Page 11 of Falling Hard
Hurling myself into the chair, I stared at her, confused. "Why?"
"The sketches. They’re eager to see if you approved them."
Oh shit! I’d completely forgotten about them. In fact, the sketches had never left my desk. "I’m approving them all."
"All?"
What did I fucking care? "Let's not mass produce. Make small batches so they’re exclusive, and see what sells."
She left me alone, and I opened my computer to email a few designers. My door burst open, and I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. "How can I help you, Jacqueline?"
"Where have you been?" my little sister, who often forgot which of us was the wise older one, asked.
I typed and watched the screen in front of me, as I answered. "You sound as if I've been missing in action for days instead of hours. It's only 11:25."
"Yes, almost lunch. You’ve been MIA."
Lifting a hand to rub my head, I spoke calmly. Jacqueline wasn't the one who’d annoyed me today; there was no need to take it out on her. "Did you need something?"
"I've been waiting to hear your decision on the wedding dresses."
"Oh yes, I just told Denise, I’m approving them all. We’re undecided, let the customer choose."
"Isn't that too expensive?"
"We’ll make no more than three of each design. Make them exclusive, isn’t that what every bride dreams of? That they get a one-of-a-kind dress? Now, for a few ladies, that would be real. Well, almost. One in three."
Jacqueline’s face brightened up. "The marketing department will have a blast with this. We can get a few celebrities to wear them."
My sister's lips continued moving; she was probably saying something faintly important, but all I could hear was the thud of my own thoughts. I nodded out of habit, my eyes fixed on the photo framed on my desk with me, Demetria, Mei, Alex, and Luke at graduation.
Jacqueline lowered herself and waved a hand before me. I shook all other thoughts from my head to pay attention. "What did you say?'
"Do you have any plans for lunch?"
Lunch? Normally, I had something with Ryan. Or maybe Joe, or Frank, but today I had no appetite. "I’m going on a diet."
"I should go on one too."
"Just get your heart ripped apart, that'll cure your appetite." The words slipped out before I could stop myself. I was startled at my honesty, and Jacqueline's pitying eyes told me it was too late to reel them back.
My sister looked at me with worry. "Liv, what happened?"
I steadied my expression and spoke firmly. "Don't pay me any attention, and go enjoy your lunch. I have lots of work to catch up on."
My sister knew when not to push. She nodded and left me alone. That's what I needed, a minute alone with my thoughts, with nothing and no one demanding anything from me. I had twenty minutes of what I asked for when my phone rang.
"Yes?"
"Do you have a minute for the editor in chief ofEye on Fashionmagazine?" my secretary asked.
I glanced at my calendar as she spoke. "She wants an impromptu meeting? Why?"
"She was nearby and wanted to chat with you."
Eye on Fashionwas the biggest magazine in America. Their editor, Renee Walsh, was the queen; if she didn’t like it, it wouldn’t sell. Getting her to attend your fashion show meant your collection would soar. I had a decent relationship with her and would do just about anything to strengthen it. There was no way I could refuse. "Give me one minute, then send her in."
Jumping to my feet instantly, I began sweeping a stack of files into a neater pile and tossed a few empty seltzer cans in thewaste basket. Then I nervously smoothed my blouse, tugged at the hem of my skirt, and squared my shoulders, bracing for the woman Ithoughtwas about to walk in. But when the door swung open, I froze, because it wasn’t Renee. It wasthe future Mrs. Luke Forrester.
