SummerSins (7 page)

First thing on Tuesday morning Emma marched into
Scandal
,
dropped her mail and a package on her desk then strode over to James. “Where
were you yesterday?” She glared at him.

“Good morning.” He grinned, leaning back in his chair. “I
had a day off. How was your weekend?” He chuckled.

Emma slammed her fist on James’ desk. “How dare you? What
the hell were you doing there?”

“Calm down,” he said. “I won’t mention your name if you
don’t want. Vivian had me go for a few follow-up details. She liked your article.”

Emma straightened and released her fist. “Really? I’d
thought she’d fire me for sure this time.”

“No, she said it was good. It should go out later this
week.”

“Hmmm.” That seemed unlike her, but maybe the details of the
scenes, the rooms and Emma’s impressions were enough. “Good. I’m still not
crazy about you watching me. Next time, don’t!”

He put his hands up. “All right, all right. It was hard not
to. I didn’t know you were into that stuff. The guy’s quite skilled.”

“Drop it, James,” she warned again.

“Sure. What’s in the big FedEx package?” he said, pointing
to her desk.

She picked up the box and didn’t recognize the return
address. “I don’t know. I ran into the FedEx guy as I was leaving my
apartment.” It was marked
URGENT
, so she took the package to work. She
opened the note.

Now you don’t have to shop for a dress for the gala. This
should be your size, the shoes too. If not, the shop at the Galleria Mall will
assist you. Adrian.

Emma’s throat tightened. When she spoke to him on Sunday, he
gave her no hint about shopping for her. The thoughtfulness of the gift touched
her. She opened the box and pulled back the white paper. She gasped. She held
up the silky blue dress, the color of Bimini seas. It was sexy and elegant and
the silver-heeled sandals also includedwould go perfectly.

“Gorgeous,” Vivian said from over her shoulder. “Whoever the
generous hunk is, grab hold of him. He has great taste. Be sure to take lots of
photos at the gala with your phone.”

Emma dropped the dress back in the box. “Sure.” Sooner or
later, she was going to have to tell Adrian about her job, about her initial
reason for going to TropiX and Dark Odyssey.

* * * * *

Old Hollywood Glamour was the theme for the South Shore Gala.
A wide red carpet led into the entrance of the grand hotel lobby. Several
black-and-white photos of famous actors and actresses from the thirties,
forties and fifties stood on easels along either side of the carpet. Pieces of
artwork, paintings and sculptures were on display at the far end of the hallway
where guests could enter a silent auction. The proceeds were going to the
children’s cancer wing. Donations were also accepted on top of the
five-hundred-dollar-per-plate cost. Emma couldn’t remember ever attending
anything so elegant.

“You look amazing, Emma,” Cynthia said as she and Carter
arrived. Cynthia wore a pink-and-gold gown with a full skirt that trailed
behind her. Her blonde hair was tied up in a twist. Both men looked handsome in
black tuxes.

“Thank you,” Emma said. “You look breathtaking.”

Adrian pulled a box out of his jacket. “Something to go with
your dress.” He handed it to her.

“Oooh, open it. Let’s see,” Cynthia crooned.

Emma flipped the box open and stared at the necklace. She
gasped. “Oh my.” A simple white-gold choker with a single aquamarine stone
dangling in the center. “It’s gorgeous.”

“And it goes perfectly with your dress. What a nice couple
you two make,” Cynthia said. “The submissive collar is quite discreet too.”

“We know Adrian needs discretion in his job,” Carter said.

She looked up expectantly at Adrian. “It’s a symbol,” he
explained. “A show of ownership, yes, but we’re still in the training stage,
getting to learn about each other. The trust is there, you’ve proved that.” He
took her in his arms and kissed her. Not too passionately since they were in
public.

“It’s a beautiful gift, Adrian. I’d be proud to wear it.”
She felt her words catch in her throat. “I do need to explain a few things to
you though.”

He took the necklace out and slipped it on. “It looks
perfect. And don’t worry, we don’t have to rush.”

“I know, that’s not what I meant.” This wasn’t the best time
to go into her explanation about her real job.

“Good evening, Dr. Cayne.” An older gentleman walked up to
Adrian with his wife and gave Emma a once-over. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

Adrian introduced her, Cynthia and Carter to his chief of
staff Dr. Torres and his wife. “They’re friends of William and Geneva
Ellsworth,” he explained.

