Page 6 of Secret Admirer
As Bart stepped out of the limo, and onto a red carpet, people snapped pictures--he knew not to blink and followed Lorenzo down the runner. The showing was in some warehouse that had been transformed into a designer venue. Glitz and glamour showed in the winking diamond lighting and silk fabric walls.
On previous occasions when he’d gone to Gio’s Milan fashion shows, wearing one of his many House of Morgan designs, there were decidedly less cameras--but this was America. From his glimpses into the crowd, Miami had beautiful women galore.
Maybe tonight he’d find a different beauty.
Lorenzo had gone to the right, but Bart decided to hang out at the bar and get a drink before finding his family. A familiar dark-haired beauty, with a willowy silhouette, stood from her barstool to stare at him.
His skin pulsed. She’d said to lose her number and he would respect that request, no problem. There were plenty of other fish in the sea, as the saying went. He kept his palms up as he walked over to the bar. “Nadia. I’m just getting a drink.”
She nodded like this was a professional meeting, despite their previous week of hot sex. “I was nervous about getting everything at my job in order so I could be here, earlier. I’m sorry for being rude.”
The bartender took his drink order. Bart said, “Apology accepted. You’re not nervous now?” What had changed? What job was she talking about?
“No, not at all. I made it here, as intended.” She paused as the bartender gave him his drink. Once the bartender moved on, she placed her hand on his and said, “I just don’t want you thinking there was some future for us. I’ll be returning to New York soon, and your headquarters are in Rome.”
He'd assumed she was from Miami but New York made more sense. The city had a reputation for being fast-paced, and he could see Nadia thriving there. She sipped her wine. He lifted his own glass and said, “Nadia, don’t worry. You didn’t break my heart.”
She shook her head. “Do you have a heart that was there for me to break?”
“No. My heart is fully shielded.” He raised his palm, swearing it to be the truth.
Nadia stared across the room. He followed her line of sight and saw Gio, Gio's wife, Kiwi, his half-sister Victoria, and his new sister-in-law, Caro, as they watched him with Nadia.
Nadia stepped back and said, “Good, so is mine. And what happened has nothing to do with what my report on your brother and sister’s designs.”
Report? His head buzzed. She was here for business. She must be important to the others, but until now, he hadn’t put that together. He turned toward Nadia--for the last time--and kissed her hand to say goodbye. “I respect that.”
She turned left, to speak with someone she knew, and he sauntered over to his family. He wished he’d already bought himself a yacht so that he could go there once this was over. The swells of the ocean always lulled him to sleep.
Blonde like their father but much sweeter in personality and sound Victoria's voice was pitched high as she immediately asked, “Were you talking to Nadia Walker?”
The name meant nothing to him other than his former companion of the past week. Now his mind raced, wondering who she was. “Yes. Just for a few moments.”
Kiwi, his brother’s wife, then said, “What she says will make or break our launch.”
Nadia could kill their launch? He didn't understand their tension. Gio patted Kiwi's back. Bart said, “I’m sure she’ll love your company’s designs.”
Gio looked to the ceiling and then asked, “Did you have sex with her, Bart?”
His face was hot, and he was reminded of the time their mother had caught him kissing Francesca when he was fourteen. “We’re consenting adults. How does she relate to your business?”
White lines formed around Gio's mouth as he said, “So,my brother, on the eve of our launch, risked everything and slept with the fashion editor that currently decides the market…”
Nadia was fashionable. It made sense. But he’d never guessed that the dark-haired woman he’d met in Rome had been important to his family. He sipped his drink and searched the warehouse for Nadia, who had taken a seat in the center row while others buzzed around her.
When he’d met her, she’d been alone, and sitting at a bar.
“Relax, Gio," Kiwi said. "Someday Bart will find the one woman who makes him happy. In the meantime, he’s free to browse and decide whatever he wants. As for Nadia, I’m sure we’ll dazzle her with our designs.”
“Just try not to hurt my business,” Gio said. “And remember Father’s one rule that made sense. Family doesn’t publicly hurt family.”
Yes. They’d agreed to that rule long ago and that should have included not sleeping with anyone that might hurt a Morgan business. If he’d known Nadia’s relationship to the House of Morgan, then nothing would have happened. Maybe next time he spent more than a night with a woman, he’d find out what she did for a living. Bart patted his brother’s back. “I didn't know who she was--Gio, Kiwi, I’m happy for you both and excited to see what new suit design I’m buying for this next year. Any word on Anthony or Jennifer?”
“Not a peep,” Kiwi said. “It’s best not to bring it up to the others. Even Vicki here is upset, when she should be calm.”
“I’m sorry.” Bart glanced down at his half-sister's tummy.
Vicki clutched her rounded stomach in her glittering diamond maternity gown. “She has been one of my friends since childhood. I don’t know what happened to her.”
