Tiffany Ashley

Beyond the Velvet Rope


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asked to no one in particular.

      “Who cares?” Len protested. “He’s gorgeous.”

      “Speaking of gorgeous,” Raja whirled on Thandie. “Why didn’t you tell us Elliot was such a hottie?”

      The mention of Elliot’s name again, so early in the day, set Thandie’s teeth on edge.

      “Now he is gorgeous,” Len said dreamily.

      “I bet he has a girlfriend for everyday of the week,” Raja said with more certainty than evidence.

      “Do you suppose he has an opening on Wednesday?” Len asked in all seriousness.

      Raja’s eyes brightened. “Let’s ask Google!”

      Thandie had had enough. “Okay, you two,” she said in a warning voice. “Get back to work.”

      Len and Raja ducked their heads behind their laptop screens, and began typing furiously on their keypads. The sound of a new email chimed from one of their computers, and then, like five year olds, the sound of the girls’ muffled snickering filled the air. Thandie pinched the bridge of her nose. It was going to be a long day.

      * * *

      Thandie looked down at the Post-it and then back up at the building. The insignia read House of Glow. She was at the right place. According to Adam, it was a popular day spa. She had not asked about the massages. She planned to find out the answer to that question for herself.

      Stuffing the slip of paper into the back pocket of her cutoffs, she pushed up her oversize sunglasses farther on her nose, and took a deep breath. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed to be seen going inside the building, she simply didn’t want to be seen period. Her hair was still piled on top of her head and she was still in the clothes she’d been wearing earlier today. Aside from the lip gloss, her face was bare of any cosmetics. She looked like a slob.

      She pulled open the front door and was greeted by a pleasant looking receptionist. “Welcome to House of Glow,” she said. “May I help you?”

      The front door opened again and a loud voice exclaimed, “Thandie? Thandie Shaw, is that you?”

      Thandie froze. Seriously? Was her luck really that bad? Hesitantly, she turned around, following the sound of the voice. That’s when her gaze fell on the petite woman. Her face suddenly brightened. “Day?”

      The tiny creature smirked and then gave Thandie a hug and air kisses on either cheek. “I thought that was you. I was having lunch with my cousin next door. I had to come over and make sure.”

      Even at full height, she barely reached Thandie’s shoulder. She had to lean down to hug the woman.

      Her name was Victoria Day, although most people simply knew her as Day. The product of a Jamaican father and Chinese mother, Day had striking features. With high cheekbones and small slanted eyes, she was quite pretty. Her hair was cut short in a spiky yet very becoming style.

      “It’s about time our paths crossed again,” Day said with a bright grin. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see a familiar face down here. How the hell are you?”

      Thandie couldn’t help but smile at the small woman. Day had a flair all her own.

      “I’m great, Day. How have you been?”

      “I’m going out of my mind, as usual. I came down here to create my line in peace and quiet, and I’ve gotten nothing of the sort. The editors from Vogue and BHP want a run-through in three weeks. I keep telling them that’s not gonna happen. I’ll slit my wrists before I show my collection ahead of schedule. On top of everything else, I’m sweating bullets trying to secure a location for my show. It’s been one shitstorm after the next. But enough about me. I heard about the breakup with Cam. Sorry to hear it.”

      “How did you know about that?” Thandie asked, surprised news traveled so widely.

      Day’s brow hiked up. “Nothing is sacred anymore.”

      “I guess not,” Thandie said with a frown.

      “And that business at Fashion Week,” she wagged her finger and made a tsking sound. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

      Thandie gasped. “You heard about that, too? But how?”

      “Don’t worry, girl. I only listen to gossip. I don’t spread it.”

      “Gage—” Thandie breathed.

      “She’d never,” Day promised. “I have other sources.”

      “Like?”

      “Cam’s girlfriend. ”

      “They’re still together?” Thandie asked, too shocked to play coy.

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