Scandalizing the CEO (5 page)

She opened her e-mail to find the very first one was from Steven. She read it and felt herself flush. She needed to be much more confident if she was going to be with him. But she had no idea how to do that. She couldn’t change the fears she’d always had of her body that easily.

She walked away from her computer and stood in front of the mirror. She stared at her features. Her face was so different now that she scarcely recognized herself sometimes: her cheekbones thin and prominent, her mouth still full and pouty. The biggest change had been her figure.

No it wasn’t, she reminded herself. The biggest change had come at work. She remembered when she’d been called to Maurice Sheffield’s office. The owner of the Sheffield Group had taken thirty minutes out of his day to congratulate her on running the
British Fashion Quarterly
and bringing up revenue at the magazine. No one got thirty
minutes with Maurice, her boss and the publisher and CEO of the consortium.

She looked at the slim woman in the reflection and wondered where she’d come from and prayed in the same breath that she’d never leave. In her heart she knew that her weight had nothing to do with her success. She’d changed on the inside and she just wished she’d stop seeing the old Ainsley when she looked in the mirror.

She shook her head. She needed to believe in herself as a person the way she believed in herself as a professional. She was capable of winning Steven’s affection…was that what she wanted?

Her assistant, Cathy, had sent a note to Tiffany Malone, Lynn Grandings and Princess Louisa to see if they’d consider being interviewed. Maurice loved the idea of a retrospective fashion piece on these women, and Ainsley wasn’t about to disappoint her boss.

Freddie had suggested letting Danielle do the interviews, but Ainsley wasn’t about to risk giving it to someone she had placed on probation. Instead, she had assigned the story to Bert Michaels. He’d interviewed Prince Harry last year for a Mother’s Day piece they’d run about how mothers influence fashion—his mother had set a standard many other women were still trying to live up to.

And she had an appointment with Malcolm’s attorney to talk about interviewing him. Malcolm Devonshire was one of the most famous personalities of their time. He was legendary not just for his affairs but also for his zest for life. As much as he lived big, he’d been very private about his personal life. Only the tabloids had ever run stories about him.

If she got an interview with him in her magazine she’d
have landed a real coup. Something that her bosses wouldn’t overlook. And it wasn’t lost on Ainsley that meeting Steven that day in the Everest Mega Store had been fortuitous.

She showered and dressed, keeping her mind firmly on her meetings for the day, but before she left her hotel she knew she wanted to return Steven’s e-mail. She just had no idea what to say to him. Somehow
Me, too
didn’t seem like the right response. Yet more than that might be making promises that she wasn’t sure she could keep. When she was with Steven, it was easy to forget herself. Forget her fears and the fact that she wasn’t who he thought she was.

But apart from him she could count the obstacles between them. She had too little experience and he had too much. She was a small-town girl and he was the son of a billionaire and a world-renowned scientist.

But none of that mattered when they were together. Nothing mattered except the way his hands felt on her. The way his taste lingered on her lips after he’d kissed her. The way the scent of his cologne lingered after he left.

He was just so much more than she thought he would be. And there were still so many questions she had about him. So many answers that she wasn’t sure she’d ever get.

Yet she wasn’t going to give up. When she’d decided to change her life and lose weight, she’d made a promise to herself to stop hiding. And she had done a good job of it until now.

Steven was the kind of man she should be going after. But first she had to figure out what to say.

She hit the Reply key on the e-mail and sat down at the chair, trying to be more comfortable.

Dear Steven

No, that sounded too businesslike.

You’ve haunted my dreams.

She hit Send before she could change her mind.

S
teven decided at the last minute to go to New York himself instead of sending Dinah and he was glad that he had. The Everest Mega Store in Times Square was a major asset, and as he walked the floor with the VP of the North American unit, Hobbs Colby, he realized that Hobbs had some great ideas on ways to capitalize on the store’s potential.

“Let’s go back to the office and figure out how to make the most of this store,” Steven said.

Steven followed Hobbs into the conference room on the third floor. There was a radio broadcast studio built right into the store so they could do live broadcasts and this conference room overlooked the selling floor.

“I think this property is an asset we aren’t exploiting to its fullest. I want to set up live broadcasts from here for all Everest recording artists,” Steven said. “Let’s make this
place into the go-to spot for live music promotions. I want release parties and signings.”

“That won’t be a problem on our end. Typically I’ve had trouble getting Everest Records to return my calls. I know I’m new, but I worked for a concert promoter for years so I have the experience to do those kinds of events.”

“Let me make a few calls. Give me a minute—I’ll call right now,” Steven said.

Hobbs nodded and left, and Steven got Henry on the line. Though it was about ten at night in London, he knew that Henry would still be up.

“Devonshire,” Henry said.

“It’s Steven. I’m in New York and I wanted to go over something with you. Can you talk?”

“Certainly. I’m in a club. Give me a minute to find someplace quiet.”

Steven held the line.

“Okay, what’s up?”

