Chapter 4

Indie was attending to a customer when she looked up and saw the little girl entering the store, her hand securely held in a woman with the same blue-black hair wearing what her sharp eye discovered was a chic lime green wool skirt suit and a lovely silk scarf around her neck.

The woman looked vaguely familiar as if she had seen her somewhere before.

"Would you please excuse me, please?" She asked the customer with a smile, beckoning to a staff member on the floor to take over from her.

"Indie!" The child pulled away from her grandmother and raced towards her.

"Madison."

Ignoring the admonishing tone, the little girl hurled herself into Indie's arms and held on tight.

"Madison, how are you, sweetie?" Indie returned the hug, a smile on her face.

"Darling, what did I tell you about racing away?" The older woman chided, her blue-gray eyes apologetic as she stared at Indie.

"I don't mind in the least. Madison and I are old friends, right, sweetie?"

The little girl stepped back and nodded eagerly. "I told Grandma that you said we could visit," she said.

"Hi, my name is Rachel St. Clair." The woman extended an elegant hand.

Indie's expression cleared. "Of course," she said with a laugh. "I thought I recognized you. I have seen you on the internet, and of course, St. Clair is responsible for this complex." She looked at the little girl who was staring around curiously.

"Would you like the tour?"

"We really shouldn't take up much more of your time. We just stopped by to thank you for caring for my granddaughter."

"I hope Glenna did not get into too much trouble. She was out of her mind with worry."

"She was reprimanded, of course, but she still has her job."

"That's a relief. And you are not taking me away from anything. I also promised Madison that I would give her the tour."

"Please, grandma." She turned her imploring gaze at the woman who looked ready to refuse.

"It's not going to take long," Indie added, her brand of persuasion. "There are fruits and some tiny pastries over the corner. Please feel free to have something while I take this lovely young lady around."

"How kind of you," Rachel murmured. "All right, darling, go ahead. I will be sitting by the window and making some phone calls. Please don't bother this very nice lady with your endless questions."

"We will be fine. Right, sweetie?" Indie said with a wink that had the little girl beaming.

Rachel watched them walk off, Madison skipping along next to the voluptuous black woman with the flawless complexion who seemed the very soul of patience as she responded to the little girl's endless questions.

Moving over to an unoccupied table, she looked around the vast space. She had never been here before and was surprised at the number of people milling around and picking up things to put in their shopping carts.

Sitting by the window, she looked out, delighted by the endless streams of traffic and the glimpse of the park their company was responsible for redesigning. Tearing her eyes away, she decided to have a plate of the delicious pastry as she made her calls.

Looking over to where Madison was still skipping along next to Indie, she smiled as she stared at them. Her granddaughter was not shy but quickly took to this young woman. A frown touched her brow as an idea formed. Taking out her notepad, she jotted something down and made her calls.

*****

Royce toyed with the paperweight on his desk while listening to the project report, his mind not entirely on the list of recommendations and the team highlighting the various problems of restoring an entire apartment building.

He had already done his research into the development. It was his forte. He could tell by looking at a building whether or not it would be worth the money poured into the redesign and remodeling if it was going to make a profit.

The formerly dilapidated building that had been around for more than six decades would make them much money as soon as it was furnished.

But his mind was not on the building or work right now. It was his daughter"s problem. She needed a mother, and as much as he had dismissed his mother's tentative suggestion, he had to admit it was perhaps a solution.

The idea of marrying someone so that his daughter could have a mother was distasteful to him. No one in his circle was appropriate. None of the women he had been with struck a chord inside him. He knew they would do anything to become Mrs. Royce St. Clair, and he wouldn't be stupid enough to fall for that.

Shaking the problem aside, he finally focused on the meeting and contributed.

*****

Rachel looked up as her granddaughter and Indie came forward. Madison had a broad smile and flushed cheeks from excitement, which told Rachel the girl had had great fun. She held a small tote with the store's name emblazoned on the cotton fabric.

"Look, grandma! Indie gave me a birthday present."

"Oh no, darling." She looked up at Indie and shook her head. "We cannot accept - what is it?"

Madison gently took out the wooden African lady, complete with a turban wrapped around her head and wearing a matching kaftan. She had a wooden bowl in her hands and appeared to be stirring something in the bowl.

"It's beautiful," Rachel exclaimed, studying the intricate carving. "And looks very expensive." Reaching into her large pocketbook, she took out her checkbook to pay for it when Indie shook her head firmly.

"It's a gift I can afford to give her."

"I don't feel good about her accepting something like this."

"It's fine." Indie insisted.

"I will allow her to accept it on one condition."

Indie gave her a cautious stare. "What is that?"

"We are having a party for her on Saturday and would love you to be there."

Before she could refuse, Madison turned her adorable face upwards, her eyes pleading.

"Please?"

"Saturday, huh?" Indie thought for a minute. "I would love to."

"Lovely." Rachel saw Madison"s effort to control her excitement and smiled at the little girl. "It so happens I have a few invitations in my bag." Taking one out, she handed the pink envelope to Indie.

