At Your Service Read online

  They popped into her mind effortlessly. Explosive. Delicious. Addictive!

  “It was the kiss that sealed the deal” was what she actually said before pushing away from him and smoothing her hands down the front of her clothes.

  He ran his hand across the back of his head while nodding. “Yeah, I guess we could say that.”

  As if on cue, her phone chimed and she moved much too quickly to retrieve it from her purse. “Itinerary!” she said, her pitch higher than normal as she held up her phone as if to explain what she meant.

  Major cleared his throat. “Right. I’m going to head downstairs because I have a couple of things to take care of before tonight. There’s a car waiting out front for you. The driver’s name is Claude. He’s great and he’ll get you wherever you need to go in the city. He’s at your disposal for the next six weeks. Landra will be sending you all of his contact information.”

  She’d been reading the first of a five-page document attached to the email sent by his assistant. Today was already jam-packed with things to do.

  “Oh, okay. Um, I guess I’ll be invoiced for all of this.”

  “All of this” meaning drivers, tips, clothes—their seemed to be a ton of fittings and makeup sessions scheduled and she’d only bought this one suit just a couple of hours ago. The only other thing in her hotel closet was the skirt suit she’d worn yesterday and her train-ride outfit. None of which would be acceptable for the events listed in the itinerary document.

  “Everything you need will be taken care of and, if we miss something, just let me know.”

  She looked up at him, her gaze automatically going to his lips before she scolded herself and forced her eyes up to meet his.

  “You’re going to take care of all of my expenses?”

  “Yes, for the next six weeks. That’s part of the deal.”

  It made sense. The only reason she was staying in New York longer was this fake fiancée assignment. So why shouldn’t he completely accommodate her? Making sense was totally different from being comfortable, and Nina wasn’t comfortable with the thought of this guy she’d only met yesterday paying her way. Thinking back now, she recalled the contract vaguely mentioning expenses, but she’d been so focused on the language pertaining to her business functioning with RGF’s that she hadn’t considered the implications. No worries, it was all good, she’d get used to it, because again she had no other choice. There was no way she could afford to stay here and buy all the things she’d need before she began seeing any profit from doing business with RGF.

  She took a deep breath and released it slowly, telling herself to let go of the trepidation and take this situation for what it was at the moment.

  “Then I’ll head out now. It seems I have a spa appointment and a fitting this afternoon.”

  For what seemed like endless moments, they both stood still, staring at each other.

  “Thank you,” he said when the silence stretched between them. “For doing this, I mean. I know it seems like an unusual arrangement.”

  “If the rhythm of the drumbeat changes, the dance step must adjust.”

  He frowned. “What?”

  She shook her head as she grabbed her purse. “Sorry, it’s just an old African proverb my father used to say.”

  “Your father is African?”

  “Yes. His mother came to America when he was five years old. When she remarried, her husband adopted my father and so his last name was changed, but he was born in Sierra Leone.”

  “Interesting,” he said, still staring at her.

  “Yes. It’s always interesting to know where you come from and it helps in determining where you’re going.”

  And she had no idea why they were talking about this. He had work to do and she had a spa appointment to get to.

  “Anyway, we’d better get started with this. Today’s going to be a busy day.”

  He walked with her to the door. “You’re right. I’ll speak with my team this afternoon and arrange for you to meet with them tomorrow morning. If there’s time on your schedule, Landra will coordinate everything. But I’d like to get you set up quickly. If this fake wedding works out, we should see an immediate bump in sales, especially since we’re at the peak of wedding season.”

  “Then maybe we should have gotten engaged earlier this year,” she said as they walked to the elevators in what felt like a moment of déjà vu. “We’re already in the first week of May. If a woman’s getting married this season, she likely already has her gown.”

  “Until she sees a Golden Bride original being tried on by a real-life bride who’s also going to be a member of the Gold family,” he said before leaning in to push the button to summon the elevator.

  Except there was nothing “real” about this arrangement.

  “So we’re hoping for the impromptu bride. Or the indecisive one.” She nodded as she thought about her vendors who specialized in bridal items.

  “Or the one who’s just been swept off her feet with a wildly romantic proposal and can’t wait to be married. She plans a quick wedding but wants all the bells and whistles, starting with a couture gown.” He talked while she stepped into the elevator car. Following her inside, he pushed the buttons for his floor and the lobby.

  “Not couture, RGF already has their wealthy customers on lock,” she said. “Think about the average woman who’s looking for something fancy, unique, but economical. I’ll do some research on the bridal line, see what budget-friendly gowns you have.”

  “But you don’t need to select budget friendly. I told you I’ll take care of everything for you,” he insisted.

  Was that a look of pity she saw flash quickly in his eyes? Lord, she hoped not.

  “The rich won’t care about the Fashion House Playboy being engaged,” she pointed out. “It won’t seem romantic and dazzling to them because they’re already living their own dazzling lives. But the woman who picks up the fashion magazines in the supermarket and runs her fingers over the glossy pages full of designer gowns? She’s the one who’ll appreciate this whole charade and she’s the one you should be targeting.”

