Interview with Love (21 page)

“Oh, like you being in Las Vegas?” she bristled. “I'm not blind nor am I a fool.”

A man stepped forward. “Excuse me, is there a problem?” he asked, looking toward Sienna.

“There will be if you don't back off,” Vaughn threatened in a calm voice.

“I wasn't talking to you, buddy. I'm speaking to the lady.”

Vaughn didn't spare the man another second. His eyes were on Sienna. “Where are you staying? I'm taking you home, so we can clear the air.”

“It looks crystal clear from where I'm standing. Get off me.”

“That's it,” the bystander announced. He placed his hand on Vaughn's arm and yanked him away from Sienna. Vaughn shoved the man to the floor.

“Vaughn,” Sienna gasped.

“Darling, I'm getting bored.”

Sienna turned around to see the redhead from the table at Vaughn's side with her fingers pinching his biceps.

“My apologies, Natalia. If you can give me a moment to—”

“I'm not about to share you. Whatever you're discussing with her is inconsequential,” she said, dismissively. “You and I aren't done.”

Sienna wrenched her arm out of Vaughn's hand. He moved to block her path and guided her out of earshot. “Doc, I'm asking you to let me explain all this later.”

“No, Vaughn,” her voice shook. “It's now—or never.”

“I'm waiting,” Natalia called loudly from behind them.

Vaughn looked from his new client to Sienna. He shut his eyes and sighed. When he opened them, his expression was resigned. “I…I can't do this now.”

Sienna blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “This? After all we've been through…I'm suddenly categorized as
this
?”

Vaughn stared at her for a brief moment. His expression held regret. He shook his head and walked away. She watched him go back to the Piranha he called Natalia, and escort her back to their table.

Sienna watched them for a few moments. Eventually, she sidestepped the large crowd coming in and walked out the door. By the time Vivian and Sasha ran out, she was hailing a cab.

“Sienna, wait up.”

She spun around sending an accusatory look to her sister. “You knew, didn't you? You saw them, and you didn't say anything.”

“What was I supposed to say, Sienna? That I spotted your boyfriend in a tete-a-tete with some woman? That maybe we should all go over, pull up a chair and say hi? That would've caused you nothing but pain.”

“You think I'm not in pain now?” she said, incredulously. “I got blindsided, Sasha—and you let it happen.”

“I didn't tell you so there wouldn't be a scene.”

“Wake up. It
was
a scene. A big scene,” she cried. “I embarrassed myself in front of a restaurant full of people, found my boyfriend cozied up to a woman old enough to be his mother, and to make matters worse he doesn't respect me enough to tell me he was having an affair in the first place. Oh, let's not forget he told me he couldn't deal with me right now. Like I'm some big inconvenience? Yes, Sasha. I think this definitely qualifies as a scene.”

She turned and walked away.

“Where are you going?” Vivian called after her.

“I need to be alone.”

Vivian sighed. “What a mess.”

“That would be an understatement,” Sasha said, dryly.

“I knew we should've interrupted.”

“Didn't you see what happened to the last guy that butted in?” Sasha shook her head. “No. They needed to speak in private. I'm sure they'll work it out.”

“Don't be naïve, Sasha. I could tell by the looks passing back and forth that the conversation wouldn't end well. We've got to find out how that bimbo fits in to all this.”

“No chance. I'm staying out of it.”

“I'm not going to stand by and watch my best friend get humiliated. I'm getting to the bottom of this.”

“I just tried to help out and got my head bitten off. You're crazy if you think Sienna needs someone interfering in her personal life right about now.”

Sasha went to walk away, but Vivian grabbed her arm.

“I don't begin to understand every nuance of you and your sister's complicated relationship, but I know enough about it to know that the last time she needed you—truly needed you—you weren't there.”

Sasha recoiled and staggered backwards. The tears that pooled in her eyes this time were genuine. “How dare you.”

