THREE DAYS OF being brushed off by celebrities.
But today would be different.
Sage had the feeling everything was about to change and she chose to believe it was going to be in a good way. She might not have gotten much sleep after attending a party until the wee hours of the morning, but she felt as though she could conquer the world.
And then there was Trey. Try as she might to forget the kiss and his reaction, it was there with her every day, lurking in the shadows of her mind. But there had been no mention of it and things were getting back to normal.
It was best that she centered her thoughts on work. It always brought her comfort. Tomorrow was her big interview with Starr. She’d already arranged to have the photographer meet them. And just so she didn’t miss anything in her notes, she was going to have Trey record the session. It was all going to work out and this interview was just the beginning. Today she hoped to secure another interview. It was the only way to keep the magazine alive.
She was due for some good luck. Taking a positive attitude, she was singing a tune as she came down the stairs at the château. Not finding Trey inside, she made her way to the veranda. Trey was sitting there reading something on his phone while drinking a cup of coffee.
As soon as he saw her, he put his phone down. “Did I just hear you sing ‘Heigh-Ho’?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “You must be hearing things.”
He sent a disbelieving look. “I know what I heard.”
Trying to change the subject, she asked, “Are you ready to set off to work?”
He gave her another funny look. “I am.”
She couldn’t help but notice how dashing he looked in a pair of dark slacks and a white dress shirt with the top buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up. It was then that she noticed his watch. It was a designer watch. She’d noticed it before and assumed that it was a knockoff. A very good knockoff.
Trey got to his feet and rounded the table to pull a chair out for her. “But you’re not. I’ll just have Maria bring out your breakfast.”
She was about to protest, but then reconsidered. Perhaps a bite to eat before the interview would be helpful. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
In just a couple of minutes, he returned with an apple in his hand.
“Is that all you’re eating?” She hated the thought of Maria going out of her way to cook for just her.
“Relax. I already ate.”
“Oh.” She eyed up the bright red apple. “You must really like apples. You seem to always have one on hand.”
“They’re a sweet snack and travel easy. You should try them.”
“I eat apples.”
He arched a disbelieving brow.
“Okay, not very often. Since when have you come to know my habits so well?”
“Since we’ve been working practically nonstop to get the magazine turned around.”
Just then Maria came onto the veranda with a covered dish and a large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. As Sage ate the delicious food, she realized that staying here at the château reminded her a lot of her childhood. There had been glamorous travels to the farthest ends of the earth and her spacious childhood home had been complete with a full staff that were more like family than hired help. But most of all, she’d been able to relax and enjoy herself.
“What are you thinking about?” Trey asked once Maria departed.
Why not be honest with him? No matter what she wanted to tell herself, they were much more than coworkers. Friends? Possibly. But somehow it felt like more. She knew that reading anything into their relationship was dangerous. For all she knew Elsa could have planted Trey in her life. It wouldn’t be the first time that her stepmother had done such a despicable thing. But there was something about Trey—a genuineness that made her want to trust him with her deepest and most profound secrets.
She set aside her fork. “I was thinking that I haven’t been this relaxed since...since before my father married Elsa.”
Trey didn’t say anything. Instead he settled back in his chair as though letting her open up to him at her own pace.
She averted her gaze out to the sea. “After my father’s marriage to Elsa, the changes to the household didn’t happen all at once. In fact, in the beginning Elsa couldn’t have been nicer and Father had been so happy. All those years of loneliness were behind him. But when my father traveled for business, Elsa started to change. Things in my room started to disappear.”
“She stole from you?” Trey’s expression was one of astonishment.
“When I called her out on it, she was all apologetic. She claimed there was a charity drive and she didn’t think I would mind donating a few items to the underprivileged. Of course, looking back now I realize this was all for my father’s benefit. She was so cunning and devious that, in the end, she had me feeling guilty for wanting my possessions back—including the last gift from my mother—a porcelain doll.”
Trey’s expression hardened. “Is it all right if I hate your stepmother on your behalf?”
Sage shrugged. “I struggle with that emotion every time the woman interferes in my life, which was quite often over the years. But to hate her would consume me and hurt me, not her. Instead I feel bad for her that she is such a miserable, spiteful person.”
Trey’s mouth gaped slightly. “You feel sorry for her?”
Sage nodded. “Not like I want to help her or anything. I still think she has a lot to answer for, but sorry as in I’m grateful I can see the good in life, unlike her, and I’m not consumed with revenge or whatever drives her.”
Trey leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. He reached out and placed his hand on hers. His thumb gently stroked the back of her hand, sending goose bumps racing up her arms and setting her heart aflutter.
His voice was low and gravelly when he said, “Have I ever told you how amazing I find you?”
Right now, with him touching her, she was having problems stringing words together. “Me?”
