When Beauty Met The Beast

by Khardine Gray

  She sucked in a sharp breath, feeling her cheeks burn and her stomach erupt with butterflies. Chloe was mad at herself for giving him such power over her feelings. The annoyance and irritation, and damn it, the cursed attraction. She watched him assess her, then he brought his gaze back up to her eyes. He held her gaze there. Right there, where all that she felt blended into one mass of frustration, and she felt like screaming again.

  Wes kicked her again, snapping the connection. "Chloe," he hissed. Now he looked annoyed with her. "Look, girly. You need to be careful." He kept his voice low.

  "Be careful of what?" She didn't bother to adjust her tone or volume as he did. She didn't care who heard her when she got herself worked up like this.

  Wes leaned closer. "Chloe, it might have escaped you that that guy is Wade Vanderville. Regina's son. Regina, our boss. The woman you sent your application to for the creative director position."

  Suddenly her head felt light.

  Wes sighed and tapped her hand, which lay next to his on the table. "You can't behave like that here. Yes, the guy is a jerk. A self-righteous jerk from hell. Actually, he could be the devil. He's just missing the horns and a tail. But remember where you are."

  With the exception of Taylor, he didn't like the Vandervilles one bit. Wes hated the idea of working there, and was only there until he could secure a permanent job working on film sets.

  And, he was right. It would be wise to remember where she was, and whose son Wade was. It was tiredness that was doing this to her. Making her irrational and erratic, making her lose control of the usual calm and professional manner she usually exhibited.

  Wes leaned even closer. "If you want that job, you need to calm down," he whispered. "You know what Regina is like with her family. You never know, she may have already decided on giving him the damn job."

  "What?"

  At that thought, which was entirely possible, her blood drained and her skin tingled from the impact.

  "I don't think she would do that, Wes. The job requires a special set of skills." Wade wasn't skilled like that. Before he left, he worked there briefly. All he did was pick up women and sleep around. With all the willing models and gorgeous women eager to please, it was the perfect playground for him.

  "It doesn't matter about skill. Chloe, look at Taylor." Wes gritted his teeth and tilted his head to the side. Taylor was a good point. She didn't exactly have a role but floated between whichever department took her interest. She mostly tended to stick with the creative team because she got to hang out with Chloe and she liked to have a hand in picking the designers they featured. As for a job role, though, she did a bit of everything and would probably be classed as the assistant editor in chief at another magazine. There were a lot of people that would kill for that title, and Taylor impliedly had it. She definitely wasn't qualified in the least.

  "Oh God," Chloe breathed. Dark dread filled her, gripped at her stomach and squeezed it until she felt like she'd vomit. What if Wes was right?

  He couldn't be, though. Regina wouldn't do that. Surely it would be too much of a risk with Fashion Week just six months away, and at least twenty shows in between where all sorts of major designers and representatives would be in attendance. Family did, however, mean everything to Regina. So, it was possible.

  "Good, you're catching my drift. I'm not saying it will happen, just maybe limit your interaction with Wade till this all blows over. Then you can look at him all you want."

  "I don't want to look at him." She frowned with displeasure.

  "Keep telling yourself that for now." He motioned his hand in a circular gesture.

  Chloe breathed out a ragged sigh. This was too much, and she hated worrying. What she needed to do was see Regina. She needed something that would stop her from worrying like this.

  Chloe stood up and took one last look across at Wade before she left. As she did his eyes roamed over the full length of her body, and she realized he was assessing her, taking his time to look at her. His eyes lingered on her breasts again, then moved shamelessly down to the curves of her waist and her slim legs. She didn't think she'd ever had a man openly stare at her like that.

  Her cheeks burned, but she ignored him. Instead, she lifted her head, held it high, and walked out of the restaurant exerting complete confidence and control. Wade could look all he wanted because he wasn't going to get to her anymore.

  "Maud if you value your life you will move that miserable carcass of yours and fix this whole shamble," Regina screamed, raising her hands up in rage.

  Chloe walked into the main studio, which did indeed look like a shamble. It was a photo shoot with penguins. The models were supposed to be sitting on the made-up beach with them milling about, but someone—Maud—dropped her sandwich right in the middle of the sand and the penguins had gone wild for it.

  It would have been hilarious if Chloe was in a better mood, and if Regina wasn't there.

  Regina didn't stand for any nonsense, and to be quite frank Maud was lucky to still have her head attached to her body. Maud moved her carcass alright and all but dived onto the set to retrieve what remained of her sandwich from the penguins.

  "How dare you even eat in here, and then have the audacity to waste our time," Regina snarled. Maud was doing her best to be quick, but nerves got the better of her and she kept dropping bits of tuna in the sand. "Everyone let's just break for lunch. Meet back here in an hour."

  Regina was still glowering at Maud and only stopped when Chloe approached.

  "Chloe, dear." It was like Jekyll and Hyde. It always mesmerized her how Regina could switch personality with no effort at all. But she only did that with a handful of people.

  "Hey, Regina." Chloe gave her a bright smile, which hopefully masked her anxiety.