Apparently all of South Florida knew the Ellsworths. The
doctor and his wife seemed quite impressed. “Oh, I see,” Dr. Torres said. “Nice
to meet you. Enjoy the gala. Adrian, you and your lady will be dining with us,
won’t you?”

“Of course, it would be our pleasure.”

“Good, see you inside.” Dr. Torres left with his wife.

“I suspect he’s ready to bring you on staff now,” Carter
said. “He looks a happy man and couldn’t keep his eyes off Emma.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ll get the position.” Adrian grinned.
“Where are Bill and Geneva? Don’t they come to these things?”

Carter shrugged. “Must be having Bikers Weekend or Shrimp
Festival or something in Key West. More exciting than this stuffy party.”

Cynthia elbowed him. “Carter, get me a dirty martini please.
Very dirty.”

“Darlin’, dirty is how I like most everything.” He tilted
his head toward Emma and Adrian. “Later.” The two of them left.

When they sat at the table, Adrian went to get drinks and
Emma introduced herself to the couple next to her. He was a famous race car
driver and she was his girlfriend. “Wow, I’m a huge fan of car racing.” Emma
got into her reporter mode. “When’s your next race?”

“Next week in Las Vegas,” he said, obviously enjoying the
attention.

“Do you get to go with him?” Emma asked the girlfriend. “He
must travel all the time.”

“Before no, because I had to stay here and work. But…” She
looked at her boyfriend for approval and he nodded. “I just quit my job so I
can travel to all the races. We got engaged. It’s a secret though, don’t tell
anyone. We haven’t told our families yet.”

“I won’t. When are you telling them?”

“This weekend.”

“Would you mind if I took your picture? My dad would love
it,” Emma said. Her dad really was a race car fan.

“Sure,” he said. They crunched together and she took a photo
with her phone.

“Thank you. I thought I’d be bored tonight since I don’t
know anyone.”

The driver laughed. “Our table shouldn’t be too dull. Dr.
Torres and his wife are my girlfriend’s uncle and aunt and they’ve been arguing
all night. The word divorce has come up a few times.”

“That’s too bad.” Emma had just gotten there and already she
had enough information to write half her article. A twinge of regret stabbed
her. She still had to tell Adrian. Until she found another job, she had to keep
doing this one. “Excuse me, I see the hors d’oeuvres table opened.”

She strode over to the table and piled crab puffs, cheese
and shrimp on her plate. Her stomach knotted and she doubted she’d be able to
eat. “Hungry already?” Adrian said from behind her.

She spun around.

“What’s wrong? You look upset.”

She couldn’t tell him now and ruin his opportunity to talk
with his boss, his chance for his career. “Nothing, it’ll keep. Overwhelmed by
all this.”

He let out a breath. “I’m not surprised. We don’t have to
stay long. Let’s go back to the table, have dinner, a dance or two, then leave
after coffee.”

She liked the idea of leaving early because it would be
easier to explain her job when they were alone. But how could she get her
article written if she didn’t talk to more people?

When they got back to the table, Dr. Torres hadn’t returned
either and Adrian looked worried. He glanced at the other couple. “Nope, not
yet,” the driver said.

Emma leaned over and whispered, “They said he’s having
issues with his wife.”

Adrian nodded.

Dinner arrived about the same time Dr. Torres showed up with
papers rolled up in his hand. His face was red. “Want to explain this?” He
slammed the magazine on the table. It was a new copy of
Scandal
and
opened to an article titled “TropiX and Dark Odyssey, South Florida’s Dirty
Secret”.

Emma wanted to throw up. That wasn’t her title. The byline
had her real name, not her pen name, and also James Howell’s name. There were
photos. Oh god. The photo was of her kneeling in shackles with the private
parts blurred, but Adrian’s photo was clear and had him wielding a flogger. The
caption read, “Prominent local surgeon, Dr. Adrian Cayne”.

James had to have sneaked a photo with his camera phone with
the flash off. More photos of that supermodel and the plastic surgeon.
Apparently they were there that night too. James had been busy. The bastard.
Quickly scanning the article, she could tell Vivian didn’t publish her story.
She used James’ details, creating a highly embellished version of it.

