Page 69 of VOGUEish

“Best seafood I’ve had in a long time,” Annie said.

“I loved the scallops,” Isabella lied. Or maybe it was the truth. The problem was, Isabella had barely tasted hers. All she could think about was getting back to her room so she could knock on Chandler’s door. Now that she was sober and freshly showered, she had so much more she wanted to talk with him about.

“I’ve decided I’m never going home.” Chandler scooted back from the table and stretched his legs out in front of him. He did not look like a man anxious to get back to his room. “I’m staying here, becoming a beach bum, and spending my days chasing beach babes.”

“Maybe, I’ll stay, too, and chase beach hunks,” Annie replied.

The two fist-bumped.

Isabella shook her head at them. “The beach and warm air are grand, but I have no desire to ever move away from New York. That’s where my heart belongs.”

“I grew up in South Carolina,” Annie said. “I miss the climate.”

Chandler remained quiet.

“How is it heading up a new department?” Annie asked Isabella.

Good question. “Well…I’ve never felt so stretched in my life, and there are times I think I’m about to break in two,” Isabella admitted. “But don’t get me wrong, I’m loving every minute of it.” Other than the fact she’d yet to be made to feel welcome by the others. Not that they were mean. Just distant. Sort of like Annie on this trip.

“I think I’ve been stretched plenty as a person. I’m ready for a year of calm, although I’m certain there’s plenty of stretching ahead of me.” Annie glanced at Chandler, and the two of them shared a look.

It was obvious Chandler knew Annie’s secret. That was the second time Isabella had caught them acting like they were wordlessly communicating. She just wished she was in on it. “I can imagine it was stressful living through the scandal your old boss put everyone through and then having Chandler come in and shake things up with all his firings. Was the old boss really sleeping with a half dozen employees, like the rags reported?”

Annie’s pale skin lost what little pink it had. “You can never trust those damn papers. They seldom get the story right. All they care about is selling subscriptions.”

A tendon twitched in Chandler’s jaw. “Annie, you will be working with the woman directly; what would you like to see in the magazine’s next editor-in-chief?”

“Someone who knows the business and isn’t afraid to bust balls to get shit done. I really liked Amanda. Too bad she got herself fired.”

Chandler grimaced. “Then you agree with Isabella that the magazine needs a leader that inspires fear and loyalty?”

“I do. It’s been my experience that, without a strong leader, employees can become backstabbing, blackmailing assholes,” Annie said.

Isabella studied her. That sounded like a statement coming from close-up, personal experience. Had someone tried to blackmail her? Was that the reason for her tears? “Chandler, when do we get to find out who we’re here to rub elbows with?” For the life of Isabella, she couldn’t understand why everything was so hush-hush about this person. It wasn’t like they were trying to lure the leader of a country away from their duties.

“Her name is Frankie Peterson.”

Isabella slapped her hands on the table. “Shut. Up. Frankie? You’re trying to steal Frankie away from Vogue? No way. She’s as devoted as they come.”

Annie’s eyes glowed with admiration. “She’s the best in the business. How did Ms. Fairway get her to talk to us? Wow. This is big. Really big. Amanda will piss her pants if Frankie gets the job she wanted.”

Chandler shrugged. “Nonna wouldn’t say what the drawing card was to get Frankie to listen to our spiel, but she hinted there was one. Something Frankie said she wanted and Nonna promised her she would have if she’d come to Naked Runway.”

Unease wormed itself into Isabella’s thoughts. “I did my internship with Frankie.” Frankie had tried her damnedest to get Isabella to stay on at Vogue. Had promised Isabella she’d groom her to become an editor-in-chief someday. The woman had taken it as a personal insult when Isabella respectfully declined the offer.

“I remembered your saying you’d done one with her. In fact, that’s why I mentioned her to Nonna as a possible editor-in-chief. I knew you would have chosen the best in the business to do your internships under.”

“What is our plan to lure her our way?” Annie asked.

“Whatever it is, maybe I shouldn’t go,” Isabella said. “Frankie wasn’t exactly happy with me when I turned her down. She may turn Naked Runway down, just to get back at me in some weird way.” So much for her certainty that whoever they were interviewing would say yes. Frankie Peterson wasn’t everyday-people sane.

“Actually, Nonna said she wasn’t at all interested in anything she had to say until it was mentioned that one of her best former interns worked at Naked Runway.”

Annie yawned loudly and then blushed. “Sorry.”

Chandler stood. “I think it’s time for all of us to call it a night. We need our sleep so we can be at our most charming tomorrow.”

Isabella stood. “That sounds smart.”

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