Page 71 of Tell Me Something

Embarrassed for having checked it so often, I shook my head. I couldn’t tell him either way, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

“Good, that means I can call you. Maybe we can get together once I’m back in a week or so.”

I waited to feel guilt, but it didn’t come. I wasn’t going to be the girl sitting at home every night while my secret boyfriend went out with other women and spent the holidays without even texting me.

“I’d like that, Will,” I said smiling.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

T he week after Thanksgiving, Catherine and I made plans to meet at her work office for lunch. I was excited to see her again. My self-confidence when it came to modeling had grown after the opportunity in the Bahamas, and I was enthusiastic about showing off my mom’s dresses. With my garment bags in hand, I was thankful to be ushered right to her office on the forty-third floor of the building.

“Haylee, how lovely to see you. Here, let me help you.” She grabbed half of my bags and hung them onto a rolling wardrobe cart.

Her office walls were quite impressive with framed pictures of celebrities and magazine covers from over the years.

“It’s great to see you again, too. Thank you for taking the time.” I meant it.

“Are you kidding? This is a treat. I would suggest we sit and chat, but I’m way too anxious to see the dresses. Are you wearing a vintage Chanel suit now?” she questioned, spinning me around.

Happy that I’d chosen the dark tweed for today, I smiled and nodded. “It’s like finding someone who speaks the same language. I am indeed wearing Chanel. 1968.”

“Gorgeous. So you tell me: where should we start?”

I started with the Jean Desses green dress and then the pink one she had seen previously. From there, I moved on to the Dior trapeze dress, which had her oohing and aahing. Next was an Oleg Cassini classic suit and two Chanel dresses. The black Givenchy was one of my favorites, along with a colorful Pucci dress. They all had her smiling in appreciation.

“And now for the finale, I present the Valentino wedding gown.”

Her eyes got big, and she clapped her hands together. “It’s exquisite. May I?”

I nodded, liking that she asked before touching the lace.

“I have to have these dresses in my magazine, especially this one. Please tell me you’ll do it.”

She seemed so worried I might not that I rushed to reassure her. “Of course I’d love to. It would be amazing to show them off.”

“I’d want them for my February issue, which means shooting next week. We’ll need shoes unless you have them?” She went down a mental checklist.

“I have some, but I don’t have any for the wedding dress or something that would go with the Pucci print. But I’m happy to show you what I do have.”

“Good. As for a male model, I’ll have to set up some interviews.”

“If you don’t have anyone in mind, I’d love for you to interview a model I know.” I gave her a quick rundown on Will, and she looked curious.

“Sounds good. Why don’t you give me his number, and I’ll set up a meeting.”

It would make me happy to work with Will again instead of taking a chance on a stranger with whom I might not feel as comfortable.

“As for a photographer, I need to make some phone calls.” Catherine was jotting notes.

“I could see if Bart is available.”

She appeared taken aback. “Bart Chesley?”

“Um, yeah, I mean he gave me his cell number…”

“Haylee, Bart is one of the best in the business. If he would do this, it would be huge. I know he’s friendly with Josh. Maybe he could place a call?”

“Well, actually, I saw Bart last weekend. He called me for a last-minute shoot in the Bahamas, and he said to let him know about any modeling that I did. Unless you think he’d be insulted that I would ask him directly. I’m not sure of protocol.”