The elevator slowed, dinged, and retracted its glass doors with a hum. Once they were open, a new, inner hum picked up. An agitating one at that. The sort that came when life was about to take one of its turns.
Viv shook it off, lifted her head, and proceeded toward the wide corridor leading toSlipper Magazine’ssuite. Life had taken a very unexpected turn when the twins came along. Big enough to last a lifetime.
Whatever awaited her beyond the bend was small stuff in comparison.
Viv had been in the particular greenroom twice before. It had glass walls, which—she realized as she turned the corner—would reveal just who her subject was before they were face-to-face.
The inner plea picked up once more.Please don’t be Duke Benton.Why she was entertaining Mom’s suggestion, Viv couldn’t be sure. Probably because he was exactly the type of guy people wanted to get their hands on—a sexy billionaire bachelor to put on their cover. One with a bad boy edge and a scandal at his heels.
Her eyes searched over the scene within the room as she approached it. There stood Riley Shay, editor-in-chief, perfectly poised in a pencil skirt and heels at the head of the table.
She recognized Rico Shimwah, the famous designer who’d spotlighted his spring line on live TV just last week. But the man sitting across from Rico—tall, thin, and visibly restless with a bouncing leg and fidgeting fingers—Viv didn’t recognize him.
She tried not to get discouraged; a lot of important people were known for what they’d done, not what they looked like. Perhaps the guy was CEO of the nation’s fastest rising company. Maybe he’d just blown millions somehow, put thousands out of a job with his reckless behavior, and needed to man-up and publicly take the blame.
The man’s eyes followed her as she approached the double doors, gripped the rose gold handle to pull it open, and stepped inside.
Or perhaps he was looking at something else, she realized as his gaze seemed to follow a different route. She glanced over her shoulder and came up empty.
“Thank you for joining us, Vivia.”Riley Shay motioned to the seat beside Rico. “We’ve got our lady of the hour here. We’re just waiting for the man of the hour to join us next. He had to step out for a moment.”
Wait, skinny guy wasn’t him? Viv’s eyes shot to the guy across from her in question.
“Oh, forgive me. You’ve met Rico, I know…” Ms. Shay said.
“Good afternoon, Veritå,” Rico said with a grin.
Viv returned the smile, hoping it looked more natural than it felt with as preoccupied as she was. “And to you.”
“And this is public relations specialist, Perry Cline.”
The guy did a half stand and extended his arm across the table. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m a big fan of your work.”
Viv shook his hand. “Thank you.”
“We’reallbig fans of your work, Veritå, and we feel honored that you’ll be joining us in this highly anticipated feature.”
“Happy to be part of it,” she assured.
“My client may be…adventuresome,” Mr. Cline allowed as he settled back into his seat. “But I think you’ll find that much of hisbad boyreputation is more implied than it is earned.”
Oh, no. Please don’t’ say it. Please don’t be Duke Benton. Please don’t—
“Sorry I’m late,” came a deep and far too familiar voice.
The view of him in her periphery sent a rush of goosebumps scurrying up her arms. Their past had haunted her enough that he was like a ghost to her. A living, breathing one who had just stepped into the very same room.
Viv ducked her chin as the shock had its way with her, determined not to meet eyes with him just yet.
He surprised her by heading over to not Mr. Cline’s side, but hers. The man shook Rico’s hand first.
“Always a pleasure to work with your family,” Rico said.
“Andyoumust be Veritå,” the deep voice crooned.
The massive heart-pounds got even louder in her head. Viv gulped, nodded slightly, and forced her shoulders to rise. Her chin followed the upward motion and, at last, her gaze did the same.
An impressive three-piece suit, an even more impressive stature beneath it, and the very face that had haunted her all that time.
