"You know for sure something bad has happened?"
"It can't be good, Sam. They found his car." She started to sob into Sam's shoulder.
"Shhh, it's going to be all right. They'll find out what happened. And Liv, it's not your fault. If someone did something to Paul it's their fault and they'll pay for it."
At once Olivia caught her breath and pulled away. "Help me get ready. I need to look amazing and I can't do that with swollen eyes."
"That's my girl. I'll get some ice."
Olivia walked to the bathroom and pulled several tissues from the box. She stared into the mirror.
"Sam's right. They are going to pay."
Chapter Four
Samantha swirled her hand, motioning to Olivia to do a turn. The silver beads of the gown sparkled in the light and as Olivia swiveled to show her bare back, Sam sighed.
"It fits you perfectly and shows off all the hard work you put in making your ass perfect. This one would sparkle in the light, but that red one. Oh my God, it's the sexiest thing I've ever seen."
"And it's light, this one is really heavy, gorgeous, but too heavy," she said glancing in the mirror. "Okay, the red one then. Hair up or down?"
"I love your hair curled and down, but how about having it swept up on one side with one of those jewel combs you never wear?"
Olivia pushed her hair up on the left side, turning her head side to side. It did show off her high cheekbones. "Hmm, I think you're right."
Sam gleefully rubbed her palms together. "Goody, let's go through all those things from Rafe that have been languishing in your jewelry box."
Olivia walked into the closet and opened the safe. "I tried to give those back, he wouldn't take them."
"Do you ever hear from him?"
Olivia shook her head. "Not recently. He's probably married; he deserves to be happy."
"I doubt it. He was crazy about you..."
Olivia came out with a glossy black box in her hands. "Can we please not talk about him? It's over; it was always really just about the sex anyway."
"Liv, you know that's not true, not for you, and certainly not for Rafe."
Olivia set the box down on the vanity and slipped the beaded gown off, opting for a cotton robe. "I'm going to keep this gown too," She decided, placing it back on the hanger. Obviously ignoring Samantha’s comment.
Samantha was already digging through the box. "This one is amazing, but the one with the rubies is perfect." She held the diamond and ruby comb to the side of Olivia's head, squinting slightly, and then nodding. "Yes, definitely this one."
They heard a buzz from the intercom.
"That must be Lucy, she's doing my makeup."
"Boy you are going all out tonight. Why is this so important to you, Liv? Tell me what's really going on?"
Olivia shrugged. "I just want to look great for our new client, Mr. Matasuki."
"And you think you can find out if he, or those around him had anything to do with Paul's disappearance, don't you?"
"I owe it to Paul."
"Liv, no. Let the authorities handle it."
Lucy let herself in and joined her friends. "Hey, what's going on in here?"
"We were just deciding what to do with my hair. Where's your dress?"
Lucy grinned. "I hope it's in your closet."
Olivia laughed. "Yeah, right next to Sam's." All three laughed. "Go ahead, Mikey brought several choices. Anything but the beaded one. I'm going to wear that one another time."
They arrived at the Met early, so Olivia could make any needed last minute adjustments to the set up, but everything was in perfect order. Though the Gala officially began at seven-thirty, most high profile guests would be fashionably late, arriving between eight and nine. The three sampled the food and the champagne before Liv separated from them. It was her job as a representative of Dolby, Inc. to greet guests as they arrived and for the next hour only left her receiving line duties to work the room, making light conversation, networking, renewing relationships, and generally making sure everyone was happy.
"You look, well . . . beautiful doesn't even begin to describe you." Olivia heard from behind her.
"Mr. Grant. Thank you." She thought he looked beautiful too. Most men looked great in a tux, but he was really...really... Before she could finish the thought someone caught her eye and she quickly swiveled.
"Are you all right, Olivia?"
She swallowed hard and ran her fingers through her side bangs. It was something she did when she was nervous.
"Yes, I'm fine. What do you think?” She gestured to the room. “Is it everything you wanted it to be?"
