by Nancy Warren
Gabby was honest enough to admit her consultant was right. She sighed. “I was so certain I could handle him on my own. He threw me right from the start when he brought a camera crew.”
“I know. I’ve seen the footage.” Sarah was pacing. “You should’ve called me the minute you saw the cameras.”
“I thought about it, but I did not want to lose face in front of my staff. He keeps quoting ‘inside sources’ and I have to assume that someone’s being disloyal. The last thing I want is for my staff to see me running scared. I am the captain of this ship. If it goes down we all go down together.”
Sarah shook her head. “No. You are a team. Anytime anyone in the media asks you about your employees, you do not say you are the captain of a ship. You rhapsodize about your team. You could not do it without them. Every person on your staff is an artist or professional. Do we have to go over this again?”
“No.” She slumped into the very chair she’d sat in when Dixon interviewed her. “Is it very terrible?”
Sarah seesawed her hand back and forth as though she couldn’t make up her mind whether it was terrible or not so terrible. Evangeline, trying to be an optimist, decided to take that as a not so bad. She said, “Before you ask, I have spoken to Wade. He completely understands my predicament and is flying out to be by my side, pose for some engagement pictures and give a few selected media interviews.”
The woman nodded briskly. “Good. That’s an excellent first step.” She pulled out a tablet computer, opened a file and began to make some notes. “Have you got your engagement ring?”
“Engagement ring?”
Sarah seemed to resist rolling her eyes with an effort. “People will be looking for the ring. It’s one of those symbols that makes an engagement seem real.” She shook her finger at Evangeline. “And you need to do everything you can to make this seem real.”
“All right. I’ll get a ring.”
“Don’t you dare buy it yourself. We live in a point-and-shoot world. Someone will see you, upload the image or sell it to Dixon and your plot will backfire—” she snapped her fingers “—like that.”
“Well I can’t ask Wade to buy an engagement ring. Especially when I have no intention of marrying him.”
“Give him the money, and make sure he’s very visible when he buys the ring. We absolutely want somebody in Tiffany’s following a hot tip. He’s to mention your name.”
If she’d ever married, Gabby had always intended to do it quietly, out of the media spotlight. “It’s all so humiliating.”
“If you want to dig yourself out of this mess and get your business back, you’ll take a little humiliation.”
“For someone who’s supposedly a public relations expert you’re not very nice.”
“I don’t have to be nice to the client; we have to present a good face to the public. Which means you do everything you can to look like a happily engaged woman.”
“All right, the ring. What else do I have to do?”
“Wear that dress.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Four brides have handled that dress, I’m not putting it on.”
Sarah nodded vigorously. “Oh yes you are. We are going to release photographs of you trying on the wedding gown and you looking deliriously happy.”
“All right, anything else?”
Sarah scanned her notes. “Oh yes. Engagement party.”
Her eyes flew open. “What?”
“The party to celebrate your engagement. You will invite influential people, former clients, and selected members of the media. Remember, you are still a recognizable public figure. A celebrity in your own right. People are fascinated by you. Make the most of it.”
Gabby stared at the dress still hanging in her office. For some reason, she had left it there. “That dress will never fit me. I’ll have the staff make me an identical one.”
“And have your inside source whisper to that reporter that you’re too frightened to wear the cursed dress? Do you really think that’s going to look good in the media?”
She scowled. “I’m beginning to hate you. You’re too much like me. Anything else?” She really wanted this woman out of her office so she could sneak onto her balcony and smoke one of her hidden cigarettes.
“You still need to get hold of the woman who cursed you.”
“I thought you were doing that.”
“We haven’t had any luck tracking her down. You’re going to have to hire an investigator. A discreet one. I can give you some names.”
“But I gave you her last address.”
“I know. I went over myself, but the woman who answered the door says your former seamstress has moved out. She may have returned to eastern Europe.”
“Well good riddance to her.”
“Except that all she needs is an Internet connection and she can continue making trouble for you.”
“Oh, how did I ever get into such a mess?” She rubbed her temples.
The woman didn’t answer her. She said briskly, “This isn’t a disaster. So long as you and your new fiancé act completely in love you’ll brush through this thing okay. You must be very devoted to your business to be willing to get married for it.”
Her head jerked up at that. “Married? Of course I’m not getting married. No, Wade and I will pretend we’re getting married and then when the gossip dies down, we’ll go our separate ways.”
Sarah drilled her with a cold glance. “Which will make you the fourth bride who doesn’t get married in that dress.”
She felt extremely irked at her media relations expert. “You expect me to marry a man I don’t love?”
“I didn’t put you into this mess. I didn’t tell you to announce your engagement. Don’t ask me to get you out of it.”
Which seemed completely unfair to Gabby. That’s exactly what she expected from a damage control expert.
After Sarah left her office Gabby tried to work on one of the gowns that she still had a commission for. The usual magic simply wasn’t with her. Unlike many celebrity designers, she actually designed her own gowns. It was a talent she’d discovered young and her years in the fashion industry had sharpened her abilities.