“Yes, you. It seems like no matter what life throws at you, you find a way to keep going—to keep smiling.”
Just then she smiled. She didn’t mean to. It just happened. And then her gaze caught his and her heart vaulted into the back of her throat. If there hadn’t been a table between them, she was certain she would have thrown herself into his arms.
And how would Trey react? Would he push her away? Or would he draw her close. With his hand on hers, her signals were getting confused.
“Sage, there’s something we need to talk about.”
“Is it about the interview?”
“No. It’s about us.”
Her stomach sunk to her designer heels. Why did he have to bring up that subject now? Had he been able to read her thoughts?
“Now’s not a good time.” She pulled her hand away from his, hoping the distance would clear her thoughts. “I just realized that we don’t have long until the interview.” She pushed aside the rest of her breakfast, having lost her appetite.
“Go ahead and finish eating. We have time.”
She shook her head as she washed down the eggs and toast with a big sip of juice. “I want to be early. We need enough time to cover everything without rushing.” She lifted her trusty black leather notepad from the table. “I have a lot of questions planned.”
“And what would you like me to do?”
“Don’t forget to record the session. I don’t want to miss anything. You downloaded the app to your phone, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “And don’t forget to get her to authorize the recording.”
“I have the legal release with my questions.” She felt like she was forgetting something. “Was there anything else?”
Trey paused as though to go over everything in his mind. “Not that I can think of. Are you ready to go?”
She nodded. “You know, as much walking as we do, I need to start wearing sneakers and carrying my heels in a backpack.”
“Do you want to change?”
She was very tempted, but she also knew they weren’t the only ones trekking around Cannes. She needed to look her best at all times—or at least until she secured a few more interviews. Maybe after those she could let down her hair so to speak.
* * *
The sunny streets of Cannes were filled with some of the best-dressed people in the world. There were actors and actresses from action movies, romantic comedies and dramas. After almost a week of this, he was getting a lot more adept at matching names with faces. He wouldn’t admit it here, but he wasn’t much of a moviegoer. He was probably the only one in this large mass of people.
He walked with Sage back to the hotel where the Red Heart Gala had been held—where they’d kissed. He wondered if Sage was remembering their steamy lip-lock.
He’d never had a chance to explain why he’d pulled away. There’d always been a reason why it hadn’t been the right time, but the truth was he’d been dragging his feet—delaying the inevitable.
In the elevator, he turned to her. “After the interview, we’ll have that talk.”
Her gaze averted his. “Okay.”
Soon the truth would be out there and it wouldn’t be weighing on him. He just didn’t know how Sage would react. Would she understand that in the beginning he hadn’t set out to hurt anyone?
His thoughts ground to a halt as they stepped off the elevator and approached the suite.
Trey knocked on the door.
There was no answer.
He glanced at Sage. “This is the right suite, isn’t it?”
She referenced her notes. “It’s the room number she gave me. Try again.”
He knocked once more, louder this time.
At last the door swung open. A frazzled-looking young woman peeked her head through the crack in the door. This was not the actress. It must be her assistant. The woman’s gaze moved from him to Sage and then back to him. She wasn’t exactly the friendliest assistant as she had yet to say a word to them.
“Hi.” He used his friendliest smile in spite of her. “Miss White is here for her interview with Starr.”
“That won’t be possible.” The young woman attempted to close the door in Trey’s face.
He was too quick for her and put his shoe in the way, bringing the swinging door to an abrupt halt. “Not so fast.”
The young woman glared at him. “Move.”
“Not until you tell us what is going on here. Miss White has an appointment.”
“Yeah, well, things have changed. The appointment is canceled.”
Sage stepped around Trey. “I don’t understand. The other day Starr was anxious for the interview. Why did she change her mind?”
The young woman glanced over her shoulder as though to see if anyone was listening. “She’s just signed an exclusive contract to sell her biography to be released simultaneously with her movie next year. All her promo is now monitored.”
“But our agreement was prior to her contract.” Sage had the look on her face that said she wasn’t going to back down easily.
There were voices inside. The voices were growing louder as if they were approaching the door. Before he saw her, Trey knew the source of the problem.
The door swung wide open and Elsa appeared. She smiled but it wasn’t a normal smile. It held a hint of deviousness. And her dark eyes sparkled with evil. The woman gave him a bitter taste in the back of his mouth. All he wanted to do was get Sage far away from the woman.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go.”
“Yes, go.” There was a note of glee in Elsa’s voice. “There is nothing for you here.”
Sage’s face hardened. Her gaze narrowed in on her stepmother. “You had absolutely no interest in Starr until you knew I had plans with her.”
“You did?” Elsa pressed a hand to her chest and feigned an innocent look. “Oh, my.” The over-the-top theatrics made it obvious that Elsa had been targeting Sage. “You should pack up and go home.”