The look Adrian gave her was beyond anger, beyond betrayal.
It chilled her. “Adrian. I didn’t write this. I work for them, but I didn’t
write this.”

“Your name is right here.” He pointed to her byline. “I
thought you worked for an animal shelter.”

“I do,” Emma said. “I was going to tell you about my job at
Scandal
,
but I don’t tell my friends right away for obvious reasons.”

Adrian didn’t say anything, his mouth tightened and he
turned away. Emma knew she’d lost him.

He held up the magazine, addressing his boss. “Dr. Torres,
I’m sure the article—”

“Not only are you not getting the staff position,” Dr.
Torres interrupted. “You’re fired. We can’t have this type of negative
publicity for our hospital. Especially when we’re trying to raise funds to
build a children’s cancer center.” He stormed off.

“Adrian,” Emma pleaded. “I wrote an article about Dark
Odyssey, but I didn’t take photos and I didn’t include explicit details,
including names of guests. You have to trust me.”

“Trust you?” He spun around and laughed, an angry, mocking
laugh. “Yeah, well. Forget it.”

“I trusted you,” she argued. “Trust works both ways you
know.” He wouldn’t look at her. There was no way to convince him otherwise.
Tears burned her eyes. “I’ll take a cab home.”

* * * * *

Days later, Adrian was home fixing himself a sandwich. His
emotions roiled in his chest after everything that had happened with the
magazine, his job and Emma. Had he overreacted? He hadn’t known her that long
but his gut told him she wasn’t the type to purposely destroy someone’s
reputation. She was a kind person, but she did work at
Scandal
and
hadn’t told him. Even if she didn’t write the article, or didn’t write the
intrusive parts, it didn’t matter now. They wouldn’t have a chance. He’d have
to leave town most likely to find another job. His cell phone rang. He checked
the number. Cynthia Everett. “What’s up, Cynthia?”

“Adrian, thank
god! Get over to Dark
Odyssey now. I tied Carter up and can’t get him down.”

Adrian laughed. “Isn’t anyone else there?” He took a bite of
his sandwich.

“No, the club’s closed. We came to do some work. He’s upside
down and I think he might pass out.”

He put his sandwich down. “Call 9-1-1.”

“He won’t let me. His reputation, his pilot’s license. A
medical report will be filed and they could ground him for who knows how long.
It’ll be a mark against him. Adrian, please.”

Who could argue with Cynthia? “All right, I’ll be right
there.” Adrian grabbed his medical bag, a sharp knife and scissors and headed
out the door.

When he got to TropiX, Cynthia met him at the entrance. “He’s
upstairs, hurry.” Adrian charged up the steps two at a time. “Which room?” He
stopped when he entered Dark Odyssey. Carter sat at the bar, drinking a beer.
He held one already open for Adrian. Another couple sat next to him.

Air rushed into Adrian’s lungs. Bill and Geneva Ellsworth.

Another man, who he didn’t know, stood off to the side
holding a cocktail. He was thirtyish, portentous-looking in an expensive gray
business suit. Bill, slightly balding and deeply tanned, wore an oversized
T-shirt, jean shorts and flip-flops. His wife had her long black hair pulled
into a sleek ponytail and wore a long, sleeveless dress and sandals. The couple
could pass as tourists or passengers who just stepped off a cruise ship. No one
would realize they were multimillionaires.

Geneva came over and gave Adrian a kiss on the cheek. “So
good to see you, Adrian. You haven’t met Ben, our lawyer.” Geneva made the
introductions.

“Lawyer?” Somehow Adrian didn’t think this was good news.

“Have a seat,” Carter said, handing him the beer. “After the
article came out in
Scandal
, I contacted Bill and Geneva. Not only did
the magazine violate the rules of our club by having one of their reporters
take photographs, they published them along with names of our customers. One
rule we are strict about is our customers’ privacy. Every guest has to sign an
agreement. James signed as well as Emma. James violated that agreement.”

“Are you suing them?” Adrian asked.

“The lawyer contacted the publisher at
Scandal
and
discovered some interesting information about that article,” Cynthia continued.
“Emma did write one about TropiX and Dark Odyssey but not the one published.
Her version didn’t include names or photos. James set her up. He wanted that
article all along and wanted to make a name for himself. He took the original
article she’d written and embellished it with the details you saw.”