Page 20 of VOGUEish

Nonna glanced around the room as if making sure no one could hear. “Do you remember that delightful young woman you rescued on the night of her prom?”

That had been eons ago. “Vaguely. What about her?”

“Her name is Isabella P. Chance. I believe you met her this morning.”

He jerked. “Isabella?” But even as he said her name, he knew Nonna was right. The pieces to the puzzle had been falling into place all day. Starting with her beautiful brown eyes, the familiar whiff of orange-scented perfume. Her profile when she had been doodling during the meeting.

“That’s the one.”

He groaned. “What in the name of love have you done?”

“Love’s an interesting choice of word.”

“Nonna, it’s just a word. Please tell me you didn’t purchase Naked Runway just to make her fairy godmother wish come true?”

“I will most definitely not tell you that if you don’t wish to hear it.”

Fuck. Of course she had. It was exactly the kind of stunt she’d been pulling for years. When one had as much money as her, one could be frivolous. “Spill.”

“She was one of Patricia’s favorite projects. One that fell through the cracks until, as you know, I heard from Patricia via Molly Thorn. The message was that I please personally see to the full completion of Isabella’s contract. Not to let any little piece of it fall by the wayside. That’s why I bought Naked Runway. It was the only way to be assured Patricia’s dying wishes were upheld.”

“Does any of this have to do with why Isabella was catching a taxi outside of your building this morning?”

“Oh, that. Isabella stopped by the Waldon the day after my New Year’s Eve party to see if a shoe had been found. The cleaners took her number and promised to call her if one was discovered and then they let me know they had indeed found an errant high heel stuck in a potted plant. I arranged for her to pick it up this morning.”

Cinderella returned to the scene of the dance—not waiting on some Prince Charming to bring her shoe to her. Yep, that about summed up the Isabella he’d gotten to know so far. “Why was her shoe in a potted plant?” He didn’t bother asking why she had been at Nonna’s New Year’s Eve Party. His godmother made it a practice to invite all her projects to her parties. Mostly in the hopes of setting Chandler up with one, which was why he made it a practice of dropping by early and leaving early. “And why was I at your condo this morning?”

“To run into her, of course, since you didn’t on New Year’s Eve.”

He groaned. “There’s no of course. Explain.”

“It’s not a big deal. I thought you would see each other, recognize each other, and fall in love. I had no earthly idea you would run into her at the magazine, what with her being a new assistant. Had I known you were going to fire her boss and meet her in the process, well, obviously, I would have just left well enough alone.”

“Nonna, I’m around beautiful women all the time. What makes you think I’d fall in love with Isabella upon second sight?”

“To be honest—and don’t you laugh at me—that night, in the muck of all that ugliness, I got the vibe that your involvement was not by accident but instead by the design of the Universe. That’s why I assigned Patricia to work with her. I was afraid I’d not be objective when it came to guiding Isabella down the path she was meant to travel.”

“You know I don’t believe in your theories regarding the Universe.”

“Just because you don’t believe doesn’t mean they’re not correct.”

He wouldn’t win the argument, so he dropped the subject. “Promise me you won’t do any more matchmaking.”

“Oh honey, matchmaking is only half of what I’ve done today.”

Something in her voice worried him. Like she had a heavy weight, beyond that of running a corporation, pulling her down. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

He didn’t believe her. “Please tell me you didn’t buy another magazine?”

“Of course not.”

“Thank God.”

“Buying Naked Runway was a smart investment,” she said tartly.

“I’m meeting with Isabella on Monday to let her know what her position will be at Naked Runway. I’m assuming since you bought a magazine for her, I’m to tell her it’s fashion editor?” That would not win her any friends at the magazine. There were several others vying for the position.

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