Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Fiona was coming to depend on Alex more and more.
But she realized that she was hiding her real life from him.
She knew part of the reason was how awkward he could be when they were together.
She wasn’t sure how that would go over in her world.
But another part, a bigger part, was that she didn’t want him to see the craziness of her life—the chaos that characterized the world of high fashion—and give him reason to walk away from her.
And she knew that would be his first instinct.
She'd observed Alex in the pre-taping times of the show and notices that he was more comfortable by himself or talking to just one person. She had a large group of people she was surrounded by and she knew that her world wasn't one he was familiar with. But when they finished taping at the exhibition, and she saw Alex talking to Nichole Reynolds, the society reporter from America Today, she knew that she was going to have to start including Alex in some of her events. She wouldn’t be able to hide them from him. The man might not know what was going on in fashion, but Nichole probably would have clued him in that Fiona had a midseason presentation coming up soon. Now she’d have to invite him to the show.
“Hello, Fiona,” Conner Macafee said as he walked over to her. The owner of Matchmakers, Inc. had a smile on his face.
She’d known Conner most of her life: Their mothers had worked on some of the same charities when they were younger. That’s how she’d known of his matchmaking service to begin with. Though they weren’t close friends, she had danced with him at a few soirees and she knew most of his family history. ’
“Hey, Conner,” she said. “Watch out, that’s a reporter over there.” Conner was the son of a famous senator, who was driven out of politics by scandal. Fiona understood his reluctance to ever be in the spotlight.
“Thanks. Who’s that?” he asked her.
“Nichole Reynolds.”
“She’s been calling my office and pestering me for an interview. I appreciate your pointing her out so I can avoid her.”
Fiona laughed. “I don’t shy away from the press the way you do.”
“That’s right. You’re out there in the spotlight, like my sister.”
“Indeed. We know you need to maintain a public presence to make money,” Fiona said. Conner’s sister, Jane, was a lifestyle guru who had followed in the footsteps of Martha Stewart and was making a good name for herself with a popular cooking show.
“You do, I don’t,” he said. “Uh-oh, that’s my signal to leave.”
Conner walked away as Nichole and Alex started toward them. Fiona shook her head at Conner.
“You’ve got him on the run,” she said to Nichole.
“I’d rather have him tied to a chair so I could ask him some questions.”
“Good luck making that happen,” Fiona said.
“Maybe I can catch him outside,” Nichole said. “It was nice talking to you, Alex.”
Alex handed Bella Ann to Fiona as the redheaded reporter walked away. “What did you two talk about?”
“The show mostly and about one of the games I’m launching in a few weeks.”
“What kind of game is it?”
“First-person shooter. There isn’t one on the iPhone or in the Android market like this. It’s getting a lot of buzz.”
“That’s great,” she said. “What’s a first-person shooter?”
He laughed. “A shooting game where you play as one of the commandos. This one is a mercenary game called ‘The Savage Seven.’ You rescue hostages from Somali pirates.”
“Oh, sounds dangerous.”
“It isn’t,” he said. “It’s just a game. I’m having a launch party for it. Would you like to come?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m having a launch party as well for a new midseason line . . . do you want to come?”
“It’s tomorrow night, right?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Why didn’t you invite me earlier?” he asked. “Don’t you think I’m fashionable enough for you?”
She rubbed Bella’s back and leaned down to sniff her daughter’s sweet baby smell. She didn’t know how to answer Alex’s question.
“Well?”
“You walked away on Saturday,” she said. “I didn’t know what was happening between us.”
“Is that really the reason?”
“Yes,” she said. “Mostly. My world is different . . . I have to be different when I’m there. I haven’t gone to a launch since I gave birth to Bella Ann. That’s part of the reason I’m doing this midseason. I don’t know what it’s going to be like.”
“I want to know the real you,” he said, stepping closer and putting his arm around her. “It’s important to me that we both show each other who we really are; otherwise we’re never going to make this relationship successful.”
“I can see your point,” she said. “My friends are different.”
“I think it’s safe to say you’d think my friends were odd, too. We’re just going to have to play this by ear and do what we can to make it work.”
“Okay,” she said. “Will you wear what I pick out for you?”
“Why?”
“It’s fashion. Blue oxford shirts and khaki pants won’t cut it,” she said.
He gave her a narrow look. “I won’t embarrass you, Fiona. But I’m a grown man and I can dress myself. Is it formal?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. What time will I see you tomorrow night?” he asked.
"Seven," she said giving him the address at the same time.
"See you then," he said and walked away.
She was mad at herself as she watched him leave.
She hadn’t meant to insult him, and she knew she had.
It was just that all eyes were going to be on her tomorrow night.
And her critics were going to be looking at every detail of her and her entourage to see if she’d lost her edge since having Bella Ann.
She shook her head as she realized that no matter how her critics thought she had changed, there was no going back to the woman she used to be. She didn’t want to be that old Fiona any more because that woman didn’t have Bella Ann and Alex in her life.
