There Are No Words (The Morelli Sisters #3)

Chapter Eight

Allegra

I rubbed my temples, trying to relieve the tension as I listened to Wilhelmina Irvin—one of the most influential fashion and beauty bloggers—give me her heartfelt apologies for not being able to attend the Bellissima anniversary party.

I took her off speaker, put the phone to my ear, and leaned back in the black leather chair in my office. “I’m surprised to hear you say you won’t be coming.” Wilhelmina had always made an appearance at our events.

A sigh sounded on the other end of the line. “I want to attend, honest. It’s just I don’t think I can. I’m trying to stay out of the public eye right now, what with my breakup from Silas and all.”

I’d heard about their breakup in the press and the rumors of an affair that were flying around, but didn’t know what that had to do with this event. Honestly, my dad would have a coronary if he found out Wilhelmina wasn’t coming. It was my job to ensure the guest list for these events consisted of the best. That meant inviting celebrities, influencers, and media (non-competitive, of course) and making sure they RSVP’d yes . First on my list was none other than Wilhelmina.

“What can I do to make this better? Invitations are about to go out, and I’d like to know I’ll get your RSVP card back with yes checked.” I had to know if there was some way I could save this.

Another sigh. “Honestly,” Wilhelmina started, before taking a long pause.

In the meantime, I put my tongue in my cheek and got to thinking. So hard I wouldn’t have been surprised if you could’ve seen the gears in my head turning.

Then she finally continued, saying, “I don’t think there’s anything you can do. I need to lie low at the moment. Sending me an invitation would only be a waste.”

Lying low was great, but not for someone like her when someone like me needed her to appear at the event that needed to be bigger than Bianca’s ass at senior prom. A side note, but just so you knew where I was coming from, she’d done squats for months before prom and her ass looked amazing. Bianca knew it, I knew it, everyone knew it, but most importantly to her, her date knew it. And now we were getting way off topic. Boy, I could only imagine what it would be like when pregnancy brain kicked in. That was real, right? Not just a myth? I shuddered at the prospect.

“I have an idea that might appeal to you,” I started, grating my teeth across my bottom lip as I waited to hear if she had any objections.

Truth be told, as long as she was open to something out of the ordinary, we’d be good. It was that same approach—thinking outside the box—that made me excel at my job. Call me Ms. Creative, and I’d answer. Just kidding, but seriously, my job required me to think quickly and problem solve because problems arose more than anything in this industry.

Finally, I got the confirmation I needed from her as she said, “I’ve seen your mind at work in the past, Allie, and it’s always a beautiful thing. I’m open to hearing what you’re thinking.”

I leaned forward, super anxious to get it out. “Thank you. What if I said it’s going to be an unplugged party?” Wanting to fully explain my concept before she could respond, I elaborated, “No pictures, except for posed ones from our photographer. Social media won’t be abuzz with your presence or anyone else’s. It’ll be the event everyone talks about but has no evidence of.”

“It’s certainly more controlled,” she conceded, clearly thinking it over. “I like it,” she finally said, her voice cheery with enthusiasm.

If this job didn’t work out, I had options with my master problem-solving skills, that was all I was saying. I was like a wrestler of problems, tackling them one by one, but with finesse. “Amazing. It’s going to be amazing because it’s not a party without Wilhelmina Irvin.” She’d supported us for years now, so it only made sense she was at the big anniversary blowout.

“And it’s not a thriving publication without Allegra Morelli,” she said. I felt my cheeks flush. See, this was why I adored what I did. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else but this in my life. Mom gave us all a blessing she may not have even known she was giving us when she started this publication. And perhaps it was too soon for these thoughts, but one day, I hoped my own child would want to be part of the family legacy.

“I appreciate it. All right, well, I won’t keep you. Thank you again, Wilhelmina, and I look forward to seeing you there.”

Once she said goodbye, I hung up. Sitting back in my chair again, I kicked my feet, absolutely pleased with myself for the big win I’d just had.

I was about to take a minute and catch up on some emails when my computer sounded with a calendar reminder that there was a team meeting in the conference room happening right now. I tried never to blow those off, as important matters were always discussed. Plus, someone always brought in bagels, and there was nothing I wanted more right now than a bagel slathered in cream cheese.

I got up, took my phone with me, and started walking down the hallway.

“Hey, Allie,” a tall blonde woman with blue doe eyes called out to me as she came out of her office and nearly bumped into me. We hadn’t had many run-ins since she’d joined the team, but her name was Millie, and she was Bianca’s replacement. Not that anyone could ever replace Bianca, but I’d heard Millie was doing a decent job of getting ads.

