Page 56 of Last First Date

23

WAVERLY

The first in-person meeting with the lingerie company loomed ahead. I was grappling with a mix of excitement and trepidation. I wanted to make sure I impressed the clients as well as Knox. He trusted me enough to bring me along. He pulled me off Benjamin’s event but was bringing me to this one. It didn’t make sense. I hoped this was my chance to prove to him I was capable.

I dressed in my best business outfit. It was a charcoal pencil skirt that hugged my curves in all the right places, a well-fitted white blouse, and a black blazer. I paired it with black patent leather pumps, my hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and I wore just enough makeup to highlight my features.

I gave myself one last glance in the mirror. I looked professional, capable, and confident. This job meant a lot to Knox. I had listened to him talk a lot about it last night. I got the impression he wanted to prove himself. Now that I understood him a little better, I could understand why he carried such a chip on his shoulder. He was self-conscious about getting the job simply because of his name. I had to admit, it was what I thought.

I stepped into the hallway just as Knox was walking out of his room. He stopped when he saw me. At first, I thought maybe I was wearing the wrong thing.

“Is everything okay?” I asked nervously.

“Fine. You look nice.”

“Thank you.”

“I think we’re ready,” he said with a smile.

We walked toward the elevator. He was carrying a laptop bag slung over one shoulder. I had mine as well. I hoped we looked like a power couple—in a professional sense. Not an actual couple because that would never happen. I would be punching way above my weight with him. I was happy with our newfound friendship. That was good enough for me.

The car delivered us to the headquarters of the lingerie company. Knox and I stepped into the conference room. This was all so surreal to me. Pictures of beautiful models wearing sexy lingerie lined the walls. My meticulously chosen wardrobe suddenly felt insufficient. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider in this world of glamour. This was Knox’s world.

Seated across from the lingerie company’s director, a woman who exuded authority and sophistication, I attempted to maintain a professional demeanor. Inside, I felt like I was a serf sitting at the king’s table. Knox seemed at ease in this environment. He exuded a confidence that I resented, even if only momentarily. This was his world.

The director delved into the details of the upcoming events. She outlined what they had planned and what they wanted Knox to do. As she spoke, I found myself zoning out, entranced by the flicker of her diamond earrings in the soft light of the conference room. Knox would occasionally glance my way, sending a quick smile before returning his attention back to the director. When he looked at me like that, I felt my heart hammer against my chest.

I wondered why he kissed me when he could be with the models looking at me from their pictures on the walls. They had flat bellies, perky boobs, and smooth skin without a single stretch mark or flaw. Those were the kind of women Knox would dream about. The kiss in his office was more of being in the right place at the right time. He wasn’t actually attracted to me.

The director’s voice cut into my thoughts, pulling me back to the task at hand. I quickly jotted down the details, feeling that odd knot in my stomach again. I could see Knox attentively listening, nodding his head at the appropriate times and jotting down notes on his laptop. Occasionally, he would ask a question or make a suggestion. The most surprising thing was that he even asked for my opinion at one point. I nearly choked at his unexpected request but managed to recover and provide a coherent answer.

Midway through our meeting, the director’s assistant came in and slipped her a note. Her composure faltered as she read it. The atmosphere grew tense when the other members of the company read the note and got that same pinched look on their faces. It was evident that something has disrupted the company. After a brief exchange, she looked at us with something akin to devastation.

“Is everything okay?” Knox asked.

“One of the models slated for the fashion show has dropped out,” she said in a tight voice. “This puts us in quite the predicament.”

“Let me know if there is anything I can do,” Knox offered. “I have some old contacts I can reach out to.”

While part of me regarded his eagerness as a bit smarmy, I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised. He was from the modeling world.

“I forget you’re a model,” the woman said, smiling at Knox.

“Used to be,” Knox replied. “But for the right job, I could be convinced to take off my shirt.”

Everyone laughed, but I felt like it was at a joke I wasn’t privy to. They were all beautiful people used to this world. I was the outsider.

The laughter reverberated around the room, a stark reminder of the social chasm between me and the rest of the room. I could only manage a stiff smile, feeling my cheeks heat up.

Knox caught my eye and winked. It was a silent gesture that was supposed to somehow make me feel part of the inside joke.

The director sighed and leaned back in her chair. Then her eyes went to me. I suddenly felt like a prime piece of meat being evaluated by a picky customer. I squirmed in my seat and looked at Knox for help.

“You,” the woman said.

“I’m sorry?” I asked.

“You are the perfect size.”