“You seem like the best mother,” said Julia, watching Gavin sitting beside her. “And that means a lot. I bet those nannies work for moms who aren’t even doing anything more than facials and stuff,” she comforted.
“I guess,” said Hope. She really liked Julia. She seemed sweet and definitely had more depth than her pals cared to notice.
“Well we should start meandering home, bunny rabbit,” Hope said, picking up Gavin. “Good luck with the designs! I am sure they’ll be terrific.”
“Thanks, Hope,” Julia said, waving. Hope seemed like the true gem of the pristine posse. As she watched Hope stroke her son’s hair and walk off holding his little hand, she wondered if she’d ever be so lucky to find a great husband and have babies.
Julia started off into space again, thinking about her future while watching a red double-decker tourist bus drive by with binocular-toting Montanans. She’d become so used to New York that she couldn’t remember what it felt like to be a visitor, staying in some hotel and trying to make her way through the busy streets.
Suddenly, something across the street caught Julia’s eye. It was the arm of a familiar camel hair coat outside the Stanhope. Looking more closely, she realized it belonged to Lell. Julia rose to yell across the street, but stopped. Taking that arm was a familiar hand. And it was not Lell’s husband’s hand, but her lover’s, Alastair’s. Julia stood in shock, her mouth agape, as she watched the two laughing paramours enter the hotel, nuzzling. Yikes. A hotel tryst was major. How could Lell do that to Will? Maybe Julia was naïve but she really thought that “’til death do us part” meant something. And they were still newlyweds! It was sick.
Julia walked over to the garbage can and threw out her soda. She dusted the pretzel crumbs off her coat and turned to head down Fifth Avenue. Standing right in front of her was Will. He stared at her with a sad look in his eyes, and she knew he had seen his wife in the arms of another man. Julia was speechless. Before she could muster up anything to say, Will grabbed Julia by the arm and hailed a taxi. A yellow cab slowed and before she could even think about how to react, Will pushed her in.
“Where do you live?” Will asked urgently, turning to Julia.
“Seventh Street and Second,” she told the driver.
Then Will grabbed Julia and pressed his lips to hers, slowly pushing her down so that her head lay on the ripped leather seat. As the taxi glided down Fifth Avenue, Will and Julia kissed passionately, forgetting everything and everyone else in the great big city.
chapter 29
Oscar Curtis was wandering the East Village on an aimless stroll when he was stunned to see Julia walking out of a nondescript building.
“Hey!” he said, crossing the street in a truck-dodging jay-walk. “Julia, what are you doing here?”
Startled, she turned around and caught Oscar’s eye as he did a dangerous Frogger sprint. “Oh, Oscar, hi—” she said distractedly. She was in a panicked sweat and seemed out of it, to say the least.
“Did you just work out or something?” he said, examining her dewy complexion.
“What? Um, no—not exactly,” she replied.
“You live around here?”
“Yes, yes in there—um listen, Oscar, it’s great to see you, but I should bolt. I’m . . . really late, Sorry—bye!”
And with that, she was around the corner and Oscar was left in her hectic wake.
Julia was a wreck. She thought her aorta was most definitely pumping way too much blood into her ventricles and that at any moment she’d pass out from a combo of sheer joy and sheer fear. After a heated two-hour make-out session that was so infused with desperate passion she was literally left bruised as their body-consuming kisses had her bashed against walls, Will had taken off for home plate, only to be rebuffed by a very confused Julia.
“Stop, seriously . . . stop,” she protested breathlessly as he fumbled to go the distance.
After he heard her for the third time, Will stopped and they sat, hyperventilating, staring at each other for three minutes. The next move was Will’s, reaching not for Julia but for his jacket.
“I . . . should go,” he said. And did.
The room was spinning. Two wrongs don’t make a fucking right. What the hell was she involved in here? Lell was her boss. And a friend. And even though Lell was clearly banging this jet-set dude from the little black book of yesteryear, that did not mean Julia should be hopping on her man. Her husband.
