Beginning, Previous Section, Section V, Next Section
Chapter 40
The morning and afternoon passed quickly and before Elisa had a chance to realize it, the gala was only a few hours away. She and Georgiana had spent the day in the suite discussing the logistics of the Añya showing at the end of the week. Half of their models were already employed with several designers for earlier showings in the week and were put up in the Beverly Hilton across town; the other half were being flown in Tuesday morning. All the pieces being worn were being delivered special to the hotel on Monday. There was the meeting with Manolo Blahnik on Wednesday, final fittings and alterations on Thursday afternoon, the showing on Friday, and then the Friday night after-show party to plan as a thank you to everyone involved.
They were just discussing the merits of the Viper Room as opposed to 217 when Rachel and Sarah interrupted them to show off their dresses for the night. Business was soon forgotten and the four of them fussed around with their wardrobe, feeling very much like young girls dressing for their first big dance. Nearing six o'clock, Elisa and the two designers departed to their own rooms to prepare for the Opening Gala that was to begin promptly at seven. Shawn was nowhere to be seen, but his clothes had been laid out on his bed. Elisa slipped in for a quick shower before she put on a new dress she had bought before the trip. By the time she was out of the bathroom, make-up done, hair dried and curled, Shawn was waiting for her in the bedroom, dressed out in sleek charcoal gray Helmut Lang dress pants and black dress shirt. Elisa thought he looked very Continental and told him so. He laughed.
The first thing Darcy saw as he turned his head toward the elevators was the charming picture of Elisa and Shawn chatting excitedly together, arm-in-arm. He felt something rise within him and for the moment all he wanted to do was go over to where they were, take Elisa's arm and link it with his own. The feeling increased as she saw him and Georgiana waiting for them, waved, and walked over with Shawn in tow. Lord, he didn't know how it was possible that she could become more and more beautiful each time her saw her.
She was wearing a Givenchy violet silk off-the-shoulder dress with a full, flared out skirt bottom that ended slightly below her knees. Her hair was loose, the dark brown curls falling down over her shoulders in silky waves. She was wearing a pair of dyed sandals to match her dress, the added inches giving her legs the most irresistible lean and sexy line. For a moment, he couldn't think straight. He was sure she was saying something, for her mouth was moving, but the words weren't registering. Georgiana nudged him with her elbow to get him to pay attention after Elisa had to repeat her greetings for the third time.
"What?" Darcy said, stupidly.
Georgiana smiled, knowingly. "Elisa was just saying hello. Weren't you listening?"
"Of course I was listening."
Georgiana didn't believe him for a minute, but decided not to say anything. She had seen Elisa's dress the week before and knew that it would get some sort of reaction. But the bemused and enchanted look in Darcy's eyes was something she never truly expected. If Elisa continued to unintentionally bewitch her brother for the whole week, Georgiana was sure Darcy was going to fall hard.
And what a wonderful fall that would be.
"Come take my arm, Shawn. I wanted to speak to you about something." Georgiana offered her arm to him and he took it without hesitation. They walked off to the side to talk, leaving Elisa and William as alone as they could be in a crowded lobby.
"I like your hair." He said after a moment, his taciturnity finally giving way to speech.
"Thank you." She replied. "You look nice tonight."
"Only tonight?" He smiled. "I think we've had this conversation before, haven't we?"
"It would seem like it. How about I start off with the compliment? My, that suit does look magnificent on you!" Her voice had taken on a flirtatious turn.
He smiled, matching her tone with his own. "And that dress on you is simply ravishing!"
"What about your shoes? How marvelous!"
He laughed at her outrageous comment. "Now why do I get the feeling you're being insincere?"
"Am I?" She batted her eyelashes coyly, and then broke out into her own laughter. Darcy didn't think he had ever heard a sound as beautiful as her laughter before in his life. There was something light and tinkling about it, like bells, and when she smiled, it brought his heart full stop.
No, he had never known anyone as beautiful as she. And he was sure he would never want to as long as he had her. If only he could have her...
The wide doors opened into the splendidly decorated ballroom. The people gathered in the lobby began to file in and Darcy, without a second thought, offered his arm to her and Elisa took it. He led her into the room and she seemed to command the attention of every person around with her almost regal bearing and way of holding herself. A few men whispered as she passed and Darcy counted himself fortunate to be on the arm of such a wonderful and delightful woman.
As they reached their table, Georgiana and the eleven other designers were already there and waiting. Everyone was full of amusing anecdotes to tell Elisa, whom they deemed their Mistress of Anything L.A., about their day exploring the city. Tyler and Jeremy had toured some movie studio sets in Century City. Rachel was almost positive she had seen Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt walking down Melrose. Patrick and Eric had checked out some of the finer L.A. clubs and declared them as good as, if not better, than what they were used to in New York City. By the time everyone had settled, the guest speakers on the importance of funding for M.S. research had concluded their opening speeches, everyone applauded, and dinner was served.
Darcy waited patiently until everyone else had paired off for the dance floor. Elisa was staring off into space, absentmindedly sipping her champagne and humming. Her eyes seemed to glitter in the soft candlelight of the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. When she sighed, his heart began to race, and then she inadvertently smiled, and his heart stopped. Despite not knowing what was coming over him, Darcy knew that whatever it was had to be dangerous to his cardiovascular health, what with all this racing and stopping. He smiled, took a breath to get up his nerve, and asked her to dance. He had been waiting for this moment all night long.
She assented, and before she could quite catch her breath, Elisa was swept up into a tight embrace with the only man in many years she had even remotely taken a fancy to. His arms around her felt right. She chanted the mantra in her head repeatedly, only friends, only friends. Her heart wanted her to take a chance; her head wanted her to be realistic. What were the odds that she, a magnet for disaster, could ever find lasting love? Experience had taught her to be careful, to close herself off from the heady and delicious feelings of comfort and reassurance in another's arms.
And yet, she could not help but feel attracted to William Darcy, god help her. He was a handsome man, no doubt. It was probably biologically impossible to not like him once you got rid of his haughty and supercilious manner and realized that he was just a man comfortable with his well-deserved success, a man unselfishly dedicated to his friends and family, a man that would be the envy of all mankind if only they truly got to know him for him. Elisa liked him. The moment he took her into his arms, she knew she was heading for something dangerous.
Darcy caught the spicy scent of her ginger perfume and sighed deeply. This night was perfect, even if they had barely spoken complete sentences to each other the whole dinner. For the first time he was content in their silence. Something was happening, something beyond his control. He repeated to himself only friends, we're only friends, we can only be friends, but deep inside of him he knew that wasn't what he wanted.
He wanted so much more than what he knew she could give him.
There was pain in her past. Maybe in time she would trust him enough to share, but right now, at the very beginning of their relationship, there would be unshared secrets and unfulfilled desires. Darcy wanted to tell her that she could depend on him, that he would never hurt her like someone had once done, but he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he knew what secret she kept hidden and made her forget it and move on. Nothing could happen until she let go, and Darcy only had to see the infinitesimal flicker of caution in her eyes to know she wasn't ready.
The evening soon turned to midnight and the gala was beginning to end. Men and women rushed here and there, everyone in a bustle of excitement for the showings the next day. The dance floor was thinning out, and Darcy wished that he did not have to let go of her. There seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them that they would only dance with each other that night, and they did. She had stared at him for most of the time, as if she were trying to figure him out, trying to sort the pieces in her head. And when he caught her looking unawares, she blushed prettily and looked away, if only for a second before she resumed the penetrating glance.
They were the last couple to leave the floor. Georgiana and the rest of the Añya team had left a long time ago. He walked her to her room, but was unable to give into the urge to hold her hand all the way. That show of affection would be too much for her to comprehend at that time. Darcy knew she was still dealing with her emotions from the previous day, and if he added to her strenuous burden additional unwanted amorous feelings, he would destroy what little chance he had to begin with.
"Goodnight." She whispered as she opened her door. Before he knew what he was doing, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the cheek before she could turn away. She blushed in reaction, and he colored as well. Elisa bid him goodnight again and then closed the door.
Oh, Darcy knew he was falling hard. And for once, he wanted it to happen.
Chapter 41
"Leave those boxes right there. Yes, against the wall."
"Don't touch those! I told you a hundred times not to get near the clothes!"
"Reina! Help me with these dresses!"
Elisa wandered around the Le Grand Trianon banquet room, clipboard in hand, trying to locate Georgiana's designers among the hundreds of people shouting at each other. Several of the conference and banquet facilities of the hotel had been cleared out, partitioned off and assigned to each designing house that was going to show there that week. The space was used to unload showcase pieces, dress and undress impatient models, complete last minute alterations, and house hundreds of make-up artists and hair stylists. At the moment, the Añya team was scattered among the crowds of people, everyone trying to figure out where he or she belonged. The clothes had arrived from New York only an hour before, and Elisa searched for the missing designers to lead them to their space to start preparations for the Friday showcase. She didn't think she had much a chance competing with the throng of voices assailing her ears.
