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“Now, Flora,” Miriam called for my mother, taking her by the elbow. “Don’t you think these young women have had all the fun long enough?”

“Why yes, I do,” my mother responded.

“It’s time for ours. We mothers worked hard raising our children for many, many years. We deserve to look our best, too, for this wedding of the year. Nicholas! Show us your most dashing gowns,” Miriam ordered, snapping her fingers with a gleeful laugh to boot. “I’m thinking shades of silver for our gowns.”

“Wait for me,” Sophie called, joining them. “I need a gown, too.”

44

THE REX CURE

CHELSEA

“So,Chelsea, what an exciting day, picking your gown from a couture designer. Do you ever feelluckyto be marrying into the Buchanan family?” India started my interview at Kleinenfelds after Maisy, Sophie, Mom, and Agnes left with Miriam for tea at a local bistro. I’d meet up with them after.

“Absolutely. I pinch myself sometimes, thinking how I got so lucky to fall in love with Rex.” My lips almost hurt, smiling so widely.

“It isquitethe rags to riches story, almost like a fairy tale. A deli manager falls for the billionaire.”

“I wouldn’t call it that, but I suppose to outsiders it may seem like it.”

“Rex had plans to demolish your deli. How convenient to make him fall in love with you instead?”

I flinched at her words, making it sound like I had ulterior motives. “His plans weren’t shared with me until much later, after I’d already fallen for him.”

She cackled at my answer with one of her maniacal-like sounds. I didn’t appreciate the way this interview started at all. Thank goodness this wasn’t live and could be edited later.

“Wouldn’t you agree, marrying someone with such money and influence has its perks?” She asked, but I didn’t like her tone one bit. “Like gaining this appointment at Kleinenfelds, one of today’s hottest bridal couture designers, who, from my understanding, is booked solid two years out.”

“Well, thankfully, my future mother-in-law knows Mr. Kleinenfelds personally?—”

“And even your job with NYBC’s Morning City Show came because of the Buchanan influence, correct?”

What the hell was she doing? The light and fun interview about a bride preparing for her wedding day suddenly turned dark, as if my life, my choices, and my actions were all put under the microscope of her scrutiny.

“He simply suggested my name to the producer,” I explained. “I still had to undergo a rigorous interview process.”

“Well, if you say so?—”

“Cut. Stop the cameras.” I stood abruptly and waited for the crew to stop rolling, yanking off my microphone.

“Where do you think you’re going?” She hissed, following me to the dressing room.

“These types of questions are out of line, India. I won’t sit here and be judged by you or anyone else.” I reached for my coat.

“You can’t leave. It’ll be a breach of contract. I’ll have you fired if you do.” Her threats had me spinning on my heel. What would I do without this job that I’d come to love so much? Would the small notoriety I’d gained help me get my foot in the door at another station, or maybe Rex would put up the money for me to start a new bistro in the city?

Oh God. She was right. I would use Rex’s influence and money to get ahead. No. This wasn’t me—I worked my ass off for everything I had, and would do so again if I had to start anew. I refused to be bullied by her.

I stood my ground. “And leave the viewers hanging? Half of our episodes have already aired. The station’s ratings are at an all-time high. The station manager wouldn’t allow you to fire me. Besides, if this show fails, your name is tied to it, and it’s as much on you as it is on me.”

“Well. It appears we understand each other quite well, then,” she sneered. “So we’d better get back to the cameras and finish this interview, don’t you agree?”

“Fine, but stick to the questions about gowns.” I gave in, but the alternative was to fight in court with the TV station over my breach of contract. “That’s what we’re here for, right?”

“Absolutely. I’m sure the viewers want to hear all about how many feet long your train will be.” Her response wreaked of sarcasm, but we got back to it, two professional women in TV focusing only on the gowns until the interview was over.

I stuck around a little longer after India and the crewleft. Something about her had me wary, like I needed to be watching her every move, and watching my back.