Entangled Moments (Moments in Time) (5 page)

Chapter Nine

“Lilliana wants to see you,” Amanda said as soon as I
returned from lunch with Melisa.

“Did she say why?” The last time I saw Lilliana was over two
months ago, when she came to congratulate me in person on my promotion.

“How should I know? I’m just delivering a message.” She
teetered away on six-inch heels.

Since the last time I overheard them gossiping about me, she’d
never warmed to me. Neither did my other colleagues, apart from Julie, the
trainee. Having being named the face of a jewelry line had only exacerbated the
tension at work. In truth, I didn’t blame them. Maybe in their shoes I’d feel
the same.

I climbed the stairs to Sam’s office, with my colleagues’ sharp
stares pricking my back.

Could Lilliana be disappointed with my last photo shoot? It
hadn’t gone smoothly; I’d had a terrible migraine that refused to go away and
the camera flash certainly hadn’t helped.

Lilliana rose from her office chair when I entered the
office. As usual, she looked stylish. Today, she wore an elegant, black-and-beige
two-piece suit with black stilettos. “Afternoon, Carlene.” She walked over to
the brown leather couch and sat cross-legged. “Come sit with me.” She patted
the seat next to her.

I hesitated and looked at Sam, trying to read his
expression.

“Go on,” Sam urged. He lowered himself into one of the
padded chairs at Lilliana’s desk. “She won’t bite.”

“Of course not.” I flashed him a smile and did as Lilliana had
asked. Her perfume enveloped me and transported me back to the day we’d first met.
How things had changed since then.

Lilliana twisted her body to face me, her knees touching
mine. “No need to look nervous. I want to ask you a favor.”

What favor could I offer a woman who had it all?

“As the face of the Diamond Dream line, would you like to
attend the launch party?”

My eyes widened and I merely stared, tongue-tied.

She laughed. “You
are
the star of the line. Say yes.”

My first fancy party. Someone thought I was good enough to
dine among the rich and the famous. I smiled broadly. “Yes, I’d love to come.
Thank you for the invitation.”

“Perfect.” Lilliana patted my knee and winked at Sam.

Sam nodded, and from a hook behind the door, he removed a
black garment bag, which he placed in my arms.

“What’s this?” I looked at each of them in turn.

“Something for you to wear to the party. I hope you like it.”

Unable to believe my luck, I unzipped a portion of the bag to
reveal a black bust encrusted with tiny crystals. Tears sprang to my eyes. It
was stunning. I unzipped further and ran my palm along the soft, canary-yellow
chiffon of the skirt. I gazed up at Lilliana. “I don’t know what to say.”

“A simple ‘thank you’ will do.”

“Thank you so much.” I cradled the dress in my arms, the
crystals grazing my fingers. “It’s beautiful.”

“Just like you.” Lilliana laid a hand on my knee. “Meeting
you that night, Carlene, was the best thing that could ever have happened to Stalford.”

“That means a lot.”

“It’s the truth.” She rose to her feet. “I have to go to a
fundraising event. I’ll see you at the launch party in two weeks.”

Sam walked Lilliana out, and they left me hugging the dress,
as if trying to become one with it. Tears squeezed out of the corners of my
eyes, and I blinked quickly. If only Chris were here to see what I’d become. He
always believed I’d go on to do great things.

Chapter Ten

I smoothed down my dress and walked through the doors of the
Lux Hotel. I only used to admire it from the outside. I never thought I’d step
inside. At least not as a guest.

At least two hundred guests, all elegantly dressed, filled
the spacious ballroom. They weaved their way around candlelit dinner tables, lowered
themselves onto damask-covered chairs, lifted champagne flutes from silver
trays carried by waiters in black and white, or tasted finger foods from an
overflowing buffet table with a sparkling champagne fountain on one side.

The crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling
twinkled in time with those on the bodice of my dress. I felt like a princess.
A very nervous one. I’d already spotted a TV show host, five Hollywood actors,
an athlete, and a woman with her own cooking show.

I tightened my grip around the new crystal-encrusted purse I’d
bought to go with the dress, and with my other hand I picked up a smoked salmon
canapé from a passing waiter’s tray. I wouldn’t be able to get anything down; I
just needed something to occupy both my hands so no one could see them shaking.

Walking past a marble staircase, I searched for a secluded
part of the room. No chance. What if someone came and talked to me? What
conversation could I possibly have with any of the glamorous, successful people
around me?

