Page 26 of Say It Isn't So

I could tell when he came across the name Rina Levana, because he furrowed his brows. “Not much, actually. There wasn’t much I could find online about her.”

Who isn’t online these days?I raised a brow and turned to look at him. “It’s funny, that name—Rina. I couldn’t help but think ofyourRina.”

He leaned back again and I immediately wished there was something else I could show him that would make him come close again. I supposed I should have just thanked my lucky stars we were even sharing this ride given the amount of time it had been since we last saw one another.

He shook his head. “She’s not mine. Not anymore. And don’t say her name too loud, she might hear you.”

He couldn’t be serious. Laughing, I smacked his arm beside me. “Stop it! Seriously, you didn’t think about her when you saw that name? How could you not?”

He pulled my laptop to his lap. “The last name is different, and when I searched this Rina back in New York, all I found was that she’s a redhead with a wicked fashion sense.” He passed it back to me with the screen up to an article—the only article mentioning Levana apparently.

I scanned it. “Hmm. . . interesting. Well, I guess it’s not her.” It couldn’t have been. Rina Blum wanted to be a fashion designer, but the similarities ended there. That answered that then. I shut my screen and slipped it back in my bag.

“Thankfully,” he remarked and turned to look out the window.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help myself, I watched him from the corner of my eye again and laughed. This was the Knox I’d missed, the easygoing guy. This was why I wasn’t prepared to let him go his own way. Not yet.

Chapter Eight

Rina

london, united kingdom

Countdown to show: 45 minutes

Not everyone wasso lucky to have their dreams come true; some people worked their entire lives to get nowhere. That was why I’d practically clawed my way to where I was now. I wasn’t going to let that be my fate.

It didn’t help that the fashion industry was especially cut-throat. I’d heard everything you could imagine while working my way up.

Quit while you’re ahead.

It’s not going to get any easier.

Not everyone makes it.

You may not have what it takes.

No one would blame you if you went back to where you came from.

The big break you’re looking for may not be in your future.

Don’t worry, you can always be a model, you’re pretty enough.

It was all always there, in my head, taunting me, but today it became background noise. Because today I was officially standing behind the scenes at my very own presentationin London. That was right,I was presenting my designs to the media, buyers, and the public. All the haters could bite my butt. Hard. I got farther than most people did and definitely farther than people thought I would. And in record time. So they could take their commentary and cruel words and stick it where the sun didn’t shine.

I was presentingdesigns from my new Spring/Summer collection.

In case you missed it, I didn’t do anything in a small way, so this collection was going to feel like a sucker punch—like it came out of nowhere.

One year ago, I’d launched my namesake luxury ready-to-wear and accessories brand. With a refreshing blend of bold femininity and modern sophistication, my designs were defined by asymmetrical lines, glamorous prints, and impeccable tailoring.

I was proud of everything I’d accomplished, but showing during fashion week was the next step. I wasn’t looking to take baby steps, but make big, bold leaps, so it felt only right. And choosing to make my debut in London was not happenstance.

IchoseLondon.

Well, I supposed you could say London chose me.

I’d wanted to debut where self-expression, creativity, and confidence were next level. Where looking hot didn’t matter, but what was truly coveted was looking the most intriguing, the boldest. That was London.

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