CHAPTER 1

          Nevaeh (n/a pronounced Nevea) Belmont, the tabloid’s favorite socialite, ex-party girl, stood quietly in the foyer of her condo building, dressed conservatively and trying not to be nervous. It was silly really. She’d charmed heads of state and celebrities. She’d made the world her oyster. But one man still had the power to reduce her to a nervous wreck. Still…

          Her father’s chauffeur-driven car arrived promptly at 7:35 p.m. Nevaeh normally would have driven herself to the ‘Take A Stand’ Children’s Foundation Gala dinner and silent auction but her father had wanted to speak with her in person before heading for the event. And, this was the only time he had in his extremely busy schedule. Not that she was surprised.  

          So here she was, trying to smile and pretend that this wasn’t a big deal. And when her father didn’t get out of the car to greet her, Nevaeh had her first inkling that it really wasn’t a big deal to him.

“Good evening, Ms. Belmont.”

“Good evening, Marcus.”

          The elderly chauffeur had been with her father for almost thirty years. He gave her a quick smile.

“You look absolutely radiant tonight, Neve,” Marcus whispered.

“Thank you, Marcus,” she said, smiling back at him, her nerves melting away at the compliment.

          This was her night. She’d just handled a rather messy PR problem for Nevaeh’s Dresser. Her father had even e-mailed her a note that said ‘good job.’ The only note he’d ever sent her. The only nice words he’d ever told her.

          She slid into the car as the chauffeur held the door open for her. Her father was on the phone and didn’t glance up as the car door closed behind her. She tried to relax against the plush leather seat of her father’s Mercedes.

           The driver sat in the front, facing forward, all but invisible to them. She wasn’t nervous. Well, maybe just a little. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself to want her father’s approval. At twenty-eight she was well on her own.

          Skyler Belmont, the CEO of Nevaeh’s Dresser, was an imposing man. Well over six feet tall he’d always seemed bigger than life to her when she’d been a little girl. He’d revolutionized the way Americans thought about and purchased clothing with his line of high-end retail Nevaeh’s Dresser stores that he had started back in the 70s and named for her after her birth.

          He finished his phone conversation and made a note in his day planner before looking over at her. The silence grew between them as Skyler studied her face. Nevaeh wondered what he saw when he looked at her.

          Some people said she looked like her mother but Nevaeh had never really believed that. Her mother had been one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. And what she saw reflected back in the mirror was never… beautiful.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Nevaeh,” Skyler said.

“No problem, Father. What did you want to see me about?”

“I’m promoting Julian Devereaux.”

          Bahm! A quick, hard blow! No small talk or chitchat from him. Just the blunt news that she…well, she hadn’t expected.

“Julian Devereaux?! You’ve got to be kidding me!”

          Dammit, she’d meant to be calm and cool. But, once again, her father pushed her aside, not acknowledging her work for the company.

“He’s the right man for the job.”

          She gave her father a hard look… one that she’d picked up from him.

“Please, Father, tell me you didn’t promote him over me because I’m a woman.”

“Nevaeh, I’m not a sexist.”

          Yeah… She knew that. Nevaeh was grasping at straws trying to find a reason.

“I’m not so sure, Father. I have more experience than Julian and I am better qualified.”

          Skyler sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He stared at the car window watching the Lake Shore Drive scenery pass. Nevaeh loved Chicago. Sometimes she wished she didn’t because then she could simply leave her father and Nevaeh’s Dresser far behind.

          Her father seemed so unapproachable, so alone. Even though only a few inches of space separated them, Skyler Belmont was still a million miles far away from her.  And she felt the distance between them widen.

          No matter what Nevaeh tried, she could never get his approval. His respect. A few crazy stunts when she was in her late teens and early twenties and he was going to hold that against her for the rest of her life.

“I haven’t done anything to draw attention to myself lately,” she said, quietly.