  "Do you see what I have to put up with? Remind me to shake up the rota for these shoots. I need more competent people so I don't have to waste my time overseeing a basic photo shoot." She rolled her eyes and cut a sharp glance at Maud again who was still trying to pick bits of tuna out of the sand.

  "Are you okay, dear? You look worried. You don't want to wrinkle that beautiful face of yours." Regina smiled at her.

  This was the side to Regina very few people saw. It was the side that Chloe was hoping to appeal to right now in her time of distress.

  "I'm just a little on edge. I applied for the creative director position yesterday." Good, at least she was able to talk without revealing too much nervousness.

  "Chloe darling, I know. I know everything that happens in this place. Of course I know you applied."

  Chloe hoped that was a good thing. She really did.

  "Oh yeah. Yes, of course, you know. Regina…" Chloe pulled in a breath before continuing, "I just wanted to let you know that working here is more than a job to me. I want Runway to do well. I want it to be the very best. I want what you want."

  Regina reached out and tapped her head like she used to when Chloe was little.

  "I know. I know, and I appreciate you telling me that." She smiled at Chloe with vibrancy and understanding that lifted her spirits.

  For one moment she thought maybe all her worries were for nothing. Chloe worked extremely hard here, and Regina knew that. If she truly knew everything that went on in this place, then Regina would know that for sure.

  Chloe was hoping to elaborate, but laughter stole the moment away. Wade had just entered the studio from the entrance on the opposite side of the room. He was talking to one of the photographers, another friend from the past.

  Chloe tried to reign in her nerves and looked back to Regina, but she was thrown by the look of pride that filled Regina's face as she looked over at Wade. The wealth of emotions that brimmed within her eyes was touching. It was the way her mother looked at her. Full of love and hope.

  Their conversation was inappropriate now that Wade had entered the room. Chloe knew how depressed Regina was when Wade went away. It took a very long time for her to function properly.

  As she o
bserved Regina, Chloe knew in her heart that the chance for the job was slipping away from her. Maybe Wes was right.

  And…if Regina did just give the job to Wade, Chloe knew that it wouldn't be because she didn't appreciate her and her hard work.

  "I'll let you catch up with him," Chloe said. Regina looked back to her and smiled. Her eyes looked glassy as if she was going to cry.

  "I'm so glad he's home," Regina smiled. And, what happened next confirmed so much to Chloe. A tear ran down Regina’s cheek, and she blinked several times to keep the rest away. "Oh God, I'm crying again."

  Chloe quickly retrieved a tissue from her purse and handed it to Regina, who dabbed her eyes.

  Then watched in surprise as she didn't think Regina was capable of crying.

  "Thank you, dear."

  She gave Regina a quick hug when she saw Wade approaching them and backed away to leave. She didn't want any more awkwardness.

  It was looking like she was going to have to make some harsh decisions for herself.

  Wade

  He should probably give Chloe a break. Just move past the fact that her reaction amused him and leave her alone.

  However, all it took most times to encourage him was simply knowing she was in the same room as him. Then she would look at him and appeal to his candor, his straightforward openness that never made him think twice about holding back just because he may upset anybody or cause embarrassment.

  Being home felt good, it felt right. However, everything about being back reminded him of why he left. He was hoping that since he'd changed things would be different for him.

  Besides, it wasn't good to float around the world like a nomad, never belonging anywhere. Sure, the adventure was great, and he loved traveling from one country to the next to experience their way of life, but this was home. And since it was home he had to make it feel like home again.

  He had to focus on the good parts, which admittedly looked a lot like a certain young woman dashing away and scowling at the sight of him. He chuckled to himself as she glanced back at him before she went through the door, long golden hair flowing behind, adding to her perfection.

  He'd catch up with her later.

  "Mom, you hug people at work?" He laughed and narrowed his eyes at her.

  "Didn't I hug you just yesterday?"

  "Yes, but that was different. I mean other people. I've never seen you hug in the presence of others." He laughed.

  "That sweet girl is like family to me. You know Flick and Phil are my oldest friends." Chloe's parents. Wade hadn't seen them in many years. "Now that they're in Europe I have to keep an eye out for her."

  "Be careful. People might think you've gone soft."

  "My dear, if you'd come in five minutes earlier you wouldn't say that. That clumsy girl over there," she pointed to a woman with a bun and thick-rimmed glasses who was tending to some penguins. His eyes widened at the sight. He hadn't noticed that there were live penguins in here until just then. "She messed up the shoot. Now look, I have penguins running around the set."

  "Should I go help?"

  "No. Let her do it. It'll teach her a lesson. You ready?"

  They were going to lunch. It was why he was here. He wanted to see her privately, away from everyone else. Especially his father.

  "I'm ready."

  Ten minutes later, they were seated in Vitelli's again. Yesterday when they were here it was emotional and a little draining. Today was different. More light hearted with more openness to talk.

  His mother sat back in her chair and regarded Wade with keen eyes. "How are you doing, son?"

  "I'm okay." He nodded. "Just trying to settle in."

  "Good." She focused her gaze on him. "I really tried to give you the space you needed to do what you were doing, but I worried about you every day."

