Dean pushed the ballroom door open so hard that it swung back and hit the wall.
“That was completely unprofessional. What were you thinking?” he hissed, reaching up to grip my arm so I couldn’t storm off.
“You’re delusional. That man is taking advantage of you, and if you don’t see that, you’re blind.”
“He’s one of the most influential chefs in America. If his dishes are bad, you eat them and discuss the rest with me after the meeting is over. This is my business, my name you’re tarnishing by acting like a picky toddler.”
I stepped closer. “He just served us glorified french fries. How much did you pay him for that meeting, Dean? Ten thousand dollars? Fifteen?”
“I don’t care if he scraped the gunk off his shoe and passed it off as escargot. You have to understand how this world works. Until you do, you can head home. Pack your bags. I don’t need you in Vegas any more.”
I could feel the flush spread from my cheeks, down across my chest. He could have stabbed me in the heart and it would have hurt less than those eight words. I don’t need you in Vegas any more.
I’d slept with him less than forty-eight hours earlier and since then he’d ignored me, chastised me, and now he was dismissing me like I was last week’s trash.
“Fuck you, Dean,” I hissed, shoving my finger into his chest. “Fire me if you think that’s what’s best, but don't think you can just tuck me away when it’s convenient for your ego.”
“Don’t test me Lily,” he said, bending low so that his lips were aligned with mine.
I flashed him a dark, sardonic smile, scraping together my last bit of self-confidence. “Have a great rest of your meeting. I’ll see you at the meet and greet later.”
“Lily!”
I ignored him and walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lily
My confidence broke down somewhere in the middle of the Bellagio lobby. I had tears streaking down my cheeks and everyone was subtly getting the hell out of my way, pulling their children away from me like I was deranged. I’m not going to attack your kid just because I’m crying. Jeez.
I walked past the pool, remembering how naive I’d been the day before. I’d lounged on those chairs and assured myself that Dean had brought me to Vegas because he respected me and valued my opinion, no matter how strong it might be. Perhaps I’d overstepped my bounds in that meeting, but that was no reason to send me home. He’d just treated me like scum and he thought I was going to go hide away and lick my wounds? If he thought that was a possibility, then he really didn’t know me at all.
I pushed through the door to our private villa and thanked all the gods of awkward moments that it was empty. I hated having to be there. If I could have, I would have grabbed my bags and found my own room, but the hotel was completely booked, and let’s face it, I couldn’t have afforded my own room anyway. The living room, with the sectional Dean had slept on the night before, was quiet and empty. The courtyard with its fruit trees and ivy vines remained untouched.
I bypassed the mini bar, the giant kitchen, and the gym. Who needs a gym? I’m not working out on a work trip. The same rules of vacation apply. I shut myself in my room and sneered at the opulent decor. I’d appreciated it the day before, but now it just made me want to barf. This was Dean’s villa, and I hated it.
I reached for the phone beside my bed and dialed Jo’s number, praying she’d answer.
“Are you calling to gossip? What happened to ‘blah blah blah stays in Vegas’?” she asked as soon as the call connected.
I smiled, though it felt wrong. “How’d you know it was me?”
“Lucky guess. What are you doing? Aren’t you busy? Julian said he was going to explore the casino before the meet and greet later.”
“I just got kicked out of a meeting, so it looks like I have the rest of the afternoon to myself.”
“What do you mean? Who booted you?”
“Dean.”
“Are you serious?”
I nodded, though she couldn’t see me. “He’s not like Julian. I don’t even know how they can be friends. They’re so different.”
“I’m sorry, Lily.”
“I’m tempted to book an earlier flight and come home. I don’t care what it costs me.”
“What? Are you serious? You’re going to throw in the towel and come home? Who are you and what have you done with Lily Black?”
“Ha ha.”
“I think you should stay and give Dean a taste of his own medicine. You’ve never let someone get away with treating you like that. Do you remember in the third grade when you cut off Betsy Higgins’ pigtail because she stole your Lisa Frank folder?”
I laughed.
“Seriously. Take that little black dress out of your suitcase, add a little smoky eye, and get your ass down to that club.”
I stared down at Josephine’s black lace dress sitting on the top of my luggage. When I’d tried it on at home, the material on the bodice had curved perfectly around my breasts and sloped up to a thin halter that buttoned behind my neck. I knew if I put it on, I’d gain back a sliver of the confidence Dean had stolen earlier that day.
“How’d you know I have that dress?”
“Because I have an empty hanger in my closet where it should be. That thing had better not stay in Vegas.”
Damn, she was good.
“I promise I won’t get anything on it,” I said, stepping closer and running my fingers over the lace.
“Don’t worry about that. Send me a picture of you after you get ready. I’ll be living vicariously through you.”
I stared up at myself in the mirror. My hair was flat and my mascara was smeared beneath my eyes. I’d need a major overhaul if I intended on meeting the group at the club downstairs in a few hours.
“I’ll make you proud,” I said, pulling the dress out of the suitcase and then reaching for a pair of black strappy heels that I’d nabbed as well. “PS, I also have your black Manolos. Okayloveyoubye.”
I crammed all the words together and hung up before she could berate me for stealing her shoes as well. She immediately shot me a text.
Josephine: Don’t let Dean’s tears ruin those shoes.
I didn’t want Dean to weep; I wanted him to realize how wrong he was. He didn’t take me seriously as a friend or as a coworker. He underestimated me just like everyone else, and that night, I planned on proving him wrong.
I reached for the hotel phone, dialed the front desk, and asked to be connected to the salon.
After I’d scheduled a hair and makeup appointment, I hung up, grabbed everything I needed for the evening, and headed for the salon. I was standing in the central elevator bank, waiting for a lift when a family joined me. I glanced over to see a little girl staring up at me, confused by the mascara on my cheeks. I’d forgotten to wash it off before leaving my room.
“Mommy, can I get my face painted like a monster too?” the little girl whispered loudly.
I smiled and turned back to the illuminated numbers above the elevator.
Not a monster. A phoenix.
Chapter Thirty
Dean
“Are you an idiot?” Zoe asked.
“You asked her to go home?” Julian was in complete disbelief.
My explanations fell on deaf ears: she’d been disrespectful, she’d jeopardized a relationship that had taken me years to cultivate, and she was a constant threat to my self-control. I didn’t tell them the last reason, of course. They’d have a field day with that knowledge, especially because it was the only reason that really mattered. She’d been out of line in the meeting with Antonio, but hardly terrible enough to send home. No, I wanted her gone because having her in Vegas was a constant reminder of my struggle. I could look, but not touch. I could berate her for screwing up a meeting, but I couldn’t kiss her. I’d slept on the couch, ten feet from her, and I’d lain awake the entire night, listening and praying I’d hear a sound coming from her room, some kind of invitation. Nothing had come and I was tired as shit.