Trey went to step up to the woman and let her know exactly what he thought of her. Words popped into his mind that he never thought he would ever say to a lady, but then again Elsa was anything but a lady.
Sage grabbed his arm and held him back. She glanced at him with a warning reflected in her eyes. “I’ve got this.” She turned on Elsa. “I don’t know why you think you have to lash out at me at every turn. You know, I feel bad for you.”
“Bad for me?” Elsa’s eyes widened in surprise. “Honey, I’m the one that is about to walk away with this year’s up-and-coming superstar. You should feel bad for yourself—always on the losing end of things.”
“I might not have gotten the interview, but I have something more—my self-respect and the ability to smile. You, however, don’t even know what it’s like to be happy. Do you?”
Frown lines bracketed Elsa’s face. If looks could kill, Sage would be nothing but a black singe on the red carpet. “Oh, yes. You think you can stand up to me now that you have Quentin by your side. But even he is no challenge for me.”
“His name is Trey.”
“Really? My mistake.” Elsa’s voice took on a deeper, more deadly tone. “Or perhaps it’s yours. You always were the naive child, wanting Daddy to take care of everything.”
Sage turned to him. “Trey, tell her.” There was pleading in her eyes that tore at him. “Tell her she’s mistaken.”
He wanted to do that for Sage. He would have done anything to spare Sage this agonizing moment, but it was now out of his hands. It was long past the time for the truth.
As the pain reflected in Sage’s eyes, Trey’s chest tightened. Every muscle in his body grew rigid. Everything with Sage was spinning out of control and he was helpless to stop it. He, the man with all the answers, didn’t know how to keep Sage from being hurt.
He turned to Elsa.
How could one woman be so evil? So malicious?
The look of triumph sparkled in Elsa’s eyes. His hands clenched at his sides. Why did she want to hurt her stepdaughter so badly?
The last thing he was going to let the woman do was stick around so she could gloat. “You’ve done your damage, now crawl back to whatever rock you slithered out from under.”
She smiled at him, making his skin crawl. Elsa stepped up to him. She gave his body a lingering glance. “Aren’t you a feisty one? We could have a good time together.”
“Go.”
Elsa sighed. “Such a pity.” She moved on to Sage. “This isn’t over.”
“I didn’t think it was.” Sage lifted her chin. “We are just getting started.”
Elsa let out an evil cackle. “We’ll see about that.” She glanced back at Trey. “As for you, Quentin Thomas Rousseau III, I’m not sure you’re as much of a challenge as your father.”
His gaze sought out Sage. Her eyes reflected the shock and disbelief. He wished he could tell her that Elsa was lying, but he couldn’t. Elsa had done what he should have done long ago.
Sage’s mouth opened but no words came out. Her gaze moved from Elsa to him.
“Oops. There I go again, letting that cat out of the bag.” A toothy grin lit up the woman’s face. “I’m sure you two must have things to discuss.”
Elsa cackled as she swept past them and headed for the bank of elevators. Trey waited until Elsa was out of earshot before he said, “Sage, I can explain.”
It was too late. The damage was done. It was written all over Sage’s beautiful face. The disappointment and distrust reflected in her eyes sliced through his heart.
“I don’t even know what to call you anymore. Quentin? Thomas? Trey?”
Trey stood tall, ready to face what he’d done. “You can call me Trey. It was my nickname in boarding school.”
“Fine. Trey, I have just one question.” Her shiny gaze never wavered from his.
He already knew the question, but he wouldn’t take away her right to ask it. He owed her that much and more.
“Go ahead.” He thought he was ready for her words. He was tough. He was used to facing life alone. And he never thought this relationship, whatever title you wanted to hang on it, would last.
Sage leveled her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Was everything we shared a lie? Were you secretly laughing when I opened up about my past?”
That wasn’t the question he’d been anticipating. He thought she’d want him to confirm that he was indeed Quentin Thomas Rousseau III. But she’d jumped ahead. She was already questioning everything they’d ever shared.
“No. It wasn’t a lie.”
“And the château? Is it yours?”
“Yes.”
“Everything was a lie.”
“No, it wasn’t. Please believe me.”
“I don’t.”
As he looked into her eyes, he could see that he’d already lost her. She’d already closed him off and relegated him to the list of people in her life that had hurt and betrayed her.
The guilt piled on him. He needed to say so much, but before he could figure out where to begin, Sage turned her back on him, and with her chin held high, she walked away.
He’d hurt the kindest, most generous person he’d ever known. He didn’t deserve to be forgiven, but he wanted her forgiveness as much as he needed oxygen.
How did he convince her that these growing feelings were very real indeed—more so than he’d ever thought possible?