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“But she’s just a housewife,” Jennifer exclaimed. “There’s no way—“
“Jennifer, if you want the woman who designed that lingerie to make something for you, it’s Stephanie Baxter you need to talk to, not me.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Very well. I’ll find Stewart and have a word.”
“But Stephanie?s right over there,” Tia said, gesturing towards Stephanie as she walked in.
Looking across the room, Jennifer spotted an attractive brunette with her arm looped through Stewart’s elbow. She was tall and slim, and wearing an aqua dress made from Thai Silk with a high mandarin collar. It draped around her curves without being overtly sexual. When she’d seen them together earlier, Jennifer had thought she was one of Stewart’s clients.
“That’s Stephanie?”
“That’s Stephanie,” Tia said firmly. “She made that dress she’s wearing, by the way.”
“No!” Jennifer exclaimed in disbelief. “It’s stunning. I thought it was a Donna Karan.”
Tia laughed.
“That is a Stephanie Baxter original. Donna Karan is great, but if Stephanie ever moves past lingerie, she’ll be better.”
Jennifer began to understand why Stewart was so taken with his wife, and decided to let him enjoy his marriage without any further interference from her. She’d find another mogul. There were plenty in Malibu, and even more in Beverly Hills. But it was time to leave. A young blonde girl seemed to have stolen the limelight. Jennifer grunted her disgust. People were so fickle. She just needed to introduce herself to the house frau who happened to be very talented.
“Hello, I’m Jennifer Olsen,” she purred, smiling her warmest smile as she approached. “Stewart has told me so much about you. It’s such a great pleasure to meet you, and I love your work, it’s divine. Could you create something fabulously wicked just for me?”
After what Stewart had told her about Jennifer’s grotesque play for him, Stephanie wanted to slap her, but she was one of his most important clients.
“I’m terribly sorry, but I’m already backed up with orders,” she replied, smiling sweetly. “Perhaps when you’ve finishedThe Tea CupI’ll try to fit you in.”
Not sure if it had been a rebuff or the truth, Jennifer decided the latter. After all, who wouldn’t want to design an outfit for her?
“That would be lovely, and I’d like to chat some more, but I’m meeting someone for a late night cocktail,” she lied. “I mustn’t keep them waiting, but it was simply marvelous to meet you.”
Sweeping through the room, she retrieved her cloak from the nervous hat check girl, texted her driver and told him she was ready to be picked up, then walked outside. But she was met with a cold wind, and it was starting to rain. She was about to move back inside when her car rolled towards her. Settling into the back of the limousine, she was ready to go home.
* * *
JUST DOWN THE STREET, John had downed two more glasses of scotch, but it wasn’t helping. Even though his father-in-law had left, and Luke and Chas were making themselves comfortable in the guest rooms, John felt the walls closing in on him. He desperately needed some air. Walking unsteadily from his study, he stood in the hallway and called for Luke.
“Please, I need to get out of here,” John begged as the burly enforcer appeared at the bottom of the stairs. “I swear, I won’t go near Stella. Believe me, she’s the last person I want to see. I just need to sit at a bar for a while.”
“Where’s your cell phone?”
“Right here,”John replied, lifting it from his pocket.
“Keep it turned on. Answer if it rings. If it’s Stella, hang up. But most likely it’ll be me. Be back here in an hour. If you’re not I’ll find you. Trust me, you don’t want that.”
“One hour and I’ll be back.”
“I’m texting you my number. Call me if you run into any problems, like being too drunk to drive.”
“Thanks,” John muttered as his phone signaled a text.
“One hour!” Luke repeated gruffly, then headed up the stairs.
Walking down the hall, through the kitchen, and into the garage, John sat in his Black Cat and breathed in the leather.
