Flawless PAPERBACK (Love California #1)

Book 1, Love California Series

While she struggles to save the business that means everything to her, she meets Lance, an executive chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She encounters this intriguing man again on a business trip to Paris and soon gains a new perspective on life.

When the unthinkable occurs and Verena’s world collapses, her friends rally around her. Ultimately, Verena learns that truth, family, friendship, and love are the unshakable pillars of life. But will she get a second chance in business – or in love?

VERENA HEARD HER name called. Despite the uneasy, prickly feeling on the back of her neck, she arranged a smile on her face and made her way to the podium through throngs of well-wishers and clouds of expensive perfume. This was her moment. Amid the thunder of applause rising in the ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel, she passed linen-draped, flower-laden tables ringed with women in dazzling designer evening dresses and men in tuxedos.

Tonight was a night that her grandmother, Mia, had dreamed of. Verena wished she could be here, but Mia was at home resting in bed. It was supposed to have been such a happy celebration. A vein pulsed in her temple, twitching her eye.

Lifting the hem of her silvery evening gown, Verena navigated the steps up to the brightly lit stage. She greeted Robert Montreaux with a kiss on each cheek and turned on a radiant smile for the photographers. As head of her family company, Verena performed her job with practiced precision and grace.

She blinked against the camera flashes that left a shower of blue sparkles in front of her eyes, momentarily blinding her. 

As her vision cleared, Verena glanced at the crowd that had gathered. She sought out the faces of her friends Dahlia, Fianna, and Scarlett, who had just flown in from New York for the occasion. She drew a deep breath. 

At least her good friends were with her tonight. They’d waited patiently through long speeches from other industry professionals who were also being honored for their accomplishments. Verena was seated at a front table for the honorees while her friends had been seated at another table farther back. She needed to speak to them, especially Scarlett, her attorney.

Verena had received a voice mail just moments before she’d left for the awards banquet. Her good friend and banker, Marvin Panetta, had left an urgent message for her to call him, but he hadn’t answered when she tried to call him back. I have bad news, he’d said. I need to warn you about Derrick.

That would be Derrick Logan, her ex-fiancé. The man who couldn’t seem to accept no for an answer, in business or in personal relationships. She wondered what he was up to now.

“May I have your attention, please?” Robert Montreaux, the French president of Cosmetic Executives Worldwide, tapped the microphone. 

Verena swept her attention back to Robert.

“We’re here tonight to honor Verena Valent,” he said, in a richly accented voice that commanded attention. “She took over Valent Swiss Skincare ten years ago at the age of eighteen after the death of her parents. Not only did she persevere through that tragedy, but she grew to become the driving force behind the company’s recent innovations and expansion. Next month, Valent Swiss Skincare expands into Asia, with debuts planned in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Singapore. So now, before she jets off to Asia, please join me in honoring Verena Valent, our Executive Visionary of the Year.”

Applause exploded in the room. From the corner of her eye Verena saw Greta Hicks, the anorexic-thin, Versace-clad reporter with Fashion News Daily who’d also dated Derrick. Greta looked especially haughty tonight, and Verena noticed that she kept glancing in Derrick’s direction. 

“Thank you, Robert, merci, my friend,” Verena said, accepting the faceted crystal award he offered to her. “It’s such a privilege to be singled out for this award when there are so many deserving people in the industry.” She went on to acknowledge the people who worked for her, as well as the department store buyers who had helped make her brand such a success. 

She paused, wishing Mia were here. “I’d like to thank everyone who has shared our vision and worked to grow the company that my dear grandmother, Mia Valent, founded in 1948, just a few blocks from here. Today, after several expansions, we continue to manage all international activities from that location on North Beverly Drive. I merely carry the torch for the next generation, as my parents did, and I look forward to many years of continued service and innovation in skincare. In closing, I dedicate this award to The Women in Pink Foundation for cancer research.” 

As applause rose across the room, Verena saw Greta’s hand shoot up and she advanced toward the stage. What’s that about? Verena wondered. This isn’t the place to field press questions. 

Fortunately, Robert noticed Greta and leaned toward the microphone. “Verena is too modest to mention the rather large donation to Women in Pink from Valent Swiss Skincare, but I will. Thank you, Verena, and now, I invite everyone to the dance floor.”

Stymied, Greta folded her arms and spun around. 

Music filled the room while the executive director from the Women in Pink Foundation returned to the stage. As people milled about, Verena posed with Robert and the director for photographs with the award. Yet Verena sensed something was going on.

Avoiding Greta, Verena hurried to her friends. Scarlett, Dahlia, and Fianna were dressed in shades of summer sorbet evening gowns from Fianna’s latest spring collection.

“Scarlett, I’m so glad you could make it,” Verena said, hugging her friend from New York. Scarlett’s pale coral gown set off her coppery blond hair. Originally from Spain, Escarlata Sandoval was a top intellectual property attorney. “I thought you had a big court case.”

“It settled, so I thought I’d surprise you.” Scarlett glanced around. “Where are your sisters and Mia?”

“Mia hasn’t been feeling well,” Verena replied. “Anika and Bella stayed home with her, but she insists she’ll be well enough to take the twins to Europe for their school break soon.”

Fianna leaned in. “Look out, Verena, Greta is coming your way.” Brushing back her mane of red hair, she glanced over her shoulder. 

Verena flicked her gaze to one side. “She’s up to something, stay close.”

With a cameraman trailing her, Greta marched straight toward Verena. “Would you care to make a comment about National Western Bank? Will you go ahead with your Asian expansion or put it on hold?”

So there was something to Marvin’s voice mail. Verena wondered what was going on at his bank. She’d try to call him again. 

“Well?” Greta was staring at her and waiting for a response.

“National Western Bank has always been a good partner,” Verena said, slipping into her media role. “VSS appreciates its commitment to Asia.”

Greta raised an eyebrow and looked smug. “Will you take Herringbone Capital’s offer to fund your business in Asia?” She stepped closer, shoving her microphone near Verena’s lips. “Are you counting on Derrick Logan?”

Verena ignored Greta’s last comment. Although Derrick had often offered his advice on her business, his venture capital group was not an investor in her company. “As I said, National Western Bank is handling our business.” Verena felt a chill course through her and shot a look at Scarlett, who angled her head in warning.

“Maybe you haven’t heard that the feds are taking over National Western.” Greta’s lips curled in satisfaction as she delivered her coup de grâce. “And Marvin Panetta was just found dead in an apparent suicide.”

Verena felt sick to her stomach. “No, he just—” Verena stopped as Scarlett touched her arm. What had happened? She couldn’t believe Marvin would do such a thing. What did Derrick have to do with this?

"Flawless is an astute, intelligent, gripping romance for the modern woman… a heroine you can't fail to care for and understand." - Hannah Fielding, Author of The Echoes of Love

"An engrossing view into the world of 'beautiful people' with an ending that will leave you wanting more." - New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Melissa Foster

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