He’d checked and rechecked the progress report and the notes. He’d grilled Stuart himself.
“You didn’t go yourself. They felt if the top dog at Royale Enterprises wasn’t interested enough in them, why should they give us their business? You know we have to baby these people. You offended the very company that would have brought in millions over the next two years. And, to top it all off, you nearly bankrupt Royale Enterprises to buy King’s Department Store.”
His heart sank. His grandfather had found out. “I can explain.”
“Hah! Have you lost your mind, son?”
“Please, Albert, don’t upset yourself so,” he heard his grandmother call out. “Trust Alex; he’ll make it all right, won’t you, dear?”
His grandfather continued, “We’re in the business of developing upscale shopping malls in the wealthiest communities, not set up shop to sell wares.”
Alex squeezed his eyes shut. He felt the muscle in his jaw jump to life. “It’s only temporary. I intend to sell it. All the media attention is causing business to pick up. That means I buy low and sell high, Grandfather.”
Some of the bluster seemed to go out of the older man. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want you to be this upset.”
He snorted. “Too late.” His long, heavy sigh caused another pang of guilt to shoot through Alex.
“I’m sorry. Some day I’ll tell you everything. But, for now, let me do it my way.”
“When?”
“When?”
“Yes, son, when are you going to put that beast up for sale?”
“Soon. A couple of weeks,” he admitted, recalling his assistant’s discreet, tentative inquiries into selling King’s. They already had a few interested companies, more with each successful sales campaign. Thoughts of Charlie rushed through his mind. Something strong and heavy clamped down in his chest.
“Make it quick.” For a long moment there was silence. “Alex, you’ve got a business to run, not a store to babysit. You decide if you want to continue at Royale Enterprises or play shopkeeper.” Sadness crept into his voice. “I’m an old man who doesn’t have much time left. Give your grandmother and me a great-grandchild. And don’t disappoint me in losing all I’ve built these years. That includes my hopes and dreams of you and your son continuing on where I left off. It’s either King’s or Royale Enterprises. You can’t have both.”
Chapter 17
The finality of his grandfather’s words rang in his ears as Alex hung up. But it was the deep well of disappointment in Gramps’ voice that broke his heart. “You can’t have both,” Alex repeated, gritting his teeth.
“That bad?”
“Worse, my friend, much worse.” Alex blew out a hot breath. He had a decision to make. It wasn’t going to be pretty.
After frantic phone calls to his assistant and Stuart, Alex finally exited the car nearly twenty minutes later. He made his way into the store as the familiar doorman spotted Alex and had ushered him through the growing crowd after Alex had viewed both window displays.
He smiled wistfully as he recalled the first one with Charlie, in a dressing gown, getting ready at the vanity table while her stepsisters exchanged shoes and Dolly sat in a nearby chair completing the last stitches on a hem.
The second one… Breathtaking, he thought. Flowers adorned the makeshift garden. White gauzy fabric draped the wedding altar. Stunning, Charlie stood in her wedding dress. Beside her, he cupped her face in his palms, ready to kiss her.
Still lost in thought, he entered King’s. He stopped in his tracks. Gone were the classic racks upon racks of clothes, the soft strains of elevator music, and stiff mannequins dressed in all-too-boring business attire. Even the lighting had been adjusted. Everything seemed brighter and warmer. As another popular love song came on, he heard several women nearby exclaim at the rich, husky voice of the well-known singer.
He glanced around in fascinated wonder at the transformation. The white-draped fabric and flowers continued throughout the store. Seating arrangements had been created, as if this were a real wedding reception. A five-tier wedding cake with King’s gift bags on the table took up one area.
His jaw nearly dropped as saleswomen, posing as wait staff, served wedding cake in neat little lavender take-home boxes with King’s Department Store crown logo imprinted on the top, along with sparkling liquid in champagne glasses. Behind the servers were models, posing in their colorful hip outfits, while salespeople with an armful of clothes whisked away women to the dressing areas.
“What do you think?” Charlie asked as she suddenly appeared by his side.
She seemed to glow. “You, my love, are amazing.”
“I know that. I meant the store.”
He chuckled. “Chic. Unique. Yet intimate. I would say you are a genius.”
Her cheeks turned pink. She waved a hand to indicate the employees working behind her. “My team is.” On tiptoe, she leaned close and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Alex.”
“For what?” He honestly had no clue what she was talking about.
“For giving me time.”
Alex swallowed hard.
“Time away from you, so I could be here to help with all this planning and work,” she said, and then slipped her arm through his. “I think we’re drawing too much attention,” she whispered as he became aware of the many stares.
Women of all ages, shapes, and sizes seemed to stop their shopping to focus on them. Most smiled, others giggled, while some even raised their glasses in a toast.
“Ladies,” he said, nodding their way.
“Shall I show you the rest?”
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “Rest of what?”
“You’ll see.” Promise echoed in her words.
Groaning, he followed her lead.
This time she giggled. “Not that,” she said in mock horror.
A moment later, he realized where they were going. Getting closer, there was no way to ignore the huge posters hanging behind the jewelry counter and the nearby salon.
He gulped. “Charlie.”
