Vaughn hid a smile. “So you want it to boost their confidence. To give them that edge which ultimately carries over into every nuance of their lives, correct? That meeting with the new boss, the marathon they just ran, the first day of kicking a habit, helping a friend or loved one through a crisis, or dealing with one of their own. Inner Beauty accentuates the inner strength women have to go above and beyond in their day-to-day lives.”
“I knew you’d get it,” she said, excitedly. “My instincts are never wrong when it pertains to money, fashion and people.”
“My team will get to work on it immediately.”
“You’ll be working on this personally, right? I won’t be pawned off on some junior team. That doesn’t suit me at all, darling.”
“Of course not. I’m the lead on this from start to finish.”
“Good, because I’m not investing millions on a campaign being led by an amateur; I demand the best at all times, and there’s nothing I won’t do to get it.”
“That is absolutely what you’ll have. I give you my word.”
She put her arm on his shoulder and squeezed. “I certainly hope so, Vaughn. I will admit many find me difficult to work for. That’s their problem. I make no apologies for my aggressive nature. In my industry you have to be powerful or you get eaten by the wolves. I don’t plan on being eaten, darling—at least not by wolves,” she said, brazenly.
At that moment Pierce returned to the table. “Sorry about that. One of my fans wanted to get a photo and an autograph.”
“No need to apologize, your brother and I were going over our respective visions for Inner Beauty. I must say he’s got it all—you both do. Talent, looks and a keen intellect, I’m telling you it’s an explosive combination,” her smile encompassed both men. “I’m sure I’m the envy of every woman in here.”
“Maybe not every woman,” Pierce chuckled.
“Come now, you know exactly what affect you have on the opposite sex,” Natasha replied. “I find that utterly fascinating in a man.”
Their waiter returned. “Are you ready to order, or do you need more time?”
Natasha observed Vaughn as he perused the menu. “Oh, I don’t need any more time. I definitely know what I want.”
“Anyone want dessert?”
“You two have at it. I’m going to the bathroom,” Sasha announced.
When she’d gone, Vivian leaned toward Sienna. “Can you believe she’s having an affair with a married man? You didn’t know anything about it?”
“No, I didn’t. You know this is the most we’ve talked or been civil to each other in I don’t know how long.”
“You’re her sister, give her all that analytical advice you’re always boring me to death with.”
“Very funny,” Sienna said, sarcastically. “When it comes to Sasha, I find my analytical skills are…ineffective. Besides, what am I supposed to say that she doesn’t already know?”
They stopped talking when they saw Sasha approaching. Her facial expression was strained. When she sat down, she placed her hands in her lap. Sienna touched her sister’s arm.
“Sasha? What’s wrong?”
“I’m uh…I’m not feeling that well. Do you mind if we leave?”
Vivian and Sienna exchanged glances. “Sure. We’ll signal the waiter and pay the bill.”
“I’ve got to get some air,” Sasha announced standing up. “Sienna…um, could you walk me out while Vivian takes care of it?”
“Sure.” Sienna stood up and put her hand at her sister’s elbow. “Viv, you got it?”
“Yeah, go ahead I’ll be out in a minute.”
Sasha was walking quickly, but their progress was hindered by a large party trying to get by. “They’ll be all day,” Sasha complained.
“Don’t worry,” Sienna soothed. “We can go this way.” She guided Sasha around the throng of people. There was a loud high-pitched laugh a few tables away. Sienna’s head turned in that direction. When she saw the occupants she stopped dead in her tracks. The color drained from her face.
Sasha tugged on her sister’s arm. “Come on, Sienna. Let’s go.”
Sienna stood transfixed. Her breathing stilted. Her hand covered her heart as if to protect it. “Vaughn.”
Vaughn was casually seated at a table near them with a well-dressed woman who was literally draped over him like a coat, laughing up at him.
Vivian came up on Sienna’s left side. “Honey, maybe one of us should go over and—”
“No,” Sienna’s tortured reply was barely heard over the activity around them.
