All That Glitters: Glitz, Glam, and Billionaires

by Michele Hauf

  A knock on the door jolted her out of bed. “Come in.”

  The door opened, and Eric stood there in his sleeping shorts and shirt, looking at her.

  “What’s wrong? Is Brian...”

  “Brian went to sleep in the office. I showed him how to fix up the futon bed,” he said from the doorway.

  “I’m glad he’s becoming independent in a good way. Just hope he doesn’t have nightmares.”

  “He didn’t last night. Slept through until the morning.”

  She nodded, understanding her little brother. Poor Brian, feeling protected for the first time in his life.

  A frown etched on his forehead, his eyes hard, Eric kept staring, not taking a step forward.

  “Anything wrong?”

  His expression stilled. “Can I return the question?”

  “What? Why?” she asked faintly, drawing a few steps nearer to him. She’d never seen him so upset.

  “You didn’t even say goodnight.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...to...” Taking a deep breath, she lifted a hand and let it drop at her side, and smiled tentatively. “Well, goodnight, Eric, and thank you for everything you do for Brian and—”

  “I don’t need your gratitude, damn it.” Breathing hard, he stepped into the room, kicked the door closed with his foot, and pulled her against him, his green eyes dark and boring into hers.

  “Maybe you need a goodnight kiss,” she whispered, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I need one, too.”

  Without hesitation, he crushed her mouth, unleashing his passion, kissing her as if he couldn’t have enough. Her heart fluttered wildly, and she responded with the same fervor, pressing herself against him, stroking his shoulders, raking her fingers through the hair at his nape.

  He shuffled forward, backing her up, and she found herself falling onto the bed with him on top of her. His mouth moved to her cheek, feathering moist kisses on her temples and her eyes, and fanning her face with his warm breath. And his palm cupped her breast, caressing with unbearable gentleness. Her pulse skittered and she moaned.

  Suddenly, he bounced up and scrubbed his hand over his face. “Damn, what are we doing?” His stare drilling into her, he backed up to the door.

  “Eric?” She straightened and sat on the edge of the bed, tormented by confusion. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Not you. Me. I shouldn’t have entered your room. Don’t you see? You’re my guest. A dear guest I’m supposed to protect. And here I almost took advantage of you when you’re so vulnerable. Oh, damn it, I’m not a saint.” He fisted both hands in self-anger.

  “Eric, you’re not taking advantage. I’m a willing adult. Don’t you want to spend the night with me?”

  Leaning his head back against the door, he closed his eyes. “I’m dying to stay with you. But I can’t yet.”

  “Why?”

  “You’ll hate me the next day. You’ll compare me to Hugh Callahan. First, I want you to find a job, to support yourself and to dance on a stage again, and to get your self-confidence and your pride back. Then you’ll come to me because you really want to, not because you feel grateful.” He swiveled, opened the door, walked out, and closed the door behind him.

  She stared at the door for a while and then smiled.

  Eric, you’re such a wonderful man. A keeper.

  And she wanted to keep him forever.

  Gee, could she keep a prince?

  12

  Sitting on the edge of a leather chair, across from Princess Charlene’s desk in the sumptuous office, Natalie smoothed the skirt of her new black-and-white dress and crossed her hands in her lap to control any nervous tapping of her feet on the Oriental rug.

  The elegant VP smiled at her, a glint of interest shining in her beautiful greenish eyes, so similar to her brother and cousin’s. “This morning, Eric showed me a video of your performance. Impressive. Immediately I called the three ballet schools where I knew the directors and forwarded them the video. Two called me back right away and asked for you to set up an appointment.”

  “Ah.” Natalie’s jaw sagged. Right away when a VIP princess called. She thought about her visit to the conservatory and the almost-kick-in-the-butt the old teacher had given her.

  “Now tell me, do you want to teach dancing, or do you want to perform?”

  “Both.”

  “You seem like a shy person. Why do you want to perform in front of an audience?”

