Page 108 of Plus Size Player

I stopped in my tracks.

It felt like he was recoiling from me.

My mouth felt dry. “Russ—”

“Nina, please,” he interrupted, walking to his large black L-shaped desk. He took a deep breath and sat down in his chair. “You should go.”

My hand was on the door handle, but I was rooted in place. The gentle squeak of the wheels rolling back was the only sound in the room for a moment. Avoiding eye contact, he started grabbing at files and loose sheets of papers, lifting them, and putting them down. “Go.”

Biting the inside of my cheek, I pulled the door open and left. Making my way to the showroom, I had several thoughts running through my head at once.

“I was wondering where you were,” Angelica stated as soon as I entered the space.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized distractedly as I went behind the first partition and changed out of my clothes.

A few minutes later, I handed her the garments.

Without a smile, Angelica looked me up and down. “I’m going to nominate you to walk the final look in the runway show for Fashion Week.”

Her words chased every thought out of my head. My eyebrows flew up. “What?”

“Print modeling and runway modeling are two different beasts. The clothes need to move a certain way. And you have the walk.”

“Oh my God,” I gasped. “Thank you.”

“There’s no guarantee,” she clarified, turning around to put my outfit on the rack with the others from the shoot.

Knowing Angelica, I knew that was the end of the conversation.

“Thank you. See you Monday!”

I walked out of there with the biggest smile on my face.

I’d only made it halfway down the hall when Russ and Remedy came out of his office. The minute I saw him, my body reacted.

His kiss still remained on my lips.

His touch still inflamed my skin.

His words still rang in my ears.

Remedy’s back was to me while she talked to him. Russ stood in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest. As I got closer to the elevator bank, our eyes locked. He was listening to Remedy, but he was watching me.

His gaze sent a chill down my spine, and I shivered.

Suddenly, Remedy turned around and looked at me.

Shit!

Not knowing what else to do, I lifted my hand in an awkward wave and then turned right to the elevator.

16

I needed the weekend out of the city to clear my mind. I was ready to get swept up in conversation that had nothing to do with me or what was plaguing me. I was ready to release all my pent-up stress on the dance floor. Friday night was a dinner with six of my cousin Kiya’s closest friends. The food was good, the conversation was lively, and something about Kiya’s demeanor felt different.

She’s either pregnant or engaged,I concluded as we said good night.

Sitting in a VIP club section with those same friends on Saturday, the loud, boisterous conversations and the chaotic celebratory energy made it easy to block out any and all nagging thoughts. We danced, we laughed, and we drank. I wasn’t a heavy drinker so I couldn’t keep up with the rest of them. When I got back from backing my ass up on the dance floor, I sat down on one of the leather couches in our section.

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