'Take it or leave it,' Allegra said. She made movements in her chair as if she were going to get up.
'No, no,' he said, waving her down with his hand. 'Wait just a minute there. Just a minute.'
'Okay,' she said. 'I'll wait. But just a minute. I've got a business to run, you know. It may not be a multibillion-dollar multinational, but it's my life.'
'You're something else, Allegra Sheridan,' he said. He sat staring at her, his lips spread in a smile. Finally, he offered her his hand. 'You've got yourself a deal.'
Allegra shook his hand, trying to slow the wildly beating heart within her chest.
Sylvie, who had quietly reentered the office, began clapping her hands together lightly. 'Hooray!' she exclaimed. 'Now we must celebrate.' On the desk, she had placed a tray that held a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket and three crystal flutes. 'Shall I do the honors?' she asked, looking toward Hilton Whitehead.
'Certainly,' he said. 'You will stay and have a glass of champagne with us, Allegra?'
Her stomach did a turn. After last night's drinking and the excitement of the moment, a drink was the last thing she really wanted. 'Sure,' she said. 'I'd love a glass of champagne. But just one quick one. I really do need to get back downtown to the atelier.'
'Good,' Hilton said as Sylvie popped the cork.
Sylvie filled the three flutes and handed Allegra and Hilton theirs.
Hilton raised his in a toast. 'To a successful venture together,' he said.
'Bonne chance,' Sylvie chimed in.
'Give her the schedule,' Hilton said, looking over at Sylvie as they sipped the champagne.
From a desk drawer, Sylvie took out a single sheet of paper and handed it to Allegra. 'This is the proposed schedule,' she said.
Allegra glanced down at it. The auction was a week away. That'll give me plenty of time to get things straightened out here before I leave. Like paying bills, she thought. 'This will work for me,' she said, folding it and putting it in her pocketbook.
'Is your passport current?' Hilton asked.
She nodded. 'Yes.'
'Good. One less thing to take care of. Sylvie will handle all of the reservations for you and take care of the details.'
'That's fine,' Allegra said. 'Is Sylvie also going to write my check?'
Hilton laughed. 'You're too much,' he said, 'but I like that. You're one of the more straightforward people I've met lately. You don't meet many.' He looked at Sylvie. 'Get a check ready for me to sign,' he said, 'and Allegra can take it home with her.'
'Thank you,' Allegra said, then took a sip of the champagne. 'There is one thing we didn't discuss,' she added.
'What's that?' Hilton asked.
'What if I don't place a successful bid, and end up not getting the ring for you?'
'That's not going to happen,' he said. In the background they could hear Sylvie typing.
'But how can you be certain of that?' she asked. 'There're going to be a lot of rich men like you trying to get that ring. Princess Karima's name alone is going to make it a very hot auction. Remember the sale in Geneva a few years ago with the Duchess of Windsor's jewels?'
'I certainly do,' he said. 'Everything went through the roof.'
'Exactly,' Allegra said. 'Some things went for twenty or thirty times their estimates. The same thing could happen in Paris.'
'I'm sure that the same thing will happen in Paris,' he said. 'It's bound to. Princess Karima's name has the same kind of cachet that the Duchess of Windsor's had.'
'That's what I mean,' Allegra said. 'I could lose out to somebody who's a fanatic devotee of hers. And has the money to back it up.'
He shook his head. 'I don't think so,' he said. 'I'm going to give you a letter of credit with the funds deposited and immediately available in the Citibank in Paris.'
'Yes, but—'
'For a hundred million dollars,' he added.
'A hundred million dollars,' she repeated. She looked down into the flute of champagne, then back up at him. 'That should do it, I think.'
'I think so, too,' he said. 'The estimate is eight to ten million.'
'How many carats?'
'Thirty-four and a half, I think. I can get the catalogue if you want to see it.'
'No,' Allegra said. 'I can take a look when I get home. I was just curious.'
Sylvie rose from behind the desk and went around to Hilton. 'Here's the check,' she said. 'It only needs your signature.' She handed him a pen and winked at Allegra.
He set his champagne flute on the desk, then placed the check alongside it and signed his name. 'Here you go,' he said, handing it to Allegra with a smile.