"You all did a fantastic job. It's much, much more than I ever could have imagined."
Olivia smiled. "And we stayed on budget, sold every ticket and managed to secure great items for the silent auction."
"It's already a big success then, thanks to you." He grinned and Olivia's stomach fluttered.
"Well, I was just one person on the committee. Everyone did a great job."
"Yes, and they’ve all told me how much work you did, so thank you. This charity means a lot to me. I didn't grow up with much. In fact we were pretty poor."
He was being surprisingly open, she felt compelled to do the same. She scanned the crowd behind him and then looked back into his face. "My folks were subsistence farmers. I know what it means to work hard; to not have much."
He shook his head, and softly smiled. "That I didn't see coming. You, working in the fields?"
"I did, and hunted and fished too. Cleaned stalls, fed pigs. I'm just multi talented." Olivia watched his eyes as what she’d told him registered. His eyes widened, but when she saw his pupils expand with need, the noise of the gathering around her muffled and receded. Desire made her skin tingle, her palms feel clammy. "You should mingle. I'm going to check on the caterers, to see if they need anything."
"All right, but when Matasuki gets here I want to be the one to introduce you."
She nodded. "Of course. I'm really anxious to meet him."
Tyson watched her walk away. Finally, embarrassed by his blatant ogling, he turned and grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing waiter. As he took a sip, he noticed what seemed like half the room watch her cross the room. He was also having second thoughts about having agreed to Jerrod’s assigning of the Matasuki account to Olivia. Not because she couldn't do it, but because he was afraid that his attraction to her would impair his focus. Matasuki's business meant millions to his company; still he wasn't sure it was worth it. Maybe it was why Jerrod was avoiding him. In fact Jerrod was AWOL from the Gala. Tyson began to work the room, clockwise, just like he always did at these things.
"Olivia."
"Brian?" He was dressed for the occasion and he looked amazing in the formal wear obviously tailored especially for him. Maybe it was how the two day stubble looked with the tux that caused her to clench. Olivia felt the response the Kegel brought to her pelvic region, and the flow of honey onto her panties. Or maybe the male pheromone-laden atmosphere in the room was getting to her.
"I'm working. I want to see this guy, size him up. I just wanted you to know I'm here in case you need me. Be careful."
"You told me that already." Her glance floated over him and a smiled curled across her lips. "You clean up very nicely."
He chuckled, looking around like she'd embarrassed him. "So do you."
"I..uh..better get back."
It was now 9:30 and the ballroom was finally comfortably filled. The orchestra was luring couples onto the dance floor with soft melodies from movie scores. Olivia could see Samantha already entertaining several men and that Lucy had taken up a position at the sign-in table. Tyson was speaking with someone, whose back was to her. Tyson caught her eye and motioned her over. She knew then, the man with his back to her was Matasuki. Her heart was pounding so loudly, it seemed to drown out everything else.
"You can do this, get a grip Olivia. What was is it Aunt Loralie always says? ‘Make them
believe you've been doing this for years. They won't believe, if you don't.’ Head up, it's show time." She smiled, it was a good start to getting to the confident place she needed to be.
"Mr. Matasuki, may I present Olivia Grayson. She'll be handling your account. Olivia this is Isamu Matasuki."
Olivia waited for him to offer his hand and then took it. She'd seen his pictures, but he looked even better in person, a cross between Jett and Bruce Lee. His black hair was slicked back, and his smoldering dark eyes never left hers. A gentlemen? She knew better. He was more a charming wolf in an Armani tux.
"So good to finally meet you." He shook her hand and then looked back to Tyson.
"I wasn't expecting someone so young."
Olivia pulled her hand away. Judgment, already?
Tyson's smiled disarmingly. "Miss Grayson is one of our brightest colleagues. I assure you, if I didn't believe in her, unequivocally, she wouldn't have been assigned to your account."
