Gilly slouched against the chair opposite her and sighed with deep frustration. She knew he was working hard, she could see quite clearly that he was, but he hadn't been able to find anything out.
The phone rang on her desk, and she was so mad she slammed her fist down on the cancel button to end the call. She didn't want to speak to anyone.
Last week had been a disaster, and now they were going into another week of nothingness. Not only did she have the whole crazy, creepy, threatening letters to worry about, but she was furious about Penelope, and the fact that she had to hear about her from Wade and Taylor.
Now Gilly was telling her that he'd reached a standstill and didn't know how to proceed. It was more than four weeks ago since Ben put the proposal to her, and now he was getting antsy with her because she wasn't getting back to him.
She genuinely thought they'd have more information by now and hated feeling powerless and frustrated.
"You're looking in the wrong places," she complained.
"I know, but I don't know where else to look. I've explored this thoroughly, and it just doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense." Gilly shook his head and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I'm doing my best, and we'll get to the bottom of it. These things just take time. If he calls tell him we're liaising with the valuation team."
Yes, she would do that.
"Regina," concern filled his eyes. "I'm actually more worried about these letters. I think you should have gone to the police," he spoke in a low voice.
Gilly was the only person she'd told about the notes and letters. She'd set out to keep it all to herself and did for all of two days. He'd noticed her erratic behavior and her anxiety straightaway and knew something else had happened. That was how she ended up telling him.
She bit the inside of her lip and sighed. "Gilly, I know Ben, and I have a really bad feeling about it. I don't know if I can go to the police."
To be honest, she was scared.
She looked around her office and tried to steady her mind by focusing on the Ming vase that held the dahlias she'd bought yesterday to cheer herself up.
Regina was the kind of woman who prided herself on knowing how to handle what life threw at her. This situation, all of it from Ben wanting Runway to the psycho notes, had stumped her.
She was the proverbial traveler standing at a crossroad, not knowing whether to go left or right or even forward.
Gilly reached across the desk and tapped her hand. "I know it's worrying, but if it gets out and the police find out, questions will be asked. Suspicions will be raised on why you didn't go to them. You don't trust Ben so don't leave this to him. I have a friend who's a private investigator. I can run it past her."
Regina observed the wealth of concern in Gilly's eyes. She appreciated him as a colleague and as a friend. She didn't have many of those or people she could trust.
"Will your friend be discreet?"
Gilly nodded. "Yes. Absolutely."
"Okay," she nodded. "Okay." This was best. This was taking the matter into her own hands and controlling how it was looked into.
"Good, I'm glad you're agreeing." He offered a small smile. She met his eyes.
"Bring me the letters and I'll go see her. I know you won't like this either, but I think it may be a good idea to at least tell Wade."
She sighed, releasing a slow breath. She didn't want to tell Wade. She saw the look of disdain on his face when he told her about Penelope, and she feared the effect this would have on him. She didn't want him to leave again. She didn't want him to think that there was nothing here for him but unhappiness.
"This is all so messy, Gilly, and it's too much. I think I want to hold off on telling Wade. Maybe it will all blow over." It was wishful thinking, but there was no harm in hoping.
Gilly nodded. "Okay. Do you need some time off? I can take charge here."
She shook her head. "I feel safer here. And when I'm here I'm busy. I don't think as much, except for wondering what my evil husband wants with my magazine." She winced.
"I'll get to the bottom of that soon. I just need to find the right angle." He smiled. Regina didn't doubt that Gilly would deliver. It was the waiting game she didn't like. "If we solve that mystery then it will be one less thing to worry about."
It would be great to have an answer. She put her mind back in its brainstorming mode and tried to think outside the box. The obvious reason Ben would want such a partnership with Runway had to be that it was a successful magazine, and this year its recognition in the fashion world would be extended to Fashion Week.
Since the news hit about Fashion Week, they were busier than ever before and received requests for all sorts of jobs all over the world. It was an exciting time for them.
But what could that mean for Ben?
Politics was Ben's life. That was all he cared about.
"What if it's something to do with the state's attorney office or his position?" It took Ben years to get that position and he loved his job, maybe it had something to do with that.
"Like what?" Gilly ran his hand through his dark hair and sighed again.
"Maybe it really is a political thing. We just can't see what it is. Maybe it's about what Runway represents."
Gilly straightened up as she said that, and sucked in a sharp breath. "It represents money. Runway is money," he stated with realization.
"Ben has money." Lots of money. He was practically made of it. Money didn't interest Ben, power did. But money was power.
"Yes, but money can represent all kinds of things. We just have to find out what it represents to a state's attorney. Penelope and Sassy Magazine represent money too." Gilly thought for a moment. "I think we just found an angle, Regina."
"Look into it."
"Sure thing, boss."
When she saw the flicker of confidence in Gilly's eyes, she felt they were on to something and crossed her fingers that she'd have an answer soon.
Chloe
"Beautiful Chloe," Wade whispered into her ear.
