Beauty and the Boss Read online

  help someone get their start in the business, and nothing

  would make her stop wanting to find talent. Fashion

  designers, successful ones anyway, she’d discovered

  through the years, very seldom liked to share the limelight,

  but she figured karma would only help if she continued her

  quest to find new talent and help grow it.

  “I’m not lecturing, so stop saying that, but you’ve paid

  enough dues and kept your promise enough years. Why not

  skip the intern this time and save yourself a lot of

  heartache? We’ve got enough to do without having all the

  problems some of these people come with.” He cut his eyes

  up at her without lifting his head, as if to see if she’d bite on

  what he’d been asking for three years in a row.

  “Come on, Ruby. Don’t you remember being that baby-

  faced hopeful looking for one big break?” Their relationship

  had actually begun earlier than that, since Ellis had been

  the only one who’d talked to the then-wallflower Rueben.

  They’d started small with a loan from Amis, never

  skimping on quality, which had paid off when they landed

  two up-and-coming actresses for the Golden Globes. They

  were surprise winners and had returned to see if they could

  find Oscar magic with a Renois design. Business had picked

  up after that and had skyrocketed when they’d landed two

  of the three dresses the first lady had worn a year after that

  to the inaugural balls.

  “You can’t drag me that far back in time, thank you. God,

  I was such a dork back then,” Rueben said, snapping the

  book closed.

  Rueben had wanted to stay in the background, which had

  surprised her, but he’d never been able to shed his

  Midwestern farm-boy shyness. Then again, most boys from

  the Midwest didn’t know what taffeta was and why it should

  be used sparingly, if at all, so that had explained his quiet

  nature. She loved him enough that she seldom said

  anything about Rueben’s list of quirks. He didn’t complain,

  though, when she launched Renois’s Maddox line of evening

  wear. It was an offshoot of the Renois line, and his creativity

  had made it a success.

  “A dork who owned three hundred and fifty-two scarves,”

  she said, combing back her dark-brown hair that was longer

  than she usually kept it.

  “Don’t remind me.” He pointed his pen at her. “And I’ll

  never forgive you for not telling me how much those things

  upped my dork factor.”

  “It was all part of your charm.” She gazed out to the

  nondescript building next door. This view and the one from

  her apartment that overlooked Central Park were the only

  two she saw when she was working. The stories the tabloids

  loved to print about the women in her life never mentioned

  her long hours. Granted, she’d had plenty of women, but

  nowhere near the number the news rags liked to write

  about. Right now there were no women, plenty of work, and

  an apathy that was starting to swamp her. She was anxious

  to get out of town, hoping the change of scenery would get

  her back in the groove of loving all this again.

  New York was the center of the universe when it came to

  fashion, but she’d never been able to really think in this city.

  Her mother, Amis, said it was because of her ADHD, but in

  her own defense, it was hard to concentrate in a city that

  never really slept. The studio and the apartment she owned

  off the park at Fifth and East 72nd Street were tastefully

  decorated, a prime location, and the site of countless

  parties whenever she was in the city—but it wasn’t home,

  and it was more of a trophy than anything else. A big bank

  account, a perfect home, and fame weren’t the basis for

  happiness, no matter what other people thought.

  “And it was your charm that almost wrecked our show

  this year, so why don’t you think of some other way to pay

  the universe back for our good fortune? You could donate to

  badly dressed children maybe,” Rueben suggested.

  “Why does the word no unlock the crazy, gouge-your-

  eyes-out, witch factor in some women?”

  Rueben stood next to her and held her hand. It was the

  same comfort she’d provided him when her intern/entry-

  level designer from the previous year had caused a scene

  by stripping naked at her show, screaming obscenities the

  entire time as she walked the runway.

  The hysteria had started when Ellis told her they wouldn’t

  be sleeping together anymore and she wasn’t getting her

  own line. Ellis still hadn’t figured out which of the options

  had caused the childish behavior. No matter. The tantrum

  had gotten a lot of press, most of it good, so she couldn’t

  complain. She figured it was the young woman’s perky tits

  and great ass that the press had fallen in love with that had

  saved them.

  “Isn’t that a rather sexist statement?” Rueben said

  sarcastically.

  “You act like that at times, but I already know the list of

  what drives you down Main Street of crazy town.”

  “Oh yeah, what?”

  “Hunger and heat, and add a broken heel or a run in

  someone’s stocking before going on, and you’ve hit the

  trifecta. I have yet to make you insane enough to strip in

  front of a large crowd though.” They both laughed before

  she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I promise to

  behave this year, Ruby, but I’m not breaking our pledge.”

  “I want that in writing, preferably in blood, so you’ll

  remember it when your brain goes to mush when they show

  you their tits.”