"Thank you. Well, Madison, sweetie." She beamed at the little girl. "I guess I will be seeing you on Saturday." Crouching down, she wrapped the little girl in her arms.

"I am so happy that you will be there."

"Will there be real live princesses there?" Indie asked her teasingly.

"I am going to be dressed like Cinderella, and my best friend Megan is coming as Beauty."

"I am looking forward to it." Indie gently cupped her face. "Okay, sweetie. I have to let you go now." Getting to her feet, she smiled at Rachel. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. St. Clair."

"Please call me Rachel." She was told with a warm smile. "I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of each other."

*****

Indie looked up from her paperwork to see Miriam carrying a box under her arm.

"What's that?"

"The figurines we have been waiting on for several weeks."

"I had almost forgotten about that," Indie exclaimed, shaking her head as her friends set the box on the sofa next to the window.

"Shall we open it now?"

Indie glanced at her watch, surprised to see that it was almost closing time.

"It's going to have to wait until tomorrow." She rolled her eyes. "I promised Josh I would attend a cocktail party his firm is putting on."

"Tonight?"

"Yep. He is determined to give me a social life, and considering that he is my brother and my accountant, who works for free, I am obligated to do him this favor."

"What time is this thing?"

"Eight, and if I am late, I will not hear the end of it."

"I will lock up," Miriam told her.

Indie looked at the unfinished paperwork and wondered at her reluctance to leave it to go to some meaningless party.

"I suppose I cannot call and cancel."

"You might just have fun."

"I doubt it. I will have more fun at Madison's St. Clair's birthday party on Saturday."

"You are going to the St. Clair's mansion. Wow!"

"I love the child. She has this hint of sadness about her that draws me to her."

"Honey, that little girl could buy and sell us several times," Miriam said with a snort as Indie shrugged into her light jacket.

"Money does not guarantee happiness," Indie told her with a slight smile. "Some people with unlimited resources happen to be the most unhappy. I will see you tomorrow."

"Have fun!" Her friend called out.

"I will certainly try."

*****

The little girl was so thrilled that her daddy was at the dinner table that she could not keep still and seemed not to notice that he was not contributing much to the conversation.

"We went to that store, Daddy." She told him after a few minutes of silence at the table.

"What store?" He picked up his glass, sipped the red wine, and leaned back in his chair. He supposed he could spend a few more minutes at the dinner table before going upstairs to review some contracts.

"The store I went to when I-" Her voice trailed off at the steady gaze she was subjected to.

"When you ran off?"

"Yes, Daddy." She said in a subdued tone. "The owner's name is Indie, and Grandma met her. She took me around the store."

"I see." He glanced at his mother, who had remained silent so that Madison could have a chance to talk.

"I invited her to the party."

"She knows it is a little girl's birthday party?"

Rachel nodded with a serene smile. "Madison likes her., don't you, darling?"

Madison nodded. "She is very nice and has short hair like a boy's. And it's so curly. I asked her why it was so short, and she said she liked it that way. She said it's easier to handle."

"Is that right?" Royce stared at his daughter thoughtfully. "You sound very grown up."

"Indie says that I am mature for my age."

"Does she approve of you calling her by her given name?"

"Yes. She gave me a present. Would you like to see it?" She asked eagerly.

"I don't-"

"Please, Daddy."

Tamping down his impatience, Royce gave a curt nod and pushed to his feet. "Finish your meal and go upstairs to get ready for bed. I will be there in a few minutes."

"I am going to ask him to read me a story," Madison whispered.

"I think you should finish your dessert, go up, and let Glenna get you ready for bed. While doing that, pick out a book and put it on the table." Rachel suggested.

"Thanks, grandma." She said with a sparkling smile.

*****

Joshua's eyes widened as he watched her walk into the large, luxurious restaurant where the dinner was being held.

"You look stunning."

"I had to dig through my closet to find something appropriate," she told him with a smile, her dark brown eyes dancing. "I would not want to embarrass you."

"As if you could." He dismissed, studying the bright orange dress that molded her generous curves. "Love the earrings."

"From the store." She touched the orange and black symbol painted on the intricately carved wood she bought on her trip to Italy a few months ago.

"I have someone I would like you to meet.' He stopped when she hesitated, a frown touching her brow.

"I did not come here for you to set me up. I can meet men on my own," she told him coolly.

"Are you?" He shook his head at the mutinous expression on her beautiful face. "He is a friend who happens to be a client. You don't have to agree to a date, but he was in a long-term relationship that ended badly."

"Why? Did he cheat on her?"

"No, the other way around." Taking her arm, he led the way through the throng of people until they reached a room where his party was already seated. Making the introductions, he led the way to a corner of the room where a tall, reasonably attractive man was sipping brandy.

"Michael, this is my sister Indie. Indie, allow me to introduce you to a friend of mine, Michael Johnson."

"I was beginning to think that Joshua had exaggerated." His lips parted in a broad smile, and he put down his drink and extended a hand. "I think he underplayed how beautiful you are."