She felt the need to get out of the apartment, the scene of the crime. In the outside air, she walked with a pace so quick it was as if she were trying to shed her actions on the pavement behind her, but no matter how fast she motored, she couldn’t outrun her shame.
Uptown, also wallowing in a sea of guilt, was Hope, who stared into the elated faces of her sons as she pushed them with Charlie on side-by-side swings in Central Park’s Seventy-second Street playground. But instead of drowning, she pulled herself up and breathed easy—she was proud that she had not succumbed to her desire to pounce on John; she had a private dinner à deux with him and she knew damn well she’d flip if Charlie had done the same with John’s female equivalent. But she was chaste. And thank God—she would not have been able to watch him now, smiling ear to ear as his sons flew back and forth with the spring wind through their hair.
“Higher, Mama, higher!” shouted Chip.
“Are you sure? You’ll touch the sky,” said Hope, breaking out of her reverie.
“Higher!” squealed Chip with delight.
Hope pushed her boys as high as the circa 1970s metal swings would go, and again returned to her thoughts.
“Guess what?” said Charlie excitedly, who was snapping shut his cell phone after checking voice mails. “I just got a message from that guy we met, John Cavanaugh! He said there was an opening at his firm and they want me to come up for an interview!”
“Oh, great,” said Hope, the blood freezing in her veins. Was John doing this to fuck with them? Now that she had held fast to her morals, she just wanted to put the whole thing behind her.
“Strange, isn’t it? I sent my résumé to more than nine places and this is the only one that’s phoned. Except Panther Capital, which said they loved my résumé but that there were no positions available.”
“So go for it,” Hope mustered, trying to sound enthusiastic. She prayed Charlie wasn’t just getting reeled in as some revenge sport for Hope’s denying John a Floridian tryst.
“Well, well, well! Look who’s here!” said Polly, who happened upon the Matthews family as she walked alongside Quint and his nanny, who pushed the Silver Cross stroller. “How are you guys?”
“Oh, fine,” replied Charlie between pushes of the swing.
“Hey, Poll—sorry I didn’t get to call you. Thanks for your letter.”
“Anytime,” Polly said with a serious face, placing a consoling hand on Hope’s shoulder. “But look on the bright side, you get to spend the day with your husband! How nice. You’re the only dad here!”
“Well, not for long, hopefully.”
“Oh? Any nibbles on the job front?” asked Polly, curious.
“Maybe. We’ll see,” said Charlie.
“Terrific. I’m sure it’ll all work out. But we’ll sure miss seeing you around the playground!”
Hope smiled but turned back to face little Chip and Gavin as the pushes of their swing had been getting more and more aggressive. She pushed away her growing annoyance with Polly, she pushed away her anxieties, and pushed away the confusion surrounding Charlie’s potential work with John. She wanted him to get the job, sure. But she also knew she had to stay away from John or else she could get sucked in by the tractor beam of his overpowering allure.
chapter 30
Lell was completely in the throes of her love affair with Alastair. She was so consumed that she was almost becoming reckless. Almost. She was too careful not to let anyone know what she didn’t want them to know. And what she did know was that Will knew, and that was exactly what she wante
d.
Lell was one of the most guarded people in the world. Her image was important to her, and she never wanted anyone to see her feathers ruffled at any given moment. Therefore, even with her best friends—Polly, Hope, and Meredith—she never let her guard down. There was, however, one person with whom Lell was completely candid, and that was Maria de Barca, a Camp Arcadia friend from long ago, who was now a South American socialite and one of the most important women in Venezuela. Perhaps because she lived so far away, or perhaps because she was the most discreet and astute person Lell had ever met, she was the only one who knew the hows and whys of Lell Pelham. More than anyone, including Will.
