Page 42 of Meet Me at Sunset
The three women held hands and stepped out onto the runway.
The cheers and applause and whistles rose in volume as Camille took in the crowd, dazzled by the bright lights and the popping of the camera flashes.
She felt grateful that she had Catherine and Stephanie with her.
Ever since Andre’s death, it had felt odd going out there on her own, as though a piece of her was missing.
She always thought of him in these moments, wondering what he’d think of the show, if he’d approve of the collection she’d given her all to pull together.
The guests had risen to their feet in a standing ovation, and Camille saw so many faces she recognized, feeling the warmth and goodwill in the room.
She glanced up as she always did, in a silent tribute to Andre, pushing down the guilt that inevitably assailed her when she thought about the accident and its aftermath.
She hoped Andre’s spirit was with her today, that he was looking over her when she needed protection.
And she hoped Nicolas was right – that Isobel was the blackmailer and they were safe from the threats that had been made in the notes.
But a shiver ran through her as her eyes sought out the darkest corners of the room, wondering if someone was out there, watching.
Someone who meant her harm and would stop at nothing to expose her …
Backstage, Lucas watched as Stephanie walked out onto the runway beside Camille.
Pride and happiness bubbled up inside him, along with hope and anticipation for what was to come.
He felt like an idiot for believing Elle’s lies, and for not ending things with her months ago, but he told himself he’d been trying to do the right thing.
‘Hello, Lucas.’
Lucas whipped round as he heard a familiar voice behind him.
‘Paulo! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to call you.’ Memories of last night’s humiliation came rushing back – the locked restaurant, and those goons telling him the rent hadn’t been paid. Now that Paulo was here, he could finally explain. Surely it was all a mistake?
A sardonic smile crept across Paulo’s face. ‘Didn’t Elle fill you in? I’m surprised as I’ve spent the past twenty-four hours in her bed …’
Rage flared briefly within Lucas, before he remembered what Elle had done to him, and he reminded himself that they were no longer together.
It hurt, he couldn’t deny that – his best friend had betrayed him.
He didn’t understand why Paulo was behaving like this, but he wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of showing how much his words had affected him.
‘I hope you’ll both be very happy.’
Paulo shook his head. ‘I don’t want your sloppy seconds. I can do better.’
Lucas stared at him, his anger rising as he took in the coldness in Paulo’s eyes, the unmistakeable tension in the air between them. It seemed clear that Paulo had taken something, from his dilated pupils and the telltale clenching of his jaw, but drugs alone didn’t explain his behaviour.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ Lucas asked. ‘What happened to the money for the restaurant? You know I’d have helped you out if you were in trouble.’
Paulo laughed mirthlessly. ‘Always the last to figure out what’s going on, aren’t you? So many secrets, and poor Lucas is too stupid to see the truth.’
‘You little—’ Lucas broke off as Camille, Catherine and Stephanie emerged triumphantly from the runway.
René was immediately on hand to offer glasses of champagne, and Catherine was swallowed up by the excited crowd, everyone eager to speak to the star of the show.
Stephanie came straight to Lucas’s side, a questioning expression on her face as she looked at Paulo.
‘Hello, Stephanie,’ he said, with an unpleasant smile, flagrantly ogling her revealing dress.
‘Hey,’ she replied neutrally.
‘By the way, Lucas,’ Paulo continued, jerking his chin in Stephanie’s direction. ‘You’re welcome to my sloppy seconds.’
Lucas lunged at him, his fist raised and ready to strike.
‘Lucas, no!’ Camille screamed.
‘What the hell’s going on?’ Nicolas yelled, darting across to put himself between the two men and pulling Lucas away, his hands on his shoulders to calm him down. People were turning to stare, and Lucas was breathing heavily, looking murderously at Paulo.
‘You’re so angry, Lucas,’ Paulo taunted him. ‘I bet your therapist would have a field day with that. What did she diagnose, hmm? Daddy issues …?’
‘Screw you, Paulo,’ Lucas shot back, exhaling deeply as he ran his hands through his hair.
Stephanie placed a calming hand on his arm, and there was a moment’s silence before the onlookers gradually went back to what they were doing, conversations resuming, and fresh champagne being poured. Only Lucas, and those standing near him, heard a voice say, ‘It was you.’
Lucas turned and recognized the woman who’d spoken. It was Isobel, the wife of his surgeon, Stuart. She’d been at his restaurant the other night, and she was friends with Stephanie. Right now, she was as white as a sheet as she pointed at Paulo.
‘Nice to see you again, Isobel,’ he smirked. ‘We had a lot of fun the other night, didn’t we?’
‘ You were there that night,’ she said, her voice shaking, pointing to Paulo. ‘You said, “ We were driving too fast on the mountain road, racing” … you must have been there … the way you asked all those questions about Camille when we were together.’
Lucas blinked, a sudden pressure in his skull like a migraine, his father’s voice ringing in his head.
‘ Lucas, slow down, huh? ’
Then his mother’s sharp voice jolted him back to the present.
‘Get everyone out of here now. Call the police …’ Camille stared at Paulo, slowly shaking her head in shock and anger and disbelief. ‘I should have known … I should have realized all along … It was you .’