Vivian glowered at her. “Sienna is my best friend. You're damned right I'm gonna dare. If there's a remote chance in hell that I can do something to fix this mess you bet I'm going to try. Sasha, I promise you…if you stand by and do nothing—again—” Vivian struggled for composure. “It will kill her. Do you really want to make that same mistake twice?”

 

Hailing a cab, they arrived at the hotel in record time thanks to the generous tip Vivian offered the driver. They took the elevator to their floor. After opening the door, Vivian went in with Sasha in tow. Sasha checked the bathroom. When she came out her gaze sought out Vivian. She shook her head. “She's gone.”

Vaughn entered his suite and threw the key card on the table by the door. Coming further into the room, he spotted his brother on the couch watching television.

“Hey,” he said, tiredly.

“How'd it go?”

Vaughn dropped into a nearby chair and shoved off his shoes. “I'm alone, Pierce. I'd say that sums up how things went.”

“Sorry, man. You weren't able to explain?”

“Didn't get the chance. My new client was pretty clear on the fact that she wouldn't be kept waiting. I tried phoning Sienna several times after I took Natalia back to her apartment, but she didn't answer. It's obvious she's avoiding me.”

“So what's your back-up plan?”

Vaughn stretched his legs out in front of him and then stared at the ceiling. “I don't have one. She dismissed me, remember?” he frowned at the memory. “Well, actually, I dismissed her first. If only she had given me the benefit of the doubt. Exactly what does that say about our relationship?”

“Hey man, she was hurt at seeing you with another woman. Plus, you were here in New York when you were supposed to be in Las Vegas. Plus from what you told me she thinks you're having an affair. Are there anymore pluses I should add? Besides, what if the tables were turned?”

“This client is possibly worth more money than Dexter for the company. What was I supposed to do, let her leave? Granted, I'm going to have to bust my butt to make this eccentric old woman happy, but I could be made partner after all is said and done, Pierce. Partner,” Vaughn stressed. “I couldn't walk away from that.”

“Dude, Natalia wanted you bad. Sienna knows that. I don't know how you're going to fix this.”

“By doing one thing at a time. Sienna and I are in a committed relationship. We can get over this. Granted, Natalia was coming on a bit strong—”

Pierce laughed. “She was practically giving you a lap dance.”

“It's business. You know that. How many women throw themselves at you trying to get you into bed?”

His brother did a double take. “You're kidding, right?”

“From a business point of view,” Vaughn snapped.

“Oh. A few.”

“Do you sleep with every woman that makes you a proposition?”

Silence enveloped the room.

“Well, I don't,” Vaughn clarified. “To top it off, she didn't even make me a proposition. Regardless of what she saw, Sienna should damn well know my character by now.”

“I hear what you're saying. My only question is why you didn't even try to set her straight? Doesn't she mean enough to you to try and work this out?”

Vaughn turned an impatient eye toward his brother. “She means everything to me—you know that.”

“Yeah, but I'm not sleeping with you.”

Vaughn was pensive.

“Look, I'm no expert on relationships,” Pierce looked sheepish, “at least not lasting ones, but I do know that you love her, and it's obvious from the way she almost demolished Le Cirque tonight that you're more than eye candy to her.”

“Which is precisely why she shouldn't have overreacted.”

“You don't know your girlfriend very well, do you? Women are all about the proof. You gave her all the ammo she needed to think you were cheating. Regardless of how you try to rationalize it, you messed up by leaving before you had a chance to set the record straight. Trust me, I know the ladies.”

“Pierce, the longest relationship you've been in with a woman is our mother.”

“You don't think that qualifies me as an expert?” he countered.

“I think you need to quit worrying about my love life. It will work itself out.”

Pierce looked at his brother skeptically. “I knew you should've gotten her some Be-Dazzled.”

 

“This is it right here,” Sienna informed the taxi driver. He pulled into her driveway and stopped the meter. Retrieving cash out of her wallet, Sienna paid him and got out. The man had already exited the car and was retrieving her luggage from the trunk.

“You have a wonderful evening, Miss,” he said, politely.

“Thank you,” she replied wheeling her bag up to the door. She retrieved her key from her purse and let herself in. “Home Sweet Home,” she said, forlornly.

