CHAPTER 77

MELANIE.

THIS COULDN'T BE HAPPENING.

My heartbeat seemed to slow for a second, then started to work double time. Bennett was looking at me expectantly, waiting for a reaction. I opened and closed my mouth a few times, unsure of what to say or how to say it in the least offensive way.

What I did know is that there was no way I was walking that runway in some sort of dress while hundreds of people took photos, which would definitely end up splashed all over social media. I still hadn't resolved Taylor's issue, which was why I was here in the first place, and I wasn't going to add to it.

“Well?” Bennett urged. I placed a hand on his arm.

“Bennett, it's sweet that you would do something like this for me and I appreciate the gesture, but I don't think it's a good idea”. I said hesitantly, watching as his face fell and feeling like I'd just kicked a puppy.

“It took a lot of persuasion to get the opening for you. I thought you would like it. What's the matter? Stage fright?” he asked. I felt more terrible than ever, but I couldn't tell him why I didn't want to, so I forced a smile.

“Yes, something like that.”

He smiled again, “Well, you have nothing to be afraid of. Henri's collection this season involves these dramatic masks”.

Huh. That uncomplicates things a bit. After thinking about it for a few seconds, I smiled at him.

“Let’s go wear some dresses made by a snooty gay French man”, I said.

He laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me in the direction of the building whose doors were wide open.

“You just stereotyped a man based on his name alone. The scary part is you're mostly right”, he mused.

“Of course I am”. I replied, patting my hair with a superior look on my face.

Bennett laughed again as we entered the building and he led me off to the right. The whole space was divided into sections for the different designers and we walked into the one with ‘Henri’ flashing in big bold letters over the entrance.

Inside was the definition of chaos. People ran around holding lengths of fabric or makeup or equipment, some even had pins in their mouths or balanced boxes on their heads as they worked with their hands.

Standing in the middle was a tall lean man barking out orders and consulting his iPad every five seconds. Bennett walked us over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and narrowed his eyes at Bennett.

“You’re fifteen seconds late. I will not let anyone affect the integrity of my show. Did you bring the girl?”, he snapped out in accented English.

Bennett just pointed at me in reply and Henri's violet eyes moved over me assesingly.

“Good height, but could use some heels. Form isn't bad either. Toned muscles, but curvy. Good, good”. He walked around me like I was an animal he intended to purchase, then grabbed my face, turning my head left then right.

“Excellent bone structure. Her hair could use some work, but she'll do. What's your name?” He asked the first direct statement since we got here.

“Melanie” was my reply. He released me and clapped his hands and a person holding a clipboard suddenly appeared.

“Marie, this is the model for the ombres et masques collection. See to it that she's ready on time”. With that he turned his back, effectively dismissing us. Marie gave me an anxious smile and gestured us over to the makeup station.

There were three high chairs and about six makeup artists fluttering from one side to the other.

Marie stood behind one chair on which a woman sat with two artists working on her and cleared her throat.

“Miss, your fellow showstopper has arrived”, she said in her delicate voice.

“About time, although coming in a few minutes late is a sure way to make an entrance. I like her already”, a dreadfully familiar voice said.

She rose up from her seat and turned, confirming my suspicions. It was just my luck. The stars had decided I didn't deserve alignment, because there was no other logical reason why Taylor was standing in front of me with the same shock I felt mirrored in her eyes.

“Well well, if it isn't Miss ‘Not a chance in hell’. What are you doing here?”, Taylor sneered. I quickly got over the initial shock; I had as much right to be here as she did and I owed her nothing.

“I didn't have anything against coming here. I just didn't want to come here with you”, I said bluntly.

“Damn, isn't that Taylor Anderson? You guys know each other?”

Bennett whispered to me but I didn't reply; my eyes were fixed on Taylor and the phone hanging loosely from her hand.

“Who did you come with then?” she asked, her gaze sliding to Bennett beside me.

I saw her eyes light up with interest and fought the urge to pull him behind my back.

“Hey there, handsome” she purred.

Bennett looked like he didn't quite know what to do. He was my brother, but I had to admit he looked freaking adorable when he was shy.

“Hey”, he finally replied with a smile. Taylor stuck her phone in a back pocket and moved closer to him to engage him in conversation, efficiently erasing my existence. As they talked, I realized that this was a perfect opportunity. Everyone was occupied with something, and no one took notice of me, which was just how I liked it.

I casually moved until I was behind Taylor, then grabbed her phone and pocketed it before slinking off, making sure to grab a roll of tape and a container of powder.

I looked around until I found a relatively empty space and moved to it. I only had a few minutes so I had to do this quickly.

I sprinkled a bit of the powder over the fingerprint sensor and applied a small strip of tape, breathing out a sigh of relief when a mostly clear fingerprint appeared. I opened the phone and went over to her Instagram. I quickly scanned the list of people who had engaged with her post of my photo and after satisfying that nobody relevant had seen it, I deleted the post.

A weight seemed to lift off my chest as I did so. I returned back to them as quietly as I'd left, but instead of trying to put the phone back in her pocket, I called her attention and held it out.

“It was almost falling out of your back pocket. You should keep it somewhere safer”, I said helpfully with a bright smile.

She snatched it and eyed me suspiciously but she was too engrossed with my brother to pay me much attention. I watched the girl who had all but declared war on me over Jordan giggle and twirl her hair and make eyes at another man, and shook my head. I knew she didn't really love him like she claimed but loved the idea of possessing him, but this was just sad.

I left them to their devices and got my hair and makeup done. I felt like a different person, especially when I put on the first dress in deep red and the intricate mask in the same color. I felt mysterious and powerful. With the rough days I'd had, it was exactly what I needed.