"Patrick?" Elisa yelled, smirking as a bunch of men turned towards her with questioning eyes. "Patrick Thorton?" She qualified and everyone went right back to their work. She grumbled. "Where is that blasted man?"
Elisa returned to the Añya section where Georgiana and seven of her designers were unpacking the boxes of their clothes and accessories. She tucked the pen behind her ear and watched them work to hang shirts and skirts on hangers, lay out pants to prevent wrinkling, and wrap mannequins in dresses. There was a happy vibe permeating the large room and she couldn't help but be caught up in the excitement of everything.
Slowly her hand crept up to her face and gently touched the place on her cheek where Darcy had kissed her last night. Still, she couldn't believe he had done that. Did it mean he was interested? Or was he just caught up in the moment, like she had been? She shook her head, confused, but a hint of a smile suffused her lips. And if he was interested, did she want him to be? No. She thought forcefully, her face losing all trace of the smile that was beginning to form. No, impossible. He can't like me in that way. I'm just a friend of his little sister... How could he like me? He was just caught up in the moment...
She sighed. It was too confusing to think about it when she had a million other things to worry about. Georgiana was motioning to her again to pay attention to the inventory. Elisa smiled weakly at her and listened as Rachel resumed counting the last of the shirts that had arrived in the special delivery boxes.
"Perfect. Nothing was lost, thank goodness." Georgiana smiled in relief. "Did you find him yet?"
"Patrick? No, not yet. Even if he was here, he wouldn't be able to hear me over this noise."
Shawn looked up from his book that he had been reading while everyone else was frantically bustling about. "Loud, isn't it?" He grinned while making that ridiculous comment. The noise was finally beginning to get her, and Elisa wanted nothing more than to retreat to some quiet place to stave off the initial stages of a headache. "Are you okay? You look a little pale."
"Do you have any aspirin on you?" Elisa replied.
"Nope. Do you want me to ask the concierge?"
She sighed, shaking her head. Georgiana was pushing around several rolling mannequins, taking care not to disrupt the hang of the delicate dresses upon them and muttering all the while. Elisa grinned slightly. She only had to remain until the other designers showed up and she gave them their entrance vouchers for the week. In addition to the private showcases each night, there were many outdoor tent showings throughout the day that previewed the coming collection for the public. Elisa hoped she could slip out of the ensuing madness and maybe wander about the road blocked streets to calm her nerves.
"Elisa, why don't you head out now? You look close to fainting in here. Hand me the vouchers and I'll give them to everyone." Georgiana peered up at her from her squatting position near a mannequin. "I'm staying here all morning, anyway."
Elisa looked at her skeptically. She knew there was still a lot of work to be done and Georgiana couldn't afford to let her have another day off. "No, I'm fine. You pay me to be your assistant, and that is exactly what I'm going to do: assist."
"I have no use for you if you're feeling unwell, Elisa." Georgiana said matter-of-factly. "Take a breather this morning. We'll get together later, okay?"
"Really, Ana, I - "
"Go." Georgiana's voice brooked no argument.
Elisa gave up and shrugged. "You're just like Richard, you know? Always bossing me around."
"I'll take that as a compliment. I want you healthy for the Friday's showcase. And besides, it's what I pay me to do: order you around." Georgiana gave her a good-humored smile. She watched as Elisa departed into the frenzied crown, and when she was sure she wasn't hanging around, Georgiana turned to Shawn and motioned him over. "So, are you in?"
He smiled. "Do you think it will work?"
"What do you think?" Georgiana lifted an eyebrow.
Shawn mulled over it for a split second. "Count me in, then."
"This should be a very productive week, I think." Georgiana stared into the crowd where Elisa had last disappeared. "Yes, very productive..."
"You're a 100% sure about this, Charles?"
A muffled voice came through the receiver. "Absolutely, Darce. It was mentioned in today's Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Not front page news, but by tomorrow, who knows."
"How are our investors reacting?" Darcy ruffled his hair and settled roughly back into his seat. The limo he had hired was slowly plodding through afternoon rush hour traffic. It took all he had to refrain from bursting out of the car door and start pacing through the stopped freeway lanes.
"Christopher called in a bit worried. Out of everyone, he's got the most of his portfolio invested into De Silva Motors."
Darcy sighed. De Silva Motors was quickly being bankrupted by the larger motor companies monopolizing the American market, his friends and investors were being drained of their money, and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. A fine time to be vacationing, he thought sourly. "Do we advise them to sell, or do we wait it out?" But he knew waiting would be useless.
"Darce - "
"I know. Call everyone and tell them to sell and sell immediately... Are you and Max going to be able to hold down the fort until I come back?"
"Sunday, right?
"Tonight. I'm catching the first flight out of Los Angeles."
Bingley, though disconcerted that major market shifts were taking place without Darcy in New York to help deal with the ramifications, was beginning to regret he had even called his friend. He knew that things like these were fairly regular occurrences in an ever-changing economy. Bingley also knew that Darcy didn't take well to abrupt changes and that he tended to worry too much. "Stay in L.A., Darce. I've already enlisted both Max and Jacob to help me sort through the files and ring up the investors. Richard's coming down later to help out, too."
"I would feel much better if I were there with you." Darcy protested.
Bingley changed the subject. "You met with Seager today, right?"
"Yes." His attempt was not lost on Darcy, who smiled in spite of himself.
"Well, then, you have to stay in L.A. Seager's an important client and he'll want a chance to talk to you again." Bingley tried persuasion.
"Charles - "
"Look, I didn't want to upset you; I thought you had already read it in the morning paper. I was wondering why you hadn't called me all morning, and I was getting worried that you had done something to yourself or something. Leave it to me and my big mouth to call you up and be the bearer of bad news... Anyway, you're already there so you might as well meet with Rousselot and Harrison, too. We are executing damage control quite nicely and I don't want you worrying about something you can't control." Bingely said practically and with more that his usual authority. "And besides, Georgiana needs you, so remember that." He added.
Darcy was torn between feeling obligated to his sister and feeling obligated to Pemberley and his business clients. He had read the paper this morning, so why hadn't he seen that article? He was disgusted at himself for his inefficiency. What good was being a Wall Street stockbroker if he didn't pick up on the nuances of the economy? I read the paper, he thought. I read the stupid paper and I didn't see it. Why didn't I see it? He was thinking of smacking his cell phone into his head in chastisement when Bingley spoke again.
"Darce? Are you there?"
Darcy grumbled. "Yes."
"You were listening to me, right?"
"Yes."
Bingley returned to his normal, happy self. "Great! See you Sunday, then." And he hung up.
Darcy stared at his phone a while longer. Elisa. He looked up suddenly. The limo was turning onto Rodeo Dr. and slowly making its way to the hotel. Elisa. The name came upon him like a force and he could not get the image of her out of his head. Now he understood the reason why he hadn't caught the obscure article in the paper. I was thinking about her and everything that happened last night. A small smile crossed his face. He looked out the window and a woman sitting outside a café caught his eye. Her back was to him and he didn't understand the attraction until she turned slightly and he caught a glimpse of that mischievous grin that so haunted his dreams every night.
Before he knew what he was doing, he was standing up with half of his body out of the sunroof yelling out of the limo. "Elisa!" She whipped around and when she saw him, her mouth opened into a silent "O" of surprise. The traffic was stopped at a red light and Darcy used the chance to call her over. "Do you want a ride back? Come on! Before the light changes."
Getting over her initial surprise, she nodded, picked up her things, and got in as he opened the door to her. "What are you doing?" She was a little breathless. The limo started moving and he fell back into the seat.
"I was getting back from a meeting I had up north and I saw you sitting there..." Darcy started and then drifted into silence. What was he doing?
Despite herself, Elisa smiled at him. "You're crazy, you know that?"
"I must be." He said softly to himself. "Crazy, or in love."
Chapter 42
"Did you say something?" Elisa asked. She looked at him expectantly.
"Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself." Darcy said quickly to cover his remark. He was appalled he had said that out loud. In love, in love, in love... Was it possible that he was in love? How much he could be in love after such a brief acquaintance? Well, it wasn't so much brief as it was lacking in anything solid on which to building a relationship. How much had they talked to each other, been in each other's company for him to reach such a life-changing conclusion? Was it rationale to be thinking on such terms? Was it prudent to -
Does it matter? He thought to himself. Does it really even matter that you hardly know her? What you do know about her, you love. Who's to say you won't love the rest? Stop thinking like this or you'll second-guess yourself into misery.
