Page 14

Suddenly, it was as if a light bulb had gone off inside his head.

A fleeting grin lit his face, and the dull, heavy ache of unhappiness suddenly lifted as if the sun had burst forth and got rid of the cloud.

He was going to be in her face. He had promised to give her time, but to hell with that.

He needed her and if that was unfair after what he had done, so be it. He was through taking a step back.

Predictably, she was cursed with the consequences of her drinking binge last night. Yvette had been persuaded to spend the night while she wallowed and had left early this morning for a photo shoot.

Everything was too bright and too vivid.

Even the violet rose-colored drapes at her windows burned her corneas.

She felt as if someone was viciously driving spikes through her brain.

Damn him! she thought bitterly. She started to rise from the bed, but the sudden movement sent pain shimmering through her brain and had her clamping her hands over her head, to see if it was still attached to her neck.

She was never drinking again, she swore silently.

Waiting until the nausea and pain had passed, she tentatively put one foot and then the other on the quilted mat at the side of the bed and stood with one hand braced on the sturdy post.

Taking a deep breath, she headed for the bathroom and made it just in time to empty her stomach inside the bowl.

Pressing her hand against her breast, she sat on the tiled floor and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes.

Her mouth felt like she had eaten a bag of sawdust, and her stomach was raw.

She was sure it was also bleeding and that she was at her last. She was dying.

And it was all because of him. If she lived to see another hour--she was going to find a way to murder Kai Tanaka.

She had never learned to use a gun, but for this, she would gladly learn.

"Oh God," she whispered. "Please help me."

Feeling steadier, she eased herself up--placing her hand on the bowl and rose slowly. "Coffee or tea," she muttered. If she did not have some client meetings this morning and stocktaking, she would simply crawl back under the covers and die peacefully.

But she did not have that luxury.

Somehow, she made it through the morning.

With the help of Maybelline, (thank the good Lord for makeup!) she managed to hide the ravages of her bingeing and none of her employees made a comment about her appearance.

Because she felt so lousy, she had deliberately dressed to kill.

The peach and lime green dress was snug, just coming to her knees to meet the soft butter-like boots she was wearing.

It was her own design--with a high Victorian neckline and sheer long sleeves.

A cinched waist with a gold hammered belt completed the ensemble.

It was probably more fitting for a night out on the town, but she did not care.

She had left her hair loose, the strands thick and glowing healthy as they cascaded down her back.

Large gold hoops were at her lobes and her lips were coated in the exact shade of peach of her dress.

She had called Matthew and accepted his invitation to a function on Friday. This morning, she had come to a decision. She was not going to upend her life because of some letter from the very man who had shattered her life ten years ago.

By mid-afternoon, she was confident enough to be smiling. They had a trunk show coming up in a few weeks and had to get ready for it. The details were many and varied and it did not matter how many times she had gone through that particular event. She would still be nervous of the outcome.

She had designs to sort out and shipments to see to. She certainly did not have time to think about Kai Tanaka.

As the day stretched forward, Maxie threw herself into her work with relentless focus, determined to push aside the lingering shadows of her hangover and the haunting presence of Kai Tanaka in her thoughts.

Her studio buzzed with activity. Bolts of fabric were being unrolled, sketches pinned to walls, and samples examined under careful scrutiny.

She found solace in the rhythm of creativity, her hands moving deftly over swatches of fabric, searching for the perfect textures to complete her designs.

By evening, the studio had quieted, the hum of sewing machines replaced by the muffled sound of the city beyond her windows.

Maxie leaned back in her chair, surveying the progress made that day.

Despite the chaos of her morning, she felt accomplished.

Yet, there was a gnawing unease at the edge of her mind--a whisper of memories she wished she could forget.

With a sigh, she stood and crossed the room, reaching for her sketchbook.

The trunk show loomed large in her plans, and she knew perfection was the only acceptable outcome.

This was her chance to highlight her talent, her resilience--a silent declaration that she had built an empire despite the fractures of her past. She flipped open the pages, her pencil gliding over paper as the evening deepened, creating shapes that spoke of confidence and elegance.

Though outwardly composed, Maxie couldn't completely banish the thought of the man who had once seemed to hold her heart in his hands. But tonight, her sketches and her vision held precedence. Whatever Kai Tanaka represented, she would deal with it on her own terms.

He had timed it perfectly. As soon as the decision to storm her defenses had settled in his mind, he had slept peacefully for the first time since seeing her again.

The morning had been taken up completely with meetings.

His assistant was an efficient older woman with prim and professional values and outlook, with a no-nonsense approach to business and that suited him perfectly.

He preferred it that way, because there was no fear of any misunderstanding between them.

She guarded her territory like a mother bear guarding her cubs and no one got through to him without being grilled or deemed worthy of the privilege.

He had seen to his immense amusement--grown men, ones who had been with the company for years, reduced to stutters when Valerie finished with them.

He had her complete loyalty and more than that, he knew she did not have designs on him.

After the fiasco with his former assistant, he welcomed the change.

Checking the time on his clock, he decided that he would head out. He wanted to get to the store just before closing time.

And could not wait to see the look on her face when she saw him.

"Of course, Mrs. Whitfield," she told the woman with a charming smile.

It was almost closing time, and she could not wait to just sit at her desk and wade through the mountains of paperwork waiting for her attention.

She would have gotten to them sooner, but some of her more eccentric and fussy clients had chosen today to storm the store and demanded to be dealt with by her specifically.

"The electric blue material is just right for your complexion.

" She did not bother to mention the fact that she had suggested that to the woman several times already.

The store had emptied out and she had sent her employees on their way home.

Hopefully, Claire Whitfield would hurry up and leave her in peace.

She almost stamped her foot and ground her teeth when she heard the door being pushed open. Another client. Wonderful! Great. Would this day never end?

She looked up with an automatic smile that froze in place when she saw who walked in. It took a tremendous amount of control to keep the smile in place and finish the conversation with the woman.

"We'll get right on it immediately."

"Dear, thank you so much," the matronly woman gushed, turning towards the man, her blue eyes widening in recognition. "Why, Kai Tanaka. My sweet word. Fancy seeing you here."

He bent a charming smile on the woman that had her blushing.

"The owner and I are acquainted." His head lifted to pin Maxie with a glance before directing his attention to the fascinated woman.

"Ah well, very nice to see you," Claire fluttered her lashes. It took a supreme effort for Maxie not to gag. The woman was old enough to be his mother. "I'll be on my way then."

Maxie waited until the door had closed behind the woman before rounding on him. "What are you doing here?"