There, in more than eight-foot glory, his wife’s picture hung. The close-up of her looking off to her right as she smiled warmly captured her bare shoulders just above the neckline of her wedding dress, spotlighting the diamond earrings and necklace.
In the back of his mind, he noted the other photos in the surrounding area. He glanced at the close-up photo where he slipped her wedding ring onto her left ring finger, there to stay. However, he couldn’t seem to yank his gaze away from the full shot of both of them; he was in profile as he kneeled before her and she gazed lovingly at him.
“Pretty good, if I do say so myself.”
A bolt of electricity zapped through his body. He saw it for the very first time. She loved him. And he loved her. The picture couldn’t lie. “Perfect,” he said absently. “Simply, utterly perfect.”
He knew he’d treasure this moment for the rest of his life.
“Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Edward’s voice intruded from beside him, “but you have a plane to catch.”
Whatever he’d dreamed about for a future for Charlie and himself seemed to crash right before him.
“Alex, a plane?” He heard the hurt in her tone.
Grimly, he turned to her. There, in her eyes, bore the well of disappointment. His middle clenched. “I’ve got to go to California.”
“Now?”
He blew out a hot breath. “I’m afraid so. Business.” He had to save the deal and Royale Enterprises all in one shot. After all, wasn’t his grandparents and what they longed for his first priority? It always had been. And it always would be for him. “Walk me to the car?” he asked softly, dreading the inevitable.
***
Outside, standing beside the car door, Charlie noted the strain in his eyes. “Is everything all right?”
Instead of answering, he gathered her close. She melted into him, savoring the warmth and stre
ngth of his arms surrounding her and his big solid chest protecting her. She sighed. He held her tighter.
“I’m sorry, Charlie,” he whispered in her ear, “for doing this to you.”
A sense of unease made her shiver. Why did it sound like he was apologizing for more than just this sudden trip? She pulled away slightly to look up into his eyes again. They were clouded. He seemed troubled. “Alex, please tell me what’s really going on.”
A sad smile tugged at his mouth. With what appeared to be forced cheer, he said, “A party. Well, a reception. My grandparents insist on introducing us properly to the world, I’m afraid. Saturday night. I’ll be back just in time. I’ll have my assistant call you with all the details.”
“A party?”
“I know, I hate them, too.” He kissed her quick, and then made to let go.
“Wait, not so fast.” She hated the desperate quality in her voice. He came back fully to her. “Kiss me, please. A real one.”
“My pleasure, beautiful.”
Slowly, he dipped his head. Charlie closed her eyes and welcomed the warm, firm pressure of his mouth against hers. She didn’t want it to end. The shelter of his embrace gave her a false sense of security and reassurance.
In the background, she became aware of the claps, cheers, and even some cameras clicking away. They had an audience. Again.
Reluctantly, she broke the kiss, sighing heavily. With one last look, he got into the back seat. He grabbed a nearby file and flipped through the pages, becoming instantly absorbed in the material. He didn’t even glance at her as Edward drove away.
Her heart sank. She’d just gotten a glimpse of the old Alex. Stiff, business-like, and shut down. She had five days to figure out why this sudden change in him and the urgent need to fly off to conduct business he’d never mentioned previously. But would she like the answer?
***
Charlie leaned her forehead against the cool window pane as she sat in her office window seat. Friday night after nine and the stillness surrounding her should be welcome. But it wasn’t.
She tugged the fuzzy throw a little bit more over her shoulder. The soft rustle of her sketch pad shifting reminded her she still had to finish the details on the perfume box for King’s new scent, Charming.
The echoing silence in the executive offices indoors combated with the sound of rain dripping down the windows outside.
“Sad. Lonely,” she whispered as her middle knotted again. She couldn’t call her friend. Dolly had a date with Edward. “All alone.” Tears smarted her eyes.
It had been four long nights without Alex. Brief, distracted calls made it even more unbearable. Her husband had suddenly become a stranger to her.
And, to be honest, Charlie didn’t particularly like the change.
Funny how a few short weeks ago she’d never thought of anything but the store. Now, thoughts of Alex were always in the back of her mind, especially now that he was so remote.
Sighing heavily, she berated herself. She’d gone and fallen in love with him. An ache shot through her. “Yes, I love my husband,” she said softly, trying out the words aloud for the first time. “Fully, deeply, painfully in love.” But she didn’t have to like the business man who’d snuck back in and stole him away.
Her tummy twisted again. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d stopped to take a bite. Wrinkling her nose at the thought of food, she realized she didn’t have the stomach for it. Charlie giggled at her own pun.
“You are so sorry, girl.”
She must have dozed off, because the next thing she was aware of was sounds in the outer office. Sitting up, she recognized Bruno’s, the night guard, voice. Then another male answered.
“Alex?” she called out, her heart hitching. She brushed aside her sketch pad and threw off the blanket.
Suddenly, his presence filled the doorframe. He moved closer. “Should I call you Sleeping Beauty now?”
Smiling, she rubbed at her eyes. “Something like that.”