"I'm scared."
Her conversation with Georgiana from a few months ago came back to him in a rush.
"I'm scared of men, truth be told." She started.
"Of all men?" Georgiana interrupted.
"No... just ones that pose a threat to me."
He had needed to talk to his sister all that day and was about to enter her office when Elisa began talking. The sound of her voice had stopped him from interrupting. Her distress was evident and he had stood outside the door unabashedly eavesdropping.
"There was a time when I was in love... Long story short, I was hurt very badly, and for a time, I thought I would never be able survive. But then I moved out here to New York, and the city breathed a new life into me that one day I hoped that I would be able to get over my fear. But, after all this time, I've just come to realize that this fear isn't going to go anywhere soon. It's just the way I am... Does that make sense?"
She was harboring some painful secret, and after that disastrous visit with her parents, he was sure of it. Something to do with her past, with the sister she lost, with the sister that was left behind... and someone else. With a man, he presumed from her comments, a man that had hurt her terribly.
"I'm terrified that the person I'm with will be 'The One', and I'll be too caught up in finding fault in him or planning how things could go awry that I'll complete miss it. And I'll let him go and regret it for the rest of my life..."
That pain had washed over until it blended with a new fear of her own creation. Maybe she was still afraid of someone hurting her, but now she was afraid of hurting herself, as well. Her past had taught her to be cautious, but what if she was too cautious? He knew Elisa wasn't ignorant enough to think everyone was out to get her. But her fears had created an almost impenetrable wall around her, sealing her off from anyone that could ever possible love her and give her the stability and support she was seeking in her life.
"Mr. Darcy?" Elisa said presently.
"Hmm?" He looked at her, distracted. Had they been talking of something?
"Are you alright? You just sort of blanked out on me for a second."
"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about some business matters. Were you trying to tell me something?"
The door of the limo opened and Elisa turned to him with a cheeky smile. "I was trying to tell you that we arrived at the hotel." Darcy followed her out and after tipping the driver, offered his arm to escort her back inside.
"What were you doing outside before, when I saw you at the café?" Darcy asked.
She colored slightly. "Oh that. I know it looked like I skipped out on Ana, but I had a roaring headache this morning and she was very persistent that I take time off. She had said that we were going to meet later, but I rather think she was caught up in preparations and clean forgot."
"Really? It isn't like Ana to forget such things." He wondered if something was wrong.
They walked into the lobby and headed for the elevators. "I know. I called the hotel and left her a message, but she hasn't paged me even once this afternoon. I went back to the hotel around one and I couldn't find her anywhere. Kammie said she went out with Shawn to explore one of the public exhibits on medieval jewelry." Elisa shrugged. "I'm not too worried, but it feels odd not knowing Ana's whereabouts because I usually keep tabs on her all the time. Sort of like I'm somehow being left out of the loop, you know?"
"In matters concerning Ana, I'm usually out of the loop, too."
"Really?" She was surprised. "I thought you were the overprotective brother sort."
He smiled a little. "I certainly try to seem that way. But Ana's a grown woman now, and I guess I'm dealing with it."
"How very noble of you." She tried to seem sincere, but a grin escaped her control and he felt his heart surge with ridiculous happiness. The doors to the elevator opened and they got in, still arm in arm as if this was how they were supposed to be. When it stopped at her floor, she slowly disengaged her arm and pulled away and out into the hallway. He followed and walked her to her room.
"What are you doing tonight?" He asked before his nerve failed him.
"Going to the Celine and Dolce & Gabanna showcases. You?"
"Nothing so far." He hadn't really meant to sound so pitiful but it just came out that way.
"That's almost hard to believe."
"Do you think you could get your hands on another voucher?" Lord, I'm pathetic.
She gave him a questioning look as if to size him up. "No." She said finally. Before he could conceal it, his face fell. He looked so disappointed that she felt the need to comfort him... to hug him or something. Where did that come from?
"Well, that's alright. I'm sure I'll find something else to do." He said, his features now under control. If she didn't know better, she would have thought he didn't care either way. But she did know he was disappointed and for some reason she didn't want him to be. She wanted to know why he wanted to go so badly. A small part of her hoped that it was because of her... a small and utterly foolish part of her hoped while the large and sensible part wanted her to stop being silly.
"Well, I didn't say that I couldn't get you in..."
He looked hopeful. "How?"
Elisa smiled. "Leave that up to me... Meet me down in the lobby at seven, okay?"
"You bet."
"How far are you intending to go with this?" Shawn asked in a loud whisper.
Georgiana gritted her teeth and gave him a stern look. "As far as I have to. Now smile."
"Smiling." Shawn plastered on a fake plastic grin as an extremely tall brunette on heels made her way over to them.
"Georgiana Darcy! Well, if this isn't a surprise, I don't know what is." The brunette exclaimed.
"Natalia Bergman!" Georgiana greeted in the same cheerful voice. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Scouting for clients." She answered, waving her arm towards a group of business-suited men behind her. "Hyman's thinking of investing in Duleah Jewels and wanted me to gather as much information as I could. What do you think?"
"It's a sound investment, I think. They've been quietly supplying Tiffany's for years and it's about time they go public."
Natalia nodded her head in agreement. "That's exactly what I thought. It's nice to hear it from some else, though... Anyway, what are you doing in L.A.? I thought you lived in New York?"
"I still do. We're out here in L.A. for Fashion Week."
"Well, isn't that wonderful... Your brother is here, then?"
"Yes, he is." Shawn interjected in what he hoped was a cheery voice. Inside he felt like killing Georgiana for dragging him along into her plans. Okay, it sort of was his fault because he had agreed to help her, but he didn't count on manipulating any other helpless bystanders besides Darcy and Elisa - who from their point of view needed to be manipulated for their own good. But now they were using Natalia as a means to get Elisa to admit her true feelings and that didn't sit well with him. This is only going to blow up in our faces...
"Oh hello. I didn't see you there. The name's Natalia Bergman. And you are?" She stuck out her hand that he politely shook.
"Shawn Beckett, one of Ana's designers. Nice to meet you."
Georgiana decided minor chitchat wasn't going to get them anywhere. "Say, Natalia?"
"Yes?"
"What are you doing tomorrow night?"
"Nothing. Why?" Her bright green eyes gleamed and Shawn realized that Natalia Bergman was not one who was easily manipulated. In fact, he was sure she did her fair share of manipulating. What the heck was Georgiana playing here?
"We're going to need your help."
Chapter 43
Promptly at seven o'clock Darcy was down in the busy lobby carelessly thumbing through a magazine that had been discarded on a small coffee table near the sofas. He had been waiting since half past six, hoping he was dressed appropriately in a midnight blue button-up stretch poplin shirt, British Khaki chinos, and dark brown calfskin loafers. The Angelinos seemed to have a vastly different sense of style and things that he generally wore in New York were suddenly too uppity and stuffy for their laidback sensibilities. He checked his watch for the hundredth time and hoped that Elisa remembered she was supposed to meet him. He didn't know exactly what he was planning to do or what he expected to happen that night, but any moment spent with Elisa was a moment to be savored. He hoped that when she had enough time to get to know him, she would eventually let her guard down.
"Very J. Crew, Mr. Darcy."
He looked up into Elisa's smiling face and for the briefest of seconds his breath caught. It was always like that when he first saw her, as if all her beauty suddenly came full force and knocked the wind out of him. He stood up quickly and muttered a greeting.
"All you need are thong sandals and a leather cord necklace and you're L.A."
He hadn't a clue what she was talking about, but he nodded in agreement. Her glossy brown hair was pulled into a loose ponytail and a rosy blush covered her cheeks. She looked like such an innocent beauty in her pale blue cap-sleeve shirtdress and matching ribbon tied around her waist in a bow that he wished he could embrace her and keep her in his arms forever. Her excitement washed over him and he soon felt eager for the night to come.
"You look nice, yourself." He complimented when his brain started working again.
She mock curtsied and laughed softly. "Ready?" She offered her arm and he hooked it in his. They slowly merged into the crowd that was moving steadily into the Ballroom. As they approached the entrance, Darcy suddenly remembered that he didn't have a voucher to get in.
"Don't worry about it." Elisa said before he could ask. "I've got connections."
"Connections?" He was amused at her choice of words. "Exactly what kind of connections?"
"You'll see." The crowd pushed them forward until they were at the doorway. She moved toward one of the men collecting vouchers and after a few words she returned with a smile and nodded. As they walked into the room, Darcy turned back and glimpsed the slightly embarrassed and pleasured grin on the man's face.