I gave up the search and remained where I was, at one end of
the buffet table. Soft classical music washed over me and calmed my nerves.

Soon, a familiar female voice filled the room, and everyone
turned to the stage.

Lilliana, clad in a striking magenta, floor-length gown, her
hair piled up on top of her head in a glossy braided bun, stood in front of a
microphone, a champagne glass in her hand.

“Ladies and gentleman, thank you for being here tonight.
Allow me to say a few words. It’s a special evening as we celebrate the launch
of our new line, Diamond Dreams.”

The room erupted in a deafening applause.

Lilliana paused until silence descended. “Before you return
to your food and drink, I’d like to thank someone special, the woman who has
given the line a face. Without further ado, please raise your glasses to
Carlene Adams.”

I choked back the rest of the canapé, which I’d decided to
eat.

Lilliana scanned the faces around her until she spotted me.
She waved a hand in my direction.

The guests clapped again, and a woman next to me gave me a
brief pat on the back.

My eyes met Lilliana’s from across the room, and panic closed
my throat.
Please don’t ask me to come up and say something.

Drops of sweat formed on my upper lip as people stared at
me, awaiting my response. I was not used to being the center of attention.
Behind the camera was fine, but on a stage? What if I made a fool of myself and
disappointed Lilliana and Sam?

Left with no other option, I smiled and raised my glass.

Lilliana nodded at me, but didn’t ask me to come up.

I breathed out when the attention turned back to her.

She talked a while about Stalford and the line, and thanked
a few other people, including Sam and her husband, a bald but distinguished man
I was seeing for the first time.

“I promised I would only say a few words, so I’m done.
Please enjoy the food, drink, and music. Don’t forget to have a look at the
jewelry.”

At that moment, a curtain that lined the length of the wall
behind her slid to the floor, as if in slow motion, to reveal a massive glass
display of jewelry. On both sides of the display hung blown-up photographs of
me wearing some of the pieces. My hair shone, my eyes sparkled, my skin was
flawless.

My hands flew to my mouth, and I stifled a gasp. Joy,
excitement, happiness—all wrapped up in one firecracker of emotion. If only I
could take a closer look. This was a dream come true. I was a model. Lilliana
had even mentioned we’d soon start shooting a TV advert.

Funny how life turned out. I’d thought my happiness had died
with Chris, but I was wrong.

I sipped my champagne, enjoying the tingle on my tongue. But
before I even had a chance to swallow, people surrounded me, congratulating me
for a job well done, telling me how great I looked. I felt as if I had fallen
asleep and stumbled into someone else’s dream.

As the evening wore on, I relaxed and even enjoyed the attention.

After mingling, eating, and drinking, I needed a moment to
myself. I picked up another glass of champagne and made my way through the
throngs of people.

The sliding doors opened onto a lush lawn, which led to a
beautiful lake. Wooden benches with lit lanterns at each end dotted the lawn. I
walked up to the nearest one, wiped the surface with a napkin, and sat, placing
my glass next to me. The air smelled of roses and freshly cut grass, and it
invigorated me as I admired the reflection of the moon on the water.

“Nice evening, isn’t it?” A voice asked from behind me.

I turned to look even though I already knew who it was.

“Hi.” Nick lowered himself next to me on the bench. “I was
looking for you.”

I blinked, just in case I was imagining things. I wasn’t.
Nick sat next to me, wearing a plain black suit and white shirt. No tie, even though
most men present tonight wore one.

“Hi?” I said skeptically. Why hadn’t it occurred to me that
he’d attend the function? He was, after all, one of Stalford’s most valued
customers. But why was he now acting like we knew each other?

“I’m sorry to disturb your moment alone. I wanted to give
you something.” He reached into his pocket. “This is for you.” He handed me a
pink Stalford jewelry box.

Out of instinct, I looked to see if Sam or Lilliana were
around. They probably wouldn’t approve of a customer handing their employee a
jewelry box. But I couldn’t resist. Nick was no ordinary customer. Not to me. I
wrapped my fingers around the box. “What is it?”

“Something I thought you might like.”

Lips pursed, I tugged at one end of the slim, white ribbon
and lifted the cover off the box. My jaw dropped. “Nick... No, I can’t take
this.” My eyes filled with tears, as I gazed at the bracelet I had so longed
for. The bracelet with the tiny silver diamond key pendant. How did he even
know?

“Of course you can take it. It’s an apology. For my behavior
when I came to Stalford last time. Pretending I didn’t know you.”

