Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1) (25 page)

The job was gone.
 

The editor sent a note saying she was sorry but she’d held the position as long as she could but had to hire someone else as they had a rush job coming up, but not to worry she would keep her in mind if something came up in the future.
 

The future. As if dream jobs came around every other week.
 

Mika looked up. The Miss Teen dream was now grinding as if on an imaginary pole, while her mother pretended not to notice and Ale continued to snap the photos.

Uncontrollable heat engulfed Mika’s body. Was this what he wanted for her? A lifetime of
this
?
 

She walked over to Ale and tapped him on his shoulder. “You haven’t won.”

“What are you talking about?” he said in between clicks.
 

She just shrugged and went to her desk, packing her few belongings into her tote bag.
 

Ale dropped his camera to his side, turning toward her.
 

“Hey, I thought we were working here?” The diva whined mid-spin on her platinum stilettos.

“Mika, what are you talking about, ‘I haven’t won?’” Ale yelled over the beat of the music. “And why the hell are you packing?”

She stopped shoving things into her bag and glared at him. “Just what I said. You think you can control everything and everyone. Well, you can’t control me. Not anymore. With or without a job, I’m gone. I don’t care if I never work in this industry again as long as I’m out from under you. I knew this would never work. I knew you’d never value me. Never see me for what I was truly worth. And you’ve proved it. Goodbye, Alejandro.”

“Okay. Awkward,” the diva whined. “You think we could lose the drama and get back to me now?”

Ale put up a hand, shutting up Miss Teen Queen. He sat at his desk and closed his eyes. Blocking out the image of Mika’s back as the door closed behind her. Another closed door. He shut out the sound of the blaring music and the incessant whining of the pop diva. He went deep and took his mind back to Mika and their tree on the little island in the tropics. To their good times, when she’d laughed in their early days of working together. To the easiness and the joy. And he wondered how he’d screwed it all up so fast.

Chapter 18

Mika didn’t know how she did it, but she did.
 

She’d not only survived these past seven months but thrived.
 

And time spent thinking about Ale? She was down to only about twice a day now. Morning and night. That had to count for something. It helped that now her days were filled to the hilt with an over-packed schedule that, ironically, had her on a mad hunt for an assistant of her own to help organize things. It still surprised her how the tables had turned in her life.

A week after leaving Ale, the editor at
Stylist
called her back saying the person she’d hired was a disaster and she hoped that Mika was still available. She got a second chance at the chance of a lifetime.
 

But, over the idea of putting all her hopes in one basket, Mika told the editor that she’d be happy to work for the magazine, just not exclusively. It was time to fully take charge of her destiny and if
Stylist
wanted her, there were bound to be others. The nightmare with Alejandro had taught her that.

The editor agreed, and before long, Mika found many jobs from up-and-coming magazines. Soon she had to rent her own studio space in Brooklyn. It may not be Manhattan, but she could see the skyline out her window—and that was just fine by her.
 

Mika was just putting away her equipment from a shoot for a local designer when a knock sounded at her studio door.
 

“Hey, doll!” She was immediately engulfed in Robin’s warm hug. “So this is where you’re hiding out? I thought I’d just come on over instead of waiting for an invite. I guess mine was lost in the mail.” Robin walked by her and into the studio, leaving Mika to blush behind her.

“I’m sorry. I’ve just been so busy with work, and things have been happening pretty fast.”

Robin turned around, waving a hand. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.
Not.
The last time I saw you, you didn’t want to hear a thing I had to say, but no matter. I can see with my own two eyes that you’re doing fine now, and that’s what I wanted.”

“I’m sorry. I really haven’t been a good friend.”

Robin stopped her. “Hush, you’ve been great. I just missed you.”

Mika smiled. It felt good to see her old friend. She took Robin’s hand. “It just hurt back then to have any reminders of Alejandro around. I had to move on.”

Robin nodded. “So have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Moved on, silly. Is there anyone new?”

Mika let her hand go. “No, just me and my camera, but as you can see, it’s treating me just fine.” She spun around, showing off her jeans, one-shouldered top and new haircut with a wink.

Robin laughed. “Good. Then you’ll come with me to Alejandro’s book party tonight.”

Mika froze. “You have got to be kidding me. Were you not just listening?”

“Sorry, but if you’ve moved on why don’t you prove it? Come to the party with me. It’s for that
Beauty
book of his. You worked on it too. You should be there. Didn’t you get an invite?”

“I did, but I didn’t plan on going.”

“You should. You were there for him for many years. Part of this triumph is yours. Don’t let the past hold you back. You said you’ve moved on—maybe he has, too. Are you not up for the challenge?”

Mika looked into Robin’s daring eyes and knew she’d regret her next words. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

*

“Stop fidgeting and smile,” Robin said. But still Mika fumbled with the gold bangles at her wrist and adjusted the thin strap of her top one more time before she got out of the taxi in front of the downtown gallery where Ale’s book launch was being held.
 

There was the usual New York fashion crowd gathered in the white space of the gallery, mingling about with flutes of champagne. On a center entrance wall, the word BEAUTY was tumbled in black block letters. Mika sucked in a breath and steeled her back at seeing it. She could practically hear Ale whispering the word in her ear. She took an involuntary step back.

“You okay?” Robin asked.

She plastered her smile back in place. “I’m fine.”
 

Robin gave her an arched brown in return. “If you say so.”

She nodded. “I do. Now you’ve got me here. Let’s do this.”

Robin grinned. “That’s my girl.”

