Page 17

Jade

I’d done more homework since Maria had hired me for the job as fashion editor of Bellissima than in the entire time I was in school.

Just for your information, it wasn’t too difficult to surpass the total amount of homework I’d done because it was low, which wasn’t surprising if you knew me.

I much preferred real-life experiences to book learning.

That was why I had actually been excited to stop scanning competitors’ magazines and past issues of Bellissima and go with Maria on assignment.

The key here was that I had been excited—past tense (very, very past tense).

Why, you ask? Oh, maybe because I was currently sitting in a fashion designer’s studio, workshop, whatever you wanted to call it.

Honestly, what we should have called it was a mess.

It looked like she’d gone dumpster diving, been unsuccessful, brought the dumpster back here, and proceeded to expel all of the contents like it was a new interior design trend.

“I still don’t understand why I’m here,” I whispered, leaning over so my lips were close to Maria’s ear.

The last thing I wanted was for the designer, Karoline Jerrard, to overhear.

Not that she could anyway because she was currently elsewhere, dealing with some kind of fashion emergency.

Which felt a little much to me, but what did I know?

I must’ve been missing something. I just didn’t see the fuss about any of this. They were just clothes. I wore them every day. It didn’t take a degree to look in your closet, pick something, or two somethings, and get dressed. “Maybe I’m not the right person—”

I was about to say for this job . For the hundredth time.

But Maria put a hand up, keeping her other one in her lap, steadying a notebook—still didn’t know what that was for—and shut me down.

“When I first started, Mom brought me here. I always knew I wanted to be the magazine’s fashion editor, but being here and seeing this made me realize that I was right and this was all I ever wanted to do. ”

Okayyy. That was Maria, though. I never wanted any of this.

Then again, I never wanted to be a personal assistant to a billionaire.

Life was funny that way. See, I didn’t think I’d amount to much—everyone had always told me so—so I gave up and realized that I was just another body taking up space on the planet.

I added one more digit to the total population, big whoop.

I wasn’t like my half sisters, or even Red—I didn’t have a goal.

Never had. Don’t go feeling bad for me. It wasn’t a big deal.

Lots of people didn’t know what they wanted to do with their lives.

This much I did know—you made your days what they were. So that was what I did.

“What are we waiting for?” I questioned, clearing my throat as my eyes remained transfixed on Karoline, who finally reentered the room.

Maria shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable as she rubbed her belly. “She should be ready soon. Karoline is very meticulous. You know, she was one of Mom’s closest friends.”

I sighed. Regina. She was a weakness for me somehow.

I wanted to think she would be proud that I was her daughter, wherever she was up in heaven.

A part of me thought it was cool to have this job, like Regina would approve or something.

Maybe she was smiling down on me, I wasn’t sure.

I also wasn’t one to think things like that, but I supposed I’d been thinking about her more and more now with my new position.

Not that it changed much. I still didn’t know her.

Or my biological father since he’d died, like Regina and my adoptive parents had.

But I wasn’t one to dwell on these things.

Life was a bitch. I got it and learned a long time ago to move the hell on.

“I’m going to try,” I suddenly confessed. I also didn’t want Maria to think she made a mistake taking a chance on me. Who knew I could actually give a shit what people thought of me?

“I know,” Maria replied with a smile, and I was glad she knew.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, so I pulled it out to see who it was.

Reddington: Congratulations.

Jade: You found another victim, and I no longer have to be your fake fiancée?

Reddington: You’re a lot of things, but a victim is not one of them.

Jade: Then what’s with the congratulations?

This man made me want to down a bottle of tequila.

Reddington: My mother will be cordially inviting you to play tennis with her at the club.

Jade: Oh, no thanks.

Reddington: Not an option.

Jade: It’s an invitation. I’ll decline, RSVP no.

Reddington: You’re going.

Jade: No, I’m not.

Reddington: You’re going.

Jade: Bite me.

Reddington: Where?

Jade: You’re disdainful.

Reddington: Play nice with her, okay?

Jade: You give men everywhere a bad name.

Jade: You’re what’s wrong with your gender.

Jade: You’re a nuisance.

Jade: You’re a giant pain in my ass.

He wasn’t even typing. That smug son of a bitch was ignoring me. He was letting me serial text him and not saying a word in response. The very definition of a thorn in my side, friends.