She wanted nothing more than to kiss the check, but she took it and slipped it inside her pocketbook. She would deposit it in her bank account as soon as she left. 'Thanks, Mr. . . . Hilton.'
'You're welcome,' he said. 'I'm sure everything's going to work out fine. I'll see you before you leave for Paris. Sylvie will let you know about that. Now, I'd better get back upstairs. I've got some things to do.' He got to his feet and offered his hand again.
Allegra took it and shook firmly. 'It was nice to meet you, Hilton,' she said. 'And thanks for this opportunity.'
'Thank you, Allegra,' he said. 'We'll get together again soon.' He turned and went to the door, thinking, And not soon enough for me.
When he had gone, Sylvie leaned down and air-kissed Allegra's cheeks. 'Merveilleuse, cherie. Merveilleuse.'
'I can hardly believe this,' Allegra said. 'When you told me I'd be glad I came up here today, I didn't dream it would be anything like this.'
'I'm glad you're pleased,' Sylvie said. 'I hoped you wouldn't be insulted by his proposition.'
'Insulted?' Allegra said. 'I'm thrilled, Sylvie.'
'Well, I was worried that you might think he was being rude. You know, by not buying a piece from you but asking you to do him this favor.'
'Well,' Allegra said with a laugh, 'we can work on the piece of jewelry when I've come back from Paris with the ring.' She looked thoughtful for a moment. 'If I come back with it.'
'Oh,' Sylvie said with a shrug, 'don't be silly, cherie. Of course, you'll come back with it. I'm sure there'll be no problem there. What in the world could happen?'
CHAPTER 7
Jason looked across the breakfast table at Cameron Cummings and didn't think he'd ever seen a more handsome man. Cameron was just out of the shower and wore nothing but a towel around his waist. He was somewhere on the north side of forty, but his body was magnificent, a real gym bunny's, hard, buff, and sleek.
'So you think Allegra's really going down the tubes?' Cameron asked him, biting into a piece of toast.
'Yes,' he replied. 'She doesn't even think she can pay my salary or the rent, and yesterday she said she owed all of the wholesalers. You know, the gemstone and precious-metals dealers.'
'Ouch,' Cameron said, lifting a brow. 'Those aren't the kind of people you want to get behind with. The landlord may give her an inch because she's been there for a long time, but the wholesalers? I don't think so. They'll take their money out of her flesh if they have to.'
'I know that,' Jason said. 'That's one reason I'm really worried. She may have a good reputation with them, but that only counts for so much.'
'Listen,' Cameron said, 'in this business reputation is everything, and if she gets the least little bit behind, the word will get around so fast her head'll be spinning like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist. She won't be able to find a wholesaler anywhere that'll give her two cents' worth of credit. And you're talking to somebody who knows. I've been around the block a few times in this business.'
'That's why I wanted to talk to you. You're the most successful independent jewelry designer I know.' Jason sighed. 'I'm afraid that Ally will be ruined.'
'You don't want to be associated with a sinking ship, do you?' Cameron said, taking a sip of coffee.
'Of course not,' Jason said. 'It's just that. . . well, I've been with her since the beginning, and I hate
to jump ship.'
'Then you're a fool,' Cameron said. 'What do you owe her?'
'I. . . well, nothing,' Jason said. 'It's just that we've worked together a long time.'
'You're a bigger idiot than I thought,' Cameron said, pointing a finger at him. 'She's been using you all these years. Sure, she's the designer, but you're the one who's been doing all the dirty work for her. You're the one who makes those designs reality. And believe you me, if she hit it big, she'd be the one taking all the credit. She'd leave you behind in the dust.'
'But she's always promised me a percentage if she hits it big,' Jason said defensively. 'You know, if she gets a contract with somebody like Tiffany or something.'
'Keep dreaming,' Cameron said cynically.
'She says that if she gets backing for her own shop, she'll give me a percentage of the business.'
Cameron set his coffee cup down with a bang. 'Shut up, Jason,' he snapped. 'You're making me ill. Allegra Sheridan is a lying bitch, and what's worse, she's a nobody. And my bet is, she'll stay a nobody. She operates in some kind of ivory tower, tinkering away at her precious jewelry, treating each piece like it's the fucking Sistine Chapel ceiling, refusing to do mass-market. If you're smart, you'll get your feet on the ground.'
