Page 67 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Thirty-One
THEY CHOSE A quiet bar that was off the beaten path. Mia and Simone sat on one side of a booth in the back corner. Riley sat across from them nervously chewing the inside of her cheek.What was I thinking?
“Wanna talk about it?” Mia asked.
No. I want to hide under a rock.She let out a sigh. “Not really,” she admitted.
“Did you do it?” Simone asked.
“Simone!” Mia punchedher arm.
“No, I didn’t do it,” Riley spat. She tried to hold back the rush of tears that welled in her eyes.
“I know you didn’t,” Mia said.
“That’s not what you said earlier,” Simone said.
“Why are you such a bull today?” Mia said to Simone. “I said that I didn’t know what to believe, and I don’t, but I’m more inclined to believe Riley than Claudia.”
“Aren’t we all,” Simone agreed. “Riley,you must have proof. Original sketches? Something to just knock the air out of this.”
Riley had been so consumed with the accusation that she hadn’t even planned out a way to prove that she was the original designer.
“I have them. They’re in my desk drawer. And I’ve faxed a few to a friend,” Riley said, thinking of Jade.
“See.” Mia nudged Simone. “So tomorrow, get the drawings and call Josh.He’s not leaving for the holiday until late Sunday. I’m sure he’ll meet you in the morning; then you can put an end to this before it goes any further.”
Christmas. Darn it.She had forgotten all about Christmas. She’d been so excited about spending the holidays together, and now—oh, no—she had no idea whatnowwould hold. “I will. Hopefully that will put an end to it, but I’m so embarrassed.I almost quit this morning.”
“Did Josh call you?” Mia asked.
She blinked away the memory of finding him asleep on the couch, so peaceful and handsome. That was before…before she knew what lay within his heart and he broke hers.
“Yeah,” she lied.
“Did you tell him it wasn’t true?” Simone asked.
“Yeah, but…”
“But he’d already spoken to everyone and knew that no one had seen you doing any designing,”Mia said.
“Yup,” Riley said, relieved when the waitress brought their drinks. She took a gulp of her drink and closed her eyes as it burned her throat on the way down. “I still can’t believe this is all happening. I don’t blame you guys for not believing me. You hardly know me. I promise you, though, I didn’t steal anyone’s design. That wedding dress was my original idea.”
“When did you drawthe dress, Riley?” Mia asked. Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but rather curious.
Riley shrugged. “I don’t know. Whenever I could find a few spare minutes. It’s not like I kept track. I wish I had started drawing it back home, but I was really just thinking about ideas until I got here. I never thought I’d be in a position of defending myself.”
Mia and Simone exchanged another look.
“In this business,covering your behind is one thing you should never forget to do,” Simone said. “Have you told your boyfriend yet? This town has eyes and ears everywhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if Claudia has already shouted it from the rooftops. Can’t you just hear her?” She flung her head back dramatically and put the back of her hand over her forehead. “The wolves have stolen my work. Woe is me. Come tomy rescue.”
Mia slapped her arm. “Cut it out.”
“You don’t think she’d really tell anyone outside of JBD, do you?” It was bad enough being humiliated in her coworkers’ eyes, but having something like this go public would be too much for her to take. She guzzled her drink in one gulp. “I’ve gotta go. You guys are freaking me out.” She grabbed her purse just as her cell phone vibrated.
“Listen,we’re on your side, even without the evidence,” Mia said with a friendly smile.
“That’s how much we despise Cruella,” Simone added.
Mia rolled her eyes.
“What? We do despise her,” Simone said.
“Yes, but that’s not why we support Riley. We support her because we believe her,” Mia explained.
“Of course. Jeez. I thought she knew that already,” Simone said.
Riley wasn’t listening to them bicker.She threw money on the table and read the text message from Josh.
Can we talk?
