A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series (18 page)

"I've sent a form with my comments to your email address.  There's room at the bottom of each page to write a rebuttal to any of my statements.  Please return everything to Harriet by next Wednesday.  That's all, Miss Crimshaw."

Katrina ignored the papers he'd shoved in her direction, nodded, and left.  In a state of shock, she grabbed her jacket and purse from her own office and left the building.  Kiki had seen her and followed her to the elevators.  The receptionist asked her what had happened in a whisper, but she could only shake her head before the doors opened and she made her escape.  She cried all the way home.

The next morning, she arose with swollen eyelids.  What a fright she looked!  She splashed cold water on her face, hoping to reduce the puffiness.   She'd had a rough night and felt like she'd been hit in the face with a two by four.  Alternating between hurt, anger, and outrage, sleep eluded her.  Now, on the day of her big accomplishment, she looked like a zombie, a freak with cue balls for eyes.

Robert had been correct about many things.  She did have trouble focusing, she couldn't take credit for the Daud deal,
and
she'd totally missed that SEC probe.  Demoralized, she plunked herself down in the kitchen and ate a banana for breakfast.

She tried to pull herself together.  Another Scripture came to mind, one her mother was fond of,
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
, from Philippians 4:13.  She repeated the verse over and over until she felt better.  This was
her
big day, and she wouldn't allow Robert LaSalla's poor opinion of her to ruin it! 

Feeling better, she gathered the garment bag that held her dress, the satin shoe sack, and a duffel.  She placed other necessities, like makeup and a curling iron, in the overnight bag and drove to the museum.

"Hey there, Both!  Are you ready for action?" she asked with enthusiasm, poking her head in the director's office.

"You are a sight for sore eyes, Violet!" he exclaimed.  "Come in and let's share breakfast—you know, split plates like we used to."  Barry pointed to the just arrived hot meal before him.

Katrina smiled, remembering their first few meals together.  He always made her feel so comfortable and valued.  She determined to tell him all about her real life, including her true name, after the gala.  She hoped he'd be understanding.  The auditor wouldn't say anything now that might upset him.  She plopped in the chair opposite his desk and tucked into an omelet, fruit, and scones.

"So, the jewels came in yesterday?" she asked between bites.

"Yes, and only approved staff were allowed to witness their arrival.  The owners had their own security, who supervised and briefed our team and several other representatives who will be present tonight.  I couldn't even touch them.  One of their people placed everything in the displays under my supervision.  It took most of the night!" he exclaimed, yawning.  "I had to switch from tea to coffee at two a.m.," he added.

"Well, if it's any comfort, I didn’t sleep much either.  Oh, before I forget, I had to barter two tickets to the exhibit in exchange for my dress.  Can I get them from you, for a Monday, please?"

"Ha!  What kind of dress is only worth thirty dollars?"

"Oh, believe me, I had to pay more than that, Both.  The tickets were just
part
of the deal, along with a personal tour with you.  Can you do it?"

"Is the dress worth it?  My fees are substantial, you know," he teased, flashing
The Grin
.

"A bargain," she teased back, and he nodded his willingness, producing the tickets she requested.

She slipped an addressed envelope out of her purse, and borrowing a pen from the director's desk, jotted a message on a note card. 
Dear Irina, Here are the museum tickets.  Maybe your cobbler friend would like to come. If you ask for Bernard Bronson, he will happily show you the exhibit.  Thank you for your help!  Regards, Katrina Crimshaw
.

Katrina placed the tickets inside the card, inserted everything into the envelope, and sealed it shut.  Barry handed her a stamp before she asked.  The couple broke into laughter.

"You know, the
Times
is sending a reporter and photographer tonight, along with
LA Magazine
and
West Side Lifestyle
.  It's going to be a hectic evening, Darling.  Are you up for it?"

"I hope so.  Can you give me some pointers?" she asked.

"Just stick by my side.  You'll do fine.  I may sic you on some of our big donors!"

"Great!" she said with mock discomfiture.

At ten a.m., the security system allowed entry to the exhibit.  Kate noticed additional precautions in place, like extra guards, motion detectors, etcetera.  Excited to see the jewels in person, she couldn't hide her enthusiasm.

