Ivy Secrets by Jean Stone Page B

you’ve found me out.”
    Marina drew in a tight breath and wondered why she had been cursed with such an ass of a sister.
    “Actually I have run out of that yummy moisturizer you let me try. If the king insists on cooping us up in that palace until this Viktor Coe crisis has passed, I might as well use thetime to improve my skin. I hate to admit it but it’s pretty good stuff. Your workers are to be commended,” she said with a toss of her head.
    “I am sure they will be honored to have your approval. Is there anything else, Alexis?” Marina was sure that Alexis had come here neither to ask her plans nor to acquire more moisturizer. “I am about to go into a meeting.”
    “No. I’ll pick up a jar from Yvonne at the desk.” She started toward the door then stopped and turned. “Oh, I almost forgot.”
    Marina waited.
    “You had a call this morning. From the States.”
    The States? Marina frowned. Anything important would have come directly to the plant.
    “It was one of your Smith buddies.”
    A lump clutched Marina’s throat. “Charlie?”
    Alexis pretended to think a moment. Then she shook her head. “No, no, that wasn’t the name.”
    “Tess?” she asked quickly. “Was it Tess?”
    “Tess? Oh, God, I remember Tess. She was that short, plump one with …”
    Marina stepped forward. “Was it Tess?”
    “Hmm, Tess. No.” She opened her eyes wider as though she’d suddenly remembered. “Nadine said it sounded like an older woman. Her name was Dell. Dell something, I cannot remember.”
    Dell? Dell Brooks?
A knot twisted in Marina’s stomach. “Was it Dell Brooks?” she asked slowly, in a voice that suddenly sounded shaky.
    “Yes. I believe that was the name. Nadine wrote down the number.”
    “Did you bring it?”
    Her sister smiled. “No, I didn’t think of it until I saw you.”
    Marina wished she could believe her.
    “Well, you will get the message when you return to the palace.” Alexis headed for the door, then looked back. “Oh, something else. Apparently, the woman said it was urgent.”
    The temperature in the office seemed to plummet. “Why didn’t you have Nadine tell her to call me here?”
    Alexis shrugged. “I know how busy you are. I know you hate being interrupted.”
    Just then, Jorge poked his head in the doorway. “Marina?” he asked. “We’re ready for you in the conference room.”
    “You see?” Alexis smiled. “You are too busy.” She gave a light wave, then disappeared down the hall.
        Marina stared at the doorway where Alexis had been.
Dell Brooks?
Why was Dell Brooks trying to reach her?
    “Marina?” Jorge asked. “Is everything all right?”
    Marina blinked, then looked at Jorge. “Yes, yes. Everything’s fine.” She had to get in touch with Dell. She had to know what was going on. “Start the meeting without me. I need to make a call.”
    Jorge held up his hand. “Wait a minute. I’m not starting anything. Not until you tell me what this is all about.”
    She hesitated a moment. She would have liked to share her concerns with Jorge. He seemed to understand her so well, without judgment, without pressure. But she reminded herself, their relationship was business, strictly business. He had made that quite clear when they first met.
    “My phone call,” she said, “does not concern you.”
    His green eyes cooled. “If it involves Princess Cosmetics it does.”
    “Well, it does not. I do have a life beyond this factory, you know.”
    Jorge turned back toward the door. “No,” he said simply. “I didn’t know.”
    Marina cringed at his frank manner, and at his ability to tap into those parts of her that she chose to ignore.
    He stopped and ran a hand through his thick blond hair. “What about the new production schedule? I thought you were hot to present it.”
    “It can wait,” Marina said hurriedly. No matter how much pressure was on Princess Cosmetics, trying to reach Dell Brooks had become her priority. She had to know what Dell