"What did you say to him?" He was intrigued.
"Oh nothing..." She led him to the front row of chairs lining the runway. The lights flickered to indicate the start of the show and Darcy sat down next to her as she took her seat. After a pause to stir his curiosity, she leaned over and whispered in a low voice into his ear. When she turned away to focus on the models gliding down the catwalk, Darcy felt the color rise to his face.
She might not want the attention, but she's doing one hell of a job getting mine...
"You're more devious than I remember." Natalia munched thoughtfully on a french-fry. "How long has it been? Two, three years?"
"Three." Georgiana sipped her soda. "When you dumped William out-of-the-blue and left for L.A."
"I did not 'dump' him, thank-you-very-much. It was an amicable break-up. We were at different places in out lives and we wanted different things... And besides, there was one huge problem we could never resolve."
"Oh, and what's that?"
Natalia smiled wistfully. "He cared for me, but he didn't love me."
Georgiana was struck by the pained look that washed over Natalia's face. Lord, I hope she doesn't still have feelings for him. "So... are you seeing anyone right now?"
"You're getting less and less subtle, too, aren't you?" Natalia laughed. "Don't worry, your Elisa has nothing to fear from me. In fact, I've been with Paul for a year and a half right now and we're still going strong."
"Good." She let out a sigh of relief.
"Now, Ana, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"You're the 'old flame', right?"
Natalia grinned, slowly catching on.
"Well, start some fires."
"You're not still thinking about what I said, are you?" Elisa laughed to herself, delighting in the fact that Darcy was very much a man given to basic human response. She didn't know what had come over her to say such a scandalous thing to man she had no intention of pursuing or being pursued by, but Elisa was amused by the shocked expression on Darcy's face.
"'I was flaunting my sexuality' is not something a man easily forgets." He replied truthfully.
"Actually, it wasn't so much 'flaunting' as it was 'using it to my advantage'." Elisa said, thinking over the matter. "Anyway, it was a little harmless flirting and he knew I wasn't serious. I asked him out to lunch tomorrow to make up for the fact that I played on his being a man easily swayed by a pretty face. His name is Pierre and he works for the Commission. You'd like him, I think."
"No, I don't think I would." He walked her back to her room after the two showcases had finished. "You don't need to prostitute yourself for my benefit. I could have snuck in just as easily." He didn't mentioned that it irked him to see her flirt with another man and know all the while he didn't have a chance.
"Prostitute myself?" Elisa smacked him in the arm. "Really, Mr. Darcy. If that's what you think of me, I'll never do any favors for you again." By her grin he knew that she hadn't taken offense to his comment.
Show your interest. "What are you doing tomorrow besides lunch with this Pierre fellow?"
"The models are flying in." She sighed, not looking forward to getting the wayward and eccentrically behaved women settled in their rooms. And she was having such a lovely time, too.
"Can I take you to dinner?" Darcy jumped the gun.
Elisa was genuinely surprised by his question.
"I've never seen L.A. nightlife and I'm sure you know all the hotspots." He added when he saw her hesitating.
"Sure, I guess." She agreed. "We'll talk tomorrow, okay?"
"Great."
He bid her goodnight and eventually made his way up to the top floor where his suite was located. Several of Georgiana's belongings were strewn about the sitting room and he knew she had returned from her mysterious afternoon mission. He wanted to question her then and there about her whereabouts simply because he had been worried, but he decided to wait until a more appropriate time. He had an unexplainable feeling she was up to something, but shook it off as ridiculous.
Now you're getting paranoid, old boy. Ana's not going to do anything... She already got me to half-admit I like Elisa. What more could she do?
Chapter 44
"Is that them?" Elisa stopped nervously tapping her shoes on the pavement and looked hopefully at the distant group approaching at a languorous gait.
Georgiana lifted her nodding head and after a moment of consideration, smiled. "I think it is them. For heaven's sake..."
"Thank god they're here... Finally." Elisa sighed in relief and shared a sympathetic look with Georgiana before turning to the group of impeccably dressed, stunningly beautiful Amazon-tall women. She put on what she sincerely hoped was a welcoming smile, and when the models reached them after what seemed decades, greeted the recalcitrant females; they were two hours late and didn't seem concerned about it at all. Elisa wasn't even completely sure how it was possible since she sent several drivers to the airport with the expressed instruction to make no detours and go directly to the hotel. But then, models seemed to get their way no matter what. By the looks of the heavy bags their black-suited assistants were carrying, it appeared they had either robbed a department store or went insane in Duty-Free.
Elisa smiled tightly. "Lovely to have you ladies here. We'll get you settled into your rooms right away. You must be exhausted. Come, follow me, please." She clapped her hands and moved forward, beckoning to them like they were cattle. The women didn't seem to detect the feigned concern in Elisa's voice, or maybe they were so used to insincerity that they no longer cared. Either way, they prattled on and on to each other in foreign tongues while Elisa rolled her eyes at a giggling Georgiana.
"I'll never understand it." Elisa muttered to herself.
Georgiana checked behind her to make sure the models were following them. She had a feeling that if they weren't under stricter surveillance, they would run off again. Or get lost. "Understand what?"
"Society's fascination with them." She looked thoughtful. "I mean, sure they're beautiful and, on occasion, charming. But where's the substance? The intelligence? The thing that makes them worth giving a damn about?"
"They aren't all that bad, Elisa. Camilla Deveraux, over there, is a fourth-year Med student. And Evelyn Randall, the one standing next to her, is a novelist. She wrote The Rain King and Welston's Park." Georgiana attempted to defend the group of women.
Elisa was slightly mollified. "Well, fine, except for those two. But the rest?" She growled in frustration.
"Now, now, Elisa." Georgiana chided, teasing. "No need to be cruel."
"Don't mind me. I'm just in a bad mood."
"Why?"
Elisa rolled her eyes. "Because of their lateness, they are in turn making me late for a date."
They reached the lobby and Elisa walked over to the front counter before Georgiana could ask "what date?". The models crowded behind her, talking rapidly and noisily. Georgiana looked on with a confusion tinged with startled horror. Date? Elisa was dating? Who? What? When? Where?... Does William know? Suddenly she was angry on her brother's behalf. Elisa returned a few minutes later and distributed the keys to the impatient women. As she shooed the people to their rooms and turned back to her friend, Elisa noticed the odd expression on Georgiana's face.
"What is it?"
How could she? "You have a date?" Georgiana was surprised how in control she sounded. Didn't Elisa know how much William cared for her?
"Oh, that. It's just lunch. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not."
Elisa glanced at her watch and gave a startled cry. "Ah, I'm late. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Sure." Georgiana smiled grimly as she walked away. What happened to all that I'm-scared-of-dating stuff she was talking about? She flipped on her cell. "Yeah, Natalia? We're on for tonight."
Later that afternoon, when Elisa returned from her brief lunch "date" with Pierre, Georgiana had a particularly sly look upon her face. When asked what she was up to, she merely nodded and smiled, but did not say a thing. Darcy had just come back from a meeting with investors he had down in San Diego County and was surprised with an oddly quiescent sister.
"Did something happen today?" He asked, a little concerned.
"Nothing." Georgiana was keeping her eye on Elisa tonight. Natalia and she had spent several hours devising the perfect plan to prick Elisa's ire (or something of the sort) and compel her to rethink all the reservations she had about dating in general (and about Darcy in particular). The only thing necessary was to find out where Elisa was going to spend her evening and follow her there. The rest would come naturally.
"Why are you sitting like that, all quiet?"
She smiled slightly. "No reason."
"Ana -"
"Give it a rest already." Georgiana sighed in frustration. Chatting with William was making her lose sight of her object, which was moving around about a hundred feet away and helping out the Añya designers fit some of the models. Darcy followed her line of vision and instantly saw what, or rather who, she was looking at: Elisa. He hadn't seen her since last night, and because of his early start wasn't able to catch her that morning. What had she said? "We'll talk tomorrow, okay?" He thought that this time was as good as any, except under the watchful eye of his suspicious sister who, in his mind, really had no qualms about butting into his business. Georgiana was too perceptive and he didn't want her to disrupt the sort of delicate balance that was beginning to form between him and Elisa.
"Whatever you're thinking: No. Don't do it, don't plan it, don't even think about it." Darcy warned.
She gave him an innocent smile. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me, Ana. I know you're planning to do something... Just please, don't. Things will work out in their own time." That was about as close as he was ever going to get to admitting he liked Elisa to his sister. "If it is meant to be, it will happen." Darcy left her side and walked out of the Le Grand Trianon banquet room with the intention of returning later to speak with Elisa about that night.