"Mr. Matasuki, how good to see you again." They all heard. Olivia turned and gasped, causing all three men to look to her. It was the man from the restaurant, the man she'd had amazing sex with in the parking garage and his apartment.
"Have you two met?" Tyson wondered.
"No, no not formally," the man admitted.
"Olivia, this is Adam Stein, head of Stein Brothers."
Olivia's knees nearly failed her as she just barely caught the groan that threatened to leave her mouth, but she stood tall and shook his hand as if it was their first meeting. He smiled broadly.
"Very nice to meet you...Olivia. I'm sure we'll encounter each other often." He let her hand slip from his, turning his attention to Matasuki. "I look forward to our meetings next week, Isamu."
Matasuki nodded. "It should be a very interesting week. I, too, am looking forward to it."
Adam's smile faded. "Tyson, Olivia." His aloof, but polite and somewhat amused acknowledgments made, he walked away.
Olivia was mortified, but she'd done nothing wrong. Of course she certainly wouldn't have done what she did had she known he was Adam Stein. It made her wonder if he'd known all along who she was. She swallowed. Time to go to work.
Focusing on Matasuki, she bowed her head just slightly."Can I persuade you to dance with me, Mr. Matasuki?"
"Please call me Isamu."
"It means courage, I believe." He smiled in response to her comment and she smiled back.
Without turning to Tyson he said, "You're right Tyson, she's very smart. I'd love to dance with you Olivia Grayson."
Brian observed from across the room. Noting the location of Matasuki's three body guards, he casually crossed the room, discreetly taking pictures of them with the miniature camera on his lapel as he walked by. As he worked the remote for the shutter he smiled to himself. He was a sucker for gadgetry and had to admit part of the allure of the security profession was the fabulous array of gadgetry available for surveillance work.
Tyson cursed Stein under his breath before continuing his hosting duties. As he moved from group to group, greeting colleagues, friends and acquaintances, joining in on on-going conversations or choosing to just listen, he was unable to keep his eyes from seeking out Olivia.
Isamu guided Olivia gracefully around the couples on the large dance floor. It was during that first circuit he'd decided no matter what happened with business, he was going have her.
Olivia smiled shyly when the music ended. He wasn't fooling her. He had the same look in his eye she'd see hundreds of times from men just like him. Most would be astonished to find their money and power meant nothing to her.
"That was lovely. If you'll excuse me, I need to check on a few things. I hope you'll check out the items for the silent auction. It's a very good cause after all."
He nodded. "I will," he promised as he walked with her. A lovely Asian woman intercepted them, Olivia recognized her from the photos, as the woman in the background. She was stunningly dressed in a floor-length black satin gown with an embroidered white dragon cascading down the entire front. Her waist-length hair was fastened low at the side of her head in a flowing ponytail. She stepped close to Matasuki and in a hushed voice spoke with him in Japanese. Olivia purposely slowed her retreat. She spoke Japanese and understood the words "It's done." distinctly. Of course Matasuki couldn’t have known she spoke and understood Japanese. Which language skills she had were one of the things she chose to keep off her resume; things she kept to herself. Everyone except her closest friends were on a 'need to know' basis. She continued walking away, without looking back, promising herself that if Matasuki had any part in Paul's disappearance he was going to pay.
Before she could get to the kitchen, Adam Stein was beside her.
"We need to talk."
"Really," she scoffed. "About what?"
He grabbed her arm, bringing her to a stop. She looked around before pulling her arm sharply away from his grasp.
"I think you know."
"No, I'm sure I don't. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."
He guided her to a secluded alcove. "Are you, or are you not assigned to Matasuki's file?"
Olivia frowned. That wasn't at all what she expected to hear.
"I don't see why it's any of your business."
"It is if you slept with me because of 'said' business."
"Ha, you flatter yourself, Mr. Stein. I had no idea who you were, can you say the same?"
Stein looked around making sure no one was watching. "You...you think I knew who you were?"
She folded her arms over her chest and cocked her head to one side.