“What’s wrong?” Maria asked, nudging me with her elbow.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling. “Nothing. Well, everything. Red is what’s wrong.”

“Really?” Maria ran her teeth over her bottom lip, appreciatively. She was thinking about Red again. Someone call Dom.

I quirked a brow. “I’m going to tell on you.”

She rolled her eyes and brushed me off with a wave of her hand. “Stop it. I love Dom, and he knows that, but these eyes work and Red is yummy.”

“Never tasted him. Can neither confirm nor deny.”

“You two need to sleep together.”

“Really? That’s the exact opposite of the advice Jake gave me.”

“Tell Jake to call me. He needs to hear what’s up. Better yet, have him call Allie. Or Bibi.”

“Yeah, and what exactly does he need to hear?”

“Red is hot, and you’ve already got one rock, so why not see the other one?”

I cringed. Did she just refer to his dick as a rock? I didn’t like that. Not one bit. It didn’t sound right. “Don’t make”—I dropped my voice and leaned over—“penis references ever again.”

“Whatever. Just go for it.”

Before I could respond, Karoline walked over to us.

“My sincerest apologies,” she said, smiling.

Her dirty blonde hair was tied up in a high bun, and her bangs were swept to one side.

No signs of crow’s feet, bags under her eyes, or botched procedures.

She didn’t look a day over fifty, to be honest. Kudos to her for figuring out the secret to appearing vibrant and youthful.

Something told me I wouldn’t be so lucky when I aged. Oh well.

Karoline’s brown eyes roamed from Maria to me before she pointed to the rack filled with clothes. “Shall we get started?”

I nodded, trying my best to focus on Karoline and get everything I needed out of this appointment, as Maria and I got up from our seats and walked over to the rack. “What is this collection about?”

Karoline fussed with the bracelets on her wrist.

Was she nervous? She did realize this was not a big deal, didn’t she? And she’d been doing this forever from what Maria had told me. If I were her, I’d be as cool as a cucumber.

Finally, Karoline answered, “This is actually my first ready-to-wear bridal collection.”

Maria gasped, placing a hand on her chest. “What? You didn’t tell me—”

“I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I angled my head. “A surprise?”

Karoline nodded, pulling a garment bag from the rack.

That was when I realized each one was labeled. “The names are the style names, correct?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

This dress was named Regina. “You named it after our mother?” I asked, fascinated by her obvious devotion to my mother.

Maria started to choke up beside me, placing a hand over her mouth as she sucked in a breath. “Don’t mind me, I’m hormonal.” Then she swiped her eyes. “You didn’t have to—”

“You’re wrong. I did.” Karoline’s voice was low and filled with joy as the corners of her lips turned upward.

Unzipping the garment bag, she explained, “You see, she was one of my best friends. She encouraged me to do this. Some days were harder than others. This business isn’t for the faint of heart, but I kept going in those early days because of her.

She used to whisper in my ear, telling me that this was what I was meant to do. ”

As the dress came into view, I was floored.

It was rare, but it happened. I didn’t think I’d ever seen something so beautiful, so breathtakingly beautiful.

I’d read enough of those damn magazines—thank you, Maria—that I knew exactly how to describe this.

“It’s classic with clean lines. The skirt draws the eyes.

It’s a two-in-one, isn’t it? That’s a detachable skirt, right? ”

Maria sniffled, hitting my arm. “Listen to you!”

Meanwhile, Karoline nodded. “It detaches to reveal a mermaid.”

Gasping, Maria said, “It’s so elegant. Timeless. Maybe even a little ethereal.”

“Everything your mother was,” Karoline replied, a hint of sadness and nostalgia in her voice. “The two-in-one is because Regina wasn’t one thing. She was many. Beautiful. Kind. Courageous. Intelligent.” Then she swayed her head back and forth. “Definitely a little stubborn.”

“That she was,” Maria agreed, laughing through tears.

It hit me then like a ton of bricks. That feeling I’d become so accustomed to feeling lately—regret. Regret for not knowing her. I wished I had. But again—life was a bitch.

Maria’s phone went off, breaking me from my spell, and she held a finger up, digging in her purse for it. When she read the screen, she said, “I apologize, but I have to take this.”

We both nodded.