Page 61 of Sex, Lust & Lingerie

CHAPTER 36

Gloria

As an extra precaution, we instructed the doorman on duty to tell anyone who came by looking for us that we weren’t in. At exactly five o’clock, we met Tyrone at the back entrance. Kevin was dressed in a slick black tux and Chucks, and me in a stunning one-shoulder gown in signature Gloria’s Secret pink; it was custom-made by a local up-and-coming designer, who owed her success to the Girls Like Us mentoring program. Beneath my gown, I had on a strapless pink bra and a matching garter that held up Madame Paulette’s lucky silk stockings. I needed all the luck I could get tonight.

Kevin and I sidled into the Range Rover as Tyrone loaded our luggage into the trunk. Sensing our high level of stress, he refrained from asking any questions and silently got behind the wheel. At nine p.m., Kevin and I would be on the corporate jet, secretly heading off to Vancouver and a new chapter in our broken lives. Gazing down at the bandage that still covered my finger, I felt a deep pang of sadness for everything and everyone I would be leaving behind. In my heart, I longed to say good-bye to all my employees. And to Jaime Zander.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel was a short ten-minute drive from my condo, straight down Wilshire Boulevard, but with the onset of rush hour traffic it took us twice that long. Tyrone dropped us at the front entrance where paparazzi were already gathered. In addition to Oprah hosting the gala, Carrie Underwood was performing, “Nobody Ever Told You,” her song about girl power. Numerous celebrities and philanthropists were expected to attend. My charitable organization was one of the most respected in Tinseltown.

Kevin immediately got to work, interacting with the paparazzi and checking the list of VIPs while I was escorted to a small room behind the ballroom stage for hair and makeup. Seated in front of a lit up mirror, I watched as the makeup artist and hair stylist, whom we used regularly for our Gloria’s Secret catalogue shoots, transformed me into a goddess. I told them I wanted minimal makeup and a simple French braid. Magically, they were able to make the stress I wore on my face go away. As I studied my red-lipped reflection, I saw the image of a young girl with long blond braids pop up next to me in the mirror. Her eyes, one blue, the other brown, gazed proudly at the woman she had become. I held back tears so as not to ruin my eye makeup and wondered if, in reality, I had let the little girl down.

A loud knock at the door made me jump. I was very much on edge, fearful that Boris Borofsky would show up any minute. The words, “Nobody steals from Boris Borofsky,” flew into my head as I relived the memory of that horrific night. It had caused me nightmares my entire adult life, and now that nightmare was a reality.

To my relief, it was just Kevin. He was wearing a headset as he always did at big events to communicate with his team. He looked me over from head to toe with a smile of approval.

“You look fabulous, Glorious. The ballroom’s practically filled up, so we should probably take seats at our table.”

Thanking the stylists, I hooked my arm into Kevin’s and let him escort me to our front row table. My eyes drank in the beauty of the vast room, an elegant spectacle of crystal chandeliers and soaring vases of fragrant roses and lilies on every linen-covered table.

Victor, in a traditional tux, was already seated at the table, with a bourbon, along with several key Gloria’s Secret executives. There were two empty seats to the right of him and two to the left. He rose and pulled out the seat on the right closest to him, signaling where he wanted me to sit. As much as I didn’t want to be anywhere near the swine, I had no choice. Kevin took the seat next to mine, but just as soon as he sat down, he jumped up to work the room. I’m sure one of the other two seats was reserved for the perpetually late Vivien, but wondered who would occupy the last remaining seat. A terrifying thought crossed my mind—had Victor invited Boris to the gala? A shiver skittered down my spine.

Victor’s steely eyes bore into mine. “Tell me, Gloria, where the hell did you disappear to this afternoon? I tried to reach you everywhere.”

“I had a sudden medical emergency.” That wasn’t far from the truth. “I’m sorry. I should have let you know.”

His eyes flared with fury. “You cost me a valuable piece of business. Boris was furious with you. He wants nothing to do with Gloria’s Secret.”

I inwardly sighed with relief. That meant there was no way Boris would be showing up here and sitting at our table.

Victor chugged his drink. “You’re going to pay for that, Gloria.”

I scoffed at him. “Haven’t I already? Why didn’t you tell me you secretly called a Board meeting and convinced them to ask for my resignation tomorrow?”

“I don’t report to you, Gloria.” His voice was a blend of ice and contempt.

“And I don’t report to you, Victor. I quit.”

Victor’s jaw fell open, but before he could utter a word, a new voice entered the conversation.

“Hello, Daddy.” It was Vivien. Dressed in a sparkling amethyst halter dress that barely covered her globe-sized boobs, she slithered up to the table. My blood froze over. Like a piece of jewelry, she was dangling on the arm of a man who made my heart stop—Jaime Zander, devastatingly handsome in an elegant tuxedo.

As she nestled into the seat next to her father, a smug, predatory smile that was meant for me whipped across her over-made-up face. Jaime-is-mine was written all over it. My chest squeezed painfully.

Jaime’s sapphire eyes made contact with mine. I swear, even though he was with Vivien, they lusted only for me. The sparks between us were almost visible. In my highly anxious state, it was probably just my mind playing tricks on me. Or perhaps the bastard was back to playing his cruel head games. One thing, however, couldn’t be surer—the physical effect this gorgeous man was having on me. As much as I loathed him, he still took my breath away. My tattered heart hammered against my gown. I should have known he’d be here with Vivien. I took a sip of wine and forced it past the painful lump in my throat.

“Good to see you, Gloria. And congratulations on your award,” he said as he pulled out the empty chair next to Vivien. There was tension in his voice.

“Thank you,” I spluttered as he lowered himself into the last remaining chair. As if I didn’t have enough to deal with, his presence was making me sick to my stomach. I imbibed another long swig of wine. Jaime’s eyes lingered on my bandaged finger where his ring had once been.

I stole a glance at Victor. He couldn’t get his gunmetal eyes off Jaime. He was seething. I knew how much he hated Jaime; he couldn’t bear to share the same air as him.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Zander?” he hissed.

“Oh, Daddy—” chimed in Vivien.

“Shut up, Vivien.” Fury fueled his voice.

Fearlessly, Jaime met Victor’s blazing gaze. “I wouldn’t miss this event for the world

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