by Ann Omasta
Her face must have registered some of her confusion because Trevor spoke for the first time since she had joined them. “What do you say, Selena? Together, our companies would be unstoppable. We could do so much good for the economy and so many people.”
The wheels were already turning in Selena’s mind. They were right. If their two companies worked together, rather than always fighting against each other, they could accomplish so much more.
The pretty blonde next to Trey spoke up. “This makes too much sense not to be right, so we’re not taking no for an answer.” She tried to sound tough, but her soft voice and mannerisms didn’t allow it.
Trey was gazing at his date and the love-stricken look that he gave her shocked Selena. “Wow, you’re sexy when you’re bossy,” he told her, before tipping his head down to nibble on her neck. The woman giggled and smacked playfully at him.
Apparently feeling left out of the fun, Trevor turned to the woman beside him and brought their interlaced hands up to his lips for a kiss. She leaned forward to give him a chaste peck on the lips. He returned her soft kiss, focusing on her as if they were the only two people in the crowded ballroom.
Selena wasn’t sure whether to be more surprised by the fact that the Donovan brothers were willing to work with her, rather than against her, or that they were each apparently completely smitten. She watched them for a moment, trying not to let the jealousy seethe that both of her rivals had found exactly what she had always wanted.
“I’m in,” she said simply, effectively breaking up their love-fest. All four sets of hopeful eyes landed on her. As the wheels turned in her mind, she held up one finger to let them know she had a condition. “But first, I need to talk to you two lovely ladies.”
The men had to wonder what Selena wanted to talk to their love interests about, but they refrained from asking. The girls quickly agreed to join her out on the terrace. As she led them outside, she tried to contain her overwhelming excitement about her new idea.
18
Standing on the terrace, Ellie and Millie looked expectantly at Selena, but neither prodded her to clue them in as to what she wanted. They seemed content to let her sort through her thoughts and present them in her own time.
As she looked at the two of them in their dazzling dresses, she realized that she liked them both already. They weren’t just arm candy for the Donovans. Although they were both classic beauties, they were also smart, sassy, and opinionated women that held their own against two of the most powerful men in the world. These were the type of ladies that Selena should be friends with. She was already beginning to feel a connection with them, and she hoped that the idea forming in her mind would bring them even closer.
“My parents weren’t wealthy,” she started out. “I can remember them struggling to get by, living from paycheck to paycheck, and constantly worrying about paying bills before they passed away.”
Both women nodded as if they had experienced similar financial upbringings. Neither interrupted her, though.
“After they died and I went to live with Grant, I never again heard anyone worrying about the financial strains of day-to-day living. To this day, though, I haven’t forgotten what it felt like to be afraid that we might not be able to pay our bills or that we could lose our house.” She searched the other women’s eyes and found only understanding and empathy there.
“One-hundred thousand dollars would have made such a difference in my parents’ financial situation. It would have taken away all of their strain and given them a cushion to fall back on during tight months.” She tried to keep the excitement tempered in her voice, but it was hard to contain.
“Oh, yeah.” Millie was nodding her head. “That would have been a life-changing amount of money for my parents when my siblings and I were young… It still would be.”
Hearing her confirmation made Selena feel even more confident that where she was going with this was right. “This mall deal is going to be incredibly profitable for Donovan Enterprises and Chase Corp. What if we took a small percentage of the proceeds and put it directly back into the local communities?” Selena’s words were coming faster. The more she shared with them, the more excited she became. “Every time the charity fund reaches one-hundred thousand dollars, we can donate it to a local family that deserves it. It can be like a scholarship program, but for families in need.”
“We will be able to help real people all over the country.” Ellie’s eyes had taken on a dreamy expression.
“Yes, think of the people that are working hard every day just to get by. This would give them the leg up they need to go back to school, start up their dream business, pay off their house, or just have a cushion so every month isn’t a struggle.”
“I love it!” Millie weighed in. The excitement of Selena’s idea was already gleaming in her eyes.
“Count us in,” Ellie told her before adding, “We’ll get the guys on board.”
Selena loved it that these ladies were already calling the shots with the Donovan brothers. Those two needed softened up, and it appeared that Millie and Ellie were already doing a great job of making her rivals more human.
“Fantastic! I’ll have a meeting set up next week for us to start working through the details.” Selena tried to infuse enough enthusiasm into her voice that her new allies wouldn’t sense the sadness just beneath the surface. She tried to shuffle them back inside, but Millie had already noticed that something was amiss.
“What else is going on? Your eyes don’t look happy,” the intuitive woman said.
“It’s silly.” Selena tried to brush off the other woman’s concern. She knew that she should be happy. However, even with the good news her business life had just received, her personal life was still a train wreck.
Ellie reached out to take Selena’s hand warmly within her own. “Tell us,” she encouraged her.
It was the first moment of female bonding that Selena had enjoyed since childhood, and it felt glorious. She felt silly for the tears that were threatening to streak down her cheeks and mess up her makeup. She knew that she shouldn’t be letting what was missing from her life overshadow what she did have, but she wasn’t able to stop herself.
