up revealing the damage. The fabric had been punctured several times by a sharp object and a dizzying array of sequins and beads scattered to the floor.
“Get a broom and get those up now before someone falls. Move!” Sienna barked out, moving into action. “Don’t just stand there staring at it. Grab another gown and replace it, get the almond colored gown and hurry. It will match the black accessories and not stand out. Put it down and leave it for me to look at later.” She couldn’t focus on that right now. The destruction of her work was already done, it was time to focus on what she could handle: her own walk and thank you to the crowd.
As the model walked back, she saw her glance of surprise at the change of plans and quickly changed. Things flew back into routine as the show continued. When the music changed and the final model made their walk, it was Sienna’s turn.
Stepping forward into the blinding light, she smiled widely and stepped forward on sheer faith. She couldn’t see the catwalk just yet until the bright lights were out of her face. As she continued forward, she saw the faces of applauding fans and was surrounded quickly by the other models as she took her bow. Graceful, thankful and encouraged by the response, she waved eagerly and shook several hands near the catwalk until she saw Joel in the front row watching her. She nearly stumbled until she saw his knowing smile. He knew he’d thrown her off kilter and it made her angry.
This was deliberate and felt like borderline harassment as she saw Joel get to his feet to applaud her. At least his action brought others to their feet as well. He was helping as much as he was hindering, just like before. He was controlling their reaction, working the crowd and getting what he wanted from her. He knew she hated to linger on the catwalk, feeling like the center of attention, and the longer everyone applauded, the longer she felt obliged to be there. What was he doing here anyways?
Waving one more time and bowing deeply, Sienna turned to walk backstage once more. She wanted to get as far away from Joel as possible. He wasn’t healthy for her and she realized that now. The thought of him creeping back into her life put her on edge.
When he’d moved out, she’d immediately changed the locks on her house and got an alarm system. There was something that had struck her as odd about him now that she looked back in retrospect. They’d been opposites in more ways than she realized. He’d created havoc in her world where she needed a place to retreat.
Her little house overlooked a small cliff facing Long Island Sound. She’d paid dearly for the property, treasuring its locat
ion and privacy. It was a small cottage with a white picket fence, something out of a magazine practically. Large evergreen trees had been planted outside of her fencing in order to give a bit more solitude, but nothing blocked her view. The ocean gave her a sense of peace like no other, calming and inspiring. She spent many hours in an Adirondack chair facing the ocean simply thinking, holding her sketch pads and dreaming before the bevy of work began bringing her imaginings to life.
In fact, Sienna wanted to do just that: retreat and hide away. She was tired and not ready for the onslaught to her mind that came with mentally battling Joel brought. As she stepped backstage of the show, she smiled and congratulated everyone, thanking them for a job well done. Grabbing the gray dress without a word, she headed back to her room and was quickly followed by Melinda.
“Are you okay?”
“Not really, but nothing a goodnight’s sleep won’t fix, eh?”
“You are worried,” she said bluntly, causing Sienna to smile wanly at the candidness of the woman. That’s why she wanted her to work for her. Sienna could trust in Melinda’s honestly.
“You are sooooo hired, you know that? Lunch tomorrow will be to celebrate, not discuss the job.”
“We’ll discuss the job and what caused that,” Melinda said bluntly, pointing at the gray dress in Sienna’s hands. “That looks like scissors or something else pointy.”
“I know it does. Do we have cameras backstage?”
“Yes, I’ll pull the footage and see if I can find something for you.”
“If you do, call the police. I will press charges for this – but keep it between us.”
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