Page 53

I woke up super early because I was so anxious.

I wasn’t even this anxious for Couture Week and maybe it was because I didn’t directly have anything to do with it but this show is all me.

I was intimately involved with the set up and the design and the dresses.

If anything were to go wrong, I would bear the brunt of it.

The investors would probably leave with nothing but a scratch while I would have to pick up the pieces.

When I woke up, my first thought was I wished Nathan was here. He left right after dinner and even though I wanted nothing more than to ask him to stay, I knew I couldn’t ask him to give up all his plans for me.

I forced my feet out of bed and that was when I noticed a small wrapped box lying on the table. I walked over to it and looked for a note but there was nothing. I sat on the chair and carefully unwrapped the package. Sitting there in my hands was a well used copy of Lord of the Rings.

I opened the first page and saw tabs with little writings in Nathan’s perfect cursive lining the margins. The more I flipped, the more tabs and notes I saw and then when I got to the end, there was a little card.

This was the first book I ever bought with my own money and if I were to pick a favorite book, this would probably be it. I’ve had it for a very long time and I planned to give it to you much later but I figured it would be the perfect starting gift for today.

In it are notes I made while I read and reread the book over the years. I color coded the tabs for moments I thought you would love and moments that I found funny. You’ll figure it out when you read it.

I know you’re probably anxious about the entire show but you have spent months planning and perfecting it. It is going to be perfect and I can’t wait to see your dress.

If you make it through the night, I just might have another gift planned.

Nathan.

A smile tugged at my lips and I took a picture with the book to send to Nathan before gently placing the book in my box so I wouldn’t forget it at all.

I actually couldn’t wait to read the book despite how massive it looked.

I was more excited to read the tiny scribbles and notes he made.

It would feel like being in his head and something about it felt exciting .

I practically floated through the things I had to do. I ate breakfast while texting with Nathan. He assured me that he would be at the show but he might be a little late because he had a meeting to attend to. I didn’t care that he would be late, all I cared was that he was going to be there.

Around two p.m. when I was about to start getting ready, there was a knock on my room door and I pulled it open to see Olivia there with a smile on her face.

She was holding a huge shopping bag and I wasted no time in pulling her into a hug.

Nathan said she was coming but seeing her still felt so surreal.

“When did you land?” I asked once I had finally pulled back. “Where are you staying? I forgot to ask Nathan and I didn’t book a hotel. I think I can do something last minute if-,”

“Relax,” she laughed as she breezed her way into the hotel room and set the bag on the bed. “I thought you got us a hotel but seeing how confused you are, I am willing to bet that lover boy did it on his own.”

“Why would he-” I trailed off silently and she raised a brow at me. “He actually got you a hotel.”

“Apparently so,” she put her shoes on the bed and I rolled my eyes as I pushed them off.

“It’s not too far from here though and it is amazing.

I think it is the most expensive place I have ever stayed in my life.

Your parents are there right now actually.

They wanted to come with me but your mum said that they would psych you out so they’ll meet you at the venue. ”

“He got a room for them too,” I said almost dumbly and she nodded.

I reached over to grab my phone and sent Nathan a quick thank you text telling him that Olivia was in my room. His response was almost immediate as if he was holding his phone when my message entered.

Nathan: You weren’t supposed to find out.

Me: Thank you, I am so grateful.

Nathan: Don’t worry about it. Focus on your show, we can talk later.

I put my phone away and turned to Olivia who had sat up on the bed and had her chin placed on her open palms. She was wiggling her brows and shot me a knowing look and I threw a pillow in her face just so she would stop staring at me.

“You have a lot to tell me,” she said as she stood to her feet. “You can tell me while we get ready.”

While we waited for the stylists to arrive, I told Olivia everything that had happened and she listened with wide eyes.

All she did was squeal and kick her feet while I told her about the book and she made sure to remind me that she had rooted for Nathan from day one while I reminded her that we hadn’t discussed anything yet.