“Hey, Millie,” I returned with a warm smile.

She walked in step with me. “After the meeting, can I have a few minutes of your time? I have a vendor who wants a proposal on different sponsored social content campaign options.”

I brought my brows together and nodded. “Just direct them to the media kit on the website.” Not that I didn’t think she knew to do that, but maybe she thought she had to come to me regarding this. Honestly, I wasn’t sure.

She swallowed and waved a hand in front of her face. “No. I mean, yes, I did that. But he would like us to come up with a custom social campaign for him.”

“Oh, why didn’t you say that? Definitely stop by my office after the meeting, and we’ll go over logistics.”

“Thank you, Allie.”

I nodded and was about to reply when out of the corner of my eye I saw Maria sitting at her desk in her office. “Sure thing,” I finally told Millie. “If you’ll excuse me,” I added, putting a finger up and taking a sharp turn to Maria’s office.

I knocked on the glass door and saw her lips were moving, so I assumed she was on the phone. When she didn’t look up, I let myself in. I stood in front of the two chairs across from her and crossed one ankle over the other.

Maria finally looked up and smiled, pointing to her ear and the phone on her desk. I never did understand why she used earpieces when she could just put the phone to her head like everyone else or put the call on speakerphone. It seemed like a hassle to me, but Maria had her own way of doing things.

Then she rolled her eyes and mimed a mouth moving. I placed a hand over my mouth and stifled a laugh. Who was she talking to?

“Of course,” Maria said. “It will be exactly what you’re expecting and more.”

I didn’t know what the person was saying, but she threw her head back and moved it from one side to the other, visibly trying to crack her neck.

Wow. Now she really had my interest piqued. Who was the pain in the butt on the other end?

“Let me—” Maria tried, but they must have cut her off. She nodded, even though they couldn’t see her and then attempted again, “Emilia, let me stop you right there. I’m overseeing this cover shoot, and I can guarantee you it’ll be great. Please have faith in the process. I’ve been doing this long enough to—”

She was cut off again and looked up at me, miming pulling a noose around her neck. “Stop,” I whispered, chuckling.

“Yes, and that means a lot to me,” Maria said, clearly wrapping up the call. Then she ended with, “Yes, you, too.”

Hanging up, she tossed the earpiece on the desk and groaned, pushing her hair to one side as she rolled back in her chair. “Sorry about that,” she said to me.

I shook my head and widened my eyes. “You’re sorry? I’m sorry you had to deal with Emilia.” Then I squinted. “Who is Emilia, and why is she annoying?”

“Annoying doesn’t even begin to cover it, but sure, we can go with that.” She got up and pointed to the door. “Let’s walk and talk. We’re already late for the meeting.”

“That’s okay,” I replied confidently. “I know the boss.”

“Cute.”

I followed her out and then walked with her. “So what is her deal?”

“Who, Emilia’s?” She shook her head. “I actually have to talk to you about her cover shoot anyway. She’s the model for the next issue, and it wasn’t easy getting her to sign on the dotted line. She had some stipulations.”

Stipulations? “Maria, we shouldn’t have to deal with these models and their diva ways. Remember what Mom used to say. They should be grateful we’re even letting them grace our cover.”

“True, and I would usually abide by that, but Emilia is an up-and-coming model, and she brings with her a designer that she’s the new face for. They were going to another publication, but I sweetened the deal and stopped that from happening.”

“Go, Maria. You’re a badass, you know that, right?”

Maria chuckled. “Thanks. We should talk, though, because she wants to do an interview live on social.”

“Done.”

“Don’t get too excited because before my call with Emilia, the bartender who’s working the anniversary party called and bailed. He got another event that’s paying more.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Really?” Who would pay more than us? Hundreds of guests, open bar. It felt like a no-brainer.

Maria cringed. “Baby shower for an heiress in Jersey. Sorry, Allie.”

“For what? It’s not your fault. It just seems like babies are a common theme in my life right now. I’m just bummed I have to find someone else. Do you know how good he was and how long I had him booked for? He was like the first vendor contract I signed.”

She laughed. “Yeah, that’s why he called me and not you.”

“Great. Ugh, babies,” I said and rolled my eyes.

Pursing her lips, Maria angled her head, a sympathetic look washing over her face. “I know it may not seem like it now, but this baby will change your life for the better. They’re a blessing.”

“I know that.” I just wished it was a blessing when I had planned it with a man I saw a future with. But you knew what they said about the best laid plans and all that.