Bound by Betrayal

ia's

for my career, feeling like a fraud in borrowed heels. The Metropolitan

my rent, I tried to blend in. My heart pounding louder t

d, steadying my elbow. "You loo

ing is experiencing a silent pan

s that hugged her curves and complimented her olive skin. Even sta

eading my thoughts. "This is yo

n representation of traditional Chinese elements. The style has structure, which made my tiny figure look taller an

thin woman with a sleek silver bob and calculating eyes. "Fashion direct

ortant people," I whispe

we made your elevator pitch. You never k

, because it was a welcome distraction. I brought it out

t," I told Elena, showing

t will solve all your problems. - XM, Montgomery Industries.'" Her eyes

, thumb hovering over d

. "Wait! What if it's

ire? Why woul

er Montgomery. CEO. Thirty-four

nes, blue eyes that pierced into the soul, and dark hair styled by a person who would have control of every aspect of their existence. His fi

Winters fell apart," Elena read from the article. "He is referred to

him want to contact me?"

these charity events himself," said Elena, her eyes alight

King wants to invest in my

it. Just... se

he message. "Fine, but I'm going to focus on people w

uss my designs without stuttering too badly when people approached me. A few fashion industry insiders had complimented

t from forced smiles. I'd seen major editors

ttered after another "I'

s she nudged a fresh champagne flute into my hand.

"I might be at the f

"Look there's Vera Simmons! Final

ow

es! Now!" Elena gave me a gentle shove forward

toward Vera. She was studying sketch

ight. Two women-long-time established designers whose careers I'd followed for

g, her voice low but full of intensity. "The textile pattern and the

dismissive wave of her hand. "Just because you can't de

sdropped. But the notion of design theft-every

it," Diane spat. "I alrea

he second designer laughed, but it was em

f glamor, when my elbow hit something. A waiter stumbled right in front of

golden liquid arcs flew -inevitab

as I watched the pale gold liquid

a napkin. Too late. T

Vera was now surrounded again

ent settled while I was still futilely dabbing my dress. Where was

d, tears stinging my

led fastenings. Then, just like that, it was destroyed, along with my dreams of making a good impression a

ess, a tall figure s

voice. "I believe we have so

had ever seen-the same man from the pho

readable expression. In person, he was even more imposing than his photos suggested-tall a

d me-drenched in cham

just knew my life was a