[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.That felt cold and impersonal.Plus it would freak her out—not necessarily a friendly thing to do when she was probably stressing over what might go wrong the second time around with the launch.Since Piper was in LA, I might be able to hold off on revealing what I knew until the morning.But I wasn’t sure that was the appropriate way to play this either.Stepping into Biel’s dressing room, I plowed through the long line of gowns she’d obviously worn for her Elan photo shoots and TV ads, which had yet to air because Elan had yet to prove the waterproof makeup was, indeed, waterproof.Unfortunately, the first wave of print ads had already hit the street.I selected a floor-length lavender dress that didn’t look too revealing.Thank God Biel had some curves.The gown fit, though snugly.I located shoes to match and then scurried down to the lobby.The media had cleared out—they were likely at the Montlimiere.Cal stood alongside a sleek black sedan and opened the back door for me.He climbed in next to me and the driver whisked us over the hotel—relatively speaking, of course, given this was New York City.We made our way to the festivities in full swing on the rooftop.Cal, being much taller than me, scanned the crowd for Biel.He nudged me and my gaze followed his.She stood poised on the lit platform surrounding the pool, though she clearly hadn’t reached the point where she’d repeat the dive-in stunt.That bought me some time.She wore a sensational, simple satin gown that looked like shimmering, liquid gold flowing over her long, shapely body.Sipping champagne, she was as regal and sensual and beautiful as a supermodel should be.And she easily garnered the kind of attention she deserved.Fortunately, Mav was with her.I could kill two birds with one stone.Weaving my way through the throng—less dense than previously, though no less glamorous—I reached the steps and carefully ascended them, a little out of breath from all the racing around I’d been doing the past hour or so.“Lacey!” Biel squealed with joy.Jesus, I hated to be the one to burst her birthday bubble.“Hi,” I said as we exchanged a quick hug.Seconds later, a waiter appeared with a silver tray full of champagne glasses and handed one over.I needed it.I took a sip, then told Biel and Mav, “I have news.”I glanced around to see if Cal had tagged along with me, but found him checking out the event, wandering the outskirts looking for anything suspicion.Perhaps in the form of Piper Levine?Which prompted me to ask Biel, “Hey, have you heard from Piper? Is she coming tonight?”My stomach twisted at the mere thought.But Biel put me at ease.“I haven’t heard a peep out of her.”“That’s for the best,” I mumbled under my breath.Both Biel and Mav heard me, though.She gave me a skeptical look.His expression was full of anticipation.So I told them, “Cal and I scoured video footage of the lab when Biel was in there for the testing and sealing of the makeup.Piper was there too.I hadn’t known that previously.”Biel’s sculpted brows drew together.“I’m sure I mentioned it.” With a frown, she added, “Maybe I just assumed you’d know she was always with me.”“It’s okay.It’s not your fault,” I told my friend.“I was never overly suspicious of her to begin with.Mostly just pissed off at her for your sake.”Biel smiled.Mav asked, “Are you telling us you’re suspicious of her now?”The supermodel’s smile faded.“Lacey?”I drew in a deep breath, loathing the reality of the situation—and the fact I was about to hurt a woman who had quickly become my best gal-pal.I said, “I’m so sorry, Biel.It’s just that…”Ugh.I’d suddenly become the asshole who was about to further break her heart.But what choice did I have, really?Okay, just tell her!Gearing up for the inevitable, I said, “Cal and I both saw in a couple of security tape frames from the lab that the table Piper was standing next to had two rolls of tape on it, then just one.This was while Olivia was testing the makeup on you, before she’d done any packaging.We couldn’t actually see Piper put the roll in her tote, because of the shadows that blocked our view, but one second it was there, the next it wasn’t.”“That’s not enough,” Biel insisted, though there was panic in her voice.“She also had a plastic baggie sticking out of her tote that was identical to the ones used to seal your cosmetics.She lifted the packaging materials, Biel, and used them to secure the non-waterproof makeup she later applied in your hotel suite.”As Biel’s face drained of color, Mav said, “But how’d she make the switch?”I shook my head.Biel looked even more stricken.“I was so nervous,” she said in a slow, suddenly remorseful tone.As though something dire had just occurred to her.“I was really anxious about the launch.There was so much riding on it.” Her eyes flashed to Mav.“I wanted to pull it off perfectly.For you.For the company.You trusted me to do it and you’ve been so good to me [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]