Even though she felt ridiculous, it felt good to have girlfriends to talk to that really seemed to care about what was going on with her. Selena hated to admit to any weaknesses, but it was such a relief to vent to compassionate ears.
“It’s about a boy,” she practically wailed. “He’s rugged, handsome, and sweet, and I’m nothing but a spoiled, rich brat.”
“We already know that last part isn’t true,” Ellie told her, looking to Millie for confirmation. Millie complied by fervently nodding her head in agreement.
“He said we’re from two different worlds. I don’t fit into his world of camping and tattoos, and he doesn’t belong in mine of business meetings and extravagant wealth. We are too different to make it work.” She gladly accepted the tissue Ellie offered her and blew her nose with a loud honk.
“It seems like maybe you could both make some concessions to make it work.” Ellie tried to cheer her.
“He doesn’t want to be with me-ee,” Selena wailed.
“I find that impossible to believe,” Millie told her at the same time as Ellie said, “There’s no way that’s true.”
Selena gazed through her teary eyes at her new friends. It felt incredible to have found people that were in her corner. Although she had just met these women, they had already forged a tight bond. She truly believed that they wanted the only best for her.
Millie snapped her fingers with an idea. “I know just what to do,” she told them, already pulling out her cell phone and getting to work.
Selena had no idea what the other woman was up to, but she didn’t worry about it because she knew that her new friends were on her side. If she had known the details of Millie’s plan, she would have been concerned.
19
“I look ridiculous!” Selena rubbed her hands over her skin
-tight, black leather outfit as she stared at her reflection in the museum bathroom’s mirror.
“No, you look smokin’ hot,” Ellie reassured her as she reached up to tease the dark hair at the crown of Selena’s head.
The clothes that Millie had ordered from their company’s personal shopper and had delivered directly to the gala venue somehow fit Selena perfectly, with the exception of being tighter than anything she would ever have chosen on her own.
“It’s too tight,” she tried.
“No, it’s sexy and perfect,” Millie reassured her.
Unable to keep her insecurities at bay, Selena turned to her new friends. “What if he laughs at me?”
“Then he’ll have us to deal with,” sweet Ellie tried her best to sound tough, but she failed miserably.
“I’m sure that will frighten him,” Selena quipped sarcastically.
“It should,” Ellie stuck up for herself. “If nothing else, I can throw cupcakes at him.”
Her silly threat had all three of the women giggling. “It’s not too much?” Selena asked, seeking one final bit of confirmation.
“There isn’t a man alive that could resist you in this leather ensemble,” Millie promised her. As an afterthought, she added, “As a matter of fact, why don’t you try to slip out of here without Trey or Trevor getting a look at you in that outfit.”
Selena rolled her eyes at that. “As if either of those love-sick puppies have eyes for anyone except you two.”
Neither of the women had a comeback for that because they all knew it was absolutely true. Selena noted the confident, happy smiles that curled up the lips of the other two women and longed to feel that way herself.
She was worried that Hunter would turn her away, but her new friends looked so hopeful for her, that she felt like she had to give it a try. Besides, at this point, she knew she would always wonder what would have happened if she didn’t go.
Evidently deciding that the sleek ponytail was complete, Ellie used the restroom’s free supply of hairspray to finish off her creation. Millie had used makeup from her own beaded handbag to give Selena dark, smoky eyes and deep burgundy, shiny lips.
When they stood back, Selena turned her head from side to side, inspecting her new, tough-girl reflection. Her hair somehow had volume in the front, but was perfectly straight and sleek in the back. Her makeup was bolder than anything she would have dared to try on her own, but she had to admit that the look was incredibly striking. At least if Hunter turned her down, she would know that she had tried her best.
Nodding her approval and trying to feel as confident as she looked, she turned to her new friends. “Thank you,” she told them, infusing her words with sincerity. The two women immediately pulled her in for a group hug, surprising her with their easy warmth.
“Okay, that’s enough. We don’t want to mess up our masterpiece,” Millie said as she pulled back for one last look at Selena.
“Go get your man,” Ellie encouraged her.
Selena nodded, took a deep breath, and held her head high as she exited the restroom. It didn’t take her long to find Grant in the crowded ballroom. His impressive height, topped by a bright white puff of hair was both distinguished and unique.
His eyes twinkled as he told her that it was fine for her to leave. She could tell by the paternal way he smiled at her that he approved of her new look. Even though she didn’t tell him where she was going, he seemed to already know.
Heading for the front doors of the museum, she had to walk right past the Donovan brothers. One of them let out an appreciative whistle. Selena had no idea which man it was because they both received exasperated looks from their girlfriends. Those looks were all it took to draw the brothers’ attention back to where it belonged. Selena couldn’t help but smile to herself as she noticed out of the corner of her eye that both couples were kissing.
She was pulling her cell phone out of her purse to call for her car as she walked out the giant double doors. When she looked up to keep from falling down the museum steps, she was shocked to discover Hunter standing on the landing gazing up at her.
