Page 23 of Kai
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 notcare. 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, andsamples 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?"
Chapter 8
"Now, is that any way to speak to a paying customer?" he asked mildly. Rocking back on his heels, he let his eyes wander over her spectacular face, noticing the weariness in her eyes. Despite that, she was still so achingly beautiful that he could barely resist the urge to walk around the counter and bury his lips on hers.
"Customer?" she asked derisively, her shoulders straightening, suddenly suspicious. "Why don't you try Romano's? Or anywhere else? I'm sure your current girlfriend would appreciate that."
"I'm sure she would," he mused, lips curving slightly. "She happens to have excellent taste."
Her eyes flashed at that. Ignoring the sharp pain of his statement, she started to log out of the point of sale. "Well then, I would appreciate you leaving so that I can lock the store." She glanced pointedly at the smart watch on her wrist. "It's after closing time."
"I would think you're flexible enough to give me a few minutes. I have a mind to spend some money in your establishment."
She hissed out a breath when he wandered over to the closet space that held a few dresses.
