Ronan’s hand found mine, his touch warm and reassuring. “Take all the time you need,” he whispered. “I love watching you do what you love.”
The memory was vivid, the details sharp and clear.
The way he’d looked at me, like I was the only person in the world that mattered. The feel of his skin under my fingertips, the way he’d stay perfectly still to make sure I had everything I needed for my designs. He was my muse, my greatest supporter, and in those moments, everything seemed possible.
I blinked back to the present, the note still clutched in my hand. How could something that felt so right have gone so wrong? Despite everything, the memory brought a bittersweet smile to my lips.
I shoved the note into my purse and situated my desk, trying to do more sketches for the fashion shows I have coming up.
I was lost in my sketch when a sharp knock broke my focus.
My pencil kept moving, ideas pouring out now—designs for the upcoming show, each line pulling me closer to something bigger, something that could change everything. My hands worked on instinct, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the note I’d hidden in my purse.
Then my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, and a familiar name flashed:Giulia Caruso.My lawyer.
I didn’t even hesitate before answering. “Giulia?”
“Hey.” Her voice was steady and confident, immediately putting me at ease. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything too important.”
“Nope, you’re good! What’s going on?”
“We’re working on the Eminence partnership details,” Giulia said, her tone all business now. “This is a multi-million-dollar deal, you know? It’s huge, and we’re talking about a five-year commitment, the first two years being exclusive like you decided.”
My pulse quickened. “I know, I know. But it’s all happening so fast. I can barely keep up.”
“It is moving fast,” she agreed. “But that’s because you’re theone everyone wants. You’ve become the face everyone’s chasing. No one has your spotlight, and that’s why they’re rushing to get to you before anyone else does.”
Her words sank in. I was the one they wanted. It felt surreal, but exhilarating at the same time. “Okay... I’m still on for the boutique search, right?”
“Absolutely,” Giulia confirmed. “The boutique’s a done deal. We’re making sure everything aligns with your vision. This is the big next step for you and your brand.”
I leaned back in my chair, letting her words settle in. This was real. It was happening. “It’s a lot to process, but… we’re ready.”
“Of course,” she said with a quiet confidence I’d come to rely on. “We’ve had some back-and-forth this week with their coordinators, but now we’re about to get everyone on a Zoom call to finalize the terms.”
“I trust you. I really do.”
“I know you do,” Giulia said, her voice softening for a moment. “I’ll check back in once we’re done with the meeting. But I wanted to reassure you that everything’s moving in the right direction. This is your time.”
I smiled, feeling a surge of excitement. “Thanks, Giulia. I’m good. Let’s do this.”
I ended the call with a breathless laugh, overwhelmed in the best way. My heart raced—this partnership was going to change everything.
I reached for my sketchbook, but the spark was gone. Instead, I grabbed my phone and mindlessly scrolled through Instagram.
Then my thumb betrayed me.
Ronan’s story.
He reposted a photo with a woman. It was professional, but his smile was soft, easy, and too fucking intimate to ignore. She looked familiar, though I couldn’t place her.
He stood tall in his white coat, stethoscope around his neck,effortlessly perfect. She was shorter, her hand resting casually on him as they posed among college students.
I couldn’t look away.
“Spent the day with upcoming doctors at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for their career day. @theofficialronanromano is the best human there is!”
I tried to brush it off as I continued scrolling, but a pang of something unpleasant flickered within me.