Chloe giggled as he nibbled on her and kissed the hollow of her neck. She turned around to face him. They lay next to each other in his bed with the silky blue sheets barely covering them.
Wade placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Baby, don't even think about leaving this bed today."
She smiled up at him as he smoothed his hands over her stomach. She didn't know what she was going to do. They'd been in bed for the last two days and on this wild passion fest for over two weeks. Chloe thought one of them would burn out from tiredness but it hadn't happened yet, and it seemed unlikely that it would. It was like they were trying to make up for the years they spent apart. She'd fallen under his spell by looking into those magical gray eyes of his.
It was wonderful and would probably sound beautiful if she was to describe it to someone, but by the same token, there was a chance she'd get in some serious trouble at work. Chloe hadn't been to Runway since Tuesday, and she'd only stayed until lunch because Wade came and captured her. Chloe didn't even hesitate to obey, and she didn't think once about work in the days that followed. This guy had her hooked and had banished her brain from her body. The only reason she thought about work now was that the Pierre Beaumont show was tomorrow. Everything was set up for the show to run perfectly, but she was supposed to be there for the practice sessions with Pierre, the models, and the tech team. Lisa was filling in for her, and everyone was sympathetic towards Chloe and her made-up cold because she'd never had a sick day since working at Runway. However, she had a feeling that while she could tell everyone she had a cold, Regina wouldn't be so easily fooled. She would suspect something with her sixth sense that would tell her straightaway that Chloe was sleeping with Wade. Then who knew what would happen to her. Monday was also when she'd get the verdict on the job. Chances were if she missed work today and tomorrow, things wouldn't bode well for her in any light.
As he ran his hands across her breasts shivers scuttled down her spine, and her worries depart
ed from her mind.
At that moment, as he touched her and kissed her, she didn't care about anything else or what anyone thought. She didn't care if Regina found out she lied about being sick, that she was with Wade, and she didn't care about getting the creative director job.
How could she stop caring about that?
This was what being with Wade did to her. He had this unique ability to rip her from reality and take her to this world where all she felt was happiness and lived her inner most desires.
"Wade." She said his name on the edge of a breath.
"Beautiful Chloe." His voice was low, just above a whisper, and caressed her from the inside out.
She kissed him and ran her hands over his chest, relishing the feel of him.
He turned her over again and kissed down her back. She rose to her knees to receive him, but just then a phone rang. It was her phone, and that was Kelly's ring tone. The momentary distraction allowed her brain to seep back in and wave reality at her.
The phone stopped ringing and she straightened up, moving away from Wade and his paralyzing kisses.
"Baby," he winced, reaching for her.
"Wade, I have to go to work." She smiled, adjusting the straps of her black negligée.
"No, we were just getting to the fun part." He pretended to pout.
"We've been having fun since we woke up." That was around five this morning, and now it was eight thirty.
"A little more fun never hurt anyone, baby. Come back here." He reached for her, but she smacked his hands away playfully.
"No, you're too much, Wade." She giggled and started laughing when he pulled her into his lap. "I'm going to get in trouble."
"Okay, I'll allow you a few hours to go to work."
"You'll allow me?" She ran her finger along the sharp ridge of his jaw.
"Yes, allow. Then I'll pick you up at one."
"Wade, I finish at five."
"That is a long day to be at work."
"Sweetheart, that is the real world. Nine to five are the hours most of us common folk work."
He looked at her with an amused expression on his face and held her gaze for a few seconds.
"What?" She wondered if she said something wrong.
"Call me that again, baby." He continued to stare at her.
Sweetheart. That was what she'd called him, but it naturally came out. Her cheeks warmed as she looked at him.
"Sweetheart."
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it, then he held her hand to his stubbly cheek and gave her that sweet smile she liked so much. It contrasted from the cheeky one he had when he was up to no good or thinking up some crazy idea.
In the past, she'd seen him smile like that at other women, but the sweet one was just for her. She'd only seen him smile like that with her.
It was an insignificant detail and shouldn't mean anything, but there was some part of it that had some value to her. It felt like he was hers when he looked at her like that, if only in her mind.
"I like that. I like sweetheart."
"Okay sweetheart." They shared a smile. "I seriously have to go to work, and I have to finish at five. The fashion show is tomorrow, and a lot of people are depending on me."
"Chloe, I could die from loneliness in that time. You wouldn't want that to happen, now would you?"
"I highly doubt that you'll be lonely." Him, lonely? Look at him. She didn't know anyone who could wake up and look that good. His ruffled hair looked like it had been styled that way. His piercing gray eyes were bright with excitement and energy, and his handsome face was ready for the billboards.
Wade got attention wherever they went. Even when he was walking with her, holding her hand, and it was clear they were some kind of couple, women still looked at him like they wanted to devour him. They looked at him like they wanted him and would jump at the chance to be with him.
He would never have to worry about being lonely, let alone die if she—little her with her average beauty—left him to go to work.
