Champagne Cravings (18 page)

“Crap. The launch starts at nine and I don’t have time to
get back to my apartment to change.” I spared a glance at the cream-colored
Donna Karan suit I wore and figured it would have to do.

Cal, who had sent his two best men with Biel and Mav to the
hotel—along with an Elan makeup artist—said, “There are plenty of gowns in the
studio.”

I recalled Biel had a walk-in closet full of clothes in her
dressing room.

My new partner said, “Why don’t you change and I’ll have a
car brought around. I’ll go with you.”

He was already dapper in a black suit. With a nod, I said,
“I’ll meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes.”

I scooped up my purse and rushed to the elevator. I could
freshen my makeup in the car. As I hurried down the hallway of the studio,
after gaining access to the area, I placed a call to Biel. She didn’t pick up.
I continued trying, though I suspected she was either on the phone with
birthday well-wishers or she’d turned it off to focus on the launch.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

I didn’t want to arbitrarily send her a text to tell her
about Piper. That felt cold and impersonal. Plus it would freak her out—not
necessarily a friendly thing to do when she was probably stressing over what
might go wrong the second time around with the launch. Since Piper was in LA, I
might be able to hold off on revealing what I knew until the morning. But I
wasn’t sure that was the appropriate way to play this either.

Stepping into Biel’s dressing room, I plowed through the
long line of gowns she’d obviously worn for her Elan photo shoots and TV ads,
which had yet to air because Elan had yet to prove the waterproof makeup was,
indeed, waterproof. Unfortunately, the first wave of print ads had already hit
the street.

I selected a floor-length lavender dress that didn’t look
too revealing. Thank God Biel had some curves. The gown fit, though snugly. I
located shoes to match and then scurried down to the lobby. The media had
cleared out—they were likely at the Montlimiere.

Cal stood alongside a sleek black sedan and opened the back
door for me. He climbed in next to me and the driver whisked us over the
hotel—relatively speaking, of course, given this was New York City.

We made our way to the festivities in full swing on the
rooftop. Cal, being much taller than me, scanned the crowd for Biel. He nudged
me and my gaze followed his. She stood poised on the lit platform surrounding
the pool, though she clearly hadn’t reached the point where she’d repeat the
dive-in stunt. That bought me some time.

She wore a sensational, simple satin gown that looked like
shimmering, liquid gold flowing over her long, shapely body. Sipping champagne,
she was as regal and sensual and beautiful as a supermodel should be. And she
easily garnered the kind of attention she deserved.

Fortunately, Mav was with her. I could kill two birds with
one stone.

Weaving my way through the throng—less dense than
previously, though no less glamorous—I reached the steps and carefully ascended
them, a little out of breath from all the racing around I’d been doing the past
hour or so.

“Lacey!” Biel squealed with joy. Jesus, I hated to be the
one to burst her birthday bubble.

“Hi,” I said as we exchanged a quick hug. Seconds later, a
waiter appeared with a silver tray full of champagne glasses and handed one
over. I needed it. I took a sip, then told Biel and Mav, “I have news.”

I glanced around to see if Cal had tagged along with me, but
found him checking out the event, wandering the outskirts looking for anything
suspicion. Perhaps in the form of Piper Levine?

Which prompted me to ask Biel, “Hey, have you heard from
Piper? Is she coming tonight?”

My stomach twisted at the mere thought. But Biel put me at
ease. “I haven’t heard a peep out of her.”

“That’s for the best,” I mumbled under my breath. Both Biel
and Mav heard me, though. She gave me a skeptical look. His expression was full
of anticipation. So I told them, “Cal and I scoured video footage of the lab
when Biel was in there for the testing and sealing of the makeup. Piper was
there too. I hadn’t known that previously.”

Biel’s sculpted brows drew together. “I’m sure I mentioned
it.” With a frown, she added, “Maybe I just assumed you’d know she was always
with me.”

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault,” I told my friend. “I was
never overly suspicious of her to begin with. Mostly just pissed off at her for
your sake.”

Biel smiled. Mav asked, “Are you telling us you’re
suspicious of her now?”