  "I know. I'm sorry. I just had to take the time I needed."

  It was more of a necessity after what happened. He'd never forget it. It was that incident that broke him and made him lose control. If he didn't leave, there's no telling what would have happened. He still wrestled with the guilt he felt for the careless actions he took that day and blamed himself relentlessly. There wasn't a day that had gone by that he didn't think about what had happened.

  It was all his fault.

  It had taken him all that time to learn how to deal with his part in the accident. It was a hard thing to learn to live with. It didn't help that he'd never been able to talk to anyone about it. Wade was too ashamed of himself.

  "Are you better?"

  "Much. And I'm drug free, Mom." He knew that was what she was worried about. It was understandable after his messy departure. "I know you're wondering about that too."

  "I don't mean to." She looked guilty for the implication. "I wasn't judging you. I just want so badly to know you're okay."

  "I'm okay. I promise you I'm okay. I came back to start a new life." It was a promise he'd made himself when he was able to see past the influence of the drugs and alcohol. He sorted himself out, checked into an intense rehab facility while in Holland, and the rest—the self-building and restructure of his mind—came from his travels in India and Japan.

  No one would believe what he'd put himself through to get to this stage. Getting himself cleaned up was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life. To give up his addictive habits he'd focused solely on what he wanted to achieve.

  Those first days, and first steps, were the worst because he had to make himself believe that he could do better and be better than what he had become. He had to believe in a better version of himself. What fueled him was remembering all the hurt he'd caused his family and friends, and all the damage he'd done to others. Drugs had been a one-way ticket to destruction for him and had affected him physically and mentally. They were everything that was bad.

  Going through rehab was difficult. It was difficult not having his family around, but he saw getting clean as a mission he had to achieve by himself. He thought he'd done enough damage and wouldn't return until he'd accomplished his goal.

  When he said he was okay, he really was. Now that he was back, however, he had to face the music. Face his family and face life in general. This was the brand new him who wasn't going to sponge off his parents and screw up his life. Wade had a few plans, but right now he had some questions for his mother.

  "I'm proud of you. It takes a strong person to come back from all that darkness." She smoothed her hand over his and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

  He nodded. "Thank you. Mom, can I ask how you and Dad are doing?"

  She pressed her lips together and sighed. "We are as we've always been."

  So that meant not good. "He didn't know I was in Japan."

  "Did he message you every day like I did?"

  "No."

  "Well, then he didn't deserve to know." She shook her head and straightened up against her chair.

  "When he came to see me I said some bad things to him I'm not proud of." Wade felt ashamed.

  "It doesn't matter; he could have still messaged you, just like I did."

  "So I guess it really is the same between you two. I thought when I saw him at the office things might have changed a little."

  She shook her head. "Wade, I don't want to get worked up and spoil our lovely lunch." Uneasiness pulled at her brows, making him more curious. "I've waited a long time to see you, and this is a treat for me."

  Something was going on. "What's up, Mom? There's no point tiptoeing around the situation. I'm probably going to find out at some point anyway."

  She thought for a moment, brought her hands up to her rosy cheeks, then sighed, looking a little weary. "Your father came by yesterday to ask me if we could be joint owners of Runway."

  He tilted his head back slightly and narrowed his eyes at her. As strange as things went that was by far the strangest of them all. His father hated anything to do with fashion. He'd also made it quite clear over the years that he wanted nothing to do with Runway. Why the hell would he wan
t to be a joint owner?

  "That was the same face I had when he came to me with the idea, and even brought a contract to sign." She rolled her eyes.

  "What is he up to?" His father was focused on politics. Runway didn't have anything to do with politics. So, there was definitely a question in why a state's attorney would want joint ownership of a fashion magazine. It just didn't fit. It didn't fit with his current role, the companies he owned, or anything. Everything his father did or had fit somewhere.

  "I have no idea, son."

  "He's up to something." In the past, Wade would keep his comments to himself, but age and wisdom had changed that. Wade knew that while his father was an important man, he was also not to be trusted.

  He loved his parents, but based on his distrust for his father his loyalties would always lie with his mother.

  "It would appear so, my dear boy. I have Gilly checking things out."

  Wade lifted his brows. "This is very interesting, Mom."

  "It is, but leave him to me. I'll get to the bottom of it. Let's not let anything ruin your return." She offered a warm smile. "Just focus on you."

  He nodded, agreeing, but was still thinking about what his father could be up to.

  If it was one thing Wade knew, it was that his father was one shady character. One shady character who had the potential to be dangerous. He'd seen things in the past and heard things he shouldn't have.

  This was why he was concerned.

  Chapter 4

  Chloe

  Chloe needed this. She smiled as Adam Levine's super cool voice filled the club with her favorite Maroon Five song, "Lucky Strike".

  Actually, she loved anything by them. The year before last she went to five of their concerts and would have probably indulged on the whole tour if Taylor hadn't put a stop to it.

  Chloe stood on the dance floor, swaying to the music. Kelly danced with her date a few paces away. Chloe couldn't remember his name but remembered he was some sort of athlete and had all the muscles and tattoos that ticked the box for Kelly.