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Unbidden, Molly starts singing, “My anaconda don’t want none unless you got buns, hun.”
She’s dancing around her station with the model she’s working with, and then Molly tries to show her how to twerk, but she’s too busy laughing at Molly’s antics.
“Okay, let’s work,” I tell Jeanette, leaving Molly to her own work process.
I sketch, and she nods excitedly, both of us communicating like Neanderthals.
“Pretty.”
At one point, I have her stand and mime a skirt. “Here?” I move my hand up two inches. “Here?” Once more, I move my hand higher. “Here?”
Jeanette grins and then growls, making a paw with her hand, “Rawr. Sex.”
“Sex-y,” I correct, though she’s not wrong. A skirt this short would be good for sex, with barely a lift for access.
My thoughts trail back to Simon at the club, his lips pressed to mine. I bet I could’ve sat on his lap in a skirt like I’m thinking, slipped right onto his cock, and no one would’ve been the wiser. I couldn’t have bounced around, that would be too obvious, but I could’ve let it soak, maybe giving him a few squeezes with my internal muscles to drive him wild.
Autumn!I yell at myself.Stop that thinking right now. Professional growth and competition... that’s what you need to stick to.
Sometime after lunch, the models prepare to leave and I tell Jeanette how much I appreciate her help. “Thank you. Fitting soon.”
She seems to know the word ‘fitting’ because she nods in understanding.
After that, I go into machine mode. Nora has praised me time and time again for my ability to tune out the world and hyperfocus on what I’m doing. Despite my earlier internal fantasies about Simon, I don’t give him a second’s thought either. I draw and sketch, pull fabrics, and then begin cutting patterns.
Toward the end of the day, I’ve already created one entire look—the caftan design I first sketched with Jeanette. The dress is stunning, made from patterned silk with thick trim work around the front and back Vs, and I turned the leather belt idea into a belt bag, complete with a hand-braided, multicolored tassel. There’s a general ease about the classic design, but the details make it special. I slip it onto the adjustable dress form, eyeing it critically.
There’s silence in the room, and I can feel eyes on me. Well, not on me, particularly, but on the dress as the other designers evaluate it too.
“Gorgeous!” Molly squeals. “I want to wear it!”
She dashes my way, and I swat at her hands as she acts as though she’s going to pull my dress on herself. We’re goofing off and being silly after the long day, and it feels good, especially with her, bringing back memories of late-night project work at FIT together.
The door opens, and at first, I think it’s the dinner delivery. But Tobias comes in, looking harried and speaking fast. “Pardon, mademoiselles, who is furthest along and could perhaps spare a few moments?”
It’s obviously me, the only person with an entire piece completed. But even if I were still doodling aimlessly, I’d jump at the chance to help Tobias. One, he’s nice, and two, he’s House Corbin royalty. Anything he needs, I’m happy to provide.
I raise my hand, volunteering.
Tobias looks utterly relieved and rushes toward me. He grabs my still lifted hand and drags me off behind him.
“Get him, girl,” Molly calls after me.
Uh, maybe I should’ve asked what he needed first?
As Tobias runs with me down the hall, I send a silent prayer of thanks for my flats today. If I were in heels, I would’ve busted it on this tile floor. Hell, I might still fall in the flats with as fast as Tobias is hustling.
“Did you know ferrets can get the flu?” He keeps running, keeps talking, not letting me answer. But no, I did not know that ferret flu is a real thing. “It’s a big deal because it’s a working ferret, so he’s got to get healthy.”
“I’m sorry, did you say a ‘working ferret’?”
Tobias laughs at my confusion. “I didn’t know either. He’s trained to run cables through walls. They cut a hole for him to start and one where he needs to exit. Release him inside, and then use a little clicker at the exit, and he’ll go along until he gets there.”
I blink, not sure if he’s fucking with me. His expression is earnest, butseriously?
“Well, I hope he’s okay.” It seems like the safest response. “So do you need me to run cables?” It’s all I can think of based on whatever he’s talking about.
Tobias blinks, looking at me like I’m the one not making any sense. “No. Simon is doing a photo shoot today for our men’s line. He’s doing the wardrobe selections, but we need someone with a keen eye to examine the photos as they’re being shot for feedback. And the sick ferret belongs to the director. You’re replacing her.”