Fortunately for Lell, Maria came to town often, usually to be fitted for designer clothes, and Lell would spend hours with her at her suite in the Lowell, confessing everything. She was Lell’s mentor, guide, and shrink (and would have been her maid-of-honor if Maria didn’t think bridal parties were gauche). After telling her the details of her life, Lell would sit back and let Maria analyze her.
“This is the classic Lell Pelham story,” said Maria, pouring herself another cup of Earl Grey after Lell concluded the story of her affair with Alastair. “You like—” (when Maria said like it was with her Venezuelan accent so it sounded more like like-a) “the men who are the rogues. You like the men you can never trust. It is because of Daddy.”
“Don’t start on that Freudian daddy crap again, Maria,” said Lell, breaking apart a scone. (Maria was also the only person Lell would eat carbs in front of.)
“But you more than anyone, Lell darling, have the daddy problem. Your mama is never pleased, she is mean to your papa, you in turn try to please your papa, to say sorry for your papa.”
“Okay, this is gross.”
“Lell, your problem is you never open up to people you might care about. You might really love Will, but you never give him a chance to enter your heart because you are worried he will hurt you. That’s why you chose to hurt first, and sleep with others to make him mad and jealous.”
“No way,” said Lell, about to protest profusely. But then she stopped. Maybe there was a grain of truth there.
“I’m right. You know I’m right.”
“I’m not sure. I mean, Alastair knows how to treat a woman. He is just totally my type. And everyone thinks Will just married me for the money.”
“Do you?”
Lell paused and thought about it. She knew the gossip. More than that, she saw that Will was more than thrilled to chuck his job the second her dad mentioned setting him up with a hedge fund. He was certainly to the manor born with the use of her private jets and clubs. Was that why she was cheating? Because he probably secretly hated her and married her for the money?
“I guess he did,” said Lell, softly. “Or else it certainly sealed the deal.”
“Will is—how they say in Jane Austen? A fop,” Maria said loudly. “He likes the life of luxury. He likes the toys and good life. But he likes you, I see it. He doesn’t understand you, and you push him away, that’s why you have these problems.”
“Whatever,” said Lell, not really wanting to dissect her life any longer. It made it seem sordid and complicated. “I’m having my fun.”
“You be careful, Lell,” warned Maria. “You can only push a man so far. Men are all ego, they need to be told they are number one all the time. Will is the same. And he will look for someone to stroke him like a cat.”
“Good luck. No one would cross me that way,” said Lell confidently. That was one thing she was certain about. Because any girl who tried would be run out of town. If they made it out alive.
chapter 31
“Hi, Julia, I don’t know if you remember me.”
“Of course, Nina, how are you?” Julia’s mind raced. Who was this girl? Publicist? Editor? No! Friend of Lell’s who had trunk shows, that’s right.
“I’m great,” said Nina, strolling into Julia’s office and sitting herself on the armchair across from her.
“I’m so sorry, Lell has stepped out for the afternoon. Is there anything I can help you with?” asked Julia.
“I came to see you, actually,” said Nina, taking out a Chanel compact and reapplying her lipstick.
“Oh, how can I help you?”
“First of all, I want to invite you to my dinner party two weeks from Thursday. It’ll be small, but fun. And lots of cute single guys.”
“That’s so sweet. Sure, I’d love to come.”
“Great,” said Nina, lackadaisically looking around Julia’s office. Her eyes scanned every nook and cranny, and she clearly approved of the decor and all of the subtle touches that Julia had added to make it her own.
Julia was surprised that Nina had asked her to her party. She didn’t even know Nina knew who she was. But then again, Julia had been showing up a lot in WWD and some of the other mags lately, and there had even been a small item on her in Page Six. It had erroneously referred to her as the Pearce glass heiress, but Lell had told her not to bother correcting it. It seemed kind of fraudulent, but Lell seemed so sure.
“Secondly, I’m kind of here on behalf of someone else,” said Nina, whispering.
“Oh, okay.”
Nina leaned in. “Do you think your office is bugged?”