  “I’ve been dancing ballet since I was five.” Shocked by the question she considered silly, Natalie straightened, her chin high. “When I’m on stage, I first dance for myself, to express the joy or sadness of the music, then I imagine someone I love in front of me, and I try to share those feelings with her or him. You can’t imagine the pride I feel when I hear the applause and see a standing ovation. It’s... It’s incredible.” She gazed at the framed painting of Boston Harbor behind her hostess and smiled, visualizing the crowd on her last day at the Colosseum.

  “How about teaching?”

  “I’d love to teach youngsters how to express themselves through their dances.”

  “Great answers. Now you’ll call Mrs. Norma at the General Dance School and tell her what you just told me.”

  “But...”

  “Natalie, you have to learn to sell your talents. I’m not an artist, but I’m a marketing expert, and you’ve just convinced me I’d like to see you performing.” Charlene tapped an icon on her phone and handed it to Natalie. “Here. Share your enthusiasm with her. Make her feel it, as you did with me a moment ago. And then call Marina Brown at the Ballet Sanctuary. I’ll be back.”

  Awkwardly, Natalie cleared her throat, and jumped to her feet when she heard a voice on the other end of the line. She followed Charlene’s advice and talked, answering questions and sharing her love for ballet. And then she called the other number Charlene had scribbled on a sticky note and repeated almost the same words.

  “So, how did it go?” Charlene asked when she returned.

  Still in a daze, Natalie turned toward her. “I have an appointment tomorrow at ten and another the day after tomorrow at one. Can you believe that?”

  “What’s strange about it?”

  Natalie held her face in her hands and rubbed her temples, then sighed. “I wish I had a tenth of your confidence.”

  “You will...eventually. It’s not something you’re born with. You work at it. Success helps tremendously.”

  The phone rang, and the receptionist announced a Ms. Anna from Gorilovich Ballet. “My third contact returning the call.” After a few words of greeting, Charlene said, “She’s here in my office. She’ll talk to you.”

  Natalie grabbed the phone and talked to the director of the third school. “I’ll be there. Thank you.” A bemused smile slowly stretched her lips. “Ms. Anna wants to see me in an hour. I should bring my pointe shoes to present my routine. And then they may take me to lunch.”

  “You’re doing great. Have Ken take you by the condo to get your ballet shoes and leotard.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you, Princess Charlene. And Eric. And Ken... You have all helped me so much.”

  Signifying the end of their meeting, Charlene stood. “You’ll thank me by succeeding. I like to see the young women I support become the best in their fields. Don’t worry about Ken. He’s well paid to do his job. And Eric... I don’t know what’s going on with Eric. I could feel electricity sparking between you two when you had dinner at my house. Yet today, our charismatic Eric was the grouchiest man on Earth. Don’t hurt him, Natalie. He suffered a lot as a young boy.”

  Taken aback by the scorn in Charlene’s voice, Natalie bit her lip to stifle a shocked gasp. “I’ll never hurt him. I’m trying hard not to fall for him. He’s a prince, and I come from nothing.”

  “So? I have a whole floor full of beautiful women who come from nothing, as you say, but are trying hard to grab him and keep him.”

  “Oh, no.” The smile
faded from Natalie’s lips, and her jaw tensed.

  Charlene lifted her eyebrows. “Can’t you take a challenge? If you want something badly, work hard and go get it. Don’t forget to update me on the result of your interviews.” She opened the door for Natalie.

  As she strode along the hallway, Natalie came across three beauties dressed in what looked like designer clothes and high heels, eyeing her. Around the reception desk, two more approached. “Did you get the job?” The receptionist didn’t hide the acidity in her half-smile.

  So, this was the crew who was determined to hook her Prince Charming.

  She jutted her chin up. “What job? I’m not applying for any job here. Bye.” She hastened toward the elevator before the curious woman could bombard her with questions.

  Four days later, on Sunday, Natalie returned home from her last luncheon meeting around two and found Eric and Brian doing homework in the kitchen, and Ken mixing something in the blender.

  “Natty’s here. Finally. We haven’t seen you for so long. Not at breakfast, not at dinner, not at bedtime.” How like Brian to worry about his food and sleep before all else.