          This job had become the driving force in her life. She was no longer a party girl. Nevaeh had become a businesswoman. Something she was sure her father would notice.

“There was an article in the US Weekly not a week ago about you and Elijah Stone with pictures of you in your love nest.”

“Father, please. You know very well there’s nothing between Eli and me. He’s recovering from a serious addiction. He needs support from his friends.”

          Skyler glanced over at her.

“It doesn’t matter what I know. The world believes you’re a party girl… again.”

          She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“The board knows I’m not.”

          He rubbed a hand over his heart before he put his hands in his lap, joining his fingers together.

“I’m more concerned with what the public thinks.”

          Nevaeh couldn’t argue that point. She almost regretted it but she’d made herself a promise long ago not to apologize for her actions. Though they were most times misconstrued, she knew that she always only had the best of intentions where all of her escapades were concerned.

“I think we can overcome that. I’ve been working with ‘Take A Stand’, the Children’s Foundation, which is helping my image.”

“It’s not enough. ‘Nevaeh’s Dresser’ is facing some tough times.”

“What kind of tough times?” she asked.

          Being in PR, her focus was more on image than on the company's bottom line. But she hadn’t heard any rumblings of trouble.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“I’m an employee, Father. Of course, I worry about the stability of the company. Tell me what’s going on.”

          She worried more about her father. It had always been one of her biggest fears…losing him. No matter how the things stood between them, Skyler Belmont was still her father.

          But for him, the company was the most important thing in his life. So, if anything happened to Nevaeh’s Dresser, he’d have nothing left to live for.

“It’s Cargill Investments.”

          Again? Aiden Cargill had been gunning for Nevaeh’s Dresser since he’d come onto the investment scene some ten years earlier. He was always trying to man some kind of takeover.

“And you think that Julian will be a better VP to help you out?” she asked carefully.

“Yes. I need a public relations vice president who can get out there and give us some good spin.”

“I think the articles about me should prove I know something about spin,” Nevaeh muttered.

“That’s not the kind of spin we want.”

“Father, please.”

          She’d spent her entire life trying to make sure that no one in the world pitied her. Poor little motherless rich girl, people used to say to her. Growing up, she’d made life her party and now she had the feeling she was paying for it.

          She’d gone to Vassar and gotten her degree. Though she’d heard rumors that her affair with the dean of students was the only reason she’d passed, Nevaeh knew she’d done the work and Stan had no control over her grades.

          She crossed her legs, feeling the smooth silk of her gown against her skin. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Skyler sighed and she had her answer. Why she was surprised, she couldn’t understand. Nevaeh hated that she always wanted something from him that he could never deliver.

“You could apply for another top position but the VP position isn’t yours… I’m sorry, Nevaeh. My mind is made up.”

“Well… unmake it, Father,” she said, starting to lose her temper.

          Though she desperately wanted to hang on to it. Desperately wanted to find the cool and calm front that her father always presented. Why hadn’t she inherited that?

“We’re done here.”

“Not yet, Father. I want you to tell me exactly why I wasn’t promoted. Why this position isn’t mine. Why, after all the work I’ve done, I wasn’t considered for the VP role.”

          Skyler looked her square in the eye.

“You’re not responsible enough. I don’t trust you to do the job. I never will trust you again!”

          The words hurt worse than she’d expected. And she felt the sting of tears in the back of her eyes but refused to cry in front of him. Nevaeh had, in fact, never cried in front of her father. She knew he considered it a cheap feminine ploy used to manipulate men.

“Since this is your opinion about me and my work in the company… I don’t think I’m going to be able to continue to work for you.”

“That’s your choice, Nevaeh.”

“No, Father, that’s yours.”

          The car stopped and she practically ran out of it. She needed to be as far away as possible from the man who, once again, treated her like she was his own worst enemy. She wasn’t good enough? She wasn’t trustworthy enough? Well, Skyler Belmont was in for the surprise of his life.