"Thank you. I think I am already prepared to like you." Indie told him with a smile.

"Perfect. Shall we go and find our seats?"

Miriam had predicted that she would have fun, but to her surprise, Indie found she was enjoying herself. The talk was mostly about business, but Michael entertained her with stories from his travels worldwide.

"You are a travel writer," Indie murmured as she sipped her Cabernet.

"Have been since I left college. It's a surprise to me that I could make a living and a decent one at that."

Tilting her head to one side, Indie stared at him. "Are you usually this modest?"

He grinned at her as he picked up his glass. "I have no idea what you mean," he said.

"My brother happens to be a partner of a prestigious accounting firm representing top-of-the-line companies and individuals. I would say you make more than a decent living."

"That might be the case. He also represents your store, which tells me it is very successful."

She laughed. "It is, but I am his sister, which makes me special. For me, he works for free."

He chuckled softly, enjoying her effervescent personality. "Doesn't he know there is a rule against mixing business with family?"

"I guess he is making an exception."

They were having dessert when he told her about his personal life. "We were together for five years."

The party had broken up into groups, and Michael had managed to find them a table in one corner of the room and brought her strawberry truffle and coffee.

"I"m so sorry. Does it have anything to do with your travel?"

He nodded soberly. "I suppose you are right. After it happened, I thought about that and realized I had to try and understand. I was so caught up in my career that I never considered her unhappy."

"You loved her," Indie observed quietly.

He gave her a sheepish smile, dark brown eyes twinkling. "I think I still do." Putting his coffee cup down, he gave her a level stare. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What's your history?"

She wrapped her hand around the cup and wondered if she felt comfortable sharing her failures with a stranger. But there was an ease about him that invited comfort.

"I tend to make terrible choices in men." She told him with a laugh.

"Hopefully, that will change soon?" He asked with a grin.

"I am not looking right now. I don't know what my brother told you-"

"Relax, Indie." He shook his head. "I am not looking for anything of the sort right now either. I am still reeling from my dismal failure. How about we talk about becoming friends? Can you handle that?"

"I think I can." She told him warmly. "You know, when Josh invited me, I told myself I would just show my face so I do not disappoint him and head out after half an hour."

"And now?"

She smiled, dimples peeping out on both cheeks. "Now, I am not disappointed I came."

"Neither am I," he told her warmly.

*****

Royce studied the piece carefully, a frown touching his brow.

"Daddy, don't you like it?"

Lifting his gaze from the figure, he caught the anxious look on his daughter's face. She had bathed, the scent of strawberries still clinging to her, and was wearing a pink and white striped nightie with a dinosaur stitched on the front.

Her thick dark hair had been braided, and the plait trailed over her left shoulder. She looked adorable and incredibly innocent.

"I do, and I think it is costly. I am unsure I can allow you to accept something like this from a stranger."

"She is not a stranger. She is my friend."

He realized the little girl was starting to look anxious and decided to let it go. He would talk to his mother and insist on paying the store owner for the toy or whatever it was.

"It's very nice." Handing the figurine to her, he was about to take his leave when she reached out a hand to touch him. Lifting his head from her small pale hand on his to the beseeching look on her beautiful face, he lifted a brow.

"Story time?" He asked, a rare smile touching his lips.

"Please, Daddy. The book is right there."

"Another princess story?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

Sitting back down, he picked up the hardcover book with the beautiful golden-haired princess on the cover and did his best to avoid thinking how much she looked like the treacherous bitch who had ruined his life.

Pasting a smile, he read the story and was surprised to realize that his daughter had drifted off in the middle of it.

Putting the book down, he sat there staring at her. She looked so innocent that he wondered irrationally how long that particular condition would stay with her. How old will she be before twisting some hapless man under her spell?

She would be a beauty, perhaps even more beautiful than her mother. Shaking the rage away, he felt a slight tinge of shame that he was thinking such vicious thoughts regarding his daughter.

But he could not help thinking about genetics. His father had been notorious for having affairs, and even though he had never brought any of the women home, everyone knew what he was up to. He had been a law unto himself and had once bluntly told Royce that a real man does not stick to one woman.

"Your mother understands that, of course. She also knows that I have tremendous respect for her and would never impregnate any of these women. They also know their places."

He had convinced himself that he would be different from the old man, faithful to one woman, and never in love with anyone else. He almost laughed out loud at the futility of that.

He had given his heart to a treacherous bitch who had only wanted as much money as she could gouge out of him. She had not even wanted to be married and had never wanted to be a mother. She had told him that she was not maternal.

"I refuse to be tied down by a baby. I want to be able to do anything I want to do." He stared at her for a few more seconds before leaving the room and heading towards his suite. He went to the liquor cabinet, poured a drink, and returned to lock the doors. He had started doing that when his daughter entered the room that night.

Ignoring the familiar guilt, he argued with himself that he was entitled to his privacy. He slept in the nude because he could not bear to have anything on, and usually, the sheets did not cover him. Taking his drink with him, he went into his office to try to get some work done.