Time slowed and the noise around her receded. All Sienna could focus on was Vaughn with a gorgeous, well-endowed redhead gazing at him like he was an after dinner mint. She watched him lean in to tell her something. Her smile was feline. Was he asking her back to his room? she asked herself. Sienna started shaking. Her body felt hot and cold simultaneously. The fight or flight instinct kicked in. She wrenched free of her sister’s grasp. Her feet were moving before her brain caught up.
“No, wait,” Vivian cautioned, loudly.
In her haste to leave, Sienna collided with a waiter. They both went tumbling to the floor. The plates of food he was carrying shattered on impact. All eyes turned toward the deafening sound.
“Miss, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you,” the man apologized, helping her up off the ground, and then wiping the food off her dress. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” she said, batting his hand away. Once she’d gotten back on her feet she didn’t waste a second. She bolted for the door.
“Sienna?” Vaughn’s voice boomed over the chaos.
Don’t stop. Don’t look back. Her inner voice prodded her forward. She ran as fast as her heels would allow.
He caught her before she reached the door. He wheeled her around to face him, his hands on her shoulders. “What are you doing here? Baby, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”
“No,” she said, softly and then louder. “No, I’m not okay. Get your hands off me.”
“First, tell me why you’re leaving?”
She tugged her arm, but his hold remained unbreakable. “Because I don’t care to see my boyfriend snuggled up to another woman. Let me go, Vaughn. It’s obvious you’re enjoying yourself. Don’t let me interrupt you. Go back to your date,” she cried.
“Date?” Vaughn blinked, and then laughed.
“You think this is funny?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Oh, like you being in Las Vegas?” she bristled. “I’m not blind nor am I a fool.”
A man stepped forward. “Excuse me, is there a problem?” he asked, looking toward Sienna.
“There will be if you don’t back off,” Vaughn threatened in a calm voice.
“I wasn’t talking to you, buddy. I’m speaking to the lady.”
Vaughn didn’t spare the man another second. His eyes were on Sienna. “Where are you staying? I’m taking you home, so we can clear the air.”
“It looks crystal clear from where I’m standing. Get off me.”
“That’s it,” the bystander announced. He placed his hand on Vaughn’s arm and yanked him away from Sienna. Vaughn shoved the man to the floor.
“Vaughn,” Sienna gasped.
“Darling, I’m getting bored.”
Sienna turned around to see the redhead from the table at Vaughn’s side with her fingers pinching his biceps.
“My apologies, Natalia. If you can give me a moment to—”
“I’m not about to share you. Whatever you’re discussing with her is inconsequential,” she said, dismissively. “You and I aren’t done.”
Sienna wrenched her arm out of Vaughn’s hand. He moved to block her path and guided her out of earshot. “Doc, I’m asking you to let me explain all this later.”
“No, Vaughn,” her voice shook. “It’s now—or never.”
“I’m waiting,” Natalia called loudly from behind them.
Vaughn looked from his new cli
ent to Sienna. He shut his eyes and sighed. When he opened them, his expression was resigned. “I…I can’t do this now.”
Sienna blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “This? After all we’ve been through…I’m suddenly categorized as this?”
Vaughn stared at her for a brief moment. His expression held regret. He shook his head and walked away. She watched him go back to the Piranha he called Natalia, and escort her back to their table.
Sienna watched them for a few moments. Eventually, she sidestepped the large crowd coming in and walked out the door. By the time Vivian and Sasha ran out, she was hailing a cab.
“Sienna, wait up.”
She spun around sending an accusatory look to her sister. “You knew, didn’t you? You saw them, and you didn’t say anything.”
“What was I supposed to say, Sienna? That I spotted your boyfriend in a tete-a-tete with some woman? That maybe we should all go over, pull up a chair and say hi? That would’ve caused you nothing but pain.”
“You think I’m not in pain now?” she said, incredulously. “I got blindsided, Sasha—and you let it happen.”
“I didn’t tell you so there wouldn’t be a scene.”