  “You’re a techie like me, how do you know all this stuff about marketing bridal gowns?”

  “I’m that ‘regular’ woman. Wasn’t that what Desta said in the meeting earlier? That’s why you chose me and that’s how I know what I’m talking about.”

  The elevator door opened on his floor, but Major didn’t immediately move to get out.

  “You should go, you have a lot of work to do today,” she told him even though she sensed he wanted to stay.

  She, on the other hand, needed some space. That kiss, her mentioning her father to him, and then the talk of weddings had her feeling a bit unsteady. Considering the old proverb, she’d just experienced a giant misstep in her dance routine and she needed to regroup.

  “I’ll see you later,” he said finally as the door began to close and he extended his arm to stop it.

  Nina nodded. “I’ll be ready.”

  * * *

  Every muscle in her body felt limp. In fact, when Nina flopped down onto her stomach on her hotel room couch, she felt as if she might melt into the upholstery. That guy at the spa had massaged every muscle in her body until they were like jelly. And she’d never felt better!

  She’d need to hold on to this feeling when she made the call to her family to tell them she’d be here much longer than anticipated. Her text earlier today saying that she’d missed her train wasn’t going to be enough. But she’d been putting that off, instead deciding to enjoy the luxurious offerings of the Tranquil Mornings Day Spa. From champagne to sparkling water, fruit to decadent chocolates, and a menu to order lunch or dinner, the place had accommodated all her needs—even the ones she hadn’t realized she’d had.

  Claude was waiting to take her to her dress fittings, but she’d wanted to stop and grab
her laptop before heading out again. She was just about to push herself up from the couch, grab it and head back downstairs when someone knocked at the door. She moved across the room much faster than her very relaxed body wanted to.

  “Hello,” she said when she pulled the door open to see a woman standing there.

  “Hello,” the woman replied before stepping inside unannounced. “Bring the racks in and put them over there. Have makeup set up near the window so Natalia will have the best light. We have a couple hours until it’s time to head to the venue, but I want to make sure everything is perfect, and we may have to go through a couple outfits first.”

  The woman—dressed in gray pants tapered at the bottom, bright yellow pumps and a white high-low blouse with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows—breezed into the room.

  “Excuse me?” Nina asked, taking a step behind the three racks of clothes that had been wheeled into her hotel room. “I think there might be some mistake.”

  “There’s no mistake.”

  Another woman spoke and Nina turned around to see her closing the door.

  “Hi, I’m Riley Gold and you’re Nina Fuller. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Yes, this was Riley Gold, the Ice Princess of RGF as the press had called her for years, until she’d started dating Chaz—Chadwick Warren. Her beauty far surpassed any of the pictures Nina had seen of her online.

  As realization immediately set in, Nina accepted the outstretched hand and calmed down just a bit. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you, Riley. I thought I was being driven to the fittings.”

  Riley nodded, her dark brown hair falling in deep waves over her shoulders. She wore a black, round-necked shift dress with gold stripes at the end of the three-quarter sleeves and across the hem, and cute strappy black sandals.

  “I thought you’d be more comfortable here,” Riley said. “As comfortable as you can get in this situation.”

  She was right about that. Nina’s fingers clenched the strap of her laptop bag as she stood amid so much action not really knowing what to do. There were now seven people in her not-so-big hotel room. The stylist, whom she presumed was the woman giving all the instructions, four people moving clothing racks, shoe boxes, bags and hat boxes, a woman with super-long eyelashes, and a man wearing dark shades and dime-size diamond earrings in both ears. He was on his phone and carrying a huge clear bag with flat irons, combs, brushes and other hair paraphernalia inside. Nina and Riley made nine—enough for a softball team.

  “Thanks for that,” Nina said and set her laptop bag on the floor next to the nearest chair. “As much as I’ve always loved fashion, computers are my first love. Besides, the last twenty-four hours has been a bit of a whirlwind. I mean I haven’t thought of what clothes I’d wear beyond the initial meeting.”

  Riley nodded again. “I can imagine. You look great in this suit, by the way, but I’m here to dress you up. I work with numbers and charts primarily, but clothes are my business and Lila over there, she knows clothes. She’s one of the best stylists in New York and works with many of our high-end customers.”

  Looks by Lila, owned by Lila Cantone. Nina had heard of her, but she’d never imagined the woman was probably no more than five foot two without her heels and moved like an Energizer Bunny.

  “Tonight, we want chic but grab-you-by-the-throat elegant. The annual Sip ’n’ Chat is one of RGF’s most notable functions where fashion critics, photographers, reps from modeling agencies and specially selected members of the press are going to get the surprise of the year with this engagement announcement.” That was Lila giving her crew a pep talk. “She’s being presented to the fashion world tonight. Let’s make her dazzle so that every single woman that’s still breathing will wish she were her.”

  Riley wrapped an arm around Nina’s shoulders. “I know she seems scary, but I promise you this is the way to go. Major wanted the best and I assured him I would get it for you.”

