This particular visit is one I抳e been dreading and anticipating. I抦 here to approve final designs and fabrics for rouge. Once everything is in place, I抣l go public with the announcement. It抯 a daunting prospect. I抦 worried I抣l fail. Fashion is a hard industry to break into, no matter how much money you have. You can抰 buy success. And if I fail, I抣l fail as Scarlett Kensington.
Right now, I抦 more focused on my companion for this trip than anything else. I wasn抰 expecting for Crew to back me up with my dad in the Hamptons. I was expecting for him to stay in New York. Apparently, he meant it when he said he was coming with me.
Things have been tenuous between us since the Fourth. Not awkward, the way they were before we left for the Hamptons. It took me a few days to process everything that happened in the short span of time. Those same days were spent logging long hours finalizing the September issue of Haute and preparing for this trip. And then he was waiting at the airport when I arrived for my flight, since Leah shares all my travel details with his secretary. I made the mature decision to pretend to sleep for the duration of the six-hour flight.
Crew hasn抰 said much since we arrived. So far, we抳e checked in at the hotel, met with two of my fabric suppliers, and now we抮e at the French Open. Jacqueline Perout is a friend from Harvard and heiress to Europe抯 premier department store. Securing her interest in rouge will be paramount to its success, so turning down an invitation to watch a morning match from her box wasn抰 really an option.
揝carlett Ellsworth! How lovely to see you!?Richard Cavendish has come to stand beside me in the executive suite I抦 watching the match from.
Richard is the vice president of a prominent French publication. Our paths inevitably cross at many of the social events I attend here. I believe he抯 the only person who considers himself charming.
I take a sip of mimosa before answering. Just like with most of the men in my social circle, it抯 less painful to converse with Richard slightly buzzed. 揘ice to see you too, Richard.?
揌ere on business??
揂lways,?I reply cooly, watching his gaze sweep up and down the white eyelet dress I抦 wearing. It抯 modest, with capped sleeves and falling to my calves, but Richard抯 eyes are heated by the time they arrive at my signature red lips. His bottom lip curls as his gaze moves to the left hand holding the glass. And the large diamond resting on my ring finger.
揝o the rumors are true. You got married.?
揜umors? You don抰 trust the hundreds of papers that reported on it??
Richard抯 eyes fill with annoyance. 揑 have more important things to do with my time than troll the society pages.?
The merging of the Ellsworth and Kensington families made it into plenty of respectable European papers, as Richard well knows. Kensington Consolidated and Ellsworth Enterprises both have international holdings.
I could have ignored my father抯 wishes and married Richard. He wouldn抰 have contributed as much to my net worth and I find him irksome and boring, but he would have been better for my sanity than Crew Kensington.
Because if Richard Cavendish had spent the last half an hour talking to a pretty blonde tennis player, I would feel relieved not to have to engage in a bothersome exchange of words with him. Crew choosing to do so has left me marinating in a mixture of rage and jealousy.
This is why you shouldn抰 marry for love.
Not that I love Crew. I just find him mildly entertaining and annoyingly attractive. And after he made me come in seconds, I might have strong feelings toward his tongue.
揧our husband seems to be enjoying the match,?Richard comments, following my gaze.
I don抰 reply. I turn back to watch the green ball get smashed over the net, and I wish I also had something to hit right now.
揑s Kensington here on business too??Richard needles.
A possessive hand slides to the small of my back. Even before the scent of his expensive cologne reaches me, I know it抯 Crew. A trail of heat lingers behind the pressure of his palm, and I suppress a shiver by taking yet another sip. At this rate, I抣l need a refill soon. Which would probably be a bad idea, since, as was just established, I抦 here on business.
Not pleasure.
揘ope. All pleasure, Cavendish.?Crew抯 deep voice rumbles from behind me. 揂t some point, you should sit back and enjoy the spoils, don抰 you agree??
揑 couldn抰 agree more,?Richard replies. I know his agreeable tone means he thinks the opposite. 揃ut I find it disheartening you抮e ready to sit back so soon. You wouldn抰 want anyone to think you only got the job because of your father. Are you planning to live off your wife??
I feel Crew抯 hand flex against my spine, but his voice is smooth as butter when he replies. 揑 must have missed you becoming a self-made billionaire, Cavendish. Must be because the papers you own don抰 really talk about you at all.?