20
Selena froze, almost dropping her phone down the museum entrance’s first flight of steps. If she lived a thousand years, she doubted she would ever see anyone as handsome as Hunter in a fitted tuxedo. The enamored look with which he was gazing up at her nearly took her breath away.
Even the disturbance of hearing Millie, Ellie, and the Donovan brothers clamor out behind her didn’t distract them from gazing at each other. Selena vaguely registered hearing Millie say, “I just want to make sure she made it out of here okay.”
“She has her own limo and driver. Why would she not be able to handle…”
Selena wasn’t sure which of the Donovans was speaking, but he stopped short when he saw her. The foursome was quiet for a moment while they took in the scene before them.
“Is that him?” Ellie stage whispered from behind Selena, loud enough that Hunter had no doubt heard her.
Selena nodded her head, never taking her eyes off the gorgeous man standing on the landing below her. The subtle movement was enough to set Hunter into action. He took the stairs two at a time, until he was standing directly in front of Selena.
Neither of them took note of the man huffing up the stairs behind them, until he stopped a few below Hunter. “What are you doing? We need to go find Selen…”
Todd’s voice trailed off when he caught sight of Selena in her new clothes. “OMG. Is that really you?” He climbed the last few steps and circled Selena with his arms crossed, obviously assessing her makeover. “Damn girl, you could almost make me change teams… Almost.”
Selena beamed upon hearing her assistant’s wholehearted approval. His opinion was important to her, and she knew that he would be brutally honest with her. She noted that Hunter’s gaze never wavered from her, and her stomach did a flip-flop at the desire she saw flickering in his eyes.
Hunter reached up to loosen his bow tie. “I hate these things,” he revealed, “But Todd said I had to wear it.”
“Well, you can’t go to a gala without formal wear.” Todd bugged his eyes out as if he couldn’t believe someone would suggest such a thing. At his condescending tone, Hunter looked down and brushed his hair back. Not taking notice, Todd went on. “Speaking of that, this doesn’t look like any of the items I had sent over for you.” He waved his hand up and down to indicate Selena’s new clothes.
“I wanted to toughen up my look because I was heading over to see Hunter at the tattoo parlor,” Selena told them.
At this, Hunter’s gaze snapped up to hers. “You were?” His voice sounded hopeful.
Selena couldn’t do any more than nod before Todd took over the conversation again. “You know what this is, don’t you?” His voice oozed with barely-contained enthusiasm.
Todd’s eyes nearly popped out of this head when he and Ellie exclaimed at the same time, “Grease!”
“Yes!” He clapped his hands together excitedly. “It’s just like Sandy and Danny at the end of one of the greatest screenplays ever written, Grease.” His eyes took on a dreamy expression when he continued. “She tries to toughen up to fit in with his gang, and he earns a letterman’s jacket to impress her.”
“Sandy!” Hunter exclaimed, immediately ready to jump in on the fun.
Not one to miss out, and overly familiar with the movie in question, Selena quipped the famous movie line, “Tell me about it… Stud.” She tried to pooch out her lips in a sexy pout, but feared that she just looked perturbed.
Millie and Ellie were both squealing with happiness behind them. One of the brothers deadpanned, “We’re not going to break into song, are we?”
An idea flashed in Hunter’s eyes. It was as if the other man’s sarcasm had dared him to sing. “I got chills, they’re multiplying.” His voice sounded remarkably similar to John Travolta’s character, Danny, from the movie.
Selena couldn’t help but giggle when he raised his hands dram
atically and sang, “…’Cause the power you’re supplying. It’s electrifying!”
She was nervous about joining in, but felt like this was an important memory in the making. She placed a palm on Hunter’s chest and gave him a playful shove. “You better shape up,” she sang to him and was thrilled to hear both Millie and Ellie backing her up on the silly song.
By the end, even the brothers joined in, and they were all singing and dancing to the catchy tune on the front steps of the fancy museum. They all started laughing as they wrapped up the song.
Todd was the first to speak. “Are all billionaires this fun-loving and silly?”
Selena beamed at him before turning to give Hunter a serious look. “Falling in love must bring out the joyous side in us.”
Hunter didn’t hesitate. He climbed the last of the steps, dipped Selena back, and kissed her like he was sharing a piece of his soul with her.
Lost in him, Selena could barely stand on her own two feet when Hunter righted her, placed a palm on either side of her face to help steady her, and told her fervently, “I’m falling in love with you, too.”
They were the words she had been aching to hear for so long, and they made her feel impossibly happy. Stepping in for more sweet kisses from him, she was only vaguely aware of the make-out sessions her two new friends were enjoying with her former foes.
“Well, you guys know how to take a party from fab to awkward in a matter of seconds,” Todd said to the three ridiculously happy, oblivious couples. He sounded snarky, but Selena knew that deep down, he was happy for her.
Once he realized that he was being ignored, Todd stalked to the museum entrance. Although Selena was totally absorbed by her sweet reunion with Hunter, a portion of her consciousness stayed focused on Todd to make sure he wasn’t really angry.