“I’m not sure how familiar you are with our retail stores, but some of them were set up to do live remote broadcasts for radio. This store in Times Square has the facilities not only for that but for live performances as well. My U.S. VP, Hobbs Colby, has been trying to get some artists to come here and perform.”

“I haven’t had a chance to call him back yet. What are you thinking?” Henry asked.

“That we use this place for exclusive North American releases of our CDs. Maybe one week early? Not sure how you feel about that. Then we need to book the groups into this store. I think this will help both of our business units.”

“I agree. Let me talk to the artists and I’ll get back to you.”

“Thanks, Henry.”

Steven spent the rest of the afternoon in meetings and on the phone working on getting the ball rolling. “What other stores do we have with these kinds of facilities?”

“Miami, LA, Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago and Orlando. We can update other facilities if you think that it would be worth our while.”

Steven shook his head. “Not yet. Let’s do a pilot program at these locations first. I don’t want to have the same groups everywhere. I think we should brand each of the locations with a genre. Build up a strong local following. I think New York and LA would be great for any group, but in Miami we should book our Latin groups.”

Hobbs nodded. “That works for me. I’ll get some ideas to you.”

“I’m in New York for two more days. We’ll talk more in the morning,” Steven said.

Hobbs left and Steven checked the e-mail on his iPhone. That one from Ainsley early this morning was still at the top of his inbox. He’d made the decision to come and see her after reading that she was haunted by him the same way he’d been haunted by her.

He hadn’t wanted to wait a week to see her again and he wasn’t a man who hesitated when he wanted something. He knew that pursuing Ainsley was complicated. But he didn’t let that stand in his way. He’d had to work for everything he had in his life.

His phone rang while he was debating how to contact Ainsley.

“Hello, Aunt Lucy.”

“Hello, Steven, how are you today?”

“I’m good. What can I do for you?” he asked.

“Are you available for dinner tomorrow night? I’m coming to London.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m out of town right now,” he said.

She sighed. “I wish you’d make more time for your family.”

“I see you once a month,” he said.

He didn’t like to think about his childhood. He’d grown up alone and his aunt Lucy had been too busy with her own career as a chef then to notice him—much as his mother had been. But when he’d been a teenager, Steven had gotten into some trouble with drinking and for some reason that had made Lucy notice him.

She’d tried to force a relationship between them, but it had been too little, too late. His character had already become firmly entrenched, and that character wasn’t a family guy.

“That’s right, you do. You know I’m here if you need me.”

“I do. I’ve got to go now. I’m going into a meeting.”

“Goodbye, Steven. I love you.”

“Bye, Aunt Lucy.” He never said the L-word. He wasn’t even sure that emotion existed for him.

Hanging up the phone, he called his assistant and had her find out where Ainsley was staying. He wasn’t just here for business, even though he knew he should be focusing his energies on the Everest Mega Stores, he was also very interested in Ainsley Patterson.

It had been a long, exhausting day and when Ainsley got to her hotel in the middle of Times Square she wanted nothing more than to head to bed. But as she walked through the lobby she heard someone call her name. Not just anyone—Steven Devonshire.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

She didn’t want to see Steven here. Here in Manhattan was where she’d had her horrible interview and her career had gone down in flames. She mentally shook herself. She’d started over and she needed to stop thinking of Steven as her own personal Waterloo. She needed to remember that he’d made her into the woman she was today. No, that wasn’t right.
She’d
made herself into the woman she was today.

“Is that any way to greet the man who haunts your dreams?”

“I knew I’d regret writing that.”

“Is it true?”

“I’m not a liar,” she said.

“Good. I’m in town on business and I’m free this evening.”

“Aren’t you lucky. I am, too,” she said. “Would you like to have drinks?”

Since he was here, she decided to take control of this relationship.

“I’d love that. I know a place close by, Blue Fin.”

“I need to change and then we can go.”

“You look lovely,” he said.

She shook her head. “Thank you, but I need a few minutes.”

“Not a problem. I’ll meet you back here in thirty minutes.”

“Okay.”

Ainsley left him in the lobby and took the glass elevator up to her suite. She changed into a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a cami top she usually wore under her suit. She undid the ponytail she typically wore at work and fluffed her hair
around her shoulders. Then she put on fresh makeup and went back downstairs.

Steven was waiting where she’d left him, but typing on his iPhone when she approached. She gave him some distance to finish in private.

“You look so incredible tonight,” he said.

She nodded. His compliment made her uncomfortable.

He put his hand on the small of her back as they walked out of the lobby. The foot traffic was heavy on this early spring evening. Steven kept her close to him and made sure that no one bumped into her as they were walking. They didn’t talk until they were seated at a high table in the bar, Bluetinis in each of their hands. “I love the Swedish fish in the bottom,” Ainsley said.

“Women always do,” Steven said.

That gave her pause. “Have you taken a lot of women here?”

“No. I just meant that women like sweet things. My mum is crazy for wine gums.”

Ainsley arched an eyebrow at him. “They are pretty yummy.”

“That was my point.”

She shook her head. “Why didn’t you mention you’d be in New York when I said I was coming here?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“You did. You are not turning out to be what I expected.”

