18. NICK
“So, what do you think?” Kath asked after laying out her business proposal. She was standing fairly close to me and would often touch my arm whenever she spoke. It had no effect on me, though.
“Give me some time to think it over,” I answered automatically, taking a step backward to put some distance between us. I didn’t want her to think that I was interested in her in a different way.
“I can drop by your office tomorrow to give an official presentation,” she said, giving me a suggestive look. “I’m sorry to have just dropped by here unannounced. I was honestly just visiting by chance, and I saw you, and then…I thought I’d go ahead and discuss it with you now.”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Thanks.”
She started explaining something else, but a small commotion made me turn my attention back to where the shoot was happening. The photographers and models had all gathered around someone. A few of the staff were clapping. Some were gaping.
What’s going on?
As the sea of people parted, my eyes locked on Izzy, the epitome of elegance and grace. She stood there in one of her dazzling summer dresses, radiating confidence and style. The onlookers were captivated, and I found myself frozen in awe.
My heart pounded wildly. Why is she modeling her design?
The dress showcased her sustainable fashion ethos, with organic fabrics and a design that effortlessly blended nature-inspired elements. The vibrant colors accentuated her features, and the delicate details echoed the artistry behind her creations.
The photographers clicked away, capturing every angle of Izzy’s radiant presence. The models surrounding her seemed to fade into the background, their beauty dimmed by the sheer brilliance of Izzy’s creation and the natural way she modeled it.
I felt a tap on my shoulder, and Kath’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Nick, are you even listening to me?”
My eyes remained fixed on Izzy. “I...I need to go,” I mumbled my excuse, leaving Kath behind as I moved toward the center of the attention. The realization hit me that Izzy wasn’t just a business partner; she was an artist, a visionary, and in that moment, she was fucking breathtaking.
“What a beauty…” one of her staff commented.
“She’s a natural model,” someone else said, awestruck too.
As I approached, Izzy noticed me. I couldn’t read the expression on her face. She looked away quickly, which disappointed me.
She continued to twirl and pose as if she’d been modeling for a long time. For all I knew, this was the first time for her. Double wow.
When she modeled with the group, she stood out at once. She was just perfect.
You ought to tell her that, a voice from inside me suddenly quipped.
Should I really? It might complicate things. I don’t even know how I really feel about her.
With my phone in hand, I just started recording. This was a moment that had to be captured on video. But then I found myself more captivated by Izzy’s presence than the task at hand. I became entranced by her every move.
“Alright, thank you, everyone!” the head photographer suddenly said, dismissing the models with a wave of his hand.
I stepped forward, approaching Izzy, my phone still in recording mode. “Izzy, mind if I ask you a few questions about EcoChic Couture?”
She seemed momentarily startled, caught off guard by my sudden request and the way I was recording a video of her. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Sure, Nick. Ask away.”
Asking questions about this passion project, I marveled at the depth of her knowledge and the fervor with which she spoke. Her responses were natural, reflecting the authenticity that defined EcoChic Couture. Even though it was basically the same questions she’d been asked before, there was always something unique and greatly interesting about her answers. The passion in her voice was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile behind my phone, proud of the remarkable woman standing before me.
Yet, beneath the pride lurked a desire that I could no longer deny. The desire to kiss her, to convey my emotions beyond words, lingered in the background, temporarily restrained by the ongoing interview.
“Are we done?” Izzy suddenly asked with an innocent smile, her gaze burning a hole in me.
“Uh, yeah, sure,” I answered quickly, turning off the video and putting my phone down.
She excused herself and went to change. I found myself staring into space, thinking about her, wanting to spend more time with her, feeling like I needed to be with her.
Someone offered me a bottle of water, which I downed fast. Then I caught sight of Tanya giving me a curious stare with a grin playing on her lips. Uh-oh.
I gave a simple wave and turned around, busying myself by discussing with the staff about the next steps in launching the collection.
After a while, I saw her coming back to join the group, back in her white cropped top and wide-legged pants. By this time, most of the models and photographers had already left.
“Izzy…” I called softly.
She turned to face me, looking radiant and absolutely stunning. She still had on all the makeup from the shoot, and her light brown hair cascaded beautifully across her shoulders.
