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She presses her lips together in response but gives in. “The reactions to the fashion shows have been quite exciting. Perhaps you’ve heard?”
I don’t look at him, but Simon stays quiet, and something Jacqueline sees in his expression must give her pause because her nostrils flare.
“Or maybe not. But the media buzz has been quite positive. For House Corbin and the designers themselves. Seeing as two of the designers are from America, and New York City’s fall fashion week is soon, I propose that we do a showcase presentation of the three shows’ collections from all five designers, sponsored by House Corbin.”
“Have you lost your ever-fucking mind?” I snap. My hands flail about as I rant, pointing at her, myself, and then her again. “No way. I own my designs. I’m not letting you get one more bit of recognition from showing them after the way you treated me professionally, and Simon and me personally. You’d rot in your own ancient designs until they disintegrated into tatters around your cold body before I’d work with you again.”
I hope that makes it clear exactly where I stand.
Jacqueline takes a sharp breath, her eyes hard marbles as she glares at me. No one speaks to her this way. But I’m notno one, I’m Autumn Fisher of Autumn Fisher Designs, and I’m not doing a damn thing that’ll make Jacqueline Corbin feel I should be indebted to her for whatever success I work for.
“How... graphic. And also, valid,” she allows. “But hear me out. These will be your designs, your creations, and your control... much like the previous shows.”
I raise an arched brow and ask dryly, “Did you seriously just say that?”
“Other than the last show, I’ll admit,” she says with a reluctant grimace. “The show would simply be sponsored by House Corbin but would highlight the five designers as exceptional individuals in the industry. All recognition would be your own. If you get buyers from the showcase, the orders and customers would be your own. No credit or percentages due to House Corbin.”
“Why?” Simon asks. He’s shrewd and well-versed on the behind-the-scenes industry norms. “That’s a shitty deal for you.”
For you. House Corbin.
He’s not only left his aunt and her company, but he also truly doesn’t feel associated with it anymore. He’s part of Autumn Fisher Designs, through and through. He’s the business director and unofficial emotional support cheerleader when I have freakouts about not being good enough.
“Perhaps I’m not looking for credit or money. I’m looking for something else.” Jacqueline’s eyes go soft, almost pain-filled, as she looks at Simon.
* * *
Simon
I’m confused about what my aunt is saying. She’s doing something that’s not for credit or money? That’s completely unlike her.
I’m certain there’s an angle here. “What do you want?”
“You.”
The plain answer doesn’t clear things up in the slightest. If anything, I’m more confused. “I’m not coming back to House Corbin or Paris.”
Taking Autumn’s hand, I make a firm point of where my loyalties lie.
My aunt looks down at our interwoven hands and returns her gaze to me. “I know. I wouldn’t ask you to. I don’t mean I want you back professionally. In fact, I think it’s quite good for you to spread your wings and see what you’re truly capable of. I think it might surprise us both.” The corners of her lips tilt up in something akin to a smile, but surely, I’m mistaken because that sounded... kind? She glances to Albert, who seems to give her some sort of meaningful gaze, but all I see is his neutral-faced blink, as always. Jacqueline turns her attention back to me and seemingly painfully admits, “I mean that I want you, personally. As my nephew again. I want us to be a family again.”
“Again? I’m not sure we’ve ever been a family, Jacqueline.” The use of her given name is intentional. Though she’s my aunt, I’ve never called her Aunt Jacqueline, or anything more familiar, like Auntie. We don’t have that sort of relationship, and we never have.
“That’s my fault. I might not have been the best parent...” She pauses to give Autumn a cold stare, which Autumn returns in equal force, making me wonder exactly what was said between the two of them the night of the last show. “But I did the best I could to teach you the things I do know—fashion, taste, elegance, the importance of hard work, and how to dream big. How to express love is, unfortunately, not one of the things I was able to teach, though it seems you’ve learned that on your own.”
Her eyes fall to our hands again, noting the ring shining brightly on Autumn’s fourth finger.
“I’d like to thank you for that, Autumn.”
“Uhm... I’m not going to say ‘you’re welcome’ for loving Simon because it has nothing to do with you. Especially considering everything you did to try to stop us from being together.”
My fiery redhead is getting riled up, ready to fight for me—for us—against an icon she admired and the family that should mean a lot to me. It weaves another thread of connection between our hearts, pulling us closer and closer together as one.
Jacqueline frowns heavily, her brows falling low as she ducks her head. It’s a more broken appearance than I’ve ever seen her wear. “About that. I would like to apologize. I had both of your best interests at heart, but I completely botched everything.”
“You more than botched, you fucked things up royally. So, apologize.” Autumn holds her hands out wide, giving my aunt the floor.
“What?” Jacqueline answers. “I did. I did?”