He rolled his eyes. "No, of course I didn't know. I never would have..."
Olivia cut him off. "Well, neither would I, so I think that's something we can both agree on. Good evening."
He watched as she grabbed her dress, raising her train so she wouldn't trip and left him standing there watching her, mouth agape. She had a habit of leaving him unexpectedly. His hands rose to his hips and he shook his head. If she thought for one minute that he needed her to get Matasuki to choose Stein, she was delusional, beautiful, but still...really? His thoughts drifted back to that night. She was amazing, she asked for what she wanted, knew exactly what he needed, damn it. He strode straight to the bar.
"Double bourbon neat, please." He leaned against the bar as it was poured and swigged some, the amber liquid burning the back of his throat for a moment.
"Wow, what's got you double drinking?"
"A woman, what else?" He glanced over to his partner and brother, Eric. "Did you say hello to Matasuki?"
"I did. He brushed me off. Did you have any better luck?"
"Just said hello, he was with Grant at the time."
"Dolby's no problem for us Adam. They haven't gotten a client we've been interested in for two years."
Adam stared straight at Olivia. She glanced over, obviously annoyed and turned away. "Yeah, well things may change this time." Eric followed his line of sight.
"Wow, she’s why you're drinking?" Adam nodded, still scowling. "Maybe you've finally met your match," he said, and slapped Adam on the back.
"She's the one handling Matasuki for Dolby."
Eric's eyes widened. "I'll have what he's having." The bartender chuckled as he poured another bourbon. Eric raised his glass and took a long sip, both still staring at Olivia. "Damn."
"Exactly." Adam used his finger tips to shove his glass toward the bartender and strode away.
Brian watched Olivia, intrigued by everything about her, and after seeing the exchange between the man and her, wondered what was going on between them. She seemed angry and he seemed upset. Was this an ex-boyfriend? He took several more pictures and when Olivia walked toward the kitchen, he waited a few minutes and then followed.
"Did you see Matasuki's ghost arrive? It's creepy the way she lurks around him."
"Her manner is subservient, Olivia, not lurking. Yes, I'm on it."
Olivia frowned. What did he mean by t
hat? "What's the matter? You seem as annoyed as I am."
"Who was the guy that grabbed your arm just now?"
"Adam Stein, a competitor of Dolby, and a jerk."
"So you two aren't..."
"No. I could kick myself.” She paused, deciding. “Okay, you might as well know. I hooked up with him, once, and that's it, done. This is going to sound bad, but I didn't know he was 'that Stein'." She couldn't bear to tell him she hadn't needed to know his name. "I wouldn't put it past him to use it against me now. If not with Matasuki, then my boss."
"Maybe. If he does, he really is an ass. You however could take away his power. If it's mentioned, shrug it off. It didn't mean anything. It didn't mean anything did it?"
"No it didn't," she agreed. "But it sure was great sex," she thought.
Brian was surprised how much the thought of Olivia’s having sex with Stein bothered him, especially since he didn't really even know her, but on his side this, whatever this was, it had become more than just business, at least to him.
Olivia took a deep breath. "I can handle this. I'm okay. Is there anything I can do to help, instead of mess things up?"
Brian smiled and shook his head. "I'll let you know."
"Thanks. Oh, I almost forgot. I heard the shadow woman tell Matasuki that 'It was done', whatever that means."
Brian's face pinched in a frown. "Tell me exactly what she said."
"In Japanese, she whispered 'It's done.'"
"You speak Japanese? Does he know that; does anyone else know? I mean, did you study it in college where it may show on a transcript, or use it in another job, show it on a resume?"
Olivia shook her head. "Yes, I speak Japanese and no, he doesn’t know, no one does and this is exactly why. I took Spanish in school; found that I had a knack for languages, so I studied many others on my own."
"Good, so they have no reason to believe even if they were overheard, you actually understood them?"
"Right. I better get back."
Corporate Ties (Silken Ties Book 1) Page 5
