She talks the entire way there about maybe seven different topics, and I don’t say much the entire time, but she doesn't seem to mind or notice as she rambles.
“Thanks for the ride.”
“I'll text you later. Don't ignore me.”
She glances over her shoulder at me, and the guilty look on her face alone tells me she knows I know she put her read recipients on, so I knew she was ignoring me. She only nods before opening the door, and the minute she’s out, a group of people notice her, and a ton of cameras are in her face. I hear her laughing at something one of them says, and after taking a few pictures with them, she waves them goodbye and walks into the building.
A few of them turn to my car, but I leave before they try to figure out who’s in here.
Chapter Nine
Sage
“Can someone give me arundown of the changes?” I look around the room as Annet touches up my hair.
“What changes?” Angie looks around the room, and I can see her annoyance growing when no one answers her. She hates last-minute changes, and while I’m fine with adapting to them, she’s ready to fire people.
Today's our runway show for Vincent andnothingcan go wrong, so I understand her worry, but everything's going to be fine… I hope.
“It’s–”
“So help me God, Sage, if you say it’s fine.”
I laugh softly, and she sends me a glare, but a second later, she’s smiling when I stick my tongue out at her.
“What changes?” Her tone is a lot softer now, and I smile in the mirror.
“Nothing big. Royal is stuck in Chicago, so they want me to take her place.”
“They want you to model her outfits along with your three outfits?” She looks like she’s having a stroke, and I let out a sigh,but before I can say anything, she goes on. “Absolutely not. Why didn’t they run this by me?”
“Because they knew you’d say no.” When I roll my eyes, she points at me and tells me to watch it. I laugh at how motherly she is. “Angie, I already agreed and–”
“Of course you did.” She looks up at the ceiling. “Of course she did!”
“Ang, she was supposed to model twice in the middle, and I’m opening the show, so–”
“Sage, three outfits are already pushing it. Everyone else modeling one to two pieces and–”
“And Mr. Moore directly asked me to model all five pieces. How the heck was I supposed to say no tothedesigner himself?”
Angie goes still, and she watches me as my words sink in. I know it’s because she didn’t know that last part, but I was pretty shocked myself. Vincent freaking Moore was just here ten minutes ago, and he was going bananas over Royal not being able to come. We have backup models for this, but he was adamant that I wear the two outfits Royal was supposed to wear and said he could have them tailored before the show tonight.
“What?”
I laugh softly at Angie’s face.
“Mr. Moore ishere? I thought we wouldn’t see him until his event tonight?”
“Me too, but he drove down here when he heard about the flights being delayed.” I shrug, and Angie still looks dumbfounded, but I don’t blame her. I was trying to contain myself when he walked in here.
“Okay, fine.” Angie lets out a breath, and it looks like she was holding it the minute I brought up Vincent’s name. “So we need all hands on deck. This is the most outfits you’re modeling in the shortest time frame, but–”
“We can make it work.” I glance in the mirror at my outfit team. “Right?”
“Of course.” They agree with various noises of agreement, too focused on making sure I have all of my jewelry pieces for each outfit, and I’m only a tad bit nervous, but I have faith in them. Switching outfits with such little time is an outfit malfunction waiting to happen, but after all of the years we've been working together, I really do have faith in them.
By the time my hair is ready, it’s time for the meeting, but just as I stand, my door flies open.