“No—” Julia was about to protest, but then she remembered that Lell had that Big Brother camera from which she watched everyone at Pelham’s. She wouldn’t be surprised if she had a nanny cam lasering in on her as well. “Maybe,” Julia said.
“Then let’s go somewhere else. Can you leave?”
“Um . . .” Well, it was only five and technically she wasn’t supposed to leave before six, but she knew Lell was gone for the day. Socializing with the likes of Nina Waters was part of her job, wasn’t it? “Sure.”
“Good, let’s go to Cipriani for some Bellinis.”
Fifteen minutes later Nina and Julia were ensconced at a table in the legendary Fifth Avenue by way of Venice restaurant.
“So, Jules, the thing is, I am very connected in this town, as you probably have heard.” She gave Julia a look that said you better agree.
“Of course.”
“So, anyway, my friends have been watching you. One in particular. And she likes your style. You should be very flattered, because this is someone who doesn’t like a lot of things or people, but everyone likes and worships her.”
Nina gave Julia another look that said react appropriately.
“I’m very flattered.”
“So the point is, this girl, and I think you know who I’m talking about, is the American ambassador for her family company, which is based in Europe. And she really has her eye on you. She thinks you’re totally underused at Pelham’s and you shouldn’t take it.”
Julia was unsure what to say. PR means tact, so she had to act accordingly. “Oh, well—”
“Anyway, she wants you to come work for her.”
“That’s very nice, but I—”
“It’s tricky, because she and Lell are dear friends. But it’s obviously a much better situation for you. I mean, I know you don’t have to work, being a Pearce and all, but it will be very lucrative and far more glamorous.”
She wasn’t a friggin’ Pearce, should she tell Nina? She was tempted to learn more about the offer, but something kept her from moving forward with the conversation. She didn’t know if she could trust Nina. Was Lell setting her up?
“Well, I don’t know what to say, except that I’m very happy at Pelham’s and Lell is great to work for.”
Nina took a sip of her Bellini. “We’ll see how long that lasts, what with the Will situation.”
Julia felt immediately light-headed and panicked. “What do you mean?” she asked, trying to be casual.
“Oh, come on. Polly told me everything.”
Julia’s mind was racing. Polly couldn’t have known about that romp in the back of her cab. And at her apartment. That was the only time—the first and last. What the hell was Polly saying? She had to compose herself
.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Nina smiled. “Oh, okay, whatever.”
“No, seriously, Nina. There is nothing going on between Will Banks and me. I don’t know what is up with Polly’s imagination, but it’s not true.”
“Whatever you say,” said Nina, clearly not believing her.
“Are sure no one followed you?” asked Julia, pulling Will into her apartment and shutting the door as quickly as possible.
“Yes, what’s the big deal? I knew you’d be happy I called, by the way,” said Will, leaning in for a kiss. Julia pushed him away.
“Listen, we have a major problem. I just had drinks with Nina Waters, who said Polly told her that there was something going on between us. I’m freaking! What if Lell finds out? I’m dead, you’re dead, I’m out of a job and on the street—”
“Relax, relax,” said Will, taking off his coat and plopping himself down on the couch with ease. Julia couldn’t help but notice how handsome he looked in his blue-checked button-down and khakis. He smiled at her and ran his hand through his hair.
“How can I relax? I feel like the devil. I am Satan. I kissed you, and you’re married and I literally made you break vows and I’m probably going to fry in the bubbling lava of hell! Lell is my friend and boss and I’m now like, the white trasher from a Lifetime TV movie who deserves every lousy thing that comes her way.”
“Sit down. Come on, you’re hardly white trash, first of all,” said Will, pulling Julia to his side. He put his arm around her.
“But I’m evil.”
“No you’re not, don’t be crazy, Jules.”
“How can you be so calm? We broke commandments together, Will. We’re on the fast track to Hades. Do not pass go, head directly to the infernos of the underworld.”
Wolves in Chic Clothing Page 16