Oddly, the quiet was deafening to her. She rolled her bag into the foyer and left it at the bottom of her staircase. She went into the kitchen without bothering to turn on the light. Retrieving the container of bite-sized Snicker bars out of the freezer, she headed to the living room. She flopped down on the couch. Kicking her shoes off, Sienna pulled her feet up under her. She chucked a chocolate tidbit in her mouth and sighed aloud. Her anger had abated during the plane ride home. Sadness was left in its wake. Just then the telephone rang. Sienna contemplated not answering it. Eventually the ringing ceased. When it started up again, she got up and went into the kitchen. She picked up the handset. “Hello?”

“Girl, you had us worried to death,” Vivian scolded. “What were you thinking running out like that? Sasha and I were worried sick.”

“I needed to be alone.”

“Yeah, you said that, but we thought you meant alone in New York, not back in North Carolina.”

“I'm afraid I'm not good company right now.”

“We can understand that, you just dumped your boyfriend.”

“Vivian,” Sienna began.

“You're right. Now is not the time. We'll see you when we get back home tomorrow morning. We're scheduled to fly out first thing.”

“That's not necessary. You two stay and have a good time.”

“Honey, I'd say that's a lost cause this weekend. See you tomorrow.”

“You don't have to—”

“I know,” Vivian countered before hanging up.

She returned the handset to its cradle, and then placed her snacks back in the freezer. With heavy steps she climbed the stairs dragging her suitcase behind her. She flipped the light switch on and walked into her bedroom. Wheeling her suitcase into her closet, Sienna stripped down and went into the bathroom to shower. Waiting for the water to warm up, she wrapped her hair into a bun and washed her face with cleanser. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. “Wow, you look as bad as you feel,” she tried to joke.

Thirty minutes later, Sienna was cross-legged on her bed going over audio tapes of her last session. She tried to concentrate on what she was doing but it was too hard. Her thoughts kept straying back to the encounter with Vaughn in New York. One minute she was recounting the doomed conversation in her head. The next she was curled up in a ball crying uncontrollably.

 

Vivian and Sasha rendezvoused at Sienna's house bright and early the next morning. After ringing the doorbell several times Vivian turned to Sasha. “I don't think she's going to answer,” she replied with dismay.

“Not to worry,” Sasha replied opening her purse. She retrieved a key chain and shook it. “We got it covered.”

Sasha unlocked the door with her key and let them in. The first level was quiet. “Let's try upstairs.”

Vivian went up to check it out. “She's not up here,” she called from the landing.

“Has the bed been slept in?”

“Looks like it.”

Sasha walked over and opened the door leading to the garage. She flicked the light on and peered in. “Her car's still here.”

“Then she hasn't gone far. We should wait.” Vivian sat down on the couch. She extended a bag toward Sasha. “Want a muffin?”

“No thank you.”

Five minutes later, Sasha was holding her hand out for the bag.

They conversed lightly while eating.

“About last night,” Sasha began.

Vivian glanced up at her. “Is this where you tell me I should've minded my own business?”

“No. It's where I say thank you—for butting in.” Sasha sighed. “You were right.”

Vivian nodded, but refrained from comment.

A few minutes later, Sasha's cell phone rang. She yanked it out of her shoulder bag and stared at the number. “Sorry, I have to get this,” she said, excusing herself and going into the kitchen.

“What's up?” she asked in a subdued voice.

“How are things going?”

“Not so good at the moment.”

“Have you been able to find out any exciting tidbits for your story?” her agent inquired.

“The story is going fine, but my…Sienna is going through a bad patch at the moment.”

“Really? Do tell. Is it something we can use for the book?”

Sasha frowned. “No, we can't. She may have broken up with her boyfriend. She's pretty distraught.”

“That's good. Not for her mind you, but we can use that. Did he cheat on her? Was it a love triangle gone bad? Oh wait, don't tell me he's married, and she just now found out,” her agent pressed. “Sasha, this could work. Does he have any kids? Granted, it's not a new theme, but we can put a spin—”

“No,” Sasha ground out. “He's not married, nor does he have any kids. Look, I've got to go. My sister will be here any minute.”