The supermodel’s smile faded. “Lacey?”

I drew in a deep breath, loathing the reality of the
situation—and the fact I was about to hurt a woman who had quickly become my
best gal-pal. I said, “I’m so sorry, Biel. It’s just that…”

Ugh.
I’d suddenly become the asshole who was about to
further break her heart. But what choice did I have, really?

Okay, just tell her!

Gearing up for the inevitable, I said, “Cal and I both saw
in a couple of security tape frames from the lab that the table Piper was
standing next to had two rolls of tape on it, then just one. This was while
Olivia was testing the makeup on you, before she’d done any packaging. We
couldn’t actually see Piper put the roll in her tote, because of the shadows
that blocked our view, but one second it was there, the next it wasn’t.”

“That’s not enough,” Biel insisted, though there was panic
in her voice.

“She also had a plastic baggie sticking out of her tote that
was identical to the ones used to seal your cosmetics. She lifted the packaging
materials, Biel, and used them to secure the non-waterproof makeup she later
applied in your hotel suite.”

As Biel’s face drained of color, Mav said, “But how’d she
make the switch?”

I shook my head. Biel looked even more stricken.

“I was so nervous,” she said in a slow, suddenly remorseful
tone. As though something dire had just occurred to her. “I was really anxious
about the launch. There was so much riding on it.” Her eyes flashed to Mav. “I
wanted to pull it off perfectly. For you. For the company. You trusted me to do
it and you’ve been so good to me.”

The adoration in his eyes caused something to click in my
brain and I instantly put two and two together. Mav had been her guy-experiment.

Bingo! Motive!

Provided Piper had unearthed the affair, that was.

While I reeled from this unexpected turn of events, Biel
continued. “I drank a couple glasses of champagne before I came up here that
night, to calm my nerves. Right before Piper applied the cosmetics, I used the
restroom in the suite. She followed me in. I didn’t think anything of it—we
were inseparable. We were always together.”

“Where was the makeup?” I asked, pushing myself out of the
shocked realm I floundered in over these new revelations—particularly related
to Biel and Mav.

“I still had it,” she assured us. “I held on to the bag with
a death grip, even when I peed.” She seemed to run the entire bathroom incident
through her mind, her shoulders slumping as she did. “Oh my God. Mav, I am so,
so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Biel,” he was quick to say as he rested a hand
on her arm. “I know you didn’t do anything maliciously.”

“I had to wash my hands afterward. The towels were hanging
on the far wall. I turned my back for, like, seconds. I swear.”

“Leaving the bag of cosmetics on the counter?” I ventured.

With a shake of her head, she said, “Piper couldn’t have
changed the bags out that fast.”

“She lifted the security tape from the table that fast,” I
reminded her.

Biel frowned again, in apparent distress. From the look in
her emerald eyes and the defeat in her stance, I knew she was seeing the
situation for what it was. Finally, she said, “Piper used the restroom when we
first arrived at the hotel. She could have left her package in there.” Biel
spoke as though in a trance, reliving that evening. “Since she’s always had
contact with my makeup, she could have easily had access to the small bottles
we used in the studio, when I wasn’t wearing the waterproof line for shoots.”

“All she had to do,” I said, helping her along, “was drop
the wrong variety into the baggie and seal it exactly as Olivia had, then swap
one package for the other.”

“I’d never notice the difference, because the containers
don’t say waterproof on them.”

Mav groaned. “It’s on the outer packaging. Meaning the
mascara tube itself doesn’t delineate from waterproof and non.
Damn it.
”

A marketing snafu. Boy, that VP was under serious fire these
days. But that wasn’t my concern.

I discreetly consoled Biel with a quick squeeze that only
involved my arm around her waist for a brief moment. Then I said, “Are you sure
the makeup you’re wearing tonight is right?”

“Yes. We tested it before I stepped into the elevator. I’m
one-hundred-percent confident it’s waterproof.”

“Okay,” I concluded. “I guess you two ought to do your
thing.”

Mav still simmered, but did his best not to let his fury
echo in his voice. “I have an announcement to make to the guests. We may as
well get underway.”