Georgiana paused in her devoted surveillance of Elisa's moving around. She had a moment of conscience, of guilt, of second thoughts... What if William is right? What if I shouldn't intervene? I mean, he knows what he wants. And granted, it's taking a bit of time - more time than I would deem necessary - but he's working at it. Maybe I should call this whole thing off...
But then she thought of Elisa's lunch date with some handsome stranger (Georgiana had snuck out a few minutes after Elisa had left and tailed her for a while), and it made her angry and frustrated... No, I did not come this far to watch everything I had planned just fall apart. Fine, Elisa's dating someone else. But I know she cares for William, I'm absolutely positive she does... I hope William doesn't find out about the date because it would break his heart... But if that's the way it's going to be, two can play at that game. Well, actually it's three against one, and we're going to win, hands down.
Hold onto your horses, ladies and gents, 'cause this is going to be one bumpy ride.
Chapter 45
"I'm glad I caught you." Darcy said just as Elisa came out of the banquet room only a few minutes after he had left. She was carrying a large stack of papers, making verbal notes to herself, when he interrupted her.
Startled from her self-conversation, Elisa looked up with a weak smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Darcy."
"Are you busy right now? I wanted to talk to you." He looked over her shoulder to make sure Georgiana was engrossed in her work; he didn't want her "accidentally" happening upon their conversation. He knew how hard-pressed Elisa was with her duties this close to the showcase, but if he didn't act quickly, something would go wrong and ruin everything. He was absolutely sure of it.
Elisa nodded towards her papers. "Well, I have to deliver these specifications to the sound and lighting crew. But if you want, you can walk me there."
"Sure." He fell in step beside her as she wound her way down the hall toward the technical headquarters for the Fashion Week showcases. How to go about this delicately, he mused. How do you ask out a woman who apparently does not want to be asked out? And asked out by him in particular, as it seemed. "Busy day?"
"Sort of. As the week progresses, it's getting more and more hectic." She looked over her shoulder to make sure he was following her. "By Friday, I might be nothing more than a burned out mess. But it will have been worth it, I think. Ah, this is it." She knocked politely on a cream-colored door and was summoned in. "Wait here. I'll be out in a sec."
Darcy leaned against the wall and used the intervening minutes to devise a plan. A tactic. A strategy that would not fail. He didn't want to seem overeager and scare her off. Yet, he didn't want her to think that this was just a nice thing her boss's older brother did for every female employee. Dating was not something Darcy did or took lightly. He would have to convince Elisa that he was serious in his attentions and relieve her of her fears of inconstancy and betrayal - all while making sure she didn't realize he was doing this. She wasn't the sort to be told what she needed to feel or what to do by anyone.
"You ready?" She interrupted.
He tried not to look flustered. "Yeah, sure. I'll walk you back." As they walked in silence, it dawned on him how ridiculous he was being. Touching her arm lightly, Darcy stopped her before she disappeared inside the banquet room. "I wanted to ask you about tonight."
"Oh?" Elisa was hoping that he would not remember. "Yes, what about it?"
"Are we still on?" Feelings of doubt began to sink in and second thoughts were forming.
She couldn't miss the hopefulness and anxiousness that flashed in his eyes. She had been fearing and longing for their meeting since the night before when he had asked her to dinner. She knew the offer was innocent, a polite request for her to show him around the city she had lived in for many years. But still, something inside clutched at a fleeting hope for romance while it simultaneously urged her to run away as fast as she could. Still, she couldn't very well say no to the man. William Darcy didn't seem like a man who heard "no" too often.
"Of course. Was there any place in particular that you wanted to go? Or shall I choose?"
Darcy breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Actually, there was. But at the risk of seeming too touristy I'll refrain from telling you and instead cede to your suggestion." He had thought long and hard about the best way to woo Elisa, and romantic, candlelit dinners would scare her off immediately. He needed to gain her trust. Befriend her, in a sense.
She was intrigued by his answer. "No, no, tell me. If you really want to go, I'll take you."
"You'll laugh." He said with all seriousness, though he didn't feel it.
"I promise I won't. " She crossed her heart.
"Okay." Darcy purposely made a big show of getting his words out. "Well, I always did want to stroll the Third Street Promenade. But even to me, that sounds ridiculous."
A large smile appeared on her face. "It's about as ridiculous as someone wanting to see the Statue of Liberty their first time in New York, which is not ridiculous at all. I'd love to take you there. I used to go their all the time with my friends."
"Really?" He brightened, this time a genuine reaction.
Elisa grinned. "Of course. There are tons of things to do there. You'll love it."
"Where is she going?" Georgiana assaulted Shawn as Elisa drifted out of view. For such a small woman, it was unbelievable how fast she walked. The pair of them were having a hard time trailing her while appearing inconspicuous doing it.
"How the heck am I supposed to know? You're her friend." Shawn shot back.
"You're her roommate." Georgiana fired in return. "You'd think she would have said something."
He frowned. "Hey, I only got into the room seconds before she said she was going out. If you had told me earlier, I would probably would've had more luck in squeezing her for information."
"Now, now, children. No bickering." Natalia joined them, appearing almost out of nowhere. Georgiana and Shawn were undoubtedly relieved to see her. She being the tallest of the three would give her the advantage in keeping their quarry in sight. "As it happens, I picked up on some vital information."
"What?" They asked together.
"Well, I was standing next to the counter when she came up and asked the concierge to summon a car for her. Apparently, she'll be spending the night out on Third Street."
"The Promenade?" Georgiana asked, incredulous. "Why on earth would she go there?"
"Dinner and fun, I would imagine." Shawn grumbled.
She turned her attention to her male escort, of sorts. "Look, if you're going to be in such a bad mood, you can just stay here. Natalia and I can handle this just fine without you."
"Fine, I'm leaving. But let it be said that I don't approve of this sort of meddling. Everyone has a limit, and I've about reached mine." He huffed. "Think about it. Nothing will result of this but disaster."
"Oh, what do you know?" Georgiana spat as his retreating back. She didn't need his traitorous thoughts in addition to the doubts that already plagued her mind. "Come on, Natalia, or we'll lose her."
Elisa bit into her hamburger and considered the man sitting across from her. William Darcy certainly was a looker, no doubt about that. And the more and more she thought about it, the more she wanted him to do something reckless like kiss her. Or maybe she would kiss him.
Are you insane? What the heck are you on? Don't lose your mind. William may be gorgeous, but then he was gorgeous, too.
"This is certainly a new experience." Darcy observed, amused. The bright yellow, red, cactus green décor and metal furnishings seemed to unbelievably go with the classic soul being belted out of the jukebox. "They don't have a Fatburger in Manhattan."
"Just one of the many things wrong with the City. You guys don't have In 'N Out either, which is a tragedy. Remind me to take you there, too." Elisa waved an onion ring about.
"What's with your fascination with hamburger joints?" He took a bite of his Fatburger with cheese. He hadn't eaten like this since, well, ever. It had always been flashy, high-class restaurants with their overpriced entrees and foreign names. He didn't think he had ever eaten a hot dog in his life.
"When you're a hungry teenager with no money and in dire need of cheap but good food, this is where you come." She pointed out, smiling. "Not to mention the convenient location. After we're done we can walk along the Promenade, get some henna tattoos - which I haven't done since high school - and then check out the Santa Monica Pier." The excitement in her voice was contagious. Darcy couldn't help but enjoy himself.
An hour later, after meandering through the many stalls and shops that made the Third Street Promenade such a hit with the tourists and locals and getting - after profuse nagging by Elisa - matching henna tattoos of intricate scrolling around their upper arms, they ended up sitting on a stretch of beach near the Pier. In the background were the sounds of voices and the strains of pop music. The bright and colorful lights that covered the Pier decorated the dark night sky. Elisa stared into the rolling ocean waves, letting the peaceful rush of water come over her. It had been ages since she had come home, had returned to this favorite spot of her youth. God, how she missed everything. The feeling of security and love she had had. But everything had changed in a terrifying instant.
"What are you thinking about?" Darcy said quietly. She truly did look beautiful, sitting in the moonlight with her sandals tossed aside and the wet sand covering her shins and feet. Her hair tumbled out of the loose chignon she wore, curling down her back in soft waves that he wanted desperately to touch. The night could not have gone better. Darcy was confident that his subtle wooing was going to work.
"Why are you doing all this?" Elisa said, as if the night's events suddenly hit her.
"Doing what?"
"This." She gestured around her. "Taking me out to dinner, making friendly conversation, sitting on the beach... all that stuff?"
