“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I love that too, the way you’re so up-front. Say it like it is. ”
Jesus fucking Christ. Lexi’s whole future had just plummeted to hell. Her stomach ached like she had a rock lodged at the very bottom. She picked up her wine and took a long swallow to loosen her tight throat.
She’d been too invested. She’d wanted it too much. She hadn’t held anything back and gotten blindsided. Martina continued to chatter about the competition as they stood and walked toward the front door.
“The board will be looking for all the same things they do in normal competitions—things like creativity, ingenuity, craftsmanship, fit to the target market. ” She grinned over her shoulder. “Everything at which you excel. ”
Lexi forced a smile, but her mood had taken a severe dive. A spear of anger sliced deep in her heart to ease the pain of fear and loss. Lexi fought to keep a tight cover on it.
She exited the restaurant, squinting into the sun. Dazed from her fall off cloud nine.
“I’ll contact you with all the partnership information,” Martina said. She stopped when she reached the sidewalk and said, “Oh, Lexi, there is one more thing I wanted to mention. ”
She took another hit to the gut. Martina’s tone of voice and the way she’d left whatever this was until last was not a good sign.
“The board did a full background on all the candidates, just like we do on all our employees. ”
Lexi’s jaw loosened, and she barely kept her mouth from falling open. An icy fist hit her chest, and the chill spread outward. All the shadows from her past pinged through her mind. Her white-trash roots, her dysfunctional family, her loser boyfriends…
“And it came to their attention that you frequent a few…racy…clubs in Los Angeles,” Martina went on, stunning Lexi with an unexpected left cross, “with a friend, a Rubi Russo. ”
A protective instinct surged forward and made that spear of anger burn white-hot. Lexi crossed her arms and clenched her teeth. “That kind of intrusion into my life is completely unacceptable. ”
Yet even as she said it, fear burned across her chest. Fear of losing this opportunity. Even while she wondered if she still wanted it.
“Lexi. ” Martina softened her voice, but her gaze remained steady. “I know you are careful about your reputation. You have a very specific clientele, one that often puts you in the spotlight. That is exactly the same situation we’re looking at creating here and one of the big reasons you’re such a promising candidate for this line.
“We’re talking about selling dresses to tycoon’s daughters. People who can be choosy about who they do business with and why. Look at it from Galliano’s point of view. It’s taken us decades to build our reputation in the fashion industry. When we attach our name to yours and your name is somehow tainted, we could have millions of dollars’ worth of dresses hanging on racks that no one will touch because of one visit to the wrong club, one meet-up with the wrong people. Our board is concerned for the future of the line as well as the reputation of Galliano’s.
“Because the reality is, Lexi, billionaires don’t want to buy their daughters’ wedding dresses from a designer who frequents sex clubs. ”
Lexi’s chest burned with humiliation. Fury. Insult.
Yet Lexi agreed with her theory. Lexi lived her theory. This wasn’t an issue. It wasn’t like she and Rubi frequented Stilettos. It had been a one-time visit. And Lexi wouldn’t be doing anything but eating, drinking, sleeping, and breathing wedding dresses if she took this challenge on.
But then there was Jax.
Her heart clenched. And dropped.
Stupid. It wasn’t like anything was going to come of their rendezvous anyway.
She’d just thought…maybe…
Lexi shook the idea from her head. Her mouth curved in a wry, lopsided smile, but she felt no humor. No happiness. Not even hope. That had to be a bad sign.
“Rubi is a billionaire’s daughter,” Lexi said. “But I get your point, Martina. ”
Her expression softened in sympathy. “I know this may seem extreme. I’m sorry. Please don’t think I’m telling you how to live your life. Consider it advice, sweetheart. You’ve worked so hard, risen so far above the competition.
“Let me just say that I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve seen how jealous, vindictive, and cutthroat other designers can be to nudge someone out of a spot they want. I’d hate to see that happen to you. ” Martina wrapped her warm fingers around Lexi’s forearm. “You’re truly exceptional, Lexi. A diamond all buffed and ready for a pedestal and a spotlight. I want to see you grab this opportunity. ”
Beth and Casey pulled up at the curb in a shiny gold Jaguar.
Lexi took Martina’s hand in both of hers. “Thank you for the opportunity, Martina, and for lunch, of course. ”
Martina gave Lexi’s hand a squeeze, then leaned in to hug her, with a whispered, “Talk soon. ”
She slid into the front seat of the Jaguar, and all three women waved to Lexi as they pulled away.