"I'll be lonely if you aren't here," he replied, to her surprise. That sounded dangerously close to emotion, and she had to force herself to look past the softness in his voice and the way he looked at her. Like she was important to him.
"Right, so I should believe that you wouldn't just run along that beach with your muscles and tattoos on display, in your Wade Vanderville way, and pick up the first woman that comes along?" She narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to refute that, because she was sure that was just the thing he'd do.
The corners of his mouth pulled into a frown. "Yes baby, you should believe that."
She looked at him and felt her heart warm against her will. It warmed and expanded within her chest. It was like in those few moments her guard dropped, and she allowed herself to feel.
But…she willed her heart to stop and her emotions to take stock of reality. It would do her no good whatsoever to confuse sex with love. Chloe had fun with him, and he had fun with her. That was all it could be. Fun.
She wasn't the kind of woman to do this and be with someone for fun, but she couldn't say no to him. It didn't matter that Chloe wanted someone who could commit to her; Wade had eradicated that from her mind. She allowed him into her life, and it was for her to be sensible about what they were.
It was like picking up a snake and expecting it to change into something different. It just wouldn't happen. The minute she started thinking that this thing with Wade could be more than what it was she'd be in trouble. She'd be in the worst kind of trouble because it wouldn't be hard to fall for him. It wouldn't be hard for her to fall for him because she'd always had feelings for him.
Admittedly, that feeling in her heart just now was nice. It was nice to feel like this could be real, and she did almost believe him.
"I'm going to get dressed." She smiled. He gave her one last kiss, and she got off him.
"I'll take you to work and pick you up at five," he stated. She stopped at the entrance to the en suite bathroom and looked back at him. "I'll pick you up at five. We'll go to yours so you can pack a bag or two and then you'll come back here. Then I'll take you out to dinner."
She continued to watch him, surprised by his words and the fervent ardor with which he spoke. And the confidence. Always that confidence in just assuming she'd agree.
"Okay." As if she could say anything else.
"Where should I take you for dinner?"
"Anywhere," she replied. He brushed the side of her cheek and kissed her nose, sending sparks of electricity across her body.
"I'll surprise you, then," he said, bringing his hand to the small of her back. "I'll surprise you, baby."
She knew he was talking about dinner, but she still wished he could surprise her in other ways too.
He gave her that sweet smile again, and she moved back to him for a kiss. It was one of those kisses that felt timeless, the ones you wished would never end.
Damn…she was in trouble. It was bad enough that she couldn't say no to him and was always drawn to him by the magnetic power of his touch, but now she was losing the little control she had over her heart.
Wade
Wade was too excited about being with Chloe to worry that his feelings for her
were rapidly developing into something he'd never felt before.
Everything about her made him want her, but there was something else about her that made him need her. Something only she could give that made him happy.
He liked that she had such a strong personality and challenged him. He liked her no-nonsense attitude, but he liked the soft side of her too. The part that she revealed during the times when she trusted him.
He took her to work with great reluctance, trying his hardest not to turn around and drive back home with her. He nearly did but knew she'd probably be furious with him, so he let her go.
He had a few things to sort out in the house, but more importantly, he'd been neglecting work too. Over the last few days he'd allowed the rich brat
that still lurked in him to take over, and he pushed work to the back of his mind. It was wrong of him but he had to be honest and confess that if he had to choose, he'd always choose Chloe.
Jared and Zeek had made quite a bit of progress since their first meeting. They now had a store set up on the south coast, which he was told was practically ready for business. He'd seen the inside of it once, and that was for about ten minutes as they showed him around. He remembered most of what was discussed that day, but his mind had been on Chloe.
As he entered the store, the work they'd put in was instantly evident. Jared and Zeek now sat behind desks, and there was a desk for him too. They had a reception area, which looked fantastic with adventure posters on the wall. To complement that they'd placed a few brochure racks on the wall and filled them with a host of brochures detailing all the adventures they planned to do.
It looked better than Thrills. It looked better than anywhere Wade had ever been and had the enticement effect to draw customers in. His attention was drawn to a group of women who had gathered in the far corner near the snowboarding brochures. Jared had told him that while they weren't officially open, they'd have an open-door policy while they were setting up so people could do advance bookings.
Wade was happy with that. It was great, and he felt proud that their vision was taking shape.
"Where've you been, man?" Jared beamed when he saw him.
Wade felt guilty now. He should have at least called to see how things were progressing.
"I was busy." Busy with an incredibly beautiful woman who robbed him of all his senses and responsibilities. When he was with Chloe, he didn't want to be anywhere else and forgot everything existed besides her.
"As you can see we've been doing well." Jared laughed. Zeek joined him.
"Come and see what we've done. I set up your computer with remote access so you could manage everything from home," Zeek smiled.
Wade widened his eyes, impressed. "Thanks man, I didn't even know that could be done."
Zeek nodded with enthusiasm. "Jared told me you moved into a new house so I figured you wouldn't have much time to be here setting up. I'll show you how it all works later."
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