Destiny by Design (14 page)

“Most of you saw the office yesterday at deadline. Did I change a thing? Is it the same color?” There were small gestures of affirmation. No one but Valentina dared speak out against Cynthia, but they were clearly uncomfortable with her accusation.

“Excuse me Rebecca, but I can vouch for Ellis,” Simon said. “She was with me last night.” He turned his glare to Cynthia and added, “All night.”

“They’re lying,” Cynthia hissed, squinting at the lovers.

“Would you like me to call in Jeb to verify the color, Cynthia? He did the job to spec, didn’t he Ellis?”

“Dead on.”

“In fact, Jeb was here last night. Late. I’m sure he could verify that it’s the correct color
and
tell us if he saw anybody around here with painting equipment,” Simon mocked.

“He could indeed, Simon,” Ellis said, handing him her cell phone.

“Oh never mind!” Cynthia seethed and stalked off. Her entourage, never more than a foot behind, were hesitant, unsure if they should follow.

Simon leaned down and pressed his lip softly onto Ellis’ upturned mouth. She could feel the heat creep up her spine until her head was swirling with a lascivious replay of the night previous. Lost in the depths of their soul-stirring kiss, she barely registered the sound of applause coming from Remi, Valentina and the other designers.

“Excuse me.” Detective Novak was standing in the doorway, holding her badge out for all to see. “I’m looking for Cynthia Travers. Is she here?”

The entire group pointed at the figure retreating up the stairs.

* * * * *

“Are you disappointed?” Simon asked, just loud enough to be heard over the rowdy crowd.

“Hell no!” Ellis clutched the small crystal trophy in her hand. “Second place is nothing to sneeze at, and I’m glad Valentina won. She deserved it.”

“Second place with special mention for innovation,” Simon reminded her, with a touching sense of pride. “But if not for the discretionary points you lost for the confrontation with Cynthia, who knows?”

“Thanks Simon, for your faith in me and for sticking up for me today,” she said, squeezing his fingers across the bar table. “But Val clearly had the better design, even without the antique teddy-bear border.”

“What’s next for you?”

“I’ve got a pocket full of people to call next week,” Ellis beamed, relishing the positive comments she’d received from the judges. “The home office generated a fair bit of interest when the invitees came through after judging. Looks like Remi and I are going to be very busy.”

She knew Simon spoke to the police after they came to question Cynthia but hesitated to press him for details. She should feel some level of satisfaction after seeing the woman who made her life hell being dragged off in a most undignified manner, but somehow she couldn’t muster up the bitterness. “So what’s next for Cynthia?”

“Detective Novak has plenty of evidence linking Cynthia to Jim. Phone records, eyewitness accounts of them meeting after hours, bank statements. It doesn’t look good for our Ms. Travers. I also mentioned that mirror incident from last year and Novak is going to see if any criminal negligence charges are applicable. Hey, did the judges know about her blown budget?”

“Oh yes! She probably could have gotten away with the spa products but the chandelier was a really cocky move. She recorded the cost at three hundred and had some bogus receipt from a lighting warehouse. Rebecca Ford saw right through it,” Ellis said.

“She made her bed, as they say.”

“I don’t know why, and I shouldn’t, but part of me still feels bad for her.”

“I know kiddo, but even the great ones fall sometimes.”

“As for Jim,” Ellis spat, “he can rot for his Goldilocks comment.”

“Oh, I dunno, seems rather inspired to me,” his chuckle faded to a wince as Ellis squeezed his fingers harder.

“Hey you two,” Remi called, holding his colorful drink—complete with cocktail umbrella—up over his head so it wouldn’t be jostled by the crowd of revelers. “It’s my turn to hold the trophy.”

“All yours, Remington,” Ellis said, handing it over with ceremony as she pushed back her chair. “Don’t forget to bring it to the office on Monday.”

“What, you’re leaving? Already? The party is just starting. They haven’t even brought out the food.”

Simon and Ellis exchanged a mischievous look.

“We’re really tired, Rem,” Simon explained, taking his lover by the hand, “and Ellis promised to give me some decorating tips for my forlorn, lonesome bedroom.”

The End

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