She had tried to avoid reading any articles about herself and her business but all of a sudden she felt that she needed to know the worst. She ditched her design pad and pressed the intercom that would put her through to her assistant. “Salvador? I need you to bring me everything you can find on this wretched curse.” There was no point pretending he and every one of her staff didn’t know all about the curse. He said, “Are you sure you want to read it all?”
Oh great, it was that bad. “Yes. I do.”
He didn’t take long to appear with a bulging file folder. “I printed out most of the Internet stories and I’ll send you the TV links.” She’d already seen the one on the biggest national entertainment show. The clip had made a joke about the curse, and a much bigger deal about the legendary bachelorette finally marrying her former love. Barf. But there were more of them?
“Thank you.” She glanced up at him as he was leaving. “And I don’t want to be disturbed.”
It was one thing to stop that curse and quite another to read about herself and her problems on popular blogs and media. Even though these were the lowest gossip rags and websites, she knew how influential they could be and somehow, she supposed because of her high profile as a media darling, the gossipy stories had risen out of the gutter and become mainstream.
When she finished reading all the articles and blog posts, she sat back. Her fingers itched for a cigarette.
She called her PR consultant. “I want to issue a press release, formally announcing my engagement.”
“It’s already drafted. But you’d better get a ring, we want a photo with both you and the ring.”
“All right.”
Wade texted her: “Arriving LAX 2 PM tomorrow.”
Even though she felt somewhat guilty that she’d dragged him to the other side of the country for such an enormous favo
r, she also had a comfortable feeling when he was by her side, like everything would be all right. She texted back, “I’ll meet you at the airport.”
He texted back, “photo op?”
She supposed she deserved that, but in truth she wanted to rest her head on his broad shoulder. There were so few men in the world whose shoulder she could rest her head on. Wade, at a commanding six foot five, made her feel tiny, delicate. She stood head and shoulders above most people, especially in her heels. Usually she enjoyed the feeling, but sometimes it was a pleasure to feel delicate.
She dressed with care the next day and when Wade stepped out into the arrivals lounge she felt a rush of confused emotions. He caught sight of her and shook his head, and then broke into a broad grin.
She ran forward and threw her arms around him. “Thank you for coming.”
He must have heard the cameras at the same moment she did for he pulled her closer, lifted her chin up and kissed her.
For a moment she was taken back to the beginning. To the first time they met and all the years between. When he kissed her, she was nineteen again, tasting her first success in modeling and scared to death most of the time. Wade had understood her and believed in her when she neither understood nor believed in herself.
He pulled away slowly and she felt breathless.
“Well,” she said. “We’ve got a full day planned.”
“We do?”
“Absolutely. Darling, I’m very sorry about this, but we have to go and buy an engagement ring.”
He burst out laughing. He simply stopped dead in the middle of the airport and laughed so hard he had to bend down and support his hands on his knees.
“What is so funny?” She hadn’t forgotten, if he had, that they were under media scrutiny. When he stood his eyes were still dancing. “How many times did I ask you to marry me? You have to admit, there’s a certain poetic justice to you asking me.”
“I didn’t ask you.” She’d announced it instead, which wasn’t a great deal better.
“You were completely desperate. Admit it. I saved you from yourself, again.”
She put her straight, classical nose in the air. “A gentleman wouldn’t remind me.”
“A gentleman would bore you within five minutes.”
It was true.
They walked out to where her driver was waiting. In true, Wade fashion, he said, “Hi, I’m Wade.”
“Carlos.” He took Wade’s single bag and put it in the trunk of the town car. Wade opened the car door for her and they settled inside.
She glanced over at him. He looked good. As though he had known he would be under scrutiny, he was wearing a blue suit. “You look as though you’re about to go into a top-level business meeting.” She felt an unfamiliar stab of remorse. “I’m so sorry to drag you away.”
“It’s all right. I do have business here. The trip’s not a complete waste.”
She felt some relief at that even as she bristled slightly that spending time with her might be considered a complete waste by a man who had once adored her. “Honestly, I’ll pay you back for the ring. But you’ll have to appear to be the one who buys it.”
His eyes brimmed with teasing humor. “It would look suspicious if you bought your own engagement ring.”
She jabbed him with her elbow.
He leaned forward and said to the driver, “Carlos, can you take us to Harry Winston, please, in Beverly Hills.”
Even though she was secretly impressed she said, “Darling, you know you have to make an appointment.”
“I called when I got off the plane. They’re expecting us.”
His high-handedness annoyed her and yet there was something oddly nice after these months of torment and feeling so alone to have Wade at her side. Even though it was a charade, he still felt like someone she could depend on. The only friend she had been able to think of when trouble hit fast and hard.
Besides, it was hard to argue with a man who whisked a girl to Harry Winston.
