Chapter 52
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Camille tugged open the stage curtains an inch, peeked out, then quickly closed them again. Ryan hadn’t been joking when he’d said that her runway show was a sellout.
From what she could see there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. A small group of people stood standing against the far wall, held back by a mix of event and Royal security personnel.
Julia Spence had initially protested about Ryan’s insistence on them having Royal protection personnel at the show. She might be unpleasant, but she wasn’t a fool. She’d quickly realized the social gravitas which having suited bodyguards standing at the door added to the show’s already sizzling appeal, and had relented.
“Did you see who is sitting in the prime positions for the cameras?” asked Bryce. Her cousin and his fiancée Vivian had come backstage to give Camille their best wishes.
Ryan was off somewhere no doubt making certain that everything was perfect and ready for the show. While Camille was busy hyperventilating with nerves, her baby daddy was in his element. The man loved to be busy.
“No, who is in the prime seats?” replied Camille.
“Chloe and Jordan are here of course.” The mega popstar and her husband, had flown in from the west coast this morning. “But get this, Derick Stad and Kaylee, from the tv show, are seated next to them.”
“Really? What a surprise.” She’d known exactly who had been allocated the VIP seats. Social media was already running hot with the news.
Thank heavens for Chloe’s management and the Royal Resorts legal team. As soon as they had been able to establish that the show’s producers had been behind the public shaming of Camille Royal, they’d threatened to sue. The prospect of a multi-million dollar legal claim for defamation and gross invasion of Camille Royal’s privacy had made them see reason.
The various lawyers had quickly thrashed out a settlement to release Ryan from his contract. As part of that agreement, they’d come up with a deal which saw Kaylee wearing some of Camille’s new outfits on the show.
Bryce grinned at her. “Putting Derick and Kaylee up the front was a clever move. You’ve just handed them millions of dollars’ worth of free promotion for their upcoming reality series. And everyone is going to be talking about your runway show.”
“That was all Ryan’s idea,” replied Camille.
The man in question now appeared at her shoulder. Ryan bent and whispered in her ear. “Your parents are in the audience. They are seated a little further along the runway. I did offer for them to come closer to the front, but they didn’t want to steal your limelight.”
Her early pregnancy days of throwing up were blessedly behind her, but at the mention of her parents a wave of nausea washed over Camille. Her mother and father were yet to be informed that they were going to be grandparents.
Later. I will deal with all that later.
“Hang on, so you’ve met my parents?” The fact that Ryan had offered for them to sit elsewhere meant he had to have spoken to at least one of them.
“Yes, I did. I met Marina and Francois. Only briefly to introduce myself. They seemed nice enough people. They said they’d wait until after the show to see you. Your father mentioned something about letting you focus on the job at hand.”
Her parents of course would be polite and well-mannered in public. But what would they say when they learned that the connection between Ryan and their daughter was now a permanent one?
Later. I will deal with all of that later.
Camille shot a pleading look in Bryce’s direction, and her cousin nodded. “Vivian and I will go sit with your folks. I’m sure they are both thrilled that you have made it this far.”
Ryan led Camille over to a chair which was set in front of an oversized monitor. He helped her to sit and get comfortable. It was like having a mother hen fussing over her, but she wasn’t complaining.
I love this man.
She’d spent the last hour checking the models and their outfits, making sure everything was perfect. Now it was time to step back and let her beautifully tailored collection speak for itself. Let Ryan manage the show.
“The feed from the cameras will display on this screen, so you will see exactly what everyone watching the livestream gets to see. When Prince Charming and the Cinderellas have all come off stage, I’ll come and get you. Then you can walk down the runway and acknowledge the crowd.”
Camille’s heart swelled with deep affection. How lucky was she to have this man—this wonderful man—here with her?
“Thank you. I mean it. Thank you for getting me. Us. To this day. I don’t think I could have done it without you.”
He bent and kissed her lips. “You are a brilliant fashion designer, Camille; you would have made it with or without me. But I’m certainly glad to be here. I love you.”
The opening beats of Material Girl from the 2021 Cinderella movie filled the room, and Ryan took a step back. “Time to go. See you after the show.”
Taking a deep breath, Camille turned to face the monitor. Everything for the next half an hour was in the hands of the gods. And Ryan.