“Miss Charlie, I found this man lurking around the building.” Bruno nodded to her husband and the bag he was carrying as the guard came into the room. “I only let him in ‘cause he brought dinner.” He winked at her. “Miss Dolly’s famous chicken soup.”
Her stomach growled. She pressed a hand to her middle. “Yummy. Have some with us.”
“You know she fixed me up, too.” He smacked his lips. “And dumplings.”
“Oh, my gosh. I’m famished.”
“If you weren’t before, you should be now,” Bruno said. “Dolly’s one mean cook. You know if I wasn’t married, I would have snatched her up long ago.”
Charlie smiled. “Hah! It’s not just her cooking. It’s because of her winning streak at poker. You, my friend, would’ve been one rich man.”
He laughed heartily, shaking his head. “Dang that woman! She could beat the pants off any man she played with. Your daddy, the guys, and me would be crying by the end of the night.”
She smiled warmly at the many stories of their late night poker games in the guard room downstairs.
“All right to leave this man with you, miss?” She detected the hint of protectiveness.
“Did you pat him down? Maybe he’s packing heat,” she teased.
“Oh, I was gonna leave that up to you, Miss Charlie.”
She laughed. “I can handle that.”
A slight awkwardness descended as Bruno strolled away, whistling.
For the first time, she looked directly at her husband. A questioning look shadowed his features.
“Alex.”
“Charlie.”
Tucking the blanket around her, she settled in again. She moved her papers and sketch pad from the seat and plopped them on the floor beside her. “Would you like to join me?”
The formality didn’t seem lost on him. “Thank you.”
He made his way around her desk and came closer. She stole glimpses of him. Tall and breathtaking as always, she mused. Her heart skipped a beat as the scent of him tickled her senses. Still in his business attire, she wondered if he’d come straight from a meeting.
“Oh, I think we have Dolly to thank for this.” When he sat beside her, she helped him pull out the food containers. She snatched up a spoon. Taking the lid off, she dipped into the steaming liquid, and then tasted a bite. She moaned. “Delish!”
He joined her, echoing her sentiments.
“But I thought she had a date.”
Shrugging, he said, “Change of plans. The rain. Me coming home a day early.”
Curiosity won out. “Why?”
“Why not? I wrapped up the first phase of business late today.”
“First phase?” She didn’t like the sound of this.
“I go back Monday.” She noted the tiredness in his tone.
Disappointed, she said, “Oh, that’s right, the party.”
He murmured his agreement. She felt an icy stab of pain somewhere in her chest.
“Do you mind?”
Lost in thought, she jerked her head up. “Huh?”
Tugging at his tie, he asked, “This?”
She swallowed hard, thinking he didn’t have to stop with just that piece of clothing. He handed her his container of soup.
Gingerly, she took it from him. He shucked off his suit jacket. “And this?”
An ache, deep and low, shot through her. She broke the stare.
Gazing out at the rain slicked window, she focused on the yellowy lights coming from the streetlight below. She heard metal clink together and realized he’d just removed his cuff links. The whisper of fabric clued her into his rolling up his sleeves.
For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and remembered his naked chest beneath her fingers. She groaned inwardly.
“Better.”
Coming back to the moment, she glanced his way as she smiled tightly. Wrong move. His hot, dark stare burned into her. The searing imprint shook her to her core. She wanted him. Wanted what they’d had, even if only for a few
stolen minutes.
His hand brushed against hers as he relieved her of the container. Once free of the soup, she curled her fingers into her palm, hoping to capture the feel of his skin. She shook her head at what she longed for but may never have again. Where had her Alex gone?
Having lost her appetite, she offered him her soup.
“Not hungry? Dolly said you haven’t been eating lately.”
Why would her friend tell him that? Not on purpose, she reasoned. This time, she shrugged, as she tugged at the fringe on the blanket. “Business. Too busy. Too distracted.” She didn’t dare tell him the complete truth. Because she missed him terribly.
“Dexter?”
He almost sounded jealous. She shook it off. “Thankfully, he’s been working around the clock to finish the perfume. I’m grateful for all his help. You know, he’s a genius—”
“So I’ve heard.”
“When it comes to formulas and potions,” she added, frowning at the dark look chasing across his features. “I wish he’d stay. I think he really cares about this place succeeding almost as much as I do.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
Charlie refused to be drawn into a debate over Dexter’s merits. Instead, she gave into Alex’s wishes. “Well, I don’t think you know I was born here.”
“Dallas? But I thought…” He seemed puzzled.
“No, here. In this office.” She waited for his response.
He didn’t make her wait long. “Here here?”
At his utter look of astonishment, she chuckled. She pointed at him. “You should see the look on your face.”
He joined her in laughter.
The tension eased. She breathed a sigh of relief. Visions of the Alex she’d come to know and love peeked out behind the business mask.
“Don’t keep me hanging, tell me,” he pleaded.
“If you insist.” She seemed to tumble back in time as she glanced around the office space. “This was my father’s office. It looked different then. Well, not the desk, that’s the same. I saved it,” she said wistfully, biting her lip. She tossed off a wave of melancholy, and then continued. “Dusty, cluttered, you name it, Dolly described it.”
If The Shoe Fits Page 11
