176
They were halfway through debating between two shades of emerald one richer, one moodier when Amanda's phone buzzed on the table.
ERICKA:
Where are you? You've been gone forever.
Did you fall down the stairs? Should I send help?
Amanda snorted. "Oh my God."
Danielle leaned over her shoulder. "She's needy."
Samantha waved her hand. "Text her back before she calls a wellness check."
Amanda typed quickly:
AMANDA:
Helping Danielle with something! Be up soon
A minute later:
ERICKA:
...Define soon.
Amanda groaned. "She knows I'm lying. She knows I am doing something sneaky."
Samantha shrugged. "Good. Let her wonder."
Danielle giggled and reached for another dress on the rack. "Okay but—speaking of sneaky—can I try this on?"
Amanda looked up. "Danielle, that's one of my custom pieces—"
Too late. Danielle had already slipped behind the partition screen, emerging thirty seconds later in a sleek black backless gown.
She spun dramatically.
"Give me the runway music."
Amanda blinked. "You... look... way too good."
Danielle placed a hand on her hip.
"I know. Next."
Within five minutes she had tried on:
— a structured emerald jumpsuit
— a draped golden silk gown
— a sheer mesh top paired with tailored pants
— a blazer dress with crystal buttons
Every time she stepped out, she posed like she was auditioning for a fashion magazine cover.
Samantha clapped exaggeratedly. "Yes model! Give elegance! Give intensity! Give divorce-your-boyfriend energy!"
Danielle smirked. "Period."
Amanda shook her head, laughing so hard she bent over.
"You're insane."
"And you're talented," Danielle shot back. "This stuff is GOOD."
Amanda rubbed her arm shyly. "Thanks..."
But Samantha noticed the way Amanda's fingers fidgeted with a piece of fabric.
The way her breathing changed whenever she glanced at the engagement ring on the table.
She walked over softly, nudging Amanda with her shoulder.
"Hey," Samantha murmured. "You okay?"
Amanda exhaled slowly.
"What if I mess this up? What if she doesn't like the surprise? What if—"
Samantha held up a hand.
"Nope. Stop. Bring it in."
Amanda blinked. "What?"
"Come here." Samantha pulled her into a hug, firm and warm. "You are not messing anything up. You love that woman. She adores you. The rest will fall into place."
Amanda closed her eyes, grounding in the hug.
Samantha continued gently,
"You planned every detail with your whole heart. She's going to be blown away. And even if something goes wrong? You two will laugh about it for the rest of your lives."
Amanda let out a shaky laugh.
"Okay... okay."
Samantha stepped back with a confident smirk.
"That's my girl. Now fix your shirt. You look like you've been stress-folding laundry."
Danielle popped her head from behind the mirror.
"Is the therapy session over? Because I need help unzipping this dress."
They all burst out laughing.
Once they finished organizing fabrics and covering up the sketches Amanda didn't want Ericka to accidentally see, the three of them stepped into the quiet hallway of the designer floor.
Samantha held the garment bag close, almost like a sacred artifact.
Danielle still had glitter on her cheek from one of the outfits she'd tried on.
And Amanda... Amanda was wiping her palms on her pants every five seconds, trying not to visibly tremble.
"You good?" Samantha whispered as the elevator doors slid open.
Amanda let out a slow breath. "I'm fine. Totally fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?"
Danielle snorted. "You sound like a cartoon character about to explode."
Amanda shot her a glare. "Stop talking."
But even she had to laugh, nerves spilling out through her smile.
The elevator chimed softly and began its ascent. Floor numbers blinked past in warm gold light.
Danielle leaned against the wall. "Okay listen — when we walk out, we are NORMAL. Chill. No one can know we were in an underground fashion bunker plotting world domination."
Amanda rolled her eyes. "It's not underground."
"It felt underground," Danielle insisted. "Secretive. Spy energy. I loved it."
Samantha cracked up. "Please don't hype her."
The elevator slowed. All three of them straightened automatically.
The doors slid open onto the private penthouse floor — all cream marble, recessed lighting, and the faint smell of eucalyptus diffused through the vents. The entire space felt luxurious, quiet, and unmistakably Ericka.
Amanda whispered, "Okay. Act normal."
Danielle whispered louder, "So—lie?"
Amanda elbowed her. "Exactly."
They walked in.
Ericka was on the couch beside her parents, sipping tea and explaining the building's amenities. The moment the door opened, her head whipped around.
Her eyes narrowed... detectively.
"There you are," she said, voice smooth but pinpoint sharp. "You've been gone forever."
Amanda smiled brightly — suspiciously brightly.
"I told you, we were helping Danielle with something."
Samantha bit her lip to avoid laughing. Danielle looked at the ceiling like she was totally innocent. Ericka looked at all three of them like they were a trio of raccoons up to something.
"Helping her with what?" Ericka pressed, standing fully now, one hand on her hip.
Danielle jumped in before Amanda could speak.
"Fashion stuff," she said. "Girl stuff. Sister-in-law bonding stuff. The usual."
Amanda's soul left her body.
But Ericka didn't question it. She just blinked slowly... suspicious and amused.
"Hmm," she murmured. "Alright..."
But she didn't sound convinced.
Needing a distraction, Amanda stepped forward and cleared her throat.
"Uh—Mr. and Mrs. Mathews? There's someone I want you to meet."
Samantha straightened and put on her warmest smile.
"This is Samantha," Amanda said proudly. "My best friend."
Ericka's parents lit up like sunshine.
"Oh!" her mother said warmly. "We've heard so much about you."
Her dad added, "Nice to finally meet the person Amanda trusts with everything."
Samantha laughed. "yes she is my partner in crime."
Ericka arched a brow. "I'd like to know which crimes."
Amanda elbowed her gently. "Be nice."
Ericka smirked.
"I'm always nice."
Samantha shot her a look. "Girl, please—I've watched you fire people in heels."
Everyone burst into laughter — even Ericka's parents.
While Samantha settled in with Ericka's parents, Danielle wandered to the balcony pretending to "air out her new model aura."
Amanda sat beside Ericka on the couch. She placed a gentle hand on her thigh — grounding, soft.
Ericka leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice so only Amanda could hear.
"You smell like fabric glue."
Amanda froze.
"...No I don't."
"Oh, you do," Ericka whispered, her lips brushing Amanda's ear. "What exactly were you three doing?"
Amanda tried — TRIED — to stay composed.
"We were helping Danielle with... her fashion sense."
Danielle yelled from across the room, "HEY!"
Ericka's parents laughed again.
Samantha covered her face.
Ericka leaned back, eyes still narrowed with amused suspicion.
"Mhm," she said. "I'll get it out of you eventually."
Amanda attempted a casual sip of water and failed miserably.