Kendall paced the penthouse at The Seasons Hotel Casino outside of Pine Valley and reflected on how much had happened since a similar opening night nearly a month earlier. Once again she prepared for the evening in the privacy of the penthouse suite that Zach kept for their use, while he dressed in another room to give her solitude. This time, though, she knew that he was giving her space and not abandoning her, so the terror of facing it alone was not part of her preparations on this evening… however, there was still terror. This time the stakes were higher because they would be performing before a much more hostile audience that ranged from those who openly wanted it to be a failure to those who were still threatened by her marriage to Zach Slater. Added to that, the original opening of the casino had heralded the attempted murder of Ryan Lavery – a crime for which both she and her husband had at alternate times been the chief suspect – and made for enough butterflies to make her tremble.
At least I look great, she thought to herself. No one will guess what I'm thinking or feeling as long as I'm wearing this. Once again she and Zach had picked out the perfect gown for the evening. This time they had made a brief trip to Manhattan and had a couture gown created just for her. It was designed to compliment her slight figure, and to set off her diamonds to perfection – the same diamonds that she had worn at the re-opening celebration in Vegas. Her gown was of a sheer, deep sapphire lined in a paler blue that shimmered like deep water and set off the blue of her eyes. It was form fitting with long snug sleeves and a softly draped neckline that gave only a hint of décolletage. Once again it was dramatically backless with a short train. Her reverse diamond lariat had been enhanced with a single substantial sapphire that lay at the base of her throat, embossed in precious metal with the same entwined Z and K that graced the diamond bracelet she wore on her wrist. Zach had gifted her with the sapphire earlier in the day while she had presented him with gold and diamond cufflinks in the same design… receiving a smile of genuine pleasure and gratitude from him. Despite the many obstacles they had encountered in re-opening The Seasons, their marriage was if anything more satisfying than ever.
It was the one month anniversary of their wedding, a date selected purposely when they realized that the casino would not re-open on the aggressive timetable that they had originally pursued. Thanks to Ethan's machinations, Kendall had been required to appear at a hearing before the Gaming Commission and provide testimony as well as documentation that Zach would be a silent partner and not involved in running the business. Despite his signed affidavits, Zach's son found a way to plant doubt in the minds of the Gaming Commission and they had experienced some tense moments where they thought the casino would have to be sold rather than re-opening under her guidance. In the end, Livia and Kendall had prevailed and Ethan had received yet another blow to his plans for vengeance as well as his ego. Unfortunately, every blow to that ego left him bitter and more determined to hurt her and Zach… and the cost to himself or anyone in his path became less important each day.
Ethan had not been forgiving after his failed attempt to blackmail her through the threatened destruction of Fusion and the Miranda Center, and was now also aiming his sights toward everyone in the extended Kane/Montgomery clan in addition. Once Bianca had gone to the board and overrode his decision to close Fusion and the Miranda Center, she had also directed Jackson Montgomery to work with Livia in constructing a compromise offer to the courts that would strip Ethan of his share of Cambias while preserving Miranda's claim. Although he had brought it on himself by attacking her family, Ethan was not inclined to be forgiving of Bianca and Kendall was greatly relieved that she made her home in Paris where she was not daily subjected to his sullen and surly behavior. Despite those victories, though, Kendall remained unable to convince Bianca of Zach's true nature and found that the young woman still blamed him for the greatest portion of their problems with Ethan. Bianca remained unconvinced that Zach's initial denial of Ethan wasn't the single event that led to their current problems… and in her mind took away a dear and trusted friend.
While Kendall waited for Zach to arrive, she picked up the invitation that they had sent to customers, friends and family for the re-opening celebration. On the front was an embossed version of the entwined Z/K with gilt letters below stating "The Seasons Hotel Casino". Inside it gave the date and time with a separate card for room reservations. Her mother had been more incensed by their signature motif than anything else they had done… as if the combination of the letters in their name was a more intimate gesture than the marriage itself. Considering that the marriage had started out to be strictly business… she could perhaps be right although Kendall would never admit it to her. She was still looking forward to her mother's reaction to their jewelry as well as her gown since Erica would be torn between appreciation for Zach's exquisite taste and upset at more evidence of the strength of their marriage.
Erica had used cajolery, bribery and outright threats to convince Kendall to divorce her husband. Once she had been apprised of the pre-nuptial agreement – and the handsome settlement that Kendall would receive if they divorced – she had been even more determined to see the marriage dissolved. Kendall had mistakenly shown it to her mother in the hopes that it would prove Zach's commitment to their marriage and business partnership – instead it had become Erica's favorite weapon in trying to undermine him. She saw treachery in such an unnecessarily generous clause, and harped on Zach's prior deceptions as proof of his untrustworthiness. When Kendall had tried to point out how much more dishonest the son was than the father – her answer was always that Cambias men could never be trusted. The more Kendall defended her husband, the more determined Erica had been to destroy them… to the point where mother and daughter were barely on speaking terms. Although Zach did everything he could to keep from being the cause of their alienation… Kendall was feeling very discouraged at the distance between her and her mother and sister… a situation that it appeared would only be resolved if she gave up her husband, but a choice that she found herself daily more unwilling to make.
Kendall glanced toward the door with a smile as she heard it opening. Zach stepped inside the room and stood as if mesmerized… pleasure and desire etched on his face in equal measure. After absorbing her beauty for a moment, he strode forward and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Removing his lips from hers, he trailed whisper soft kisses to her ear where he breathed, "…so beautiful…" before reclaiming her lips for another kiss. Kendall surrendered herself completely to his caresses and found herself breathless when he finally relinquished her.
"Mmm… much more of that and we'll never make it downstairs," she said shakily, laying a hand on his chest for balance.
"We have to go down for at least a little while… you can't deny me the opportunity to show you off," he answered with a grin. "You are even more beautiful than when we opened in Las Vegas."
She touched the sapphire at her throat, "It's all in the presentation… with jewels like this anyone could…"
"No… you make them beautiful, not the other way round," he interrupted. "Have I told you lately what a lucky man I am?"
She smiled and nodded, as he never went a day without saying that to her. Despite their shaky start, this was a real marriage in every sense of the word except one… neither of them had ever spoken words of love. But obviously love was not a required ingredient for a successful relationship, because they were stronger and more committed each day without it. She replied softly, "No luckier than I."
Zach held out a hand containing his new cufflinks, "Will you help me?"
Kendall took them from him and stood within the circle of his arms, her back to his chest as she worked each of them into the cuffs of his dress shirt. He really was the perfect escort in his dark and perfectly tailored suit, so handsome and fit as it set off his athletic build to perfection. They made a striking couple as their eyes met in the full-length mirror on the wall of the penthouse… and they smiled toward each other's reflection with anticipation and pleasure.
Once Kendall finished with the cufflinks, Zach stepped back and lifted her hand to his lips before saying, "Shall we astound them, Mrs. Slater?"
Stepping forward together, she smiled in reply, "We shall… oh yes we shall."