“Wake up. It was a scene. A big scene,” she cried. “I embarrassed myself in front of a restaurant full of people, found my boyfriend cozied up to a woman old enough to be his mother, and to make matters worse he doesn’t respect me enough to tell me he was having an affair in the first place. Oh, let’s not forget he told me he couldn’t deal with me right now. Like I’m some big inconvenience? Yes, Sasha. I think this definitely qualifies as a scene.”
She turned and walked away.
“Where are you going?” Vivian called after her.
“I need to be alone.”
Vivian sighed. “What a mess.”
“That would be an understatement,” Sasha said, dryly.
“I knew we should’ve interrupted.”
“Didn’t you see what happened to the last guy that butted in?” Sasha shook her head. “No. They needed to speak in private. I’m sure they’ll work it out.”
“Don’t be naïve, Sasha. I could tell by the looks passing back and forth that the conversation wouldn’t end well. We’ve got to find out how that bimbo fits in to all this.”
“No chance. I’m staying out of it.”
“I’m not going to stand by and watch my best friend get humiliated. I’m getting to the bottom of this.”
“I just tried to help out and got my head bitten off. You’re crazy if you think Sienna needs someone interfering in her personal life right about now.”
Sasha went to walk away, but Vivian grabbed her arm.
“I don’t begin to understand every nuance of you and your sister’s complicated relationship, but I know enough about it to know that the last time she needed you—truly needed you—you weren’t there.”
Sasha recoiled and staggered backwards. The tears that pooled in her eyes this time were genuine. “How dare you.”
Vivian glowered at her. “Sienna is my best friend. You’re damned right I’m gonna dare. If there’s a remote chance in hell that I can do something to fix this mess you bet I’m going to try. Sasha, I promise you…if you stand by and do nothing—again—” Vivian struggled for composure. “It will kill her. Do you really want to make that same mistake twice?”
Hailing a cab, they arrived at the hotel in record time thanks to the generous tip Vivian offered the driver. They took the elevator to their floor. After opening the door, Vivian went in with Sasha in tow. Sasha checked the bathroom. When she came out her gaze sought out Vivian. She shook her head. “She’s gone.”
Chapter Twenty–eight
The Voices of Reason
Vaughn entered his suite and threw the key card on the table by the door. Coming further into the room, he spotted his brother on the couch watching television.
“Hey,” he said, tiredly.
“How’d it go?”
Vaughn dropped into a nearby chair and shoved off his shoes. “I’m alone, Pierce. I’d say that sums up how things went.”
“Sorry, man. You weren’t able to explain?”
“Didn’t get the chance. My new client was pretty clear on the fact that she wouldn’t be kept waiting. I tried phoning Sienna several times after I took Natalia back to her apartment, but she didn’t answer. It’s obvious she’s avoiding me.”
“So what’s your back-up plan?”
Vaughn stretched his legs out in front of him and then stared at the ceiling. “I don’t have one. She dismissed me, remember?” he frowned at the memory. “Well, actually, I dismissed her first. If only she had given me the benefit of the doubt. Exactly what does that say about our relationship?”
“Hey man, she was hurt at seeing you with another woman. Plus, you were here in New York when you were supposed to be in Las Vegas. Plus from what you told me she thinks you’re having an affair. Are there anymore pluses I should add? Besides, what if the tables were turned?”
“This client is possibly worth more money than Dexter for the company. What was I supposed to do, let her leave? Granted, I’m going to have to bust my butt to make this eccentric old woman happy, but I could be made partner after all is said and done, Pierce. Partner,” Vaughn stressed. “I couldn’t walk away from that.”
“Dude, Natalia wanted you bad. Sienna knows that. I don’t know how you’re going to fix this.”
“By doing one thing at a time. Sienna and I are in a committed relationship. We can get over this. Granted, Natalia was coming on a bit strong—”
Pierce laughed. “She was practically giving you a lap dance.”
“It’s business. You know that. How many women throw themselves at you trying to get you into bed?”
