Boardroom Bride - Page 67
“I don’t think I could forget it either,” she admits. “But...look. This little USB drive holds everything that we have between the two of us. Publicizing it...”
“Means we can keep our companies, and our employees can keep their jobs. We’re a team, remember?”
“A team,” Elsa says with a sigh. “Okay, yeah. Fuck it. Fine. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“I figured you had made a list of that already,” I tease.
I understand her hesitation. I really do. But I also understand that this is just one of those things that Elsa needs a little help working through...whether she wants to admit it or not.
“Just...don’t fuck me on this, Tanner,” she finally says.
Elsa sits back down on the bed and places the USB back between us again.
“Me fucking you on this was kind of the point, actually,” I point out.
And there it is again—that little smile on her gorgeous, perfect lips.
She reaches over and places her hand on top of mine.
We’re in this together...for better or worse and for the whole world to see.
Chapter 23
Elsa
“Hey, Katerina.”
“Hey, Elsa.”
It sounds like we’re saying hi, but what I’m really saying is, “What the fuck are you doing here?” and she’s saying, “None of your business, bitch.”
My ex-employee and former friend falls in line with Tanner’s other models, who are standing opposite mine, awaiting inspection.
We’re in the design room in Sharpe Tower, which Tanner has turned into a makeshift stage. He’s stretched a long piece of silk fabric along the floor to mark the runway.
The dress rehearsal is about to begin. As I look at my gorgeous new hires standing next to my ex-models, who are among the industry’s best, I can’t help but feel proud of the team I’ve assembled.
Katerina’s betrayal at our last fashion show together still pains me, enough that I’m going to have to take it out on Tanner, or I’ll explode.
“Tanner, it looks like your model has a little muffin top going on. Should we switch her into the control top, or do you want to put her in a bigger size?”
Katerina just laughs. The insult is intended for Tanner, not her, and she knows it.
“I think she looks like an angel,” Tanner says. “It’s too bad she’s a Vixen now.”
His words are cocky, but he’s still fighting his preshow jitters. I can tell by the way he hardens his jaw and rubs his temples with his fingers. It’s endearing, really, to see him so nervous.
He looks handsome, too. He’s dressed in a classic groom’s tuxedo and simple black patent leather shoes. He even has a boutonniere pinned to his coat.
It makes me wish he were standing at the end of the runway instead of the beginning. Then I can walk towards him in a cloud of tulle and lace, with my arms full of flowers and my wedding veil trailing behind me. It’s hard for me in Tanner’s design room, preparing for a wedding-themed runway show when I know our relationship is just a wedding-themed business deal.
But I can’t let him think he’s here to upstage me with his models. We’re in this together or not at all.
Katerina looks down and frowns. “Tanner, I think she’s right. The cut’s a little off. Can I change into the bikini briefs?”
I take it back: I forgive Katerina for everything she’s ever done to me. She’s a lovely girl with a flat stomach and a bright future.
“Fine. But be quick about it.” Tanner’s voice is clipped, but he doesn’t argue. He would never put our feud ahead of his ego. If Katerina looks bad, so does he.
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