Now, it was time to sit back and enjoy the show.
It took Preston a minute to fully process the reality that he would be away from work for an entire month. When it sank in, he jumped to his feet, eyes menacing. “You can’t be serious.”
Playing coy, I batted my eyelashes at him. “Is there a problem?”
“You know damn well that there’s a problem!”
I’d never heard Preston yell before, and I was slightly taken aback but carefully schooled my features to appear unfazed. This was the reaction I was hoping for, and I couldn’t flinch now.
Standing my ground, I challenged, “Should I tell the flight crew it will only be me this evening?”
Watching his face carefully for any sign that he was about to break, I was disappointed when he calmed down. “Would have been nice to have more than a few hours’ notice, Lucy.”
Feigning innocence, I placed my free hand on my chest. “I’m sorry, honey. I thought I told you last week. My bad.”
“Your bad. Yeah, right.” Preston’s words dripped with sarcasm. “If you’ll excuse me,Princess, I need to get to work and tie up any loose ends before our little getaway.”
Not sparing me another glance, he moved to leave the breakfast room, so I called out to his back, “Have a great day!” The second he was gone, I burst into a fit of giggles.
Point for me.
God, how I’d missed Milan. Not only was the city gorgeous, but I could finally take a deep breath—Belleston was slowly suffocating me to death. This was where I belonged.
If I kept pushing Preston, eventually, this would be my life full-time.
Ihadto win. There was no alternative.
Like the infuriating man that he was, he sorted out a remote working situation and was waiting for me inside the private jet when I arrived that night. When he wasn’t anywhere to be found in our apartment and missed the car to the airstrip, I thought I’d done it, but nope. It would seem he was just as stubborn as I was.
Two weeks later, I was dragging the stubborn ass to the studio each day, enjoying the view as he struggled to communicate with his team over two hundred miles away. There was humor to be found in Preston’s frustration due to his co-workers moving forward without him on projects he’d formerly held the lead, as he quickly realized that he was replaceable. Oops.
It still wasn’t enough to force him to pack up and go home, however. I needed something more.
Addy June was alive with activity in the wake of fashion week. Expansion was on the horizon, and I spent my days designing, working out the logistics of mass production, and interviewing candidates for new positions created by our overnight popularity. That left me little free time to devise new ways to torture Preston into calling it quits.
The clock was ticking. If I wanted him gone before it was too late, I would need to carve out some time in my busy scheduleto brainstorm my next attack. Natalie and Amy’s ideas had been brilliant. Still, it was time for me to develop an idea on my own—this was a team effort, and I needed to carry my weight, considering I was the beneficiary.
Luckily for me, inspiration struck suddenly during our last week in Milan before flying to the States for Thanksgiving—yet another detail I decided to keep from Preston. Sophie brought me a design for a dress suited for a plus-sized model, one larger than any of the mannequins we kept in the studio.
Using my long hair as a curtain, I bent over a sketchbook, trying to hide the evil smile on my face as Sophie oversaw the cutting of fabrics to be pieced together to make the dress she envisioned.
This was going to besogood.
Once all the pieces were ready, I put on my professional mask, inspecting the cut fabric laid on the large worktable before approaching the podium in the center of the studio. Preston was huddled in a corner, trying to get work done. Did I mention I wasn’t benevolent enough to provide him with a desk? I couldn’t stop the small smile that crossed my lips at the sight of him trying to juggle his laptop on his lap while seated in a folding chair.
Erasing the smile, I kept my voice cool. “Oh, Preston?”
Satisfaction coursed through my veins when he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before answering, “Yes, dear?”
“Would you be so kind as to assist me over here?”
Sighing, he closed his laptop before standing and placing it on the chair he’d vacated. Trudging over to where I stood, he looked resigned.
Perfect.
I had him right where I wanted him. Today’s stunt had to be the final straw, and I couldn’t wait to breathe in the sweet smell of victory.
Instructing him, I gestured to the podium. “If you could please step up there.”
