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Shit, Parker, get a grip, I remind myself between drifting thoughts.Penny is off-limits.
She is the youngest, most beloved child of the Goulds and they, in turn, are the closest thing I have left to a family.
After the death of my father and Grayson's father, anger and helplessness had battled within me explosively. That is what prompted me to cultivate a playboy image for years, of which I’m not proud of, but it is now part of the general view the world had of me.
Unlike myself, my best friend, Grayson, poured all his pain and sadness into his work. He devoted himself to making a better name for his family. It is something that I, in my immaturity, had failed to do.
Years later, when drugs, alcohol, and girls became a maelstrom I felt unable to escape from, Grayson stopped me from getting worse. He inspired me with his presence and the way he dealt with emotions, so I decided to change my life.
Since then, I haven’t been the same, and although I still have sporadic encounters with women, I no longer consider myself the womanizer I had been in the past. The vices, for the most part, have been left behind, buried in the chapter of a book to which I have no plans to return.
Much of my adult life has been devoted to organizing events for that very reason. It’s not for the money, but because I love the feeling of being able to work out the details of an event to perfection.
I feel complete when I can orchestrate an idea from the ground up. I can make it a reality in the midst of chaos that renders its success almost impossible.
And yes, it has earned me fame and a name within the industry, but for me, it is just a way to honor the memory of my parents. It allows me to find completion in a way that I otherwise won’t be able to.
Maybe for Penny, the feeling has been the same since she has always strived to excel. Someone who hadn’t been through what she had might have taken advantage of all the fame and fortune the billionaire Gould family had to offer, becoming just another spoiled socialite, but not Penny. She had remained authentic, always trying to stand on her own two feet.
Perhaps this is an attempt to prove that she is valuable, strong, and independent, and that she can do things on her own.
And isn’t that precisely what she’s trying to do now?I think as I watch her walk away.
Her steps are decisive and firm, making several people turn as they gaze at the attractive, confident designer, even though there are many beautiful models in the crowd.
They don't possess that special something that made Penny shine.
“Shit,” I whisper to myself as I realize that once again, I have been left awe-stricken by her. There is no way in hell I can allow her and myself to have anything to do with each other. That will only bring trouble to my relationship with Penny's protective siblings, especially Grayson.
Making a mental note to stay away from her for both our sakes, I shrug off the model interviews, trusting her to handle it.
She will do a good job. I’m sure of it. Besides, I have other things I need to do.
Like using all my self-control to remind myself that Penny Gould is a fruit I can't taste.
Chapter six
Penny
Narrowingdownmychoicesof models had been much simpler than expected, thankfully, which fills me with satisfaction and a wave of much-needed relief.
My focus for presenting my line is to show that all bodies are beautiful and inspiring, so I have long-abandoned the idea of hiring models that fit the same stamp of women you usually see at these kinds of events: tall, thin, and unblemished.
Instead, I want to highlight the beauty of reality. Women who are curvy and short, or have unconventional features, have modeled for me until I finally found the most suitable models for my designs.
I thought to coordinate the beauty of fashion with the beauty that characterizes diversity. In doing so, I hope to mark a point of change in the industry that focuses on celebrating women and their diversity instead of criticizing that which society rejects or diminishes.
Satisfied with the work I have done and my choices, I leave the fitting room to return to my duties with Sarah and grab a bite to eat. As I head back to Sarah, I see Parker again. Thankfully, he doesn’t notice me and I start looking for a way to avoid being seen.
My brother's best friend is standing with his back to me, his attention fixed on the runway as a group of assistants takes notes on the choices he made for the show.
His gaze slides over in my direction as he gives instructions on what the ceiling decorations should look like. He crooks a finger at me, the trace of a smile on his face.
"Penny, come here for a moment," he says.
Escape plan ruined.
I walk toward him, convinced that he will have nothing good to say, or that he might be trying to mess with me. Part of me believes that he actually has a reason for wanting to see me.
