I tore my eyes off the frozen woman showcasing the evenings most talked about designer, and glanced around at the confused audience. Empire Fashions’ CEO stood from his chair and waved at the DJ who just shrugged back at him.
Beside me, Claudia, who was just very politely reminded she wasn’t free to touch me whenever she felt like it, rushed forward, grabbing Rebecca. “What the hell is going on? Where are her lights?”
“I don’t know, I gave Elle very clear instructions. I’ll go find her.”
Before Rebecca could get away from Claudia’s wrath, the lights came on suddenly, in full effect. The model recovered and moved gracefully down the runway, posing a bizarre yet remarkable gown with confidence.
“Forget it, Bec, I’ll go find her,” she turned on her heel then swiveled back, “Which one is she again?”
I rolled my eyes and approached Claudia, placing a hand on her shoulder. She froze at my touch and looked up at me. “Why don’t you leave my staff to me,” I spoke coolly.
She released herself from my hold. “Elle might work for you, but she owes me an explanation on what the hell that was, all the same.” She turned again. “Come on, you can help point her out for me.”
How was I going to tell Claudia, I’d never met her?
“Claudia,” the edge in my voice stopped her in her tracks. “I’m not going to repeat myself. I will deal with her. Stay out of it.”
She huffed and brushed past me. “Come on,” she turned to Rebecca, and they both raced over to a hysterical CEO and someone else I assumed was the eminent designer.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath and rubbed my forehead. I was not in the mood to deal with this tonight.
“Friend of yours?” Ron walked up to me, handing me my drink.
I took a hefty sip. “More like a foe.”
“Sure didn’t seem like it.” Ron cocked his head and turned to wave at one of the parting guests.
“It’s not what you think,” I said breathlessly. Claudia was the last person I needed to worry about.
“I’m not thinking anything. I’m just letting you know,” he turned to face me, “what it might look like to someone.”
I shook my head and finished off my drink. “Right. Like it matters to me if someone got the wrong idea here.” I set my drink down and rubbed my eyes, considering the tempting thought to call it a night and deal with the problem in the morning.
“I need to get out of here. Get some rest so I can fire someone in the morning,” I mumbled.
Ron raised his glass at me. “Good luck with that,” he chuckled and walked away.
I took a long hot shower. The evening’s disaster played over in my head. What are the chances that Starr-Bright Events logo being displayed on every table would turn out to be something I now regretted?
I threw on a clean shirt as my doorbell rang. It was well after midnight at this point, but it didn’t matter because I knew who it was. A smile spread across my face before I opened the door and saw the miserable expression on hers.
My face fell. “Isabel, what’s the matter?” She stood at my doorstep dressed in an all-black pantsuit, which she in fact looked amazingly sexy in. With glistening eyes, she opened her mouth to say something but then hesitated.
I frowned, pulling her inside. “Hey, what is it? Did something happen?”
She nodded. “I had a long night.”
The pained expression on her face tugged at my heart and I wrapped my arms around her. She released a breath and melted into me. After a moment she tensed and stepped back.
“Scott,” she started, shakily, “I don’t think this is going to work.”
I glared at her. She was here to break up with me?
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. You came here after midnight...to end it?” That couldn’t be right. There was something else. Something she wasn’t telling me. Still, I felt my heart ripping at the seams.
“I was afraid I’d change my mind tomorrow,” she said softly.
“Still not making sense, sweetheart,” I snapped.