Okay, so subtle wasn't going to work. Maybe he needed to be direct. Darcy looked at her, a rare smile on his lips. "I thought it was obvious." It took a moment before she realized what he had meant by that comment. And even though she balked at the idea that he had meant what she thought he meant, Elisa colored nonetheless.
"You're beautiful when you do that." He said softly.
"Do what?" She could feel the heat in her face and do nothing to quell it.
"Blush. On anyone else it would be embarrassing, but on you it's positively charming."
Elisa turned away from his heated stare. "You really shouldn't say things like that to me." How could he have caught her off guard with such comments? How could she her face betray her emotions?
"Why not?"
"Because I might actually believe you."
"Well, you should. I always tell the absolute truth." He was in such earnest that Elisa wasn't quite sure what to think. Now who was the one that was insane?
"Do you really?" She got her wits about her. This wasn't the first time she got charmed by a man who claimed he always told the truth, but it would be the last. "Amazing ladies and gentlemen, here is a man that always tells the absolute truth." Her tone was suspiciously light, but there seemed to be something caustic and bitter in her meaning. "Should I take a picture to preserve the memory?"
The conversation was not exactly going as planned. "You know, there are men out there that do live honestly."
"I'm sure there are, but I have yet to meet one truly honest in his dealings."
Darcy's face was grim. "Then I shall have to work harder."
"At what?" She asked.
"Convincing you."
"You could try, but I predict you won't have a lot of luck." Elisa spat out before she could stop herself.
He was frustrated. "Are you so anti-men, then, that you won't give an honest guy a chance?"
"I'm anti-everyone!" She remarked in anger, then instantly felt that she had suddenly revealed too much to him. How did he get her to talk in such a frank manner? His eyes gleaned in knowing and she felt angry with herself, embarrassed. It was a long time before either of them spoke again. "You're a mystery, you know?" Her voice was quiet.
He was glad she was speaking to him. "How so?"
"You're so much like all the other men I've known, and yet at the same time you're completely different." She admitted.
"A living paradox?"
"Don't mock me." Her eyes flashed.
"No, I'm really not. I'm just trying to understand you."
"Why?"
"Because I like you."
For a minute, she looked haunted. Darcy was surprised he had gotten the words out, but he regretted them when he saw the pain etched in her features. How to make things all right? How to -
"Excuse me?" A voice interrupted them.
Darcy turned to the stranger with a scowl. "Yeah?"
"I was wondering - hey, aren't you William Darcy?"
"What?" He looked at the woman, confused.
"William, it's me. Natalia."
Chapter 46
"Who? What?" Darcy sputtered, bemused. Why was this woman interrupting his conversation with Elisa?
"Natalia Bergman. How soon you forget." She chided.
It took a moment before he recognized her. He stood up to assess her closely. "Lia? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing. What a coincidence, huh? I was taking a late night stroll... You know, this is the first time I've seen you in three years! It seems like forever." She hugged him without warning, which was a very "Natalia" thing to do. He grinned, remembering her embrace from years before. It didn't seemed like she had changed a whit. "What are you doing in L.A.?"
"Ana's got a show here this week. I thought I'd head the cheering squad. What about you?"
"Scouting for Hyman. Duleah Jewels, you know?" She smiled.
"Sound investment." He replied, not overly concerned over the turn of events or the absurdity of talking business to a former girlfriend in the middle of the night on a beach. "You could do a lot worse."
"If you don't mind, I think I'll head back now." Elisa finally spoke, breaking their conversation.
He realized he had forgotten she was there. "Oh, sorry. Elisa, this is Natalia Bergman. Lia, Elisabeth Bennet. She works for Georgiana."
"Nice to meet you." Natalia extended her hand.
Elisa sort of looked at it, but did not grasp it. "You, too. Why don't I leave you two alone? You must have a lot to catch up on."
"But - " Darcy started.
"Good night, Mr. Darcy. Natalia." And without further ado, she got up and walked away. Darcy stared at her retreating back, wondering how everything had transpired. Wasn't he confessing his love not just a moment ago? And what was his ex-girlfriend doing on this beach? Natalia was talking now. Darcy tried to make out the words coming from her mouth, but everything ended up sounding like gibberish.
What the bloody hell was going on?
"How long are you in town, Lia?" Darcy cut into her speech.
"About two weeks. How about you, William? When does Ana's show end?"
"We're staying until Sunday. Look, why don't we catch up tomorrow? I'm staying at the Regent. You can talk to Ana, too." Darcy looked desperately over her shoulder. Elisa was getting farther and farther away. "Tomorrow, okay?"
"That would be lovely. It was great seeing you again." Natalia grasped his hand and gave him a firm smile before he rushed off. A few minutes later, Georgiana appeared from her hiding place behind a large sand dune.
"Well?" Ana prodded. The fact that Elisa was on another date had surprised her. The fact that Elisa's date had been with her brother had nearly bowled her over with shock. When she had seen them walking together down the Promenade, she almost tripped over her own feet. "What happened?"
"Something that I probably should not have interrupted." Natalia answered. "You don't need me here, Ana. Truly. I look in his eyes and I see something there that I never saw when we were together all those years: love. He's completely smitten by her."
"Are you sure?" Georgiana asked.
"Absolutely positive." Natalia grabbed her arm. "Come on. Let's get you back before your brother returns to the hotel."
He is not like him. He is nothing like him. He and William Darcy are completely separate people. All men are not alike. There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything.
Elisa repeated the sentences in her head over and over as she marched over the wooden Pier and towards the parking structure where she had last left the car she had rented for the night. The driver had been instructed to spend his free time in the surrounding area and to be back at the car by ten thirty. She checked her watch. It was only nine right now. The last thing she wanted to do was to be caught sitting next to a parked car by William Darcy, after he had a pleasant hour and a half with what apparently had to be an old girlfriend.
"Stupid amazon-queen." She muttered to herself. And to think she had almost believed him when he said he liked her. How could he ever like a person like her when he had that?
"Elisa! Wait!" He called her from far behind her.
She ignored him. It was the only thing she trusted herself to do at the moment.
"Please, will you just stop?" Darcy yelled again, attracting more attention than he thought. Instead of stopping, Elisa turned away and walked towards Third Street. The groups of stragglers from the Promenade making their way to the Santa Monica Pier observed them curiously. By the time he caught up with her, she was already walking down the crowded street.
"What's wrong?" He asked, a little out of breath.
"Nothing." Elisa lied, trying to pull her arm out of his grip. "Please, just let me go."
Darcy led her aside to a small, deserted alleyway. "We need to talk."
"No we don't." A few unexpected tears started to slip down her face. "Shit." She said softly, wiping them away with the back of her hand. Leave it to her to being crying at the most inappropriate moment.
"Why are you crying?" Darcy tilted her face to his.
She pushed him back but didn't run away like he had feared she would. "I can't do this." She said shakily.
"Do what?"
"This!" Elisa gestured with her arms. "This! Everything! I just can't handle it right now, at this point in my life."
"You're wrong, Elisa." He wanted to hold her but couldn't.
"This is insane... Mr. Darcy - "
"For god's sake, just call me William!" He cut in.
Elisa looked at him through watery eyes. "Look, we hardly know each other. I work for your sister. We're completely different people, don't you see?"
"No, I don't see. And you're right, this is insane. But I can't help feeling the way I do about you. There's some sort of connection, an attraction that I can't break. Give me a chance, please." Darcy pleaded with her.
"I can't!" She replied, a little shrilly. "You hardly know me. How can you be sure whatever you feel for me isn't just some passing fancy? You don't know anything about me, about my past or even my present. How can you come up and tell me that you like me and expect me to accept it just like that? It doesn't work that way. The world doesn't work like that!"
"If you would stop trying to push people away, you would see that I am not trying to trick you into anything. I only tell the complete truth. And I am telling you that we belong together, for some reason or another."
"You've completely lost your mind!" Elisa shrieked, the tears coming faster.
She was so close to becoming hysterical that Darcy worried. "Will you calm down, please? Just breathe, okay?"
Elisa shook her head at him. "Don't tell me what to do!"
'You're going to start hyperventilating if you don't calm down."
"Please. Leave me alone."
She ran out of the alleyway back into the throng of people strolling the street. Darcy followed, worrying about her safety in her state. He must have opened old wounds deeper than he had anticipated. Elisa was crying and running a bit erratically. It wasn't long before he caught up to her and held her closely to him, crushing her to his chest. She didn't fight him like he thought she would. Instead, Elisa clung a little closer, crying harder than she had in a long time.
"I'm a disaster." She whispered through her tears.
"You're not." He comforted her. "You're perfect."
"How long before you hurt me, too?"
"I won't."
