AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Anissa stepped through to the bedroom. After a few hesitant moments she slipped off her clothes and tried the dress on. The satin lining slid over her skin easily. It felt almost like a second skin.
She couldn’t fasten the zip so stepped back outside so Jules could do it for her.
Jules stood her in front of a full-length mirror and fastened the zip.
Anissa let out a little gasp. The dress was magnificent. The beaded and sequined bodice enhanced her neat curves, the slash neckline demure and flattering. The straight layers of tulle fluttered as she moved, swishing then falling back into place.
Jules put her hand up to her mouth. ‘You look like an ice princess. It’s just stunning.’ She moved behind Anissa and nipped the dress in a little at the waist and grabbed a few pins. ‘This needs only minor alterations.’
She finished pinning then stared into the mirror at Anissa’s reflection, giving her a scrutinising glance. Next she shook out Anissa’s blonde hair and pulled up the sides, leaving some tendrils around her ear. ‘Have you thought about how you might get styled?’
Anissa was still staring at her reflection in an almost mesmerised way. ‘Why would I need it styled?’ she asked.
Jules pulled her hair a little tighter. ‘What?’
Anissa let out a yelp as Jules bent around her. ‘Tell me you are joking?’
Anissa tried to shake her head, but it was difficult when Jules had such a grip of her hair.
Jules let out a laugh. ‘You really are a newcomer to all this, aren’t you?’ She sucked in a breath. ‘Okay, do you trust me?’
Anissa looked at Jules and back to her reflection in the mirror. This dress was the most perfect thing she’d ever seen—and definitely the most gorgeous thing she’d ever worn. ‘After you showing me this dress? Of course I trust you.’ She turned from side to side as something flooded into her mind. ‘He called me Ice Princess when we first met. And that’s exactly how I feel in this dress. Like an ice princess.’
Jules was still eyeing her critically. ‘Okay, it’s just a few minor adjustments. I can do them in the next few days. Get yourself a pair of shoes.’ She scribbled on a piece of paper. ‘Heels no higher than this? Got it.’
Anissa nodded. This was all happening so fast.
Jules smiled. ‘I have a friend who can do your hair and make-up. You’ll be perfect.’
Anissa pressed her lips together. ‘But after what happened today—what if this is all for nothing? What if he’s changed his mind? What if doesn’t want me to go any more?’
Jules shook her head. ‘I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This guy brought you to New York. He wants you to be his date for this ball. No matter what happened today, he’ll still want you by his side.’
Anissa glanced back in the mirror. She liked how much she loved this dress, and how it made her look like someone else entirely. She gave a slow nod. ‘Okay. I love this. Truly love it. How much do I owe you? This dress is spectacular. I can tell the hours and hours of work you’ve put into it.’
Jules shook her head. ‘No. No way. All I want you to do is tell everyone who asks at the ball that the dress was designed by me. Give them my cards. I’ll give you a whole pile.’ She gave a broad smile. ‘That’s my dream come true.’
Anissa couldn’t believe it. ‘Really? You don’t want me to pay you?’
Jules kept shaking her head. ‘Honestly? You wearing my dress could give me so much publicity. It could really make me as a new designer.’
Anissa reached over and grabbed Jules’s hands. ‘Thank you so much for this. I don’t know what I would have done without you.’
Jules put her hands on her hips and gave a slow nod of her head. ‘It’s my pleasure, but one thing. Have a think about Mr Billionaire. He might have whisked you off to New York, but don’t let him take you for granted.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Maybe you should let him sweat a little about the dress. Let him think you haven’t bought one.’
Anissa smiled. ‘Jules, you have a wicked streak.’
Jules nodded. ‘And I bet you do too...’
CHAPTER SEVEN
LEO WAS FEELING like complete and utter crap. Just exactly as he should.
He’d left her. He’d left her alone in New York, a strange city where she knew practically no one. All because of one lousy freak-out in his head.
What was wrong with him? What if she couldn’t get hold of her friend?
Up until that point they’d virtually had the perfect day. Anissa was interesting, fun and gorgeous. Everything he could ever ask for. And yet...
He’d let her down. He’d let them both down.
He stared at the phone for a few seconds. He’d almost picked it up at least dozen times now. He couldn’t quite decide which one to phone—Noemi or Sebastian. Maybe he should phone both? Maybe he should phone neither?
But the constant texting between Anissa and her parents had set something off in his brain. She was part of a family. It didn’t matter where she was in the world, or what she was doing, she was still part of a family and it was clear she loved it.
He had a different set of circumstances, but this constant feeling of not being good enough wasn’t Noemi’s or Sebastian’s fault. It was down to his own upbringing, added to by his own misgivings. Every part of him was telling him to make an effort. And that wasn’t just his business brain talking. Part of it was his heart.
Anissa was having an effect on him he hadn’t expected.
He picked up the phone and dialled the numbers quickly. Noemi answered on the second ring. ‘Leo? How are you? It’s so nice to hear from you.’
She sounded genuinely happy to hear from him. Something spread through him. A warmth he hadn’t really experienced before.
‘Hi, Noemi,’ he said as he settled back in the chair, ‘I just wanted to check in...’
* * *
Anissa pulled out her phone as she headed from the subway. Although she wasn’t used to New York, she felt safe. The streets were busy and well lit. Her phone buzzed again. It was Hans from the Championship Skiing Competition. They hadn’t spoken properly in eighteen months. She couldn’t imagine why he’d phone her twice in one day.
Last time she’d ignored the call. This time she pressed it to her ear.
‘Hans?’
‘Anissa! At last. Where are you?’
She looked around. It felt like a trick question. ‘New York?’
‘New York? What on earth are you doing in New York?’
She pulled a face, ‘A holiday?’ she answered, as if it was a question. What kind of answer did he expect?
‘Darn it! I’m in Mont Coeur. I thought you were here.’
Her stomach crunched. Hans had gone to Mount Coeur to speak to her?
‘Well, sorry. I’ve left for a few days.’ She pressed her lips together for a second. ‘Hans, did you want something?’
He cleared his throat. ‘I was actually hoping to speak to you in person.’
Now she really was nervous. This seemed strange. ‘What about?’
There was a long pause. ‘It’s just...that there’s potentially an opening on the Skiing Championship Committee. I wanted to have a chat to see if you might be interested.’
She stopped walking. She was stunned.
‘Wh-what?’
‘I know we haven’t spoken in a while,’ Hans said smoothly, ‘which is why I wanted to speak to you in person.’
She still couldn’t really answer.
Hans kept talking. ‘One of our members plans to resign in a few months—ongoing health issues—and we were talking about who would be perfect to take their place, and your name came up. We want someone young. We want someone who knows the sport inside out. They asked me to sound you out.’
Her head was spinning. Her name had come up? With the Skiing Championship Committee? She stil
l couldn’t quite believe it. She needed to clarify things.
‘But what is it exactly that they wanted you to sound me out about?’
