She walked into the room and C.J. did a double take. No, this couldn't be happening. Life didn't just get more complicated.
The lithe brunette dressed to the nines scoured the penthouse suite and arched her brows.
"It looks just like the other one."
Pam cast her a critical glance.
"Who are you and do you have an appointment?"
The woman just looked down at her, scathingly.
"Who the hell are you…oh yes, you're that miserable receptionist Pam isn't it?"
Chris folded her arms.
"I'm not her…my name is Chris."
The woman waved a hand.
"Whatever…where is he anyway…where has he been hiding?"
C.J. groaned as Chris looked at the diva confused.
"You mean Matt Houston?"
The woman sniffed impatiently.
"I mean Mi Amore…who sometimes goes by that name."
Chris shot C.J. a look and she decided it was time to answer.
"Her name's Serena Gambacci…Houston used to go out with her years ago."
Chris nodded.
"Yeah I remember now. Pam left some notecards on her. She's…"
"Rather volatile," C.J. finished, "and Houston solved her father's murder a couple years ago. She hasn't been seen since…until now."
Serena just cast C.J. a condescending look.
"And you're…his assistant…"
"Associate and business partner…"
Serena sniffed.
"Whatever…where is he anyway? I need to speak with him."
Matt had gone to fetch her some of her favorite cupcakes…custom made with rich dark chocolate and little sprinkles. She'd had a craving for them all day.
"He's out and it'll be a while until he returns."
Serena didn't look moved.
"I need to speak with him at once. I read the article in that horrible little newspaper about him and his company."
Oh that. C.J. would have figured as much except she didn't know whether or not Serena read anything except for papers she had to sign. She'd wound up with all her father's billions and had occasionally hit the gossip columns with her exploits with various playboys in Europe.
Not that C.J. paid much attention to that.
"I told you he's out of the office."
"I heard you but it's very important and I don't need you to stop me from seeing mi amore."
Serena had to know that ship had sailed already but didn't act like it. Matt hadn't seen that much into her…except that one morning she and Slim had gotten off the helicopter and found Matt buck naked in the spa except for his worn hat. Nothing unusual about that except that this time Serena had been about to leave him.
She'd wondered if the sex could really be that great with a high maintenance spoiled brat like Serena but then there was no figuring men sometimes.
"You can leave a message with Chris and he'll get back to you…when he has the time. He's awfully busy. You know starting up a new company can be quite time consuming."
Serena waved her hand again.
"Oh I don't fret myself with minor details. I have hired help for all that. I know that his witch of an ex-fiancée has stolen his company away from him."
Oh, news traveled fast indeed if it'd made its way to her.
"I wish I could tear her apart myself but I believe she will fail herself. She's quite weak looking in all the photos of them together."
"She took over Houston's company when he wouldn't marry her."
Serena sniffed.
"Then she is gutter trash," she said, "How tacky can you get? Matlock would never fall for that. There's only been one woman who captivate him so."
C.J.'s mouth quirked.
"And who's that?"
Serena pursed her lips.
"Why me of course," she said, "What happened between us in Paris…Milan…was so powerful, so right."
It'd only been a couple of kisses, according to Matt. But that was before the time they hooked up when he worked on her father's murder case.
"Of course."
C.J. saw Chris shaking her head in disbelief.
"And what about you," Serena said, "To work so close to such a virile man like him and not be able to enjoy it…it must be quite difficult."
C.J. shrugged.
"It has its moments."
"I….well there's plenty of commoners for a woman like yourself."
C.J. just smiled not wanting to get into it with her. Just wanting to get her out of the office as soon as possible before any crystal got broken.
Matt ran into Elizabeth who must be following him at this rate. He had just purchased cupcakes for C.J. who just had to have them. He just had to make sure she was happy and well fed. Elizabeth looked to be buying a crème pie and glanced over at him by the counter.
"Matlock…how good to see you."
"Elizabeth."
"I wanted to tell you the good news that the company's turning itself around."
He looked over at her.
"Is that because of your partner?"
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"You know I'm not going to talk about him…or her."
He figured as much but he had to try. Not that he'd ever get his company back but he wanted to know who'd targeted him and C.J. using Elizabeth as a means to that end.
"So why don't we talk about something else instead? Like will you go with me to the medallion ball next week?"
He just looked at her.
"What?"
She stepped closer.
"You heard me…I need a date and it's the social event of the season."
He shook his head.
"I won't take you…I told you that the bridge sailed already," he said, "Besides I'm taking C.J."
She blanched.
"You can't be serious. Come on Matlock, she can never give you what I can."
He sighed.
"Elizabeth I'm not marrying you and I meant it," he said, "You threatened my company and I didn't bend and now you own it. So why don't you just drop it?"
Her lips quivered.
"Matlock…when a love is as great as ours…it can't be denied….she…she can't give you that like I can."
He shook his head again.
"You need to understand that I'm not interested…."
"But you shielded me with your body during the explosion…"
"I'd do that for anyone Elizabeth," he said, "to protect them. It's not personal."
She cast her eyes away.
"Oh how can you say that? I know that what I did…it must have hurt but I only said those things and did them because I really love you."
When she spoke like this he wondered if she were maybe just one step up from Erin the nurse. But no, she just had to be upset.
"You'd better think about it Matlock…about taking me to the medallion ball," she said, "C.J. can get her own date and besides…Delilah told me all about her and that murderous anchor."
Meaning Robert Tyler….who'd broken his best friend's heart.
"Not to mention him siring her unborn baby…from the conjugal visit."
What the hell?!
"Elizabeth…where did you here that?"
She brightened.
"Oh it's going to be all over the newspaper when it's published. The entire truth about your partner and the man who committed all those atrocious acts."
Matt just stared at her unable to believe how far she was willing to go.