"Can you guarantee it? Can you honestly tell me that you'll never ever hurt me?"
He thought about it seriously. "No, I can't promise a hundred percent. No one can."
"I can't accept anything less." Elisa stepped away from him. The people around them were watching closely at the spectacle before them.
"You've got to stop hiding behind your fears, Elisa." He yelled after her. "You've got to let go, or you'll never be happy."
She pulled her light jacket tighter around her shoulders. "I'll never be happy, either way."
He watched her walk away, unsure of his next course.
Chapter 47
"You have a hell of a lot of explaining to do." Georgiana said first thing Wednesday morning.
Darcy stirred in his bed, confused. What time was it? By the position of the sun in the sky outside the window, he estimated around nine in the morning. He had spent the night wandering the beach, trying to figure out what to do from there. By the time he remembered he had to go back, his ride was gone - mostly likely Elisa had taken the limo - and he had to call for a taxi.
"Elisa's gone!" His sister hit him with a pillow. "What did you do to her?"
"What?" He sat up, groggy. The four hours of sleep he had managed to catch hadn't helped him a bit. "What did you say?"
"I said Elisa's gone. She's not in her room. I just spoke with Shawn. He said she didn't come home last night!" The worry in her voice was very real. "What did you do to her?"
"I didn't do anything." He stood up and dressed hastily. "And why would you even think I had something to do with it?" He questioned, now staring at her in a curious way.
Georgiana didn't say a word.
"What aren't you telling me, Ana?" Darcy looked belligerent. "Were you following me last night?"
"I might have done." She fudged, in a quiet voice.
"You might ha - Wait, Natalia's appearance wasn't just a huge coincidence, was it? Did you know about this?"
She hated it when he looked angry. Time to change tactics. "It doesn't matter what I know or don't know. The fact of the matter is, Elisa's gone and you had something to do with it. Now I want to know what that was."
Darcy pulled on a lightweight jacket. "I didn't do anything to her. We talked." Sort of.
"Talked?" Georgiana eyed him incredulously. "About what?"
"It's none of your business." He put in quietly. "Now, if you'll kindly move out of my way, I'm going to try and find her."
She stepped away from the door. "Do you know where she went?"
His calm attitude was belied in his abrupt movements. "No, but I intend to find out."
It turned out it was much easier to trace Elisa's course from last night than Darcy expected. He immediately contacted the limo service at the hotel and had a talk with their driver from the night before. From then it was only a manner of time before he caught up with the purposely missing woman.
Pulling his rented car into the driveway of a two-story house, Darcy got out and surveyed the house all over again. He had only been here once before earlier in the week, but it seemed like ages ago. With a determined air, Darcy walked to the front door and rang the bell. He half hoped that Elisa's mother wouldn't open the door, remembering the awful, overpowering stench of Chanel from his last visit. As it turned out, her father opened the door.
"Yes?" He asked gruffly.
"Mr. Bennet? Hi, I don't know if you rem - " He started.
"Of course I do." Her father interrupted. "You're that Darcy fellow. I suppose you're looking for her."
"I am." Darcy wiped his slightly sweaty hands on his trousers. "Is she here? We've all been extremely worried."
"She is not." Mr. Bennet answered matter-of-factly. The rigid expression on his face revealed that he was none to happy about the situation at hand.
"Oh... Well, sorry about wasting your time." Darcy started to back away.
"She was about a hour ago, though." Her father added, almost as if it were an afterthought.
Darcy stood stock still, the look on his face worthy of every single lovesick teenage boy. "Where is she? Please... You have to tell me."
Benjamin Arnold Bennet, the Third, assessed the young man before him. He didn't quite understand what his Elisabeth saw in Darcy, but he instinctively knew that Darcy was a person to be trusted. And as a father, Benjamin felt that he had the reserved right and long overdue duty to do some meddling.
He had never seen such a lonely soul.
Upon a grassy hill, Elisa sat underneath a shady tree, her knees raised to her chin. Her back was turned slightly to him and he could just make out the edge of her profile. His first instinct was to run to her, but that kind of action was not befitting the place they were in. So he approached slowly from above her position on the hill where he had parked his car, taking care not to be unduly noisy is his descent.
As he neared, he realized two things: one, she was sitting near a flat headstone; and two, she was talking softly in a voice laced with tears.
"I miss you so much." She said out loud. In her right hand she tightly grasped a bouquet of light pink roses until her knuckles were white. "I wish you were here."
Darcy truly did not want to interrupt, but he felt compelled to comfort her. "Elisa?"
She let out a surprised shriek, getting to her feet quickly. "What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here?" He countered. "You disappeared without a word. We were worried."
"I was... I mean..." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I came to visit my sister."
With the bouquet, she pointed down toward the headstone. Upon the flat rectangular slab of marble were the etched words "Mary Catherine Bennet. Daughter, Sister and Friend. 1976 - 1997. Angel on Earth, may you rejoin the Angels in Heaven."
"Kitty loved roses." Elisa said, to no one in particular. Her eyes were bright with tears but her face held such a calm expression that Darcy was concerned. "She loved them so much." Crumbling to floor once more, she stared without seeing at the grass beneath her.
"Come on now." Darcy said soothingly. He gently grabbed her hand. "Up you go, now. Come on, Elisa. There, that's a good girl." He pulled her up easily, as she didn't fight him. Her face was so pale and haunted, like she was trying to contain within herself all the pain she had ever experienced. Darcy held her closer to himself, hugging her until he could rest his head on the top of hers. "You can cry now. It's okay."
"I'm all cried out." She mumbled weakly into his chest. "I'm so tired of everything."
"Come back to the hotel with me. You can get some rest there. Ok?" It broke his heart to see her so distressed. "Ana and Shawn are worried, too."
"Fine." She let him pull her along, not caring if she stumbled in the steeper areas. She didn't even question his being there, knowing that somehow he would find her no matter how far she ran. Taking her hand, he helped her into a parked car. It was a long while before anyone spoke on the ride back.
"How did you know I was at Rose Hills?" Elisa finally asked, her voice soft and subdued.
"You father told me you had called a taxi to take you there." He remembered the pained look that had crossed Mr. Bennet's face when he mentioned Rose Hills Memorial Park, where his eldest daughter now laid and his second eldest still mourned her sister's passing.
"Oh." She turned toward the window, staring outside at the other cars on the freeway. "I hope Georgiana isn't very mad."
"She's not."
"She had the Manolo Blahnik meeting today..."
"She knows." He tried to reassure her. "Don't worry about her right now. Worry about yourself."
"I'm fine." She replied indignantly. "I'm just a little tired."
"You're worn out. You're stressed beyond belief. And you're dealing with a lot of emotional issues right now that are reeking trauma on your body. Part of that is my fault."
"Why do you assume you know everything about me? You don't, so stop pretending that you do."
"I want to." He replied seriously. "If you'll only open yourself up. I can help you through this."
"I don't want your help." She said peevishly.
Darcy couldn't trust himself to talk. He liked her a lot. Hell, he probably even loved her. And for once he wasn't going to sit back and let things run their course. He could tell that Elisa was currently taking a path toward self-destruction, and he wasn't about to sit back and watch.
"Well too bad. You're getting it anyways, whether you want it or not." He mumbled to himself.
Chapter 48
"Stop looking at me like that." Elisa hissed as she swathed a model in a peach-colored dress made of fine Foulard cotton. The model sipped a champagne glass full of Korbel and looked on with disinterest. Pinning and tucking, Elisa lifted her head and found Darcy still watching her avidly. "Cut it out."
"Ouch!" The blonde beanpole exclaimed. "Watch it, will you?"
Elisa removed the offending pin that she had accidentally stuck in the model's side. "Sorry. Why don't you go over to Tyler and have him finish the fitting?" She pushed the woman toward the other side of the room.
Ever since he had returned her to the hotel the day before, Darcy had been her constant companion. She organized the notes Georgiana had taken at the Manolo Blahnik meeting the day before. He was there, making comments on the colors of shoes. She went to dinner. He was there, pulling out her chair. She helped the designers with the clothes fittings. He was there, handing her the next peasant blouse or tan suede pants.
The worst part was the look her kept giving her, like he was trying to figure her out and figure out how to get her to talk to him all the while making sure he didn't somehow offend her. It was irritating. She wanted to deck him every time he approached with that considering look. "I swear, if you don't leave me alone, I will hurt you."
"Don't be a pain." He said simply.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Elisa hit him with a hat as she passed by. Chyna was beckoning to her from the other side of the room.
"Nope." To her dismay but not surprise, her followed her. The rest of Thursday afternoon passed in much the same way: Elisa tending her duties, Darcy trailing behind her.
It was enough to make her scream.