  “Where have you been hiding?” Eric said with a big grin, indicating his mood had reverted to its normal cheerful state.

  “For the last four days, I went from one interview to another, talking about my experience like a businesswoman, presenting the difficult steps of my repertoire, eating lunch with a variety of experts in ballet, music, and singing.” She huffed, completely exhausted, and kicked her high-heeled pumps off.

  “Did you get a job, at least?” Brian narrowed his eyes at her.

  “As a matter of fact, I accepted three job offers at the three top schools.”

  “Fantastic.” Eric was the first to hug her, and he managed to steal a quick kiss on the lips that put her in a good mood.

  “Congrats, sis. Tell us about it.”

  Eric’s continuous mentoring had paid off. Her little brother was learning to talk like an adult.

  “Congratulations, Natalie. Here’s a strawberry-banana shake to celebrate.” Ken set a tall glass of pink smoothie in front of each of them.

  “Cheers. To your success on stage.” They clanked their glasses against each other.

  “Nothing on stage,” she said after swallowing half of her delicious drink.

  “No?” Eric seemed more disappointed than her.

  “A class of stretching exercises for women, from nine to twelve, Monday through Thursday at the General Dance School. From three to nine, different ballet classes for students ranging from seven to seventeen at the Ballet Sanctuary. On Friday, from four to nine p.m, and on Saturday from nine a.m. to one p.m., I’ll help Mrs. Anna at Gorilovich prepare her choreography and instruct the students chosen for the semester performance.”

  Eric frowned. “You’ll be exhausted at that rate.”

  “But she’ll make a ton of money. Right, sis?”

  “Wrong. Teaching ballet is far from lucrative. In a month, I’ll earn less than half of what I made in a week at Caesars Palace. But at least I’ll have enough money to support myself and my brother, and pay my part of the rent for this place.”

  Eric shrugged. “This condo belongs to DIF. They let me live in it as a bonus. I don’t pay a penny, and you don’t have to share any rent.”

  “But—”

  “How can I make you understand and accept that DIF is a multi-billion-dollar company that owns several condos here in Boston? Philip uses one. There’s another incredibly luxurious one where Prince Paul stays when he visits. There’s a house where Ken and several bodyguards live. It’s part of our fringe benefits. Now, can we close that subject?” he snapped.

  Welcome back to grumpy Eric. “So, you expect me to keep my salary in my pocket and live at your expense?”

  “I’m not telling you what to do with your money. Spend it as you want. Buy yourself clothes. Buy us food. Whatever you want.”

  “I won’t have much time to grocery shop or cook.”

  “As if you cooked anything for us in the last four days,” Brian grumbled. Eric’s mood seemed to have rubbed off on him. “Ken ordered food for the three of us.”

  Determined not to lose her temper with her snappy little brother, she swallowed a curt remark and tried to ease the tension. “I’ll take you shopping as soon as I get my first check. You need winter clothes. It’s getting much cooler than in Vegas.”

  “I already went shopping with Ken. Did you think I was going to survive forever on the three shirts you brought me from Vegas? And yesterday, I went with Ken to order a bed. I don’t have nightmares anymore,” he added with a proud smirk. “Eric is taking his desk out of the office and letting me use the room as my bedroom permanently.”

  At a loss for words, Natalie let her gaze flit from her brother to his male idol. Did she have a word to say about Brian’s needs, or behavior, or education? Had she been displaced to make room for the big brother he’d adopted? Did she even belong here?

  “Aren’t you happy for me?” Brian peeked at her from under a rebellious scowl.

  “You haven’t even asked my permission to buy anything,” she exploded. “From now on, you can’t go shopping just like that without me knowing what you want to buy and paying for it.”

  “You always have to spoil everything for me. Always. I hate you,” he yelled.

  “That’s what I get for turning my life upside down for you.”

  “You’re going to hold me responsible for not finding a good job on stage forever. That’s what it is.”

  “Chill out, Brian,” Eric ordered. “Being my friend doesn’t allow you to be mean to your sister. I know you love her, so don’t argue with her every minute.”