“We should have a meeting about the launch,” I said, sounding quite stern and demanding.
“Now?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes, now. In my office.”
“Uh, okay…but I rode with the staff…”
“You can ride with me.”
She probably felt like she had no choice, so she grabbed her things and followed me to my car. I had driven this time, so the two of us were all alone in the car. No chauffeur.
“So…modeling, huh?” I began the conversation on the way to my office.
“Oh, no. That’s a one-time thing. It was an emergency, and Tanya and the others kept on insisting I was the perfect replacement for Jessica.”
“They’re certainly right on that point,” I agreed.
She gave me an astonished look.
“You carried it out perfectly like you’ve been doing that all your life.” I was being sincere. It wasn’t like I just wanted to flatter her. “You were a natural.”
She actually blushed. “Thank you.”
Soon, we came to my office. I let the valet attendant take my car. We went up quietly, the elevator reminding me of how we’d gotten trapped there. It seemed so long ago. Luckily, there were others with us, or I would have been tempted to kiss her.
In a few minutes, we were sitting together in the conference room. Just like that first time she’d presented her business plan to me and had gotten irked at my questions. A grin played on my lips as I recalled that moment.
“What’s funny?” she asked straightforwardly.
“Nothing. Just remembering something.”
“Like what?” She was being persistent.
I chuckled despite trying to maintain my stoic demeanor. “Like nothing,” I insisted, which made her frown. I also found that charming about her, the way she frowned or looked irritated and disappointed.
We talked about the launch then. I forced myself to focus on the task at hand, trying not to be obvious about my underlying motive—to spend more time with her.
As we delved into the plans for the launch of her new collection, I could feel the tension in the room escalating.
“Izzy, we”ve got this fantastic opportunity to make a big splash in the market,” I emphasized, leaning back in my chair. “The launch event, the promotional material, it’s all designed to grab attention.”
Izzy sighed; her frustration evident. “Nick, I appreciate the effort, but it feels like we’re missing the mark. My target market isn’t the mainstream crowd. They’re individuals who care deeply about sustainability and ethical fashion. This flashy, high-profile launch doesn’t align with their values.”
I raised an eyebrow, puzzled. “But we want to expand your brand and reach a broader audience. Isn’t that the goal? As your business partner who’s looking more into the business aspect of things, I think that should be our goal now.”
“It is, but not at the cost of compromising our principles,” she asserted, her eyes flashing with fervor. “The heart of EcoChic Couture lies in its commitment to eco-conscious practices. We need a launch that resonates with those who appreciate that.”
I felt frustrated. Neither of us wanted to give in to the other. I wasn’t used to being the one to back down, so it was hard for me to simply let her take the lead here. Besides, I was the more experienced one in business. Far more experienced and rather successful.
The clash of principles, passion, and business strategy echoed through the room until I began to feel exhausted. I wanted to take a break. This was going in the opposite direction of what I’d envisioned and planned.
Maybe I’m wrong to have used this meeting as an excuse to be with her. We should’ve done something fun or relaxing instead.
A knock came on the door then, which gave us the break that we needed from the discussion that was on the brink of another heated argument between us.
Catherine came in holding a huge and gorgeous bouquet of roses and other flowers. Shit, I’d forgotten about that.
She gave me an uncertain look as she came forward, but I motioned for her to hand it straight to Izzy.
“These are for you, Miss Isabelle Turner,” Catherine said formally.
Izzy gave her a puzzled look. “Uh, thank you. What’s it for? And who’s it from?”
Before Catherine could answer, I cut her off. “You may go back to your office, Catherine. I know you’ve still got a lot on your plate today.”
She gave us an awkward look but eventually nodded and left the room.
When I turned back to Izzy, she was already reading the card that had come with the flowers. Her gaze turned to me. It was a mixture of annoyance and surprise.
“Congratulations on the new collection? What’s this?”
“It’s that,” I answered nonchalantly.
She opened her mouth to say something else. Her face showed that she was about to protest, but fate had other plans. A series of knocks came, and Catherine’s head poked in with an apologetic expression on her face.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but there’s a client who urgently needs to speak to you, Mr. Hale.”
“Go ahead,” Izzy urged.
I nodded and stood up, reluctant to leave our little clash, a fusion of confusing emotions.