Chapter 5
Her driver pulled up in front of Harry Winston and soon they were ushered inside. Wade took charge and she was rather happy to let him.
“Mr. Davenport, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Martin Bonnycastle.”
They shook hands. Wade said, “Allow me to introduce my fiancée, Evangeline.” He always said that was her stage name and never used it if he could help it. She appreciated him remembering how important it was at this moment that every word and deed go toward a positive image for Evangeline, businesswoman and brand.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” Martin Bonnycastle said with exactly the right amount of deference. They had celebrities in here all the time so she doubted he was wildly impressed, but he gave the impression that only good manners and training stopped him from gushing.
They were led to a comfortable seating area and she was shown a selection of rings. It was very clear that there had already been some discussion between Wade and Martin. There was a choice of settings but each of the center stones had to be several carats. While she considered settings, Wade paid more attention to the actual quality of the diamond. He had always been a stickler for quality. Even though this was only pretend, there was something delicious about trying on engagement rings. Oh, she’d done that a few times, but never actually got through an engagement.
So, to see an exceptional diamond in a stunning setting glittering from her ring finger gave her a sentimental moment. She felt that she was sharing in the magic that she always provided for her brides. Of course, she was rather like the tiny man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz. She knew there really was no magic. It was all brilliant glittery diamonds and fabric draped to hide figure flaws.
It was fun playing pretend as she tried on ring after ring, considering various styles. She and Wade both agreed on a classic cushion-cut diamond. The band was platinum and a ring of small but perfect diamonds surrounded the large center stone. The obliging Martin also demonstrated how the engagement ring and the wedding band would fit together perfectly. The price was substantial, and, knowing that for publicity’s sake, she would not be able to use her credit card, she began to look for something smaller. Wade stopped her. He said, “Don’t take that one off. It’s the one. It’s perfect.”
There wasn’t much she could say in front of staff, any one of whom could call that nasty Mr. Dixon. So, she gave him her dazzling smile then leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. “Thank you, darling, I absolutely love it.” She had never been more sincere. She absolutely did love this dazzling and very sizable rock on her hand.
As discreetly as anything, the financial transaction took place while she moved her hand this way and that enjoying the play of light in the diamond. When they left the jewelry store Wade took her hand in his, squeezing in warning before she broke into speech about paying him back. Just as well because the second they hit the street someone started snapping photos of them. “Damn paparazzi,” she said furiously.
“Smile, darling. This one’s tame. I called him myself.”
“You did what?” She said between gritted teeth. He laughed and put an arm around her, pulling her close. “Haven’t you ever heard that the best defense is a good offense? This way, your Mr. Dixon will be the last one to get the news.”
Her irritation turned to amusement. “I like the way you think.”
“Let’s give them something to write about,” he said, and pulled her in and kissed her, a real one this time. While life went on around them, she had the strangest feeling that time had stopped, as though there were only the two of them.
She was breathless when the snap-happy photographer, blogger, photojournalist, whatever he was, ran up and said, “Wow. Let’s see the rock.”
Obligingly she flashed the diamond while the young photographer snapped more photos. “You’re really getting married? Finally?” the reporter asked her.
“Yes, finally. It’s time.” She glanced at Wade from under her lashes. “When he called m
e and begged me, I finally gave in.”
“He’s asked you before?”
She giggled girlishly. “Oh, yes.”
He turned to Wade, standing stiffly beside her. “How many times did you propose?”
He sighed. “Probably ten.” The irony was that while she’d lied about him calling to beg her to marry him, he was telling the truth.
“And what made you say yes this time?”
“He finally wore down my resistance.”
And then her Town Car rolled up beside them. They slipped in and before the door slammed shut, the young reporter yelled, “Good luck.”
They eased back into traffic. And there they sat. In traffic. Not all the money or all the influence could change the traffic patterns of LA. She could not stop staring at the diamond on her wedding ring finger. “This ring cost a fortune. What if they won’t take it back?”
He patted her hand. “Then you can consider it a gift from me to you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What would I do with an engagement ring if I didn’t get married?”
“You’ll think of something.”
She couldn’t imagine having her ring refashioned into another piece of jewelry. It would always be a reminder of the time Wade had bailed her out of a jam and spent a great deal of money doing so. It didn’t seem quite right.
But she knew that if she insisted on paying him back they’d only get into one of their silly arguments. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford this ring and many more—he’d become very wealthy during the time she’d known him, rising as an investment banker to become an entrepreneur. Now he bought entire companies that were struggling and put them back on their feet. Some he sold, some he kept.
With no reporters in the immediate vicinity they both settled into their own corners of the town car. He said, “I hope you don’t mind, Gabby, but I do have a meeting.”
“Of course, we’ll drop you. What time do you want Carlos to pick you up and bring you back to my place.”
“Your place?” He shook his head. “I’m staying downtown at a hotel.”
“But that’s ridiculous. We’re supposed to be engaged. How will it look if you put up at a hotel?”
