Chapter 25
Lauren
“Perfect, simply perfect!”I say to my designteam.
We’re at our monthly planning meeting, reviewing layout plans for the maiden issue ofHaute Couture Magazine.Everyone is ecstatic, each department playing a significant role in the process. Today, the art department presented their photoshoot backdrops to support the theme of the magazine’s first issue: Paris in the Rain. What they’ve presented is pure perfection. Then, Rachel, director of content, presented titles of the four slammin’ articles to befeatured:
Beauty—TheUltimate LashGuide
Fashion—What Would Audrey HepburnDo?
Love—Flirting101
Food—Food CriticUndercover
The magazine will be about seventy-eight pages, cover-to-cover, withCraveMein the center spread plus a one-page ad featuring Antonio Michaels’ new men’s underwear line calledALLMe—which is what he wants to speak with me about this morning. I invited André and Daniella to join me on the conference call meeting, since I have assigned them both the duties of working with featured guest designers on content and layout, to be sure it aligns with the theme of the issue they have purchased spacein.
The three of us are gathered in my office now, speaking with Antonio via speakerphone.
“Glad you were able to squeeze me in on such short notice,” hesays.
“Of course, so what can we do foryou?”
“Well, as mentioned in our initial meeting earlier this week, I am planning to introduce my new line of underwear—ALLMe—in yourmagazine.”
I nod. “Right, and I am excited about that—we all are. IncludingLaBoutique.”
“Wonderful. But, I’m having an issue getting the model I want for the spread. I-uh have a particular guy in mind, hoping he’ll be the face for the new line. Only problem is his agent can’t reachhim.”
“Okay, so what does that mean forHaute Coutureand the first issue? If you can’t get the guy you want, then can’t we just go with another model? I mean we have plentyof—”
“I’m not exactly sure what this means. I just wanted to give you a heads up that there may be a delay or maybe even a change of plans,” hesays.
I shift in my seat, growing more nervous by the second. Antoniocan’tback out now…one of the main reasonsLa Boutiqueso eagerly offered that contract is we snagged this exclusive brandlaunch.
“Antonio, you’re not backing out of givingHaute Couture Magazinethe exclusive launch ofALLMe, areyou?”
He sighs. “I hope it doesn’t come to that. How long do I have before we go toprint?”
“Well, we go to print in three weeks. But the photo shoot has to be done before that. So I would say, you have less than a week to find that model or come up with a PlanB.”
“Okay, I’ll be in touch. Takecare.”
Exhaustion hits me,and I’m ready to put an end to this day. Simon has been texting me seemingly non-stop, telling me how he misses me and can’t wait to take me out again tomorrow night. He’ll be arriving back home from London later tonight. Part of me wants to wait up for him. Especially since the last time I saw him, he planted his soft lips on mine, making me wantmore.
His lips, hands, hiseverythingonme.
We talked on the phone for hours last night, and I still believe he may be theone. Iguess.
Although a teeny-tiny part of me thinks about me and Jaxson at the airport, that kiss we started on the deck of the restaurant. And how my heart skips whenever I seehim.
Ugh.You can’t be developing feelings for both ofthem.
Jaxson has agreed to pick me up and take me to and from work until I find another car service I’m comfortable with. I can’t deny he’s asweetheart.
He’s downstairs waiting for me now, and all I need to do is grab the bags of new fabric samples I got in from a new supplier. I always take the samples home, and make Truffles’ some clothes out of them so I can see how durable the material is. I should have left with everyone else, so someone could have helped carry all the bagsdown.
You’llmanage.