  “But she’s the one—”

  “Enough. She’s too proud to accept continuous help and feel indebted. I understand that. Now, Ken and Brian, get out of the kitchen. Brian, go fix up your new room with Ken,” he barked.

  “Why are you upset?” Brian pouted, about to cry.

  “I’m not upset. Out,” Eric bellowed.

  Shocked, they all looked at him.

  Ken suppressed a scoff and raised his eyebrows. “Come, buddy, we don’t want to be caught in the crossfire.”

  “I thought the kitchen was public ground.”

  “It ain’t anymore if the boss says so,” Natalie heard Ken grumble as he pushed Brian ahead of him.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Planting her fists on her hips, she twirled toward Eric. “I can handle my little brother. You don’t have to fight my battles.”

  “Why do you resent him for accepting my help? He’s doing his best to improve and enjoy what we offer him.”

  “What you offer. I haven’t done anything for him.”

  “Wrong. You threw away your chance at the limelight for him.”

  Silenced by the angry rasp of his voice, she clamped her jaw tight and wondered if she’d ever climb up from the pit where she’d fallen.

  Eric came closer and held her shoulders at arm’s length, demanding her attention. “Natalie, don’t despair. You’ve often repeated that you wanted to find a job to support yourself and Brian. You’re following your own schedule. You’ve been here for only a week and you’ve already garnered three offers. I trust you. You’ll do a great job, and your reputation as a dancer will grow. The rest will come in time.”

  He was making such an effort to comfort her and bolster her morale, she had to convince him she wasn’t a hopeless goner. “I know, I know.” Ashamed for allowing her doubts to creep in, she managed a small, tentative smile. “Things take time, especially in my field.”

  Unfortunately, as long as she remained an obscure dance teacher, her chances of winning her prince’s heart remained slim. A throng of designer-clad, gorgeous women worked with him all day and probably shared lunch or dinner with him. And maybe more. Bummer.

  “Natalie, I missed you like hell the past four days.” The huskiness in his voice sent a ripple of awareness through her.


  She caught his gaze. “But you never knock on my door or wish me goodnight.”

  “True.” He chuckled. “Can I wish you a good afternoon?” His mouth settled on hers, and his lips started their gentle brushing. Reassured that his attraction hadn’t faded, she sighed and melted against him, returning kiss for kiss and caress for caress.

  When he released her mouth and trailed small kisses over her cheeks and throat, she whispered, “We’re in the kitchen. Come to my room.”

  He shook his head. “Never again. I’m not strong enough.”

  “Why, Eric? Why don’t you want...”

  He shushed her with another kiss and then cradled her face between his palms. “Natalie, my sweet, I’ve slept with a lot of women.” She gasped, but he held her tight. “Too many. Yet I never stayed with anyone long. I want you so much, but I want more than just sex from you. You’ll never guess what my secret wish is.”

  “Tell me, please.” How she wished she could give him something he deeply wanted.

  “I dream of seeing you dancing for me.” His eyes raked boldly over her and sent a tingling to the pit of her stomach. “A real performance, like the last one you did. Just for me. And then I’d like to dance it with you.”

  “I will dance for you, Eric.” A sensuous glow sparked between them.

  “Don’t count on anyone in Vegas to fulfill your dreams. Even if it takes longer than you expect, do it on your own,” he urged, his voice thick and unsteady. “And don’t shut me out of your dreams.”

  “Never.” Forgetting her previous frustration with her little brother, she offered Eric a radiant smile. “I’ll dance for you and with you soon.” And you’ll be mine.

  Could she tell him he dwelt in the center of her dreams? All day and all night. From now on, with a dogged resolve, she’d pursue her two goals—dancing and keeping Eric.

  13

  After a straight-to-the-point pep talk, Eric had made Brian promise he’d talk with respect to his sister and involve her in his plans, then he’d asked Ken to drive them to Faneuil Park for a stroll and dinner. His plans had worked, and they’d joked and chatted and relaxed.