  “You’ve got that all wrong.” She stood and grabbed her

  jacket. “The last thing in the world that happens to me is

  turning to mush when someone shows me their tits, as you

  so elegantly put it. Trust me on that. It’s the complete

  opposite of mush.”

  “You’re disgusting and a bit touched in the head.”

  “But you love me anyway.” She blew him a kiss on her

  way out the door.

  CHAPTER THREE

  “You need to eat more,” Amis Renois said to Ellis before

  she sat next to her at Carnegie Deli.

  “If any model on our payroll heard you say that, they’d

  hire a hit man to take you out.” Ellis always tried to get a

  corned-beef sandwich and an order of chopped liver before

  leaving the city. She kissed her mother’s cheek and took her

  hand. Aside from Rueben, her mother never held her

  tongue, even when it was necessary to hurt her feelings by

  disagreeing, but her brutal honesty had taught Ellis never to

  fear the truth. It was a blessing in an industry often full of

  petty, jealous backstabbers.

  “You’re one of the only designers who admits to the world

  a woman has curves and, God forbid, breasts, and the sky

  has yet to fall.” Amis made the universal hand motion for a

  woman with both breast and hips as she laughed. “It’s why

  places like Macy’s and
Target, as well as the high-end

  boutiques, are banging on your door, and you never lack

  dates on any night of the week. Women love you, chéri, and

  you make them look good. It’s a powerful combination.”

  “I’ll stick to the casual date and making them look good.

  Any longer than that and my luck runs aground on the rocky

  shoals of life.”

  “I really should’ve limited your reading as a child,” Amis

  said, laughing again. “Such gloom for so few years on this

  earth. You need to find someone who makes you see and

  appreciate the goodness in life. It’s the only way to truly

  experience its beauty.”

  “I have you for that, so my life’s full.”

  The waiter set down the assortment of food Amis had

  ordered and hesitated when he took a long look at Ellis.

  Damn Ruby and his insistence on putting her picture on

  their latest marketing campaign. Hoping he’d move on, she

  said, “Thank you.”

  “Kiss Ruby for me when you see him again. The

  expression on your face whenever anyone does that is

  priceless.”

  “The two of you are a laugh riot. Next time, your picture

  is going on the campaign, so you can be the center of

  attention.”

  Ellis tried her best to get through at least half of the

  enormous sandwich, but her appetite didn’t hold out that

  long. After a few bites of cheesecake she was done and

  ready to finish her list of errands before she left for home.

  “Are you coming down South with us?” Ellis asked as she

  paid the bill.

  “I’ll be there in a few weeks. The dynamic duo is having

  problems, and I want to oversee their solutions. That should

  give me plenty of time.”

  “What kind of problems?” Ellis smiled at her mother’s

  nickname for Dalton and Jennifer.

  Dalton and Jennifer had been key employees for a time,

  but Ellis hadn’t anticipated that the people she trusted with

  her business would become lovers and somewhat secretive.

  That was one reason she was glad her mother was president

  and still enjoyed overseeing most of the business end of

  things. Amis was the only person she truly trusted, and

  since the contracts Dalton and Jennifer had signed would be

  expensive to break, Amis was the one person who kept the

  two in check.

  “According to Dalton, the contracts with Saks had some

  glitches in them,” Amis said. “I went over everything with

  legal, so I’m not sure what he’s talking about. If this is just

  more bullshit to waste my time, I hope you’re okay with me

  firing him the second I find any irregularity on anything

  remotely fishy. I keep trying to find a cause to cut them

  both, but they have a talent for slithering along without

  crossing the line that would get them fired.”

  “You get a raise if you find that, and call Josh at Saks and

  see what the deal is.” Ellis took her mother’s hand and

  helped her outside. “I’ll see you tonight for dinner.”

  “What’s your next stop?”

  “I finished the interviews this morning, so I have to make

  a decision. After that I’m ready to go.”

  Amis stared at her but kept her mouth shut.

  “What?” Ellis laughed when her mother shook her head

  but smiled. “I promised Ruby I’d behave, so you can stop

  worrying.”

  “Ah, chéri. You are the most talented person I know, but

  behaving isn’t in your repertoire of gifts. I have no one to

  blame but myself, though, so who am I to tell you anything?

  I taught you that life is a buffet to be enjoyed, but who knew

  you’d be so drawn only to the dessert section.” Amis kissed

  both her cheeks and hugged her as if using all her strength.

  “Try to at least pick one who’ll keep her clothes on during

  fashion week, hopefully during the show anyway. The rest is

  up to you.”

  Ellis smiled as her mother grabbed both her ears and

  gently shook her head. “Let me know if you need any help

  at the office or with Saks.”

