Page 67 of Midnight Secrets

When this was completed tonight, I was travelling to Aberdeen to Sofia and then home to Tuscany. Papa could find me a husband or keep me in the prison cell. I no longer cared.

“When did you grow up?” Jordan smiled and took my hand to twirl me around. “You get more beautiful every day, Lucy.”

“You too, Jay. Annabelle was salivating over you yesterday.”

He rolled his eyes and shook his head at me. “I noticed. Why do you think I got us out of there?” Jordan never gave the impression of noticing the women around him. He must love whoever this mystery woman was very much.

“Ready?” I gave him the brightest version of my fake smile that I possessed. Footsteps sounded on the staircase behind me. “Francis and I are travelling to visit Sofia tomorrow. I’m going to look into university, she’s researching some courses for me.”

Jordan’s gaze moved beyond me to the man standing on the stairs for a split second before returning it to me. “Why not give yourself some time to see how this opportunity turns out for you?”

I shook my head and prayed the tears would stay behind my eyes. “Sofia has a life, I need to find one too.”

Jordan squeezed the hand he still held. “Need me to go up with you?”

Nature had never given me a brother, but I found one anyway. “Sofia would love to see you.”

“Then let’s get you to your show. My security guy says your collection has been garnering a lot of interest. Let’s show them who the mastermind behind it is.”

That display had nothing to do with me, and every piece in that collection had aspects of Ash in it. I normally kept one memento from each compilation, but this one had too many memories associated with it.

Francis put a black velvet cape around my shoulders and gave me a reassuring smile I wished I could respond to. My big girl panties were starting to feel a little too tight. A limousine waited outside for us, a chauffeur standing beside the door.

My feet stumbled and Ash’s hand gripped my elbow. “You can do this,” he muttered and my back straightened.

This had been my dream for the past few years—to openly stand beside my designs and claim them as mine. Tonight it was about to happen, but I finally realised too late that my priorities had changed and there was nothing I could do to save my new dream.

The lighting in the hall was dim, with bright lights above the displays to draw your attention to all the jewellery. Two security guards stood close to my area. There was no doubt in my head that they were there on Jordan’s instruction.

A red carpet stretched along the middle of the room where models would flaunt our goods later.

That moon in my display caught my attention and I thought of all the nights I stood staring at the moon while talking to Ash. Those moments had meant so much to me, they had bored deep into my soul and made a place for him there.

It felt like every eye in the room turned in our direction and panic rose in my chest and lodged in my throat in a lump. Ash’s hand found mine, his fingers linking through mine to infuse strength into me. Jordan acted as a distraction, deflecting many of the people who surged in our direction. Those warm fingers intertwined through mine were the only force holding my emotions together right now.

Seth raised a champagne flute in my direction, winking at me before returning to his conversation.

Ash had made all of this possible with his unique way of doing business. He was a force of nature like all the elements in my collection. A pathway opened for us as we made our way toward my display.

“Miss Black, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Can I just say that your craftsmanship and designs are unique and absolutely stunning?” A tall man with black hair that was highlighted with grey at the sides stood waiting for us. “Your model for this evening is Monica and she will be here shortly for you to start to dress. Mr. Blackwood.” He nodded to Ash before leaving.

I shot him an inquiring look.

“Fred is one of the organisers. I’ve known him a long time,” he explained as he removed the cloak from my shoulders. One of the security guards stepped forward to take it. I’d noticed in the past that Papa never used the cloakroom facilities of where he visited. Security was paramount in this world of deception and death.

Ash moved his attention to the crowd, scanning it as if he was mentally cataloguing every single person here. I was never the confident sister and all this attention overwhelmed me. Every time someone moved in my direction Ash or Jordan appeared to run interference until I finally had my game face on and turned around to face everyone. That was when both men took their place at my sides.

Cameras flashed and journalists appeared from nowhere to start asking me questions. I was the anomaly here since the other designers were already known to the industry. In their eyes, I had materialised overnight. They had obviously quickly researched me and knew that my other collections incorporated nature elements in their designs.

After what seemed like hours, Jordan held his hands up. “Guys, come on. Give Lucrezia some space, this is her first show and you are terrifying her. You have more than enough information for your articles.”

He flashed them that superstar megawatt smile that dazzled them into turning their attention to him.

My hand shook as I touched the necklace at my throat. “I need some fresh air,” I muttered and moved to the side exit that was for artists only. Ash went to follow me, but a female journalist stopped him, her hand landing on his arm.

The corridor was cooler than the exhibition room and a breeze of fresh air made goosebumps rise on my flesh. I closed my eyes for a brief moment to centre myself.

“You created an impressive collection.” Nigel Billingham stood watching me, his back pressed into the wall. “You have some very powerful allies who have been making my life very difficult.”

---