Barry worked on perfecting the lighting, asking the opinion of Katrina and the Heller's director, his boss, David Miller.  Each exhibit had its own spotlights to be adjusted to produce maximum sparkle, in addition to the general lighting.  She had to fight the urge to touch the display cases.  Each item took her breath away.  She looked upon the end product of her designs with pride.  The faux ice appeared real, as did the pool of water beneath.  At the yellow display, delicate daisies complimented the canary diamond and pearl parure.  The fake roots and soil at the bottom provided a good counterpoint for the luscious jewels.

In addition to the presentations she'd worked on, other items impressed.  The exhibit included a stunning tiara, tiny Fabergé clocks and compacts, cigarette cases, frames, and desk sets—each piece a dazzling treasure.  She had time to ogle each splendor as Barry tweaked its lighting.

It was three p.m. by the time they finished, and Katrina was famished, having forgotten the prior day's woes.  Being surrounded by some of the most beautiful items ever created didn't leave room for thoughts of her day job.

When they left to grab a snack, security watched on while a special cleaning crew dusted the cases and vacuumed lint from the floor.  She took one last glimpse of the exhibit from over her shoulder.  Dark navy walls, floors, and ceiling allowed each piece to shine and twinkle like stars under the spotlights.

After some chit chat with David Miller, Barry and Katrina retreated to his office for the rest of the afternoon.  He shared pictures of the guests he expected this evening and gave her a short biography of each.  The photos were shots taken at past galas.  Kate found the information helpful, and it allowed her to get a feeling for the people she'd be mingling with later.  She'd seen many before in the society pages.  Both made the time fly with his amusing anecdotes and behind the scenes stories about the museum's donors.

Katrina observed numerous black and red ball gowns, cocktail dresses, and even tuxedos on the women in the photographs.  Her platinum dress would be a standout, if the past galas were any indication.  

Before she knew it, five o'clock had rolled around and Barry showed her to an office where she could dress and get ready for the gala.  Cocktails began at six thirty in the museum's foyer.  Then, a ribbon cutting ceremony would open the exhibit for all to see.  A four-course, sit-down dinner began at nine.  However, staff needed to be ready by six o'clock for a security screening.  Kate wasn't officially staff, but for tonight, because of her work on the displays, she'd be treated as such.

Alone in the empty office, Katrina took her time preparing for the biggest night of her life.  She carefully set her hair with a curling iron, just as Irina had instructed.  Then, she applied a sheer foundation and translucent powder that added a just perceptible shimmer to her skin.  Smoky eye liner and shadow followed an ice pink lipstick.  Again, she disobeyed the Russian by adding earrings to her ensemble.  This time, she chose faux diamond solitaires mounted in tiny, fine, intricate silver swirls.  The Edwardian ear fobs dangled just enough from her lobes to add movement and sparkle.  

When she met Barry in the lobby, his jaw dropped. 

"Wow!  You look, uh, you look brilliant, I mean beautiful.  See, I'm speechless," he said with
The Grin
.  After checking her out from head to toe, he added, "The color of the dress sets your eyes off.  I've never seen them so blue or you so lovely."

"Thank you, Both," she said, pinching his bicep.  "Were the tickets worth it?" she teased.

"Uh huh!" he said with enthusiasm.

Chapter 15
-The Big Night Gets Even Bigger-

After clearing security, everyone prepared to receive the guests.  Barry introduced
Violet
to one big wig after another.  She began to regret putting off telling him the truth about her name.  She had placed him in a bad situation.  Katrina hadn't imagined that she'd be front and center at the gala, nor had she really thought through her decision to deceive the director of Special Exhibits.

One particular scion, presented by Barry as Doris, took a liking to Kate, striking up a conversation regarding the museum's next special event and inquiring about her dress.  Katrina admitted that she wore a Dior gown from the 1950s as a sheepish smile spread across her face.  The older woman nodded her approval.

