Page 19 of Pretend To Be Mine

Sebastian winked at me and left.

“Annika, I trust you can handle the situation,” Adrian said.

Annika nodded. “I wasn’t expecting this to happen so soon.”

“Me either,” Adrian replied, looking at Elizabeth. “But when you find the right one, you just know.”

Annika and Adrian laughed, and even I cracked a smile, despite how overwhelmed I was feeling. So far, there was a warm vibe to the people at Blackwell. If our time together kept the same tone, this insane job might not be so bad.

Annika stepped closer to me. I fought the urge to step back. She walked around me slowly, the same way she’d circled Sebastian on the platform, her eyes cataloging every detail. I felt exposed, like she was seeing past my clothes to every flaw underneath. I had done the same thing during past fittings back at school. I didn’t like being on the receiving end of it.

“Good bone structure,” she murmured, more to herself than to us. “Beautiful coloring. Those eyes will photograph wonderfully. And your figure? Exquisite.” She made an approving noise. “The camera is going to love you. You’re softer than most of the models, more curves.”

I didn’t know if that was a compliment or not.

“Take her to the main room,” Adrian said to Annika. “Get her sorted out. I need to make some calls.” He looked at me like he was second-guessing his purchase. “You’re going to be fine. Annika’s the best.”

Then he was gone, the door closing behind him, and I could suddenly breathe again.

With Adrian in the room, I’d felt like every nerve ending was on high alert, hyperaware of his presence. Without him, the pressure valve released.

“Oh thank God,” I breathed, slumping slightly.

Annika laughed. “He has that effect on people. Especially lately.” She gestured toward the door. “Come on, let’s go play dress-up. And you can tell me how you ended up agreeing to this insane plan.”

“You know about it?” I asked.

I had just signed a very detailed NDA. I wasn’t about to say anything.

“Yes, I know. You’re pretending to be his fiancée. I wasn’t expecting him to find you so quickly, though. Those Blackwell boys work fast.”

“My brother is friends with him, and I needed a job, and then suddenly Adrian was calling me and asking me to pretend to be his fiancée, and I said yes even though I have no idea what I’m doing, and oh my God, this is really happening, isn’t it?”

I was rambling. My nerves were shot. I probably sounded ridiculous and she was probably thinking Adrian was out of his mind to choose me for this little sideshow.

Annika smiled, pulling a dress off the rack, something green that shimmered in the light. “Hold this. Let me see it against your skin.”

I took the dress, holding it up to my chest.

“Perfect,” Annika said. “And yes, this is really happening. Welcome to the fast-paced world of high fashion.”

“I just agreed like five minutes ago,” I said, still marveling at the speed of it all.

“When Adrian Blackwell decides something needs to happen, it happens.” Annika pulled out another dress, a deep navy blue one with delicate beading. “He’s a force of nature. Has been his whole life, but especially this past year since Buck died.”

“Buck?”

“Their father. Buck Blackwell. He was the heart of this company, and when he passed?” She shook her head. “Adrian took it hard. They all did, but he took on the weight of the world, trying to be everything his father was and more. That’s why this Love Week event is so important to him. It’s about honoring Buck’s legacy.”

“He seems very intense.”

“That’s one word for it.” Annika held up a third dress. Blush pink, romantic and soft. “He used to smile more. Laugh more. But grief changes people. And so does responsibility.”

She said it matter-of-factly, but I heard the affection underneath. She cared about him.

“Try this one,” Annika said, handing me the pink dress and pointing to a changing screen in the corner. “Let’s see how it fits.”

I stepped behind the screen and changed quickly, my fingers fumbling with the zipper. The dress slid over my body like water, fitted at the bodice and flowing out from the waist. When I stepped out, Annika’s face lit up.