Page 23 of Big Deal Sweetheart

“You got this, girl. Look at all those women and men looking like a million dollars in things you created. Let’s go,” Candi cheered, pulling her to the front of the line.

Nova straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and did like her parents had always told her. She bucked up. No way was she going to fuck up her first show.

“Darling, you look amazing. I want one of these.”

Nova turned at the sound of her mother’s voice, her anxiety vanishing at the sight of her best friend and greatest supporter. “You made it.”

“Did you think we wouldn’t?” Natalia Langston asked.

“We?” Nova looked around for who was with her mom.

“Nova Leigh Langston, did you honestly think your father and I, along with Nana wouldn’t be here for your big day? I mean, there are days in a child’s life a parent would never miss. The birth of a child, obviously, and their graduations. I use the plural in that because most children will graduate from many things, and of course their wedding. Notice I didn’t use the plural for that one because I hope my child only gets married once. And then, for important events such as this. Oh, and the birth of grandchildren. Please tell me you plan to have at least one? Besides, your Nana said she would be here with bells on, and I think she actually attached them to her cane.” Her mother spoke quickly, batting her lashes, which usually got her out of all kinds of trouble.

Nova was reeling from all the things her mother listed. “Mother, I love you so much. Is Nana really here? Did she bring Harold?”

“Yes, and yes. So now you don’t need to worry about Nana. She is front row and center, making sure everyone knows this is her grandbaby’s show. We’ll discuss everything afterward. You just go and knock their socks off, or whatever you’re supposed to do. Although, looking at all these gorgeous pieces, you don’t really need me to wish you good luck, but I’m going to anyway.” Her mother kissed her on both cheeks, then stepped away.

“Nova is brilliant, Natalia. Go have a seat and enjoy the show. I’ll make sure she’s alright back here.” Candi smiled at her mother.

“You’ve been a god send to all of us. Thank you, dear.” Natalia kissed Candi’s cheeks before heading back out toward the seating area.

“Seriously, you are so blessed, Nova. Your mother looks more like your sister than your mom, which means you’ll also look like a bombshell when you reach your fifties, bitch.”

Candi was gorgeous, like her mother who happened to be Natalia’s best friend since grade school. Both women were married to men who had been lifelong friends and were two of the most handsome men, besides a man she’d met in Colorado. Before Keifer, she’d never thought men like him truly existed. You know, men who were rich and sexy as fuck. At least not in real-life. “And you’ll look like a goddess when you’re in your fifties too, so we are going to be F I N E fine,” she sang, getting more excited as she peered out the curtain and saw every chair filled with women and men wanting to see her collection.

“I don’t want to freak you out, but I’m pretty sure you have a packed house and several celebrities out there. Of course, you have celebrities walking in your show, so it’s not like you don’t rub elbows with that ilk, but still,” Candi squealed.

Her friend was the absolute best hype girl there was, yet she didn’t need to be reminded of who was out there, since she’d gotten a list of guests requesting seats and made sure they had great seats. Well, she’d handed that job off to PR, but she’d looked it over to ensure they hadn’t sat anyone next to guests who were fighting. Sometimes the promotions department would think about free publicity over the good of relationships.

She lost herself in the magic of the show, checking each model over as they went out and watching them and the crowd’s reaction. Cheers filled her with joy each time one of the models returned. When the last piece was presented, the MC called her name, or rather her designer name. Her family was one of the wealthiest in the world, with Langston Industries being a Fortune 500 for over fifty years, she didn’t see that changing. She’d thought of using a name that wouldn’t have anything to do with her family, but her parents had told her to use what she’d been blessed with, and after her jackhole of an ex had accused her of being a nothing and a nobody, she’d almost allowed him to make her exactly that. With her head high, she proudly walked out as the face of Leigh Langston Exclusive.

With the three-inch heels on, she was almost five-feet-seven. Still a lot shorter than the models wearing her gorgeous pieces, but in her black leather pants and the white silk top that showed a little of her midriff in the front and fluttered down to her calves in the back, she felt like a million bucks. Nova wasn’t fooling herself into thinking she could ever be one of the women in her garments, yet as the crowd stood and cheered, she suddenly realized how rock stars felt. The thought made her laugh, until she locked gazes with a man she thought she’d never see again. The same man who’d wrecked her for other men.

Her steps almost faltered. Candi’s presence next to her kept her moving, her long hair in the high ponytail swung with each step.

“Do you know that hunkahunkaburninglove?” Candi whispered during their stroll back toward the curtains.

“Know is a very strong word,” Nova muttered.

“Oh, my gawd, did you bump sexys with that man?” Candi asked, staring over her shoulder back toward the crowd.

“Sssh, keep it down. And isn’t it bumping uglies?”

“Not when the two people in question look like the two of you. I’m gonna need all the deets.”

Nova had no doubts she would, but there were somethings she wouldn’t be sharing, and her night with Keifer was one of them. How could she tell her bestie that the man couldn’t wait to wash her from his body and probably wished he could from his mind as well. Her biggest question was how had he gotten tickets to her show when she knew for a fact they’d been sold out for weeks? Not that she was thinking he’d come looking for her or anything. No, it was clearly a coincidence, which was clear by the shock on his too handsome face. Gah, she could’ve gone her whole life without seeing that expression. He obviously hadn’t wanted or planned to see her. And that was totally fine, she felt the same. Liar!

“Heads up, I spotted Jackhole in the audience as well. He was in the very back, but he was trying to make his way forward.”

The only Jackhole Candi would be referring to, would be her ex, and if he was there, her dad was liable to punch him. Why did the thought of seeing him not hurt?

“Candi, it’s happened.” She grabbed the other woman’s arms, jumping up and down excitedly.

“What?”

“My last fuck has gone. Like, I don’t care at all about Jackhole. Actually, I think I stopped caring even before I caught him getting his little dick sucked by another guy.” Nova laughed.

“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think, Nova?”

---