His brother did a double take. “You’re kidding, right?”
“From a business point of view,” Vaughn snapped.
“Oh. A few.”
“Do you sleep with every woman that makes you a proposition?”
Silence enveloped the room.
“Well, I don’t,” Vaughn clarified. “To top it off, she didn’t even make me a proposition. Regardless of what she saw, Sienna should damn well know my character by now.”
“I hear what you’re saying. My only question is why you didn’t even try to set her straight? Doesn’t she mean enough to you to try and work this out?”
Vaughn turned an impatient eye toward his brother. “She means everything to me—you know that.”
“Yeah, but I’m not sleeping with you.”
Vaughn was pensive.
“Look, I’m no expert on relationships,” Pierce looked sheepish, “at least not lasting ones, but I do know that you love her, and it’s obvious from the way she almost demolished Le Cirque tonight that you’re more than eye candy to her.”
“Which is precisely why she shouldn’t have overreacted.”
“You don’t know your girlfriend very well, do you? Women are all about the proof. You gave her all the ammo she needed to think you were cheating. Regardless of how you try to rationalize it, you messed up by leaving before you had a chance to set the record straight. Trust me, I know the ladies.”
“Pierce, the longest relationship you’ve been in with a woman is our mother.”
“You don’t think that qualifies me as an expert?” he countered.
“I think you need to quit worrying about my love life. It will work itself out.”
Pierce looked at his brother skeptically. “I knew you should’ve gotten her some Be-Dazzled.”
“This is it right here,” Sienna informed the taxi driver. He pulled into her driveway and stopped the meter. Retrieving cash out of her wallet, Sienna paid him and got out. The man had already exited the car and was retrieving her luggage from the trunk.
“You have a wonderful evening, Miss,” he said, politely.
“Thank you,” she replied wheeling her bag up to the door. She retrieved her key from her purse and let herself in. “Home Sweet
Home,” she said, forlornly.
Oddly, the quiet was deafening to her. She rolled her bag into the foyer and left it at the bottom of her staircase. She went into the kitchen without bothering to turn on the light. Retrieving the container of bite-sized Snicker bars out of the freezer, she headed to the living room. She flopped down on the couch. Kicking her shoes off, Sienna pulled her feet up under her. She chucked a chocolate tidbit in her mouth and sighed aloud. Her anger had abated during the plane ride home. Sadness was left in its wake. Just then the telephone rang. Sienna contemplated not answering it. Eventually the ringing ceased. When it started up again, she got up and went into the kitchen. She picked up the handset. “Hello?”
“Girl, you had us worried to death,” Vivian scolded. “What were you thinking running out like that? Sasha and I were worried sick.”
“I needed to be alone.”
“Yeah, you said that, but we thought you meant alone in New York, not back in North Carolina.”
“I’m afraid I’m not good company right now.”
“We can understand that, you just dumped your boyfriend.”
“Vivian,” Sienna began.
“You’re right. Now is not the time. We’ll see you when we get back home tomorrow morning. We’re scheduled to fly out first thing.”
“That’s not necessary. You two stay and have a good time.”
“Honey, I’d say that’s a lost cause this weekend. See you tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I know,” Vivian countered before hanging up.
She returned the handset to its cradle, and then placed her snacks back in the freezer. With heavy steps she climbed the stairs dragging her suitcase behind her. She flipped the light switch on and walked into her bedroom. Wheeling her suitcase into her closet, Sienna stripped down and went into the bathroom to shower. Waiting for the water to warm up, she wrapped her hair into a bun and washed her face with cleanser. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. “Wow, you look as bad as you feel,” she tried to joke.
Thirty minutes later, Sienna was cross-legged on her bed going over audio tapes of her last session. She tried to concentrate on what she was doing but it was too hard. Her thoughts kept straying back to the encounter with Vaughn in New York. One minute she was recounting the doomed conversation in her head. The next she was curled up in a ball crying uncontrollably.
Interview with Love Page 22
