Read Online A Collateral Attraction by Liz Madrid - Free Book Online

say she had a sister, Daniel,” she says before turning to face Alicia. “Heath closed the shop for her? Are you sure about that?  He’s never closed any shop for anyone but Mother.  Not even Natasha-”
    “Well, this time, he did,” Alicia says, glancing at her watch, “and it’s hers for four more hours.  So, please, if you’ll excuse us, Miss Delphine has a lot more shopping to do.”
    Cars honking outside force them to make their exit, but not before Jessica looks back at me, her gaze more judgmental than the last, though this time, I make sure to bring my shoulders back and push out my breasts, the way Blythe taught me.
    I wait till the doors are locked behind them before turning to Alicia. “Are they really all that rude?  Between Heath and Jessica, is Ethan this bad, too?  Where the hell did they learn to be such primadonnas?  I’m sure their mother-”
    “-is an amazing woman,” Alicia’s words cut through whatever I am about to say.  “And before you say anything about their mother, don’t ever assume the children’s bad behavior is entirely their mother’s fault, dear.  As if we women didn’t already have it bad enough with other women thinking the worse of us without knowing anything about the lives we lead behind closed doors.”
    I watch Alicia’s eyes, cold eyes that almost turn warm as she speaks.  From her gray hair that’s styled in a neat bun to the carefully applied make-up that emphasizes her hazel eyes and high cheekbones, I can guess she’s maybe in her sixties though she looks ten years younger.
    “And what kind of life does she lead behind closed doors?” I ask.
    She shrugs as her assistants bustle around us with more clothes and shoes for us to go through.. “One that’s none of our business.  Anyway, let’s get you ready to fit into Heath’s world.”
    “What do you know about his world?”
    “I know enough to stay out of it,” she replies tersely though her brow furrows into a frown as she eyes me.  “Surely you know since you’re with him, Miss Delphine, not me, though I have to admit you’re quite wet behind the ears if you have to ask.”
    “Is that a bad thing, being naive?”
    She shakes her head. “Not necessarily, but neither is it a good thing, not if rumors going around about the family are true.”
    “What rumors?  What have you heard — besides my conversation with Heath earlier?  Because I know you heard everything.”
    Her eyes narrow as she gazes at me but I hold my ground, pushing back any of the panic that’s rising from the pit of my belly.  There’s no more Blythe to calm me down now, and the last thing I want to remain, at least while alone in New York, is ignorant and naive.
    “C’mon, Alicia, I’m sure you hear more than you let on from every person who comes in here to spend thousands of dollars on a purse or a wardrobe.  I’m a small fish in this big pond and I need to know more,” I say, keeping my gaze on her face, reminding myself not to look away. “You already know what I am to Heath — his personal wind-up doll — ready to be dressed and molded the way he thinks I should look in his world.  Would a fellow woman just stand there and watch that happen?  As if we women don’t have it bad enough for other women to -“
    “I know what I said so you don’t have to repeat it,” Alicia says, glancing around the empty shop as her voice lowers.  “All I know is that the brothers are fighting for control of the company.  But then that’s old news after Heath took over Ethan’s position as president of the company almost a year ago, shortly after their father died.  But that’s all I’m going to say, Miss Delphine-”
    “Call me Billie.”
    “Right now, Mr. Kheiron is paying for my time, and I am not about to say anything negative about him.”
    “Why not?  Would you say negative things about him if you weren’t on his time?”
    “Of course not,” she replies angrily.  “But then, we’re not here to