Glasses clinked, waiters passed hors d'oeuvres, and the decibel level rose as more people arrived and mingled, greeting old friends and meeting new.  She nursed a glass of champagne, as exhaustion crept over her.  Lack of sleep, worry about her test results, and a day on her feet took their toll.  She decided to slip away to an out-of-the-way bench and rest until the ribbon cutting.  She found just the spot, down a hall and around a corner.  She sank into a plush, leather covered bench and braced her back against the wall.  Muffled laughter and music kept the location from feeling too isolated.

Katrina closed her eyes and relaxed.  She had not intended to drift asleep, but when she opened her eyes, she became aware that time had passed and music no longer played.  She sat bolt upright and strained to hear something, anything.  For a moment, she thought she'd slept through the entire gala and had been locked up in the museum for the night.  But when she detected a solitary voice, muted by distance but amplified by a microphone, she jumped to her feet and ran for the lobby.  She guessed she was about to miss the ribbon cutting ceremony.

As she raced to the foyer, all Katrina could see were the backs of guests as they watched the ritual. Attempting a stop, her new shoes slid on the polished marble floor, and she let out a small gasp, careening towards a tall gentleman in a black tuxedo.  He must have heard her, because the man turned just before she would have slammed into his backside and caught her in his arms.

Embarrassed but glad to be saved from a fall, she looked up to see the unfortunate man and apologize.  At the same time, he chuckled, a chivalrous laugh, and lifted her up, setting her down an arm's length away.

Her mouth dropped, and his amused smile transformed into a grimace before her eyes.  She'd run smack into Robert LaSalla.

"
You?
  What are you doing
here?
" she gasped, out of breath.

Leiselle spun to see who spoke to her man.

"What's
she
doing here?" Robert's date demanded with a snarl.

Katrina cast a quick glance at the tall blonde.  She wore another low-cut, sequined gown, this time black with a swag of sparkly fabric draped across her chest.  Aggravated and feeling that these two intruded upon her big night, Kate allowed herself an insulting, slow, up and down gaze over the bimbo. 

"Violet? Violet Sparks, will you please come up here?" a female voice cracked over the public address system.  She recognized the voice of Doris, the older woman with whom she had chatted earlier.

She shook herself loose from Robert, whose hands still gripped her forearms, lifted her chin high, and worked her way through the crowd towards the ribbon.  Her dress rustled with each step.  She couldn't see the puzzled looks that trailed after her from LaSalla and Leiselle as the crowd parted, allowing her passage.

In front of the doors leading to the exhibit stood the museum's director and the patron who contributed the most to bring the Russian treasures to the Heller.  It turned out to be Katrina's new friend.  The couple gripped a giant pair of scissors, and the gray-haired donor held a microphone in her free hand.  Barry stood to one side and gave Katrina a wink as she approached.

"Here she is.  Now, before we do the honors, I want to repeat what a little bird just told me."  The society doyenne nodded at Katrina, who moved closer.  "Right next to me, Dear.  I want everyone to see you," the older woman encouraged.  Kate stood next to Doris, and she continued, "I’m told this charming girl, Violet Sparks, is responsible for staging two of our finest displays in the Romanov collection.  She's donated countless hours to the project, and I think she deserves our thanks and appreciation.  I've had a peek at her work, and I know you'll be pleased.  So be sure and congratulate her before the evening is over."

Barry started the applause as if on cue, as the woman passed the microphone to David Miller.  Katrina blushed and gazed at the group, wishing this moment could last forever.  Her eyes glistened as she fought back tears.  She allowed her glance to settle, only for a moment, on Robert.   She couldn't miss him standing head and shoulders above the crowd.  His features appeared hard, his expression dark and stern.

"And now, without any further ado, I invite you to experience
Treasures of the Romanovs
," the director announced and then cut the ribbon.  More applause followed, and the pack shifted forward, eager to view the collection.

Barry grabbed Katrina's elbow and whispered in her ear, "Madame Heller's taken a shine."

"Who?" she asked, stunned.

"Mrs. Doris Heller, daughter-in-law of the founding patron of the Heller Museum," he explained, grinning from ear to ear.

"I had no idea when you introduced us!" she replied in an excited stage whisper.