“Oh, okay. Just remember to take plenty of notes and e-mail me later.”

Sasha hung up before she had even said goodbye. She slid the phone into her back pocket. She raked her front teeth over her lower lip in concentration. A few moments later, she took a deep breath and headed back to the living room.

 

“So, how do you want to handle this?” she asked Vivian upon entering the room. “Good cop, bad cop?”

“I'm not sure.” Vivian folded her arms across her middle. “I suppose we should figure it out before she gets here.”

By the time each had eaten a second muffin the front door opened and Sienna strolled in.

She stopped short, her hand going to her heart. “Good grief,” she shrieked. “What are you two doing here?”

“Eating,” Vivian swallowed. “Want a muffin?”

Sienna closed the door behind her. She turned an accusatory glance toward her sister. “I thought I asked for my key back last time?”

“You did,” Sasha replied, casually.

Vivian slid over and patted the seat next to her. “Where were you? We've been here a while.”

“I went walking.”

“Have you spoken with—”

“Sasha, why in the world would she call Vaughn?”

“Maybe he called her?”

“To say what? What he did was inexcusable and I wouldn't even entertain the idea of forgiving him,” Vivian argued.

“It's not your decision to make,” Sasha observed.

“Will the two of you quit speaking like I'm not even here?”

“We're sorry, girl. Well look at it this way, most of your relationships don't last past two months. Your relationship with Vaughn lasted five. I'd say that's something to be proud of,” Vivian reasoned.

“Yeah, rule number twenty-two: once it's over it's over. Clean break. No going back.”

“Good idea.”

“Bad idea,” Sasha retorted. “Sienna, you've just had a seriously big argument with your boyfriend. Breaking up with him seems a bit precipitous don't you think? I mean you haven't even heard his side of the story.”

“What's to hear? He dumped her for some surgery-enhanced cougar. Why add insult to injury and allow him to tell her why?”

Sasha stared at Vivian. “It's no wonder you're alone with backwards logic like that. We don't have a clue what prompted Vaughn to leave with that woman—or why he was there in the first place.”

“Will you two stop bickering? Sienna complained. “Enough is enough. I'm done. Vaughn and I are over so let's drop it, okay?”

Vivian went over to Sienna. “Fine. Would you like to go out tonight? We can paint the town red. Finish up where we left off in New York?” When she saw the shadow that crossed her best friend's face she frowned. “I'm sorry, sweety. I shouldn't have mentioned it.”

“It's no big deal. I have to start dealing with it anyway. Might as well start now, right?”

“Sienna, I hate to be the voice of dissention—”

Vivian rolled her eyes. “Then don't.”

Sasha ignored her. “I have to. I'm your sister. Granted, we've had a tenuous relationship for a long, long time, and I know you doubt my sincerity, but Vaughn made you happy. What you two have is real. You can't just discount that.”

Sienna shrugged. “I don't want be appear rude, but I've got a business trip in two days and there's work I need to prepare. Would you two mind?”

Her sister stood up and motioned to Vivian. “Sure. You want me to tell mom and dad so you don't have to?”

“No thanks. I'll deal with it when I get back.” Sienna walked them to the door.

Sasha awkwardly hugged her sister. “I'll phone you later. Be prepared. Dad might call you. You know how he swears he can sense when there's trouble with either of us.”

Sienna managed a smile. “I know.”

Vivian stepped forward. She enveloped Sienna in a hug so tight they both tilted off balance. “Call me. Anytime. I mean it, Crazy. Whenever you want to talk I'm here.”

“I will,” Sienna assured her. “Thanks Viv.”

When they left she shut the door behind them. She leaned against it for a minute listening to the loud sound of silence. Her phone rang. Somehow, Sienna instinctively knew who it was. She didn't answer it.
Rule number twenty-three: Pain, like disappointment, wears off.
With a determined stride she went upstairs.