The Sisters - blog tour

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The Sisters - Kate Forster

About the author

Katet Forster lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and dogs and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and talking on the phone, usually all at once. She is an avid follower of fashion, fame and all things pop culture and is also an excellent dinner party guest who always brings gossip and champagne.

Follow Kate

Twitter handle: @kateforster

Facebook: @kateforsterwrites

About the book

Wealth and privilege can’t buy you love….or keep your secrets safe

The de Santoval sisters are heiresses to a glamorous fashion house, and the darlings of LA society.

Violetta is the hottest reality TV star of the moment, with a fierce press interest to rival Hollywood's A-list. Carlotta is an exclusive horse trainer, as wild as the stallions she breaks in. Fine-arts consultant Grace is hiding a dark secret she must keep hidden at all costs. Their mother, wealthy fashion maven Birdie De Santoval, lies unconscious following a mysterious accident. Blame soon falls on their powerful but ruthless tycoon father, the missing Leon De Santoval.

Beneath the ritzy façade of the de Santoval family lies a web of deceit and betrayal that hides a secret that threatens to destroy them all…

Buy links

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2NZurmU
iBooks: https://apple.co/2EDsFIT

Amazon: mybook.to/SistersForster
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2JbOZrI

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EXTRACT

Leon read between the lines of her soliloquy on fashion. Birdie was from money, there was no doubt about it. The way she held herself, the way she held her cigarette and coffee cup, the fine cut of her green wool jacket and the Christian Dior bag that hung off the back of the chair – all indicated money to Leon. Suddenly he was more interested in her than for just her long legs.

‘But you have a Dior bag! How is it that you have that and yet you say these designers are not for you?’

Birdie looked him in the eye. ‘I may have a Dior bag but you try and name one other label I am wearing. You can’t. And you know why? Because my friend and I made these clothes. We are going to start our own fashion label back in America. I took this job reporting so I could understand the industry, but as soon as I am done then Dina and I are heading to New York to create fashion that women can afford and fit into. Then they will have cash left over for the Dior bag,’ she said, enthused by her plan.

Leon looked at her, his eyes narrowed. ‘But fashion is very expensive. How will you fund this? The workshops, the fabrics, the shows?’

Birdie spoke confidently, and took a cigarette from his packet on the table and waited for him to light it. He waved the waiter over who quickly lit it as she began to talk.

‘I am from money and so is Dina. Combined, our families own most of the South. We will be fine, don’t you worry,’ she said, staring ahead at the passing foot traffic. She seemed upset with him and he didn’t want to cause waves when she had pedigree and money, both which could be of use for his plans.

Leon thought for a moment and then turned on the charm, the one that always got him out a spanking from his grandmother. ‘Of course! Women know fashion better than men. I am sure you will be a great success. I look forward to seeing you on the front of the magazine you write for.’

Birdie seemed to unruffle her feathers and turned to look at him.

Leon smiled at her. His smile was his best feature – wide, straight teeth and it turned up the corners of his eyes. ‘Let me buy you dinner and then we can talk more about your plans.’

*

The next evening, over dinner at A La Petite Chaise, for which Leon used his entire week’s food allowance, she told him her idea. To create good quality fashion, inspired by the latest trends on the runways, and turning it over quickly so the shopper would always come back for more. Leon was enthralled; it was an excellent idea. Still, she would need an enormous amount of cash to start her business and making it in America would add a lot more cost.

Leon in turn fabricated his life, telling her he was from a noble family, his father a fashion designer in Spain, and he due to inherit the family business. He didn’t need to work but he chose to, he said, as a creative outlet.

Birdie seemed enthralled. She was naïve about many things and he wondered if she was still a virgin. He would be pleased to find out but he knew not to rush her.

Leon knew everything there was to know about fashion and wine and he spoke English, French, Italian and Spanish, which Birdie told him personified her idea of a European gentleman. Dinner turned into lunches and coffees after the shows which Birdie insisted on paying for to prove her independence, he thought. Leon never sought her out, instead he let her set the pace, and there was no doubt in his mind that she was interested in him. Not revealing his hotel to her, as that would alert her to his modest budget, Leon always conveniently bumped into her after the shows or before. Or he would pick her up from her hotel and they would walk the streets of Paris, commenting on the passing street fashion that Birdie was so passionate about.

Towards the end of the week, Leon had not even held Birdie’s hand. The attraction was strong between them. Leon was fascinated about her upbringing; the way she spoke of her family and the houses they had, her horses and her reticence to marry the man her parents had picked for her, from another Georgia family. Her ease with her wealth, her kindness to everyone – including rude French waiters – only proved her innocence.

On the last evening in Paris, Leon had promised Birdie he would take her out on the town again. Down to his last $50, he was panicking about how he would pay for the meal. He’d decided to complain of stomach illness before they set off for the restaurant. When he arrived at the Hotel Athenée, the concierge rang Birdie’s room.

‘Mademoiselle Blackwood would like you to go up to her room, Monsieur de Santoval. The prestige suite on the fifth floor,’ said the concierge with a knowing look in his eye.

Having stood at the desk for the past 15 years, he knew the comings and goings of his guests before they did. He had watched Leon woo Birdie this past week and knew he was a man on the make. He didn’t judge him – what the hell, you had to get ahead any way you could.

Leon nodded, ignoring the look on the concierge’s face he went upstairs to Birdie’s suite. Standing outside the door, Leon took a deep breath. He had risked a lot this week on Birdie but he hoped his instincts were right. He knocked on the door.

Birdie opened it almost immediately. She was dressed in a simple black silk shift dress, no stockings and simple flat shoes. Her long hair was out and she was not wearing an ounce of makeup. She looked tall, almost as tall as Leon, he thought, as she stood in front of him.

‘I thought we could dine in tonight, my treat. You have been showering me with divine French food all week,’ she said, blushing.

If Leon was capable of love, then the relief he felt when she announced her plan was close to it. He swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

Birdie melted into his strong arms. Lifting her up, he carried her to the bed and laid her down. ‘Birdie, you’re so beautiful,’ he said as he looked down upon her.

Birdie smiled at him angelically. ‘Make love to me.’

She met his passion again and, as they tore off each other’s clothes, Leon’s erection was ready for her. She looked down; her eyes widened at the sight of his large penis. Then she pulled him down and gasped as he entered her. Leon didn’t notice her reaction, only feeling the warm tightness around his cock. Plunging in and out, he didn’t look for her reaction, instead pleasuring himself and rubbing his face against her small breasts.

Leon used her body swiftly and efficiently, throwing back his head and almost howling with delight as he came.

He rolled off her and lay panting, his chest hairs wet from sweat. Leon tried to catch his breath. ‘That was wonderful, mi pájaro.’

Birdie smiled. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means my bird,’ he said as he kissed the tip of her nose.

Birdie smiled.

They were married in Georgia seven weeks later.