The stylists arrived, cutting our conversation short and she assured me that we would continue later.

Even though I should have been focusing on my show, I couldn’t help but think about Nathan the entire time.

Even while exchanging pleasantries with my stylists and they told me about the things they had been up to, my mind never drifted away from Nathan.

When I looked at myself in the mirror and saw how the burnt orange jeweled fabric molded to my body like second skin and the feathered train smoothed out behind me, I could only think about Nathan’s reaction to the plunging back and the fact that my tattoo was out in the open.

He had already seen it but I doubt he took his time to actually look at it .

“I know that smile,” Olivia teased as she walked up to me in the mirror and I glanced over at her. “What are we thinking about? Is it him?”

“Shut up,” I mumbled but a smile was playing on my lips.

She had gone for a more subtle look with a shimmering black dress that wrapped around her figure. It flowed right to the ground but it had a very risky thigh high slit and knowing Olivia, she will not hesitate to flaunt it.

“Are you ready?” she asked and I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if you are, it is show time.”

We left the house after that and we rode with Marissa and Miles.

The car ride was silent mainly because Marissa was terrified to even look up at me.

We haven’t spoken since she told me she messed up the flights and I know she probably thought I was still upset with her.

I made a mental note to talk to her about it later and let her know that I held no hard feelings towards her.

As soon as we arrived, she rushed in through the back so she could do what she needed to while the rest of us went through the front.

Even though the event wasn’t supposed to start for at least another hour, there were a bunch of photographers outside.

Olivia kept her head down and I made sure she was shielded by Miles as we made our way inside.

The first person I saw was Mr. Winston and he rushed towards us. He was in a tailored suit that did nothing to hide his bulging beer belly. He had a smile on his face and blew me a few air kisses which I returned with a bright smile.

“I saw the dresses on the models,” he began and feigned a swoon. “You are a miracle worker, Adira. Today will go down in the history books. ”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I also met your parents backstage. They seem like amazing people.”

He droned on about some other things but my mind was fixated on going to see my parents.

As soon as I was able to pull away from him, I did and I rushed backstage with Olivia and Miles.

I saw my parents talking to Marissa and I think they were asking about me because once Marissa locked eyes with me, she gestured to me and they turned.

I rushed over to them and wasted no time in pulling them into a hug. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“You bought flight tickets, it is not like we would allow the thing to waste,” dad said and as soon as he pulled back he looked me over once. “This your back that is open, I will not talk.”

“I am decent,” I reminded him and he made a dismissive sound under his breath. “I will be one of if not the most covered person here.”

“What is my business with the other people? If they want to walk around naked how does that concern me?” he asked rhetorically and I almost rolled my eyes. “The dress is fine sha, you would have just covered the back. You just want to show me that ink that I don’t like.”

A small laugh wracked through my body and soon they were laughing with me. I fought the urge to run my hand through my hair because it had taken them so much time to get the braids in one position and I didn’t want to mess it up.

“I should go,” I began but I saw mum staring at something behind me .

“Is that not Nathan?” she asked and I turned instantly to see Nathan walking towards us with a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

My cheeks heated as he made his way over to me and I cast a glance at my parents only to see both of them already staring at me with amused expressions.

As soon as he got to me, he handed me the flowers and I took them from him.

There was a note attached to it and I decided to read it later.

The last thing I need is my mother or father taking the note out of my hand to read.

“Good evening,” he said to them and to my shock, he actually reached down to touch his toes.

My mouth fell open as I watched him and I could feel the shock rolling off my parents in waves. They looked at me as if to ask if I had told him what to do and I shook my head. I was as stunned as they were that he actually greeted them the right way.

“I’m Nathan,” he introduced himself and they were still watching him with wide eyes. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“You too,” dad said before turning to me. “We will talk after the show.”

They left and I turned to Nathan with wide eyes. “Where did you learn that?”