His harsh words stung Jason. He'd always believed that Allegra had it in her to make it big. He knew without a doubt that she had the talent, but he also knew what Cameron said was at least partially true. Allegra had refused several good offers in the past, and Jason didn't think that would ever change. She was too strong-willed to work for anybody else, and she refused to compromise the quality of her work. But would she lie to him about giving him a percentage? He didn't think so, but he couldn't be sure.
Cameron sat staring at him, waiting for a response. When one didn't come, he realized that he'd hurt the young man. The trouble with guys like Jason was that they were so masculine in appearance and manner that you forgot they could be hypersensitive. Cameron had the feeling that if he took Jason under his wing, he could inspire the kind of deep devotion that Allegra Sheridan obviously had done. For Jason, like most people he knew, needed to be led.
He looked over at Jason with a contrite expression. 'I've hurt your feelings,' he said, oozing sincerity. 'I'm so sorry, Jason. I didn't mean to. I just hate . . . well, I just hate to see you taken advantage of. You could be making a much better living for yourself if you left Allegra's atelier and went someplace else.'
Jason nodded his shaggy blond hair. 'I know,' he agreed. 'I've had chances, but I always felt like I should help Ally.'
'I understand,' Cameron said. 'Of course you'd want to help her. She's been like a friend to you. But it's time for you to stand on your own two feet and build a stable life. You don't deserve to live on the edge all the time. Besides, if you got yourself into an established firm, there wouldn't be this feast-or-famine drama, wondering whether you're going to get paid or not.' He paused, then softly said, 'Do you understand what I mean?'
'Yes,' Jason said, 'and you're right. I'm tired of living on the edge. Most of my friends have bought apartments and settled down, but I'm still living like I did when I first started out.'
'You're better than that,' Cameron said. 'You owe it to yourself to do something about it, don't you see?' Cameron knew if he played his cards right, he could turn Jason's head in the right direction. All it would take was a few whispered words, making him think Cameron was in love with him. Just a few words and some hot sex, and Cameron would bet he could convince Mr. Goody Two-shoes to steal Allegra Sheridan's designs.
Cameron got to his feet and went around to Jason's side of the table. He put his hands on Jason's broad shoulders and began massaging him. 'Maybe I could help you out,' he said.
Jason trembled with excitement and fear at the touch of Cameron's hands. It wasn't that he'd never had such an experience, but he was still unsure of himself and scared of his own urges.
'What would you think, Jason,' Cameron said in a dreamy voice as he continued to massage the younger man's shoulders, 'if you worked with me for a while at Cameron Creations? You'd have a regular salary, all the fringe benefits, and you wouldn't have to stay if you didn't like it.' His hands moved beneath Jason's sweater and moved toward his nipples, kneaded his flesh gently. He bent his head down toward Jason's and whispered into his ear. 'On the other hand, if you liked it, you could stay. Even get rid of that dump you live in and stay here with me for a while.'
Jason could hardly control his breathing and felt the embarrassing hardening between his thighs. 'I—I think ... I'd have to think about it,' he finally managed to sputter.
'What's to think about?' Cameron continued. 'Huh?' He licked Jason's ear and brushed his fingers across his nipples at the same time.
Jason thought he would levitate out of the chair, and when Cameron reached down and grasped one of his hands and pushed it against his own hardness, Jason didn't protest.
'Come on,' Cameron said, gently tugging on Jason's hand. 'Come with me.'
Jason let himself be pulled up out of his seat, and he stood facing Cameron, who placed a hand on each of his arms. 'I can give you everything you need,' Cameron said. 'Everything.' He leaned in and flicked a tongue up Jason's neck, then looked at him, a sly smile on his lips. Then he nodded toward the bedroom. 'Let's go in there,' he said, taking Jason's hand in his.
In the bedroom, Cameron took off his towel and threw it on a chair, then took Jason into his strong arms. 'Forget Allegra Sheridan,' he said. 'Think about your own needs, Jason.' He kissed his lips. 'Think about us.'