She knew she had to apologize, but had no idea what she was going to say to make it up to him.
She needed him by her side, she thought.
With him next to her, she felt stronger and more confident.
It was almost as if for the first time in her life she was comfortable in her own skin and didn't have to put on her runway face.
The next evening, Alex showed up at the Big Apple Kiwi Klub, the hottest new hotel in Manhattan.
It was owned by Russell Holloway the New Zealand billionaire hotelier.
He had a string of hotels and clubs around the world.
It was where the launch party for Fiona’s collection was being held.
This date wasn't being taped for the show and frankly, Alex was glad because he was out of his comfort zone attending a fashion show to begin with, he didn't need cameras there. He didn’t have an invitation, but the man at the door had his name on a list and let him in.
Nervously, Alex straightened his bow tie as he entered the crowded ballroom.
There was a bar at the back and he headed straight for it to get himself a whiskey before he walked around looking for . . . what?
No one he knew moved in the world of high fashion except for Fiona, and she’d called him earlier to tell him she’d be busy backstage until after the show. He didn’t know what he was doing here except that this was part of her world and he wanted to know what it was like.
This was another side of the woman he was starting to care for and he needed to understandit.
He found his seat in the second row, which afforded him a great view of the catwalk.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Nichole Reynolds said as she sat down next to him.
“This isn’t my usual scene,” he said.
“I gathered as much. I’ve been to a few of Fiona’s shows,” Nichole said. “Are you familiar with her work?”
“Not at all.”
“Then it’s good you’re here,” she said. “Is this being filmed for Sexy & Single?”
“Not my part. I didn't tell them I was coming. They might be filming Fiona backstage.”
“I’d better go have a look around back there. Have fun,” Nichole said as she left.
The fashion show started a few minutes later and Alex had to admit that Fiona’s clothing was as beautiful as he expected. There was a wonderful accessibility to her fashions and he could easily see Fiona in the designs. They were light and whimsical, just like her.
“Well, it’s clear having a baby has sapped all her creativity. These dresses are so . . . plebian,” the man behind him said.
Alex glanced over his shoulder at the man. “There is something comforting in these designs. They’re going to appeal to a lot of people.”
“That’s the problem.”
“I don’t see how making a product that’s going to sell is a problem,” Alex said. “I think you might be a little out of touch with reality, pal.”
“Who are you?” the man asked.
“Alex Cannon. You?”
“Fernando Martinez, fashion critic,” he said. “Everyone likes what I tell them to like.”
“I’ve never heard of you so I’m not sure that everyone listens to you,” Alex said. What a jerk this guy was. He wondered how Fiona could stand having someone like this at her launch.
Everyone was standing up and Alex did as well. He was through with the conversation with Fernando anyway.
“I saw you talking to Fernando Martinez just now. What did you say to him?” Fiona asked as she came up to him.
“Nothing. I just told him his opinion was worth squat. Your collection was surprising. I loved it,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the cheek.
“What?”
“I loved it.”
“No, what did you say to Fernando?”
“He called your work ‘plebian.’ I don’t think he understands who you are.”
“This is the worst,” Fiona said. Her assistant was fanning her with a program and everyone around her started talking at once.
Alex just took her hand and drew her out of the crowd.
When the others moved to follow, he held his hand up to keep them at bay.
“You said this was a new direction for you. As a mom, you don’t have time to design haute couture.
It’s not practical for you. This direction might not be one you had anticipated, but it’s your direction.
This change is where you’re going whether you expected it or not. ”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “I knew it wasn’t as highbrow as some of my other collections, but it’s hard to think of anything other than Bella Ann these days. And in these clothes I can hold her and play with her.”
“That’s precisely what it’s meant to be,” he said.
“But without a positive review, I don’t know how I’ll sell my collection.”
“A new opportunity will present itself,” he said. “You’re too talented not to have this collection snapped up.”
“I hope you’re right,” she said.
“I know I am,” he said.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Jet said. “But the main buyer from Federated wants to speak to you.”
“Go on,” Alex said.
She started to walk away, but then turned around and came back over to him. “You look fabulous tonight. I was wrong to worry about you. I’m sorry.”
“I know I look good,” he said with a wink. “Apology accepted.”
She shook her head and walked away and Alex watched her work the room.
There was something fascinating about seeing her in her element.
They were definitely from different worlds, but he could see where he could help her out in this one.
And he knew that she would help him as well.
Already he had an idea about how to merge their two worlds in a fashion app that would be a nice complement to her new line and her new direction.
But Alex knew that he couldn’t hide behind his apps and games—the impression he made in the real world mattered, too. His conversation with that critic could have really hurt Fiona, and he was only lucky that it hadn’t.
He was too blunt to navigate her world gracefully. He had to figure out how to be a little more polished if he had any hope of being an asset to her. But pretending to be something he wasn’t . . . he wasn’t sure that was the way to win her heart. And he knew that was the only thing he wanted.