He led me down the three steps as we left Biel to prepare
for her stunt. The cameras swooped in to get her in shots that didn’t include
Mav and I. Locating Cal, I stood off to the side as Mav moved to another
platform with a podium. A large projection screen had been erected once again
in the far corner, reflecting his image as a sound tech from the hotel killed
the music.

The illustrious and refined CEO of Elan silenced the throng
with his mere presence. I tore my gaze from him and spared a glance at Biel,
who did that chin lifted, shoulders squared, make eye contact with everyone
gathered about business, as though last week’s disgrace had never occurred. She
also masked the obvious pain of Piper’s deception and betrayal. Provided I was
right about her being behind the cosmetics switcharoo.

As usual, I admired Biel’s resilience. I’d tried to employ
that tactic with Mike last night and the love letter I’d written him. I was
dying to check my email but it was hardly the appropriate time. I’d turned my
phone off on the drive over to the hotel, wanting to focus solely on this
re-launch. My reputation as a corporate fraud and abuse investigator was on the
line, given I’d potentially made a wrong accusation with Olivia Benedict.

I didn’t need anything else screwing up this job.

Mav thanked those in attendance for coming out this evening.
He skillfully addressed last week’s botched launch with a mix of seriousness
and levity that took the edge off while also validating how concerned he was
about the incident and the public’s response to it, and its negative impact on
the new makeup line.

He said, “I realize waterproof cosmetics aren’t the newest
concept on the market—and we’ve yet to prove Elan’s are worth their weight in
gold. I assure you, they are, and the very lovely Biel McKinley has graciously
agreed to demonstrate that for you this evening.”

I smiled. His words about the makeup being worth their
weight in gold had significant impact, given Biel was dressed all in gold,
looking like a gazillion dollars.

Mav continued. “Regardless of the incident we encountered
last week, I am confident women around the world will find these products to be
light as air, while they cover flaws impeccably with absolutely no smudging.
I’m sure the men in their lives will appreciate not picking up foundation or
lipstick on a crisp white collar.”

A ripple of laughter helped put everyone even more at ease.

Mav added, “And by the way, this is a very special evening
for Biel.” He raised his champagne glass to her and said, “I am eternally
grateful you’ve chosen to spend your twenty-second birthday with us this
evening. I do apologize you have to work on your special day, but I appreciate
your commitment to the company.”

Biel beamed. The crowd applauded her. Then Mav told her,
“Your agent has a word or two regarding the momentous occasion.”

The spotlight was on Biel and I felt she deserved it. She’d
kicked the crap out of adversity.

Unfortunately, my warm, fuzzy feeling didn’t last long. I
caught a familiar flash of short, curly blond hair and grabbed Cal’s arm.

“What is it?” he demanded in a low voice, snapping to
attention.

“Piper Levine,” I whispered with a discreet gesture toward
the woman stealthily working her way through the clumps of people. She headed
toward the stage and the second Biel’s agent finished his brief toast with,
“Happy birthday, Biel,” she snatched the mic from him.

“Yes, indeed,” Piper said, a forced smile on her face.
“Happy birthday to Biel. Everyone loves you. Some more than others.” Her gaze
shot to Mav, standing off to the side, a quizzical look on his face.

Oh fuck.
I groaned inwardly.
She knows!

I glanced back at Biel, whose brave front faltered.

Piper continued, tension exuding from her, though she kept
her tone even. “I have a special presentation for Biel, if you’ll all indulge
me. I’d like to commemorate our time together. Five years.”

A smattering of curious whispers met my ears as dread filled
my heart.

A presentation?
My head whipped to the screen as
Piper’s image was replaced by what appeared to be a long hallway someone crept
along as they videotaped the corridor.

My stomach dropped to my knees. Piper had spied on Biel and
Mav!

“This is going to get ugly,” I told Cal in a hasty voice.
“Get her off the stage. Now!” I pushed past him and worked my way quickly to
the audio-visual tech in the corner by the screen, making a motion with my hand
slashing over my throat for him to kill the feed. No such luck. I broke through
the crowd and raced over to him as a man’s naked backside appeared on screen,
to the shocked gasps of two hundred or so people.