Page 47 of Winter With You

Gabriella looked at Phoebe. ‘Are you going to tell her, or am I?’

29

LA FAÇON, MANHATTAN

‘Mr Manning.’

Luca turned around at Sybille’s address and watched her stride into the room, her iPad and newspapers in her hands. She looked better today, whatever had been worrying her yesterday perhaps resolved. Although her tone was indecipherable. He readied himself for a potential dressing down nonetheless.

‘Good morning,’ he greeted. ‘Is everything OK?’

‘No,’ Sybille said tersely. ‘Everything is not OK.’

‘OK, so let’s talk and find out how we can change that,’ Luca said optimistically.

Sybille put down the newspapers and began spreading the pages open on the design desk. The iPad was next, icons pressed.

‘This is Mr Torres at his premiere last night,’ Sybille said, pointing to the sections in the press. Luca had to move closer to see.

‘What is he wearing?’ Luca asked the universe more than his boss. ‘Canary yellow is trending?’

‘No,’ Sybille said. ‘It is not. And… no front pages for him. Page four.’

‘Proof that he should have let La Façon dress him,’ Luca stated.

‘No,’ Sybille said. ‘However.’ She shuffled the pages around, pressed more icons on the iPad. ‘This is proof that he should have let Le Façon dress him.’

Luca looked at the photos Sybille was showing him. Gabriella from last night on the Zeeta Friedmann show. Even he had to inhale a little at the pictures. She looked amazing. She was glowing. His vision that Errol had helped him create was as perfect an ensemble as anything he had made before. The outfit was stunning in its composition, but, the most important thing about it, what really stood out, was the fact the dress showcased her. It simply enhanced everything she already had, already was…

‘The first and largest photo in the style section of The New York Times, Mr Manning,’ Sybille informed him.

He couldn’t look away from the photograph of Gabriella. It was like last night, in the studio, when the audience had been as transfixed on her as he was now. But, he also knew that while this photo was being taken, she was trying not to let her pain show. And that just added a whole other level to the depth of her.

‘You and Gabriella are mentioned in every single one of my go-to pages online. Every single one,’ Sybille stated. ‘That has not happened for me for a while.’

‘It’s good,’ Luca said, nodding.

‘It’s more than good, Luca. It’s much more than good and you should be proud of yourself,’ Sybille told him.

He nodded. ‘Yes.’

Sybille hit him on the arm with one of the papers. ‘So why do you look like someone who has just been told Santa Claus is not real?’

‘I… don’t know. The surprise, maybe?’

‘Don’t bullshit me, Luca. What’s going on?’

He sighed. Sybille was way too canny to accept anything but the truth in this situation. He took a breath. ‘My mind… it’s not entirely here,’ he said. ‘Someone attacked Errol last night.’

Sybille put her hands to her face in shock. ‘What happened?’

‘Someone tried to mug him. He took a beating and he ended up in hospital.’

‘That is terrible. These streets! First my home is broken into and now this.’

‘What?’ Luca said, a shiver running down his back. ‘What d’you mean, your home was broken into? When? What happened?’

‘Do not overreact,’ Sybille ordered. ‘This is why I did not tell you yesterday. The police came. Nothing of value was taken. They suspect it is just bored kids daring each other. When I was younger we used to… take things from washing lines or throw berries at windows.’