“You don’t owe me an apology. We barely know each other,
anyway.”

“Thing is, I feel as if we do.” he paused. “I shouldn’t have
kissed you that day. It was inappropriate. I guess, when I came to Stalford, I
was distant because I didn’t want Elizabeth finding out about us. She’s the
jealous type.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. To me, that kiss had been
everything. “Why did you do it? Cheat on her? You shouldn’t have done that.”

“We were broken up at the time. Still, it shouldn’t have
happened.” He paused. “Please take the bracelet.”

“N-Nick. I can’t take this.” I closed the box again and
handed it back to him. “It’s too expensive.”

He didn’t take the box. “You love the bracelet. I saw you
admiring it at the store. When I saw it in the display tonight, I had to get it
for you, before someone else bought it.” He didn’t reach for the box.

I looked away to hide my embarrassment. He had watched me?

“There’s nothing wrong with admiring something you love. Or
owning it. In fact, if you wish for something hard enough, it might just come
to you.”

Those words reached into the depths of my soul and switched
on the light. It was him I wanted more than anything. Maybe he was right; if I
wished long and hard for him to be mine, it could happen someday. For now, he
was giving me something precious, something to remind me of him. I could hang
on to it until my dream came true. If it ever did. “Thank you, Nick.”

“You’re welcome. Enjoy it.” He winked.

“I will.” For a moment we gazed into each other’s eyes. We
exchanged no words, and yet volumes passed between us.

“You look beautiful, by the way. Congratulations on being
the face of the line. They couldn’t have picked a more beautiful woman. Enjoy
the party. You deserve it.”

Before I had the chance to say anything, another “thank you,”
perhaps, he rose and walked back up the lawn, hands in his pockets. Probably to
return to his fiancée.

I slid the bracelet into my purse. This was comfort enough.
For now.

Back home, I wore my bracelet to bed. I wanted to keep it on
and never remove it. But how would I explain it to Sam and my colleagues? They
knew as well as I did that I could never afford such an expensive piece of
jewelry. No, I would keep it our little secret. Mine and Nick’s. He cared about
me. Why else would he spend so much money on me?

***

My next days at work were spent waiting for Nick to return.
I didn’t even care that he might show up to buy something for his future wife.
I wanted to see him just one more time, to exchange one more glance. But it
took a whole month before I even heard about him again. It was in a magazine
article that announced his wedding date had been changed, and he would be
getting married earlier than planned. In one week. My heart broke in places I
hadn’t even known existed. I asked for a few days off from work and locked
myself inside my apartment watching tearjerkers, eating popcorn, and stuffing
magazine photos of Nick into a shoebox.

I slid the cool bracelet from my wrist and placed it on top
of his smiling face in the box. He had probably already forgotten about it.
Here I was, thinking he cared. But he’d only bought the bracelet because he had
too much money and felt guilty.

The truth was, and it pained me to admit it, it could never
have worked between us. We were too different. He needed someone beautiful,
glamorous, and rich like him.

Someone without baggage.

A hot tear trickled onto my hand as I placed the lid on the
shoebox and shoved it inside my wardrobe. I’d never buy a magazine again. Or
watch TV. It would be torture to watch him marry Elizabeth—or any other woman.

I wanted to stay inside my apartment and never face the
world again. But I had to continue living, just like I promised Melisa I would
when I left Oasis. It would take a long time, but I’d get over him somehow.

I was now back on my feet. I had a wonderful job and a nice place
to stay. A life. I thanked Nick for that.

***

“I missed you. And not just me,” Sam said when I returned to
work. “Several customers came in asking for you. You’re quite popular.”

My head snapped up. “Really? Who?” I cringed inwardly,
hoping I didn’t sound too eager.

“A few ladies.”

“Oh.” I continued polishing the counter, my hope wilting. “That’s
nice.” No need hoping for the impossible. Nick belonged to someone else.

***

Over the weekend Nick was to marry Elizabeth, I slept at
Oasis, away from TV, newspapers, and magazines. And I worked myself to the
bone.

Out of solidarity, Melisa, who enjoyed some good celebrity
gossip, promised not to take a peek. She, too, was disappointed. Since the day
I told her the man I’d met that day at Grace Chapel had been Nick Johnson, she’d
been excited about meeting a millionaire in person.

Sunday evening, I returned to my apartment and enjoyed a
long, hot shower. The warm water mingled with and washed away the tears, and I
vowed to let him go for good. I would forget his touch, his kiss, his eyes. He
was a married man now.