  So he’d sent his sister to work with her. Nina didn’t know how she felt about that. Did he not think she could pick out a suitable outfit on her own? So many questions whirled through her mind but she had no time to entertain any of them because Lila was heading straight for her.

  “Okay, I was told size twelve or fourteen, so I brought both.” Riley’s arm had slipped from around Nina, leaving space for Lila to step in and touch her shoulders. “Turn,” Lila directed Nina.

  “I’m Nina, by the way. It’s nice to be working with you, Lila,” Nina said before moving because no matter how important this agreement was, there was absolutely no excuse for rudeness.

  Lila blinked, wide gray eyes flanked by long lashes that looked natural. Her hair was shaved on one side and layered in perfectly glossy auburn strands with pink tips on the other.

  “Hello, Nina. We’ll see how nice you think this is when it’s all over. I can be a real bitch.”

  Well then, honesty was going to be the name of all her dealings with RGF and the Golds. Nina smiled, because in her mind that was a good thing. Dishonesty, secrets and lies had played a big part in the demise of her parents’ relationship and Nina had promised herself she’d steer clear of those things in business and in pleasure.

  “Now, let’s get started. You have nice curves, let’s show them off, make some men as envious as all the women will be.”

  The comment was followed by Nina being whisked off into the bedroom to try on dresses.

  The first was a black-and-blue, A-line, round-necked dress with a beaded waist.

  “Hmm,” Riley said. “Major’s wearing a navy-blue suit, Excellence in Men line. Single button and a pale gray shirt. She should complement him, but they shouldn’t be too matchy.”

  Nina glanced in the full-length mirror that had been brought in and propped against the wall in the living room. She looked like she was going to the prom and shook her head to express her dislike.

  “I agree,” Lila said, waving a hand to signal she needed to go and change into another dress.

  Seven dresses and forty-five minutes later, Nina stepped in front of that mirror once more.

  This one was an asymmetric panel of overlays with a one-shoulder fitted bodice and straight skirt of dark blue sequins. Her breasts looked amazing thanks to the strapless shaper Lila’s assistant had brought into the room while Nina was changing. Thankfully, no undergarment lines showed and when she turned to glimpse the dress from the back, she smiled at the admirable, definitive curve of her ass.

  The dress was gorgeous and more expensive than anything she’d ever worn before. She knew because there was no price attached. The only tag on these clothes was RGF Style or RGold Original, which equated to expensive because those were the signature lines at the fashion house. RGolden Label was their couture line and all other lines simply had the RGF logo attached somewhere on the inside of the garment.

  The material of the dress was impossibly soft and hung decadently over her usually too-curvy butt and hips. Her body looked great in this dress, even with the slight pouch of a belly that on bloated days could push her into the next pant size.

  Garen, the hair stylist came over and pulled Nina’s hair up, leaving out a few tendrils.

  Lila stood behind her to one side and Riley was on the other.

  “I think this is it,” Nina said as she continued to look at the shimmering material.

  “With these shoes and the pounded-metal cuff. Cheree!” Lila yelled to one of her assistants and set a pair of silver, five-inch-heel slingbacks next to Nina’s feet.

  One by one, Nina slipped her feet into the shoes and waited while Anya, another assistant, buckled the straps.

  Cheree placed the pounded-metal bracelet on her right wrist.

  “Classy and retro. Not only will folk in the industry not have a clue who you are, they’re gonna fall over themselves trying to label your style. We’re gonna use this moment to set the stage for a whirlwind
of different looks that will put you at the top of the fashion game.” Lila was obviously excited as she nodded her head, hair swaying over one shoulder.

  For a moment Nina didn’t know who she was. This wasn’t why she’d come to New York. But it was beginning to be a hell of a lot of fun!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “WHAT ARE YOU laughing at?”

  Major frowned as Maurice chuckled.

  “You and this crazy situation you’ve gotten yourself into,” his brother responded.

  “First, I didn’t get myself into this situation, it just happened.”

  Maurice frowned now, his full brows tilting downward, which added a more ominous look to the thick beard he sported.

  “You’re the one who suggested this tech woman become your fake fiancée.”

  “Yeah, but I’m not the one who came up with the whole fake fiancée idea in the first place. Oh no, that was Desta’s brilliance, which you happily cosigned.” Major walked around the king-size four-poster in his room, trying his best to ignore the suit, shirt and tie that had been laid out neatly on one side of the mattress.

  Maurice had left the office and followed him to his penthouse. For what reason, Major didn’t know. But considering what his brother was doing at this moment—lounging with one leg draped over the arm of a leather recliner across the room, staring at him and making irritating comments—he would assume his presence was meant to antagonize him to no end. If that were the case, he was doing a damn good job.

  “We needed a plan, something that would grab the customer’s attention and keep it riveted on the Golden Bride line.”

  Major shook his head as he yanked his shirt out of his pants before pulling it over his head and off. “And I look like the one to do that?”

  “Your reputation—” Maurice started, but Major quickly cut him off.

  “I’m not the one with a reputation, man. You know that’s all you. You’re the one who flaunts every affair you have. Hell, you pose for pictures for all those photographers and tabloid workers. You give them so much ammunition.”