The models they’d hired were the absolute picture of professionalism. They’d not only learned the choreography for the Cinderella in the City themed show, but as they walked the runway, they added sass and big city energy to their characters. Camille’s clothes shone even brighter than they had during rehearsals.
The audience was soon caught up in the story of Cinderella being lost in the city and Prince Charming the cab driver trying to return her glass slipper. Of course one by one all of the Cinderellas fell in love with the secret prince.
And to the audiences’ delight, they each rejected his marriage proposal. They would rather keep wearing their Camille Royal clothes and have their own careers.
Ryan chuckled as one smartass in the crowd called out. “Don’t pick the prince. He’ll expect you to clean his dusty old castle!”
The Prince Charming who they’d managed to source from the recent graduating class of the famous Juilliard School was the other shining star of the day. He hit his mark every time his fake New York cab came to a halt on the main stage.
The clever lines he improvised into the show soon had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. This was an actor destined for greatness.
Just remember to thank Camille in your Oscar speech when you win.
At the end of the show, the Cinderellas and Prince Charming all did their final walk throughs, then gathered center stage.
Ryan raced over to Camille, and led her to the runway before stepping back to join with the rest of the audience as they applauded her show.
To see her ready to wear clothing range received with such genuine appreciation, had Ryan blinking back a tear. She was talented, and she’d worked incredibly hard. All of today was for her. The woman he loved. The woman who’d given him a chance at finding his true purpose.
Camille shot him a nervous grin then stepped onto the runway to thunderous applause.
Camille’s heart was beating fast. She’d dreamt of this day since she was a little girl. Watching her father’s collection being showcased during Paris Fashion week each year, Camille had always known this was her destiny. And now she’d finally arrived.
Her first runway show in New York.
After bowing to the audience, she turned and held up her hand to acknowledge the models. The Cinderellas were all applauding.
But her Prince Charming had disappeared.
She was still looking for him when the line of Cinderellas parted and Prince Charming reappeared.
But the Prince Charming who stood before her wasn’t the actor—it was Ryan. He was dressed in the Prince Charming jacket, the one he’d refused to wear. Not only had he conquered his fear of standing in the limelight, but he was also grinning from ear to ear.
Tears stung her eyes as he made his way to where she stood. When he got to Camille, he turned and as he did, a member of the audience rose from his chair.
Papa?
Ryan bowed to him, and Francois Royal gave a nod in response. Camille put a hand to her mouth. Of course the man who’d stolen her heart had managed to charm her father the moment they’d met.
Ryan turned back to Camille. “Remember that important phone call I had to make last night? Well, it was to your father. Francois and I had a little chat. Now all that remains is your answer.”
He dropped to one knee. As the crowd fell silent you could have heard a tailors pin drop. After reaching into his jacket pocket, he produced a small glass slipper.
In the slipper was a ring.
“From the moment you knocked me clean off my feet in the middle of a New York street I knew you were the most incredible woman I had ever met. I love you, Camille.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, je t'aime.”
He’d learned the most important French words she’d ever need to hear from his lips. “And I want us to share every day from now on— as one. Camille Royal, will you do me the greatest of honors and agree to be my wife?”
Tears filled Camille’s eyes. This amazing man had changed her life. Ryan made everything better.
I never thought I’d find my prince charming, but here he is.
“Oui. I mean, yes.”
She was in his arms and being kissed while all around them New York Fashion Week went completely nuts.
Inside New York City
Prince Charming might well have been a prince, but he became a thief when he shamelessly stole New York Fashion Week’s heart last night at Camille Royal’s Cinderella in the City fairytale retelling runway show.
Not only were the clothes on display the sort of thing we NYC career girls have been crying out for, but the Cinderella models were full of sass and fun. The highlight of the evening was a gorgeous gold cocktail dress with its black and gold checkerboard print which paid homage to the traditional New York taxi strip.
A special shoutout to fabric emporium supplier Karl Thomas who is also being featured in this week’s fashion week special spread.
A nd what fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a marriage proposal?
Former reality tv star Ryan Collins went full Prince Charming when he got down on one knee, and asked billionaire girlfriend Camille Royal to be his wife.
My ears are still ringing from all the squeals of delight. I can’t wait to see what social media will make of all this, but as for this writer, she’s still all in a fairytale swoon.