The surrounding outer walls held photographs of stylized models juxtaposed with city scenes and nature shots from some of their past shoots. They were placed high and low on the walls, the nature shots higher than the stylized posed shots. Ale was clearly saying something about valuing nature over vanity. She had to agree—his more candid shots were better than the stylized ones in most cases. He captured raw beauty in a unique way.
 

“I’ll be right back, hon,” Robin said over her shoulder. “I need to find the ladies.”

“Sure, okay,” she said, hoping her friend wouldn’t leave her for long. She thought about following, but no, she would not cower at Ale’s party. Besides, Robin was already steps ahead and she’d have to run to catch up. Not smooth.

She looked at a few more photos and when she looked up again Robin was waving her over to a group she was with that included Brian, Daniel and a scrubbed-clean, fresh-faced and
very
pregnant Karina. Mika froze. She knew this had been a bad idea. But then she was stunned to see Brian lean in and lovingly nuzzle Karina’s neck and, despite the baby bump, the still willowy model glowed under his attention.
 

Mika had to will her mouth closed. The image of Karina leaving the huts—could she have been exiting Brian’s? All the accusations she threw at Ale were now peppered with doubt.

“Would you care for a drink, ma’am?”
 

Mika’s world stopped with a screech at the sound of his voice.

“I know it’s a lame line, and after seven months you’d think I’d come up with something better, but seeing you here now, I’m a little tongue tied.”
 

Mika turned and looked up into Ale’s deep brown eyes. They were just as expressive and intense as always. “Hello,” she squeaked out. Okay, so that wasn’t the strongest start ever.

“I’m so glad you came. I’ll forever be in Robin’s debt.”
 

Mika turned Robin’s way and narrowed her eyes. Robin caught the glance, and quickly ducked, looking the other way. So her friend had played her. Mika shook her head, then looked back at Ale. Seeing him now, in the flesh, she really couldn’t muster up the strength to be mad at Robin.
 

“Well, you worked hard. I wanted to say congratulations.”

He lowered his eyes, sweeping his gaze down her body from her eyes to her toes and back. It was as if every glance was a caress, and she fought not to fidget.
 

“You haven’t changed. I mean you have, I love the new hair and all, but you’re still you. I’m so glad.” She watched as he fumbled a bit with his words. Something he normally never did. “Besides, it’s you I should congratulate. It seems you’re a rising star. But deep down, I always knew that.”

“Ale, please, you don’t have to.”

He shook his head. “No, I do. This is long overdue. I’m so sorry I ever held you back. I hope you know it. I need you to know it.” The words tumbled out of his mouth faster than she could comprehend. “I’ve changed, and I’ve spent the past seven months trying to prove that to you.” He shook his head. “I know now, you never really needed
me
. It was me who needed
you
. So much.”

“Hey there! Great show. But then I expected nothing less from Alejandro the Great.” A lanky woman in a black column dress snaked her arm through Ale’s. It was Lauren, the editor at
Stylist
.
 

Mika noticed Ale stiffened a bit under her touch. “Thanks so much, Lauren. I’m glad you could make it.” He said the words carefully while keeping his eyes on Mika as if he were afraid she would run away.
 

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She waved her free arm that held her empty glass of champagne. “This is my opportunity to thank you face to face.”

Ale pulled free of her, breaking his gaze from Mika for a moment. “There’s no need. Can I get you another glass of champagne?”

“No need? Oh Ale, please, modesty doesn’t become you. Thanks to you setting me straight about this little treasure,” She waved her glass at Mika and beamed, “My magazine is thriving more than ever. Why, soon we won’t be able to afford her. She is quite the star. Always in demand.” Mika blinked at them both as it all clicked. Oh God—the job and how it miraculously fell back in her lap. It was him.
 

All him.

“Yes, a star describes her almost perfectly,” Ale said pinning her with his eyes. “Please excuse us.”

He took her hand and pulled it to his lips. Was she trembling?

“Ale, please.
Please.
People will see.”
 

“And you think I care?”
 

She knew he didn’t. “Stop. You have to stop.”

He laughed at that. The same laugh that rumbled over her body and caused her spine to tingle so many times. “That’s your favorite word for me. It always has been. It is the only thing you’ve ever been wrong about. Trying to get me to stop and just push aside my feelings for you.” He kept her hand and pulled her further into the gallery, away from Lauren, and Karina, and the rest of the New York fashion crowd all in black. He eased her a little closer to his body, and suddenly she was in the cocoon of his familiar warmth. “But me, I was wrong about so much more.” He stopped and looked her in the eyes. His shone brightly with hope and something she never thought she’d see. “I’m sorry, Mika. I was wrong to try to control you for so long. It was my own selfishness and, I’ll admit it, fear at losing you. I never doubted for a minute your ability to rise to the top, just like I never saw you as any less than the most beautiful woman in the world to me.”

He ran a gentle hand over hers. Those long fingers she had always admired intertwined with hers, and her breath caught. Her lips trembled. “Ale, we can’t go back to what we had.”

He smiled. “Of course not. We are so far beyond that. You are totally your own woman with a thriving career and business. And me, well, I’ll have to stay on my toes just to keep up with you, but I’m happy to do it if I can be anywhere near your world. Please just think about it.”

Mika didn’t know what to think. She’d spent so much of the past seven months trying to hide her feelings, just as she had done for the three years before with Ale.
 

He gave her hand a gentle tug as he led her further into the gallery and the exhibition. The photographs became more vivid as they moved on and Mika fought to focus on them as Ale pointed to the changing pictures on the walls. It was clear he was trying to make her see something. Something through his eyes.

She looked intently as the posed fashion models started to change to more pictures of real women and then children...and then suddenly the photos grew larger and the scenery changed. They were from the island. Their island.