Elisa was troubled and trying desperately to hide it, drowning herself in work if only to keep the pain away for another hour. Darcy thought of this while tugging on his tie, watching idly as Georgiana primped in front of the mirror. She was clothed in a stunning white cashmere pantsuit of her own creation, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail that was very chic.
"How do I look?" She asked as she approached him.
He decided to overlook the cleavage that was more than hinted at by the low V of the front of the pantsuit. "Very nice. Mother's pearls look beautiful on you." He fingered the pearl stud in her right ear. It still surprised him how much his little sister had grown up into a striking young woman right before his eyes. "Knock them dead."
"That's exactly what I plan to do." She smiled cheekily. "Come on. I'll be late to my own showing and that wouldn't look good."
He led her downstairs where a rather good-sized group was already forming before the ballroom doors. They pushed their way through, flashing their passes to the doormen, and were immediately admitted into the room. The catwalk was lit up brightly as the tech crew ran over the specs one more time before the real show started.
"Cue music." A familiar voice sounded over the intercom.
The smooth violin styling of Joshua Bell played through the room, filling Darcy with a sense of calm. He took in the mainly understated décor of the scene, with its utilitarian wooden furnishings and white on white theme. The only part of the decoration that attested to any creativity were the boughs of cherry blossom trees woven together and lining the very edge of the catwalk, framing the long white walkway. Severally strategically placed Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees showered the room in white and pale pink blossoms, their young branches stretching toward the ceiling.
"Nice, huh?" Georgiana asked mildly. "Elisa suggested the trees months ago when she saw the clothes we were designing. She said the colors reminded her of a trip to Washington D.C. she took when she was younger to see the Blossom Festival. I rather think she was right."
Darcy was about to ask where Elisa was when she stepped out from behind the backdrop. "We're about ready." She said to Georgiana. "Just give them a few minutes to fix the bugs, and we should be set."
"Great. I'll head back right now." Georgiana left them to make last minute checks on the models and her designers.
Darcy took in her rather plain faded jeans and non-descript t-shirt. "Why aren't you dressed up?"
"You don't imagine me running around in Jimmy Choo heels, now do you?" She straightened the headset over her hair, making sure the wires didn't tangle into her loose bun. "Running a fashion show from backstage is hard work, believe it or not." She stopped to listen to someone talking into her earpiece, nodding to whomever who was speaking. Abruptly, she lifted her head and gave a thumbs-up to a hidden window high in the middle of the back wall above the doors he had just entered. "I have to get back."
"Good luck." He said lamely as she walked away from him. Settling into a wooden chair up close to the end of the catwalk, Darcy waited patiently for the show to start.
He was going to get Elisa to talk to him tonight if it killed him.
She was steadily getting drunk. Darcy noticed as she plucked yet another champagne flute of Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé from a passing waiter - her fourth in a mere hour. She had changed after the show and was now a dazzling picture in her turquoise, one shouldered gown of Georgette Crepe silk in the style of a Grecian nymph. The folds draped charmingly over her petite form, floating light as air whenever she turned slightly. A heavy bracelet made of three interlocked bands of silver hung on her right arm and Darcy watched as it rose every time her arm lifted her glass to her lips.
"Damn." He whispered harshly to himself as he watched her stumble over to the dance floor with a tall blonde man who looked like a misplaced Viking. Darcy didn't like the fact that she was clinging to the Viking like she was drowning and he was the last life preserver around.
He also didn't like the fact that she was drinking in the first place. Elisa wasn't a drinker.
The show had undoubtedly been a success. The critics raved about the "return to romance" - the title was given due to the soft and billowy fabrics and simple, yet elegant cut to the clothing. Muted shades of rose and cream paired off with cardinal and berry. The models wore their hair in loose waves and sometimes pinned to the side with gold clips. The look was modest but beautiful. Many felt that the Añya showcase would generate a lot of money for the charity group that Fashion Week L.A. was supporting.
The after-show party raged on. Models wandered the trendy little club, drunk and happy. Fashion designers from every conceivable line were there. James Mischka of Badgley Mishka was chatting up Stella McCartney of Chloe. High-end Hollywood elites mingled, their movie-star status granting them entrance to the fashion shows and after-show parties. Gwyneth Paltrow and Winona Ryder shared drinks at the bar while Cameron Diaz looked on. All in all, everyone was pleasantly inebriated and grooving to the music of the DJ.
Elisa stumbled again and the Viking held her tighter. Darcy gritted his teeth. This called for some invasive action. Pushing his way toward the dance floor, he caught the eye of his little sister. Georgiana immediately perked up and excused herself from the conversation she was having with some studio mogul.
"What is it?" She asked as she reached his side.
"Dance me over to their side, will you?" He nodded toward the mismatched pair a few feet away.
Her brows went up as she saw how the Viking was all over Elisa (or was it the other way around?). "Is she drunk?" She sounded shocked and worried at the same time.
"Yes, pretty much. Look, I'm going to take her back to the hotel before she passes out and makes a fool of herself."
Georgiana nodded. They quickly danced their way to Elisa and the Viking.
"Mind if I cut in." Darcy said severely; it was more of a statement than a question. The Viking looked confused so Darcy easily pushed him aside and took Elisa into his arms. Georgiana quietly led the Viking to a nearby chair to get him out of the way.
"Hello Billy!" Elisa said brightly, her voice slurred. Her features looked mellow and relaxed. She smiled lazily. "Nice of you to join me."
"We're getting you out of here." He pulled her toward the exit, half dragging her along the way. She protested mildly, but most of her words were lost in soft giggles. He hailed the limo he had rented from the hotel and unceremoniously pushed her inside. Within a half hour they were back at the Regent. Darcy propped her outside her room as the hotel manager opened the door for them. As soon as the man left, Darcy took her face in his hands and spoke in a stern voice, trying to capture her attention. "You, madam, are drunk."
"Yes, I am." She replied, falling to the side. He caught her easily, and carefully swinging her into his arms, he carried her into the room and dropped her on her bed. She was a mess, but a beautiful mess no less. Rolling her on her side in case she was going to be sick, he toyed with a lock of her hair, wondering what he was going to do with her.
Elisa yawned, but her eyes were wide open. She observed as he took off her shoes and arranged the skirt of her dress about her, struggling with the idea of whether or not to undress and clothe her in something more appropriate. He ultimately decided the former was too personal and instead pulled the bed covers up to her shoulders.
"You have to sleep it off." He said, but without much heat. He pulled a chair next to her bedside, already determined to keep vigil for the remainder of the night.
"I'm not tired." Elise replied. Through her alcohol-induced haze, she thought Darcy looked rather like an angel come to save her. "What are you doing here?"
"Keeping you company. You're drunk." He said stiffly. "Now sleep."
"I don't want to... Who made you the boss of me, anyway?" She threw off her covers and rolled over to her other side. "Go away and leave me alone."
"No you don't..." He got up and put the covers back on her. She was still for a moment, oddly quiet.
At length, she spoke. Her voice was a low, broken whisper. "Why are you doing this? Why are you being so nice to me?"
I love you, he thought. In his heart, he knew it was true, for whatever reason. He reached out and traced a finger down the visible side of her face. "I want to make sure you're all right."
"You don't have to... I mean, it isn't your job to monitor me, or anything."
"I know." He touched her face again, loving how soft her cheek was.
She yawned again, but her eyes remained open.
"We need to talk." Darcy said, settling back into another chair he pulled up to the other side of the bed. "But it can wait until morning."
"No." Elisa lifted her head. "We can talk now. I won't be asleep for hours."
There were so many things he wanted to ask, so many questions he had that he could never voice when she was sober. But now, with her completely smashed, he had a golden opportunity to extract the truth from her, without fears and prevarications clouding her words. Only an idiot would not take advantage of the chance to get her to speak freely. But how to start? The healing process started when you talked about your problems. Darcy needed her to speak about her past.
"Tell me about your sister." He said quietly.
She didn't look surprised at his question. Only saddened, teary. "She's dead."
"How did she die?" He followed with another question.
"I can't tell you." She said, starting to get agitated.
"Yes, you can." He cooed, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You can only hold so much in, Elisa. Tell me what happened, what made you so afraid to love. For once let someone else carry this burden you so dearly cling to. Let that person be me... Just for tonight, reveal yourself to me. Without the walls, without the fears and hesitations."
She was quiet once more. For a moment, he wasn't sure if she had fallen asleep. "It was my fault." Her voice said at last, trembling. "She's dead and never coming back, and it was all my fault."
"What are you talking about?" Darcy tried to control her shivering.
Elisa looked at him with tortured eyes. "It was my fault... I killed her."