  “Good luck, and I’ll handle those two, no problem.” Amis

  kissed her cheeks again. “The most important thing, chéri,

  is to pick one who’ll make you happy. After all, isn’t that the

  most any of us can hope for?”

  “I’ll try my best, Mama. I’ll try my best.”

  * * *

  Charlotte pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to forget

  the blossoming headache the present phone call was

  causing. “You already flaked out on me this morning, and

  you haven’t seen Sawyer in three months. If you come get

  her until I get off tonight, you’ll get the chance to spend

  time with her.”

  “What can I tell you, babe? Boss said to show up or forget

  about showing up at all.” Kyle Snyder laughed in a way that

  made Charlotte want the magical power to crawl through

  the phone connection and strangle him when she reached

  the other side. “The way you harp about money, you’d think

  this was a good thing.”

  “I don’t harp about money to lavish on myself, Kyle. It’s

  to help take care of Sawyer. I have to work a double shift

  tonight and my sitter’s sick. I hate having her sitting there

  for so long. Do you think your mom could watch Sawyer for

  a few hours? Once you’re finished at work you can pick her

  up.” She couldn’t believe the words had come out of her

  mouth, but desperate times and measures made even the

  devil look good. She still cursed her sixteen-year-old self for

  actually believing the bullshit Kyle had been peddling way

  back then. That she was ever that naive was stunning. “I

  don’t ask you for much.” And you don’t give much, she

  thought but didn’t add, on the chance Kyle would actually

  come through this one time.

  “You know Mom loves the brat, but she’s not feeling

  good.”

  That meant she was so hung over she could barely

  remember Kyle’s sorry ass, much less her granddaughter.

  Charlotte hung up. Kyle and his entire family were total

  assholes and losers, but he’d given her one thing she

  wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. Sawyer was a

  bright, enthusiastic kid who’d made life a juggling act from

  the day she was born, but she was the greatest gift the

  universe had ever given Charlotte. It was like the powers

  that be had taken a day off from fucking her over to give her

  a perfect daughter.

  Charlotte set her phone aside and didn’t feel the same

  satisfaction as slamming it down. She didn’t have time to

  brood about it, so she started walking around the

  apartment, getting ready for work.

  “Mama, you okay?” Sawyer asked as she pulled on

  Charlotte’s shirttails. She was stretched out on the sofa

  watching TV, her hair going in all directions. Eight and a half

  years of trying to tame it had been in vain.

  “How’d you like to work with me today?” Charlotte tried

  her best to make her voice light. “You can bring your
books

  and read or draw.”

  “Really, I can?” Sawyer cocked her head back as far as

  it’d go to look up at her. The crooked smile made Sawyer all

  that more adorable.

  “You bet.”

  “Is it my fault you still have to work there? I know you

  don’t like it,” Sawyer said, following her to the one bedroom

  they shared.

  Their apartment wasn’t great, but you’d never realize

  that by the monthly rent. The only way to pay for it was the

  waitress job she didn’t care for at all, yet the hours were

  flexible. When she was struggling to make it through school,

  it had been a godsend.

  “It’s not your fault, and I’m going to get a much better

  job, so don’t worry about it.” Charlotte kissed the top of

  Sawyer’s head and hugged her. “Mrs. Cleaver’s sick, so I’m

  sorry you’ll be stuck watching me all night. I’ll buy you a

  burger and a chocolate shake to make up for boring you to

  death until ten.”

  “Make it strawberry, and you can stay late,” Sawyer said

  with a laugh.

  She put on the polyester outfit from hell and carried

  Sawyer’s bag for her so she could easily hold her hand on

  the subway. The diner was a block off Times Square and

  usually packed with tourists and theatergoers, but her boss

  didn’t mind her bringing Sawyer since she sat and either

  sketched or read.

  “How’d it go?” Serena, her fellow waitress, asked as

  Charlotte punched in. “If you get the job, is there any

  chance of free clothes for all your closest friends?”

  “Ellis Renois is an ass, so I doubt I’ll be getting more than

  the five minutes she blessed me with today. As for free

  clothes, I seriously don’t think even her mother gets that.”

  “Sorry,” Serena said as she put her hand on Charlotte’s

  shoulder. “I know how much you were looking forward to

  this chance.”

  “I guess I’ve got more dues to pay, so do you mind

  keeping an eye on Sawyer when it gets crazy tonight and

  pass the word?”

  “We’ll keep her in fries and pie,” Serena said, waving

  over her shoulder as she headed out with a fresh order

  book.

  Six hours later Charlotte was sure that selling herself on

  the street would be better than this job. The tables she was

  responsible for had won the prize for the troubled section

  that night, and it seemed like every other table had sent at