“What did you expect?” he asked, taking a sip of his drink.

“Someone a little colder,” she said.

“Why?”

“I’d just heard that you can be kind of callous in business.”

“That’s business.”

“Are you different in your personal relationships?” she asked.

He looked distinctly uncomfortable and leaned toward her to answer. “I—”

“Ainsley! What are you doing out?” Freddie asked as he approached their table. “I thought you were calling it an early evening.”

Damn, she wanted to know what Steven would have said in response to her query. “I ran into Steven and we decided to have a drink. Steven, this is Frederick VonHauser. He works for me at
Fashion Quarterly.
Freddie, this is Steven Devonshire.”

Freddie gave her a surprised look. “Mind if I join you? I’m meeting some friends, but I’m a little early.”

Ainsley started to say no, but Steven nodded and gestured to the chair. “Have a seat.”

Freddie sat down between them and Ainsley instantly wished that her friend would leave. She didn’t want Freddie and Steven to talk. Didn’t want to risk Freddie saying something that would remind Steven of the woman she had been.

“How long are you in town?” Freddie asked.

“Just three days. I have recently taken over the Everest Mega Stores and I’m checking out our North American operation.”

“So it’s just coincidence that you are here when Ainsley is?”

“Indeed. A happy one,” Steven said, looking straight at her.

She knew she shouldn’t read too much into that, but she
also realized he’d come to New York to see her and that meant a lot to her.

“Sounds like it,” Freddie said. “I see my friends, so I’ll leave you two. Enjoy your evening.”

“We will,” Ainsley said.

“Sorry about that,” Steven said after Freddie left. “You seemed a little uncomfortable.”

“I just wasn’t expecting to see anyone from work.”

“Is that an issue?” he asked.

“It might be. I don’t want to have the journalistic integrity of the article compromised because we’re seeing each other. If we’re going to see each other, I need to talk to my boss.”

“With the focus of the articles on the mothers of the heirs, I would think that would take care of any conflict of interest,” he said.

“Would it matter so much if we didn’t see each other again?” she asked. She needed to know. She wasn’t about to compromise her career for a man who was simply trying to score.

“Yes, it would. I wasn’t playing games with you when I sent that e-mail. I can’t stop thinking about you, Ainsley, and that’s very dangerous for me because I’m used to being focused only on business.”

“Me, too,” she admitted.

“Good. We’ll figure this out.”

She nodded toward him. They finished their drinks and then Steven left for his dinner appointment. She went back to her hotel.

She knew she wanted to see Steven again, and if that was going to happen then she needed to clear it with her boss. She wasn’t about to lose another job because of Steven Devonshire.

The next morning Ainsley woke up to a knock on her door. There was a delivery for her—a huge bouquet of flowers. She carried them to her sitting area and then checked the card. They were from Steven.

In his scrawling handwriting was a simple note that thanked her for the evening and told her he couldn’t wait to see her again.

She held the card in her hand and sat down next to the flowers. She didn’t want to fall for Steven, but when he did things like this it was hard not to.

All her life she’d been a misfit. She hadn’t dated in high school because she’d been a chubby bookworm. And in college she’d just sort of muddled through. She’d had a boyfriend there, but Barry hadn’t been the dream lover she’d longed for, and she’d ended up pouring herself into her classes and eventually her job: working and eating and pretending that her job was enough.

But when she’d lost it because of Steven, her awakening had changed her focus, but it hadn’t changed her dreams for the future. She’d never pictured herself in a long-term relationship.

She’d always been happy on her own. Now, though, she was dreaming of Steven, wanting to wake up with him—and she didn’t even know what that meant. She was scared to think that she was coming to need him. She didn’t want to need a man like Steven Devonshire.

She put down the card and picked up her phone. If she were going to take a chance on dating Steven, on letting him be important to her, she had to make sure that Maurice wasn’t going to fire her over this.

She dialed his direct line and he answered on the third ring.

“It’s Ainsley.”

“Good morning, Ainsley. Did you get our Devonshire story details locked up?”

“I’m still working on that, sir. But I did need to talk to you about something.”

“Yes?”

“Steven Devonshire asked me out and I’d like to go out with him. I don’t want it to affect our story. However, I thought since we are going to run the article in the U.S. and UK editions, it might not be a problem. The focus of the articles is on the mothers and Malcolm.”

“Let me think about this, Ainsley. I don’t want to stand in the way of your personal life. As far as I know, you rarely do anything but work.”

“That’s true, sir. This job is my life.”

“I can understand that. But having a life is important, too. I think we’ll add a note that you are dating Steven if it turns out that you are and since the focus is on fashion I think we’ll be okay.”

“Thanks, Maurice.”

“You’re welcome. Now get me all the people I need for this article so it can rock.”

“I will.”

She hung up and realized that she had no more excuses to keep Steven at bay. She wasn’t going to lose her job over him and that was reassuring, but it also took away her safe out if things got too deep, too fast. One part of her was happy about that; the other was a bit worried.

She thought she was still in control of her life. But her heart argued that it would be making the decisions when it came to Steven.