Page 61 of Last First Date

“Certainly, sir. Would you prefer a specific time?” the concierge asked, his professional demeanor never wavering.

“Let’s say around seven? And could you please ensure it’s private?”

“Absolutely, sir.”

I thanked him and went back up to my room. I sat down, getting comfortable on the couch before I did a little work. I pulled out my phone and began to work on my backlog of emails and calls. It was a welcome distraction from the tension that still lingered between Waverly and me. I knew she was going to tell them she was going to do it. I hoped with a little time to think about it, she might change her mind. But once I saw that defiant look in her eyes, I knew better.

I could tell by her fiery spirit, she was hurt. It wasn’t what I intended, but it was what had happened. I finished my emails, glanced at the time, and saw that two hours had already passed.

I got up, changed into something a little more casual, and headed out to meet Waverly downstairs. When I walked into the lobby, I spotted her from afar. She was nervously staring out the window overlooking Central Park. She had changed into jeans with the same boots and sweater. Her ass was perfect. Seeing it clad in lingerie was going to be a real treat. Although I was not looking forward to everyone else getting to see her ass with me.

“Waverly,” I called softly.

She turned around and smiled. “I bet it would be so pretty with fresh snow.”

“It is.” I nodded. “Maybe it’ll snow while we’re here.”

“Maybe.”

“I’ve made reservations for dinner and then I was thinking we could take a carriage ride.”

She frowned. “A carriage ride?”

“Through Central Park.”

“Oh,” she sighed. “Wow. Okay.”

25

WAVERLY

The realization that I had agreed to strut down a runway in lingerie hit me like a ton of bricks while I was putting on my makeup. I had decided to do it, but I also told myself to think about it overnight. I wanted to make sure I was going to be okay with things. The idea of doing something that was outside of my comfort zone excited me. But there was still that lingering fear. I knew Knox didn’t want me doing it. Whether it was because he thought I was going to bomb and embarrass the company or he was pissed that my time was not going to be his to control, I didn’t know. But yes, the driving force behind my decision to do the show was my need to rebel against him. He was too arrogant. Too bossy. Too everything.

I felt an odd mix of exhilaration and terror. My decision to take part in the lingerie show defied logic, but making the choice felt liberating. I didn’t have to live in the little box I’d created for myself. I could do whatever I wanted. There were no rules.

I decided to keep my decision under wraps until the last possible moment. I didn’t want Knox to know. Last night, before I went to my room, he seemed confident he had convinced me not to do the show. I didn’t want to argue with him. I planned to tell him after I told the director I was going to do it. Then, he wouldn’t be able to do shit. He could be pissed all he wanted. I was doing this. He might have been my boss, but he wasn’t the ruler of my life. He didn’t get to make my decisions. I honestly didn’t care for his opinion. Knox and I were different people. We were not the same in any way, shape, or form.

I walked over to the mirror and studied my reflection. The woman staring back at me was not the same compliant, shy Waverly from a few weeks back. Her eyes held a spark of defiance, a newfound determination that had been lacking before.

“Alright, Waverly,” I said to my reflection. “You’ve got this.”

I completed the last touches to my makeup and grabbed my purse. I was going to meet with the director by myself. Knox would try to talk me out of doing this. I didn’t want to hear his negativity. This was my choice. He could like it or not. I didn’t care.

I walked into the lingerie company’s headquarters alone, eager to meet the management team and talk without Knox’s judgmental stares. He could be just a little controlling. The elevator ride to the designated floor felt like it took forever. The little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to walk away. Don’t do it. It would be humiliating. But I stayed strong and kept pushing forward.

As the elevator doors finally slid open, the sight that greeted me made my heart pound faster. It was an expansive room bustling with activity. I could see racks of clothes, models, stylists, and photographers all in a frenzy. A sudden surge of adrenaline hit me as I stepped into the chaos, my nerves being replaced by excitement. Our first meeting had been rather tame. This place was a hive of chaos.

I gave my name to a young woman that looked a little frenzied.

A few minutes later, the director from yesterday appeared. I plastered a confident smile on my face. “Hi,” I said. “I hope I’m not bothering you. I was hoping we could talk for a couple of minutes.”

“Absolutely! We’ll go to my office.”

Her office was a haven from the organized chaos outside. It was tastefully decorated with subtle feminine touches. There was a vase of fresh flowers on her desk along with framed black and white fashion photographs on the walls. She gestured for me to sit across from her. There was a sense of authority about her, but she felt very approachable. I felt comfortable around her. Her management style was very different from Knox’s.

“So, Waverly, what’s on your mind?”

I took a deep breath. This was it. “I’ve thought about our discussion yesterday and I have decided to do the show.”