Page 5 of If the Shoe Fits

Chapter Three

Enrique's studio was as immaculately clean and polished as always. I'd never tell him as much, but I found it almost intimidating to be here. The women he had working for him were always so business like and went about their jobs as if there was nothing else they could think of. And maybe there wasn't. Enrique had once told me that fashion wasn't a choice, it was part of his blood. Maybe that was the same for the people he employed.

I hoped so. That would make them loyal and hardworking, two things he truly deserved from his staff.

"Sadie! You actually came." He flounced over to me and kissed both cheeks, leaving me a little dazed and bemused. He was always flamboyant, he had been for as long as I'd known him, but this was more than usual. Almost as if he had a different personality for his studio than for his private life. Maybe that was true. It did make sense in some respects.

"Of course, I came." I flashed him a quick smile. "I promised you I would."

"Wow, that man must really have gotten under your skin."

"No teasing," I scolded. "Please?"

"But what are friends for if not to tease?" he tried.

"Being kind?"

"I will be, when that's what you need me to be. But right now, I don't think it is. I've never seen you this interested in a man before, Sades. Not even..."

"Don't say his name," I hissed, not wanting to give any more thought to my ex than I had to. He was in my past and I would never say his name.

"Sorry. Champagne?" Enrique offered.

"No thank you, I'd rather not drink this early in the day."

"Studying to do?"

"Always."

"You're so serious, Sadie. I'm glad you're taking this chance to go after something for you." He brushed a strand of my loose hair out of my way. I could tell from his tone that he was serious, he really was glad I wanted to do something for me now and not for the future.

"I may be a fool for doing so. Don't forget she has banned me from attending."

"And she will eat her words when she sees how beautiful you're going to be at the reception. It is the reception you're planning on going to, right?" His eyes widened, probably because he was worried about having designed an outfit for the wrong occasion.

"Yes, the reception." I smiled at him. "The wedding itself will have too many people and too many cameras." Plus, I doubted I'd have an invite. I might technically be gentry, but I wasn't high enough up the pecking order to have a seat in the church. One day I would be. But through my own merits, not the title I technically inherited when my father died.

"Excellent." He stepped back and clapped his hands. "A glass of water for the Lady Sadie," he instructed one of his workers. The woman nodded and rushed off to the kitchenette.

"What have I done?" I muttered.

"Made the best decision of your life," he answered. "Now, this way, let's get you all sorted."

He whisked me off to one of the fitting rooms. Despite him being my best friend, I'd never actually been in one before. I'd refused all his attempts to give me clothing, I didn't feel it was right for me to take advantage of him like that. Not when his time could be better spent on a dress or outfit that could bring him thousands instead of nothing.

"It's beautiful," I said, taking in the soft pastel blue shades and the crazy big mirrors that filled the place.

"It is. Calming and beautiful. Plus, you have the honour of being dressed by the designer himself." He threw his hands up as if to exaggerate his point.

I laughed, letting my true amusement shine. Enrique had the ability to lighten up any situation. I loved him for that, and for the other things he brought into my life. It truly would be a darker place without him.

"Do most of your clients not get this treatment?" I teased.

"Most are uncomfortable about me being a man." A sadness crept into his tone that I could only hear because I knew him so well. And because he was willing to let his guard down around me.

I reached out and placed a comforting hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze. "I'm sorry, Enrique. If they don't want you and your attention to detail, then that's on them and not you."

"I know." He shrugged, the sadness shadowing his face disappearing in an instant. "But that's not why we're here. Strip," he instructed me.

I smiled at him, complying instantly. It wasn't like he hadn't seen me in my underwear before, and I knew he wasn't interested in me like that in the slightest. As far as I knew, and he told me most things, he'd never even kissed a woman, nor had the inclination to.

"Have you been eating right?" Concern created little lines between his eyebrows. "You're looking too skinny."

"You're a designer, I didn't think there was such a thing as too skinny," I responded, cracking a smile. Mostly so I could cover up the guilt that I hadn't been. I'd had too much studying to do recently and hadn't paid as much attention to my eating habits as I should do.

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