Modern Romance September 2018 Books 5-8. Heidi Rice

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СКАЧАТЬ Carter was already there, playing with the baby.

      “I’m dying to see Mercurio’s new spring collection,” said Genevieve Vincent, the stylist doing Tess’s hair, a friend of his. She smiled, tilting her head. “I’m sure you’ve already seen it, Stefano. What’s your honest opinion? I promise not to mention it in my blog—much.”

      “Sorry, Genevieve. I can’t discuss it,” Stefano said. “But it’s going to be amazing.”

      “Really? So you have seen it.” Genevieve looked hopeful. “Amazing, eh? Can I take that as a quote?”

      He hesitated. The truth was, Caspar von Schreck, his new designer, had refused to let Stefano see any of the designs in advance, saying it would interfere with his creative process. But the man had promised to send samples of the best dresses for Tess to wear to the big runway show tonight.

      The last thing Stefano needed was for rumors like “CEO tepid about new collection” to sink Mercurio’s new season before it even started. Praise seemed safe enough.

      “It’s wonderful,” he said firmly. “The whole world will be impressed. And, yes, quote me.”

      There was a hard knock at the door. The three of them looked at one another.

      “See, Stefano?” Tess said cheerfully. “You worried over nothing!”

      He heard his bodyguard in the foyer, answering the door. A moment later, Leon rolled in a large garment rack. The clothing was hidden by a thick canvas printed with the Mercurio logo of big block Ms.

      “Finally,” Stefano said under his breath. Hurrying forward, he yanked off the cover.

      His eyes went wide. Only three hangers, looking forlorn, hung from the enormous rack. He grabbed the first dress, hoping to be reassured that the new collection would be the success that Mercurio—and he—so desperately needed.

      But he couldn’t make sense of it. He looked at the first dress, then the next, then the last. All three dresses were an unattractive shade of beige, with ragged, asymmetrical hems and strangely placed cutouts on the hips and breasts that seemed to defy the bounds of decency.

      Genevieve stood beside him, her eyes wide. “Those are from Mercurio?”

      Stefano bared his teeth in a smile. “Very...innovative, aren’t they?”

      “Innovative?” Tess stood on the other side of him now, her lovely face incredulous. “Are you crazy?” She looked at the three dresses with increasing desperation. “They’re hideous!”

      She was speaking his greatest fear aloud.

      “Just choose one.” His voice was harsh. “And get dressed. I’ll check on the baby. Then we must go.”

      Stefano went down the hall, trying to keep calm. Outside the nursery door, he paused, taking several deep breaths, his hands clenched at his sides. His designer knew what he was doing. The man was widely in demand. Everyone had said Caspar von Schreck was the best.

      Obviously, Stefano must not understand the latest trends. And Tess and Genevieve didn’t, either.

      At least he prayed it was so. Or he was about to be humiliated. And when his conglomerate’s share price plummeted, he’d literally pay the price.

      Pushing the thought away, he smiled and went into the nursery. His baby daughter’s face lit up when she saw him.

      “Bah-bah!” she said, reaching for him.

      “Good evening, Your Highness,” the nanny said. “We were just reading a book.”

      “I see that.” Lifting Esme up in his arms, he hugged her, breathing in the sweet smell of the baby’s dark hair. His heart swelled with some emotion he didn’t recognize—pride? Yes. It had to be pride. “Buonanotte,” he whispered to her, then returned the baby to Ann Carter’s arms.

      As the nanny went back to reading a book about a duck and a truck, Stefano hesitated in the hallway. To his surprise, he almost wished he could stay. He wished he and Tess could be the ones to cuddle with Esme, and read her the story about the duck. Let Ann Carter go to the Mercurio show.

      But that was ridiculous. What was he thinking? Straightening the cuffs of his sleek black jacket, he checked his platinum cuff links and wondered which dress Tess had chosen to wear. Luckily his wife was so beautiful that she’d make even a washed-out, raggedy gown look good.

      When he came out of the hallway into the main room, he saw Genevieve packing up. Tess was ready, wrapped in a long black cape. He frowned.

      “So, which dress did you choose?”

      A determined look came over her beautiful face. “It’s a surprise.”

      “But you did find one.”

      “Yes, I did.” Her gaze was evasive. “I need to say good-night to Esme.”

      A moment later, they left his luxury apartment. Their bodyguard held an umbrella overhead to keep out the cold October drizzle, soft as mist. As their limousine drove them across Paris, Tess held her long cape carefully over her gown. She wouldn’t let Stefano see even an inch of it.

      She obviously desired to reveal her dress dramatically on the red carpet, he thought. It might have amused him if the stakes hadn’t been so high. After all, how much surprise was possible, really? One beige dress was very like another.

      Stefano looked out at the sparkling City of Light, thinking how important tonight’s event was, not just to Mercurio, but to him personally.

      If Caspar von Schreck’s new spring collection was a success, then Mercurio would flourish. Which meant the stock of Stefano’s parent company, Gioreale S.p.A, would rise. He’d be able to use it as collateral to make a new, higher offer to acquire Zacco from Fenella Montfort.

      But if tonight wasn’t a success...

      His hands tightened.

      It just had to be.

      Caspar von Schreck was the best, he repeated to himself. He was the hottest designer in the world. Everyone said so. How could it possibly fail?

      The limo finally pulled up in front of the glamorous palais where the Mercurio show was being held. With all the secrecy and buzz, it had become the most-anticipated event of Paris Fashion Week.

      The bodyguard opened his door. Buttoning his jacket, Stefano smoothed a confident smile over his features and stepped out.

      The rain had stopped. Crowds cheered, recognizing him. So far, so good. Giving the crowd a short wave, he turned back to Tess. As he helped his wife out of the limo and onto the red carpet, cameras flashed and reporters shouted questions.

      Ignoring them, Stefano looked down at his beautiful wife. He felt a flash of comfort. At least, no matter what, she was completely on his side.

      Looking nervous but determined, Tess lifted her chin, then dropped the long black cape onto the red carpet.

      Stefano’s jaw dropped as he saw her dress.

      Not СКАЧАТЬ