When the taxi pulled up in front of her building, Allegra paid the driver and got out. On the trip downtown, she'd decided there were really only a few things she had to do to get ready for Paris, besides pack a couple of things. First, she had to sit down and pay bills. Then there were the three people she had to talk to. One was her mother, who seldom contacted her, but who would be furious if she should call while Allegra was away and discover she'd left without letting her know. Another was Todd, to let him know she would be in Paris a couple of days. And finally, Jason. He could keep everything going at the atelier while she was gone.
Since the nature of the trip had to be kept secret, she'd decided to tell them a lie. She didn't have any choice.
When she got to the door, she was surprised to find it locked. She wondered if Jason decided to leave early. But once she was in the atelier, it looked as if he hadn't been in at all.
She hung up her coat, flipped on the lights, and went straight to the answering machine. There were two messages. One from her dentist's office, reminding her that she had a cleaning coming up. The other was from Hooper and Strang, reminding her that they hadn't received her payment yet. A metals dealer. Thank God, she could pay them as soon as Whitehead's check cleared her account.
She picked up the receiver and speed-dialed Jason at home. When his machine clicked in, she hung up and speed-dialed his cell phone. But voice mail picked up that call, as well. She left a message, wondering what had happened to him. Jason was never late, much less absent, without letting her know. She hoped he was all right.
She took the big folder of unpaid bills from the filing cabinet next to her worktable, deciding that getting them ready to send out would divert her. Then she remembered that she had to call her mother.
Hoping to get it over with, she picked up the receiver and speed-dialed her number, waiting for Clarissa the Great to pick up.
'Hello?'' The voice, a smoke- and booze-ravaged, low-register drawl, belonged to her mother.
'Hi,' Allegra said. 'I was hoping I would catch you in. How are you?'
'How is any woman in love, darling?' her mother responded, then laughed in her husky way. 'But I forgot, you wouldn't know about that, would you?'
Allegra groaned inwardly. 'Guess I wouldn't, Mom,' she replied. 'Some of us just aren't as lucky as you are.'
'No,' Clarissa said. 'Very few, in fact. I'm the envy of every postmenopausal wench in Key West. Even a lot
of the younger ones could learn a thing or two from me.'
'No doubt,' Allegra said. 'Anyway, I called to let you know I'm going to be out of town for a couple of days. I'll be leaving next week.'
'Oh, so where're you off to?'
'Paris,' Allegra replied.
'Paris,' Clarissa echoed. 'How marvelous. It's a man, I hope.'
'No,' Allegra said. 'It's business.'
'Oh, how dreary,' Clarissa said. 'What sort of business takes you to Paris?'
'A magazine is featuring my jewelry, so they've offered to fly me over,' Allegra said. 'They'll do the photo shoot there.'
'Well, maybe you'll meet a nice young man,' Clarissa said. 'Or a nice old one, for that matter. You're not getting any younger, you know.' She laughed.
Allegra would have liked to slam the receiver down in her mother's ear, but she restrained herself. She knew that if she did hang up on her, Clarissa would dog her on the telephone until she'd extracted an apology.
'You're so right, Mom,' Allegra said, 'but some of us just aren't as lucky as you are.' Then to get her own dig in, she added, 'Over and over again.'
'Well,' Clarissa said, bristling, 'my choices in men may not have always been ideal, your late father being a prime example, but at least I've had my pick of what's available. I'm not growing old alone, like so many women do.'
'That's so wonderful for you, Mom,' Allegra said. 'How is . . .' She actually had to think for a moment to come up with her latest stepfather's name. '... Ben? Is he well?'
'He's divine,' Clarissa said in an enthralled voice. 'Absolutely divine. So . . . attentive to all of my needs. So charming. And such a . . . man.' She cackled her smoky laugh.
Allegra wanted to gag. Her mother was a sixty-five-year-old teenager. Bleached blond hair. Always darkly tanned. Face lifted, breasts lifted, and liposuctioned, she chain-smoked, drank like a fish, and lived for Men, with a capital M. She'd never really been there for her daughter, but Allegra tried to keep up some semblance of a relationship. Clarissa, after all, was the only family she'd ever known.
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