Page 76 of All the Gossip from Paris
Her sister let out a huff. “Is it? I mean you’ve worked to create many of the pieces that his clients will be viewing today. You’ve done all the heavy lifting in getting this collection show ready.”
Sophie went to protest, but Camille held up a hand. “If you try and tell me that Patrice has also done a good job so help me I’ll slap you. You can hardly call attending parties and lunches, and having your face all over social media as working. In my opinion both our father and Patrice should get on their knees and thank you.”
If anyone ever needed a champion in their corner right this minute, it was Sophie. The world’s best sister just happened to be standing there.
“And how will I get it into the show? All the other garments are already at the Petit Palais,” said Sophie. She was back peddling and they both knew it.
For a woman who was almost seven months pregnant Camille moved surprisingly fast. She turned the mannequin round and had the back of the gown open before Sophie could stop her. “Leave this with me. You have a whole collection to worry about today. If Papa wants to raise hell over it, I’m more than ready. I have plenty of expectant mother frustration that needs releasing.”
“But?”
Camille held the gown out to Sophie. “But what? You’ll continue to hide your amazing talent? Play it safe to please others.”
It would be so easy to take it from her sister’s hands and put it back on the mannequin. To retreat once more into her shell.
Sophie shook her head. “I can’t go back to being that version of myself. I don’t know her anymore.”
“Then are we agreed. The gown goes into the show,” replied Camille.
“Yes, but it needs to be near the end.”
Sophie rubbed at the tight spot on her chest. Her breath growing shallower the more she thought about all the terrible things that could possibly happen.
I can’t let the fear of failure dictate my life any longer.
“I’ve always wondered how it must have felt the day you told our father that you were leaving. Because if its anything like what I’m feeling right now, it had to have been the scariest thing you’ve ever done,” she said.
Camille lay the gown gently on the cutting table. “At the time it was. But it was nothing compared to what it took for me to finally face up to my feelings for Ryan.”
Oh, you sneaky thing.
Sophie reached for a garment bag. She had just enough strength to go through with this deception, with slipping her design into the show. But when it came to Liam, and what might lay between them. That’s where her bravery faltered.
She wanted to tell him how she felt, but was too afraid.
What if he doesn’t feel the same way?
One of them was going to have to be the first to say those three, life changing words. I love you.
Liam was glad he’d been here at the Petit Palais to watch some of the other fashion shows earlier in the week. If today had been his first visit, he might have been overwhelmed by the beauty of the place.
When Sophie had described this space as amazing, she hadn’t been free and easy with her superlatives. The grand entrance and its elegant staircase. The Grecian columns which ran along the front of the building. Countless statues. Not to mention the huge golden arch under which all visitors passed to get inside the building.
And that was just the outside.
Inside were pink marble columns. Marble floors. A sculpture gallery. The ceilings with their intricate and striking paintings were beyond breathtaking.
He could understand why François Royal had chosen this particular place to debut his runway collections. It was such an elegant contrast to the brutalist architecture of the Palais de Tokyo.
But enough with the sightseeing. I need to get my camera gear set up and check in with the film crew.
The Royal family town car had brought the four of them into central Paris this morning. They all had their assigned tasks. Camille was to mingle with various Royal family members who’d managed to strong arm Patrice into giving them a seat at the show. Ryan was going to be backstage helping with the models and clothes. When it came to organizing things, his brother truly was a gifted natural.
And Sophie. He didn’t want to think about all things that she had on her long to-do list. She’d tossed and turned in the bed last night. He doubted she had got much sleep at all.
But her day was out of his hands. He had his own job to concentrate on. Deliver world class photographs of the House of Royal Spring/Summer Haute Couture Collection, and dazzle the elite of high fashion.
Liam just set his gear down backstage when his cell phone pinged. It was an email from his booking agent. Past experience had taught him to never ignore those messages. Liam clicked on the notification.
