Page 74 of Flare

But it was all worth it to see the hungry expression on Rhys’s face when I came out of the dressing room wearing his design. He’d adjusted himself while muttering something about the benefits of expanding his size range, and I’d had to kiss that shit-eating smirk right off his face.

As Jack continued to prowl the racks, my phone buzzed and Rhys’s name flashed on the screen. Speak of the devil.

“Red Rover to Hansel and Gretel. Are you in position?”

I snorted and walked away from where the sales assistant continued to lurk, no doubt sensing a sale. “Idiot. And yes, we’re pretending to shop. Well, Jack is. Apparently, I suck at this secret-squirrel shit. I’ve had more eye-rolls directed my way in the last few minutes than during the entire pop quiz I gave him on sex and safety when he first arrived to stay with me.”

Rhys laughed. “You gave him a pop quiz?”

“Hey, I had to know what I was dealing with. The last thing our family needs is an unexpected baby on top of everything else.”

“True. Let me know when you find something. I don’t want to believe Kip’s theory, but it makes too much fucking sense. And if he’s right, you know you’re gonna have to hold me back from strangling her with one of her own designs, slowly and really fucking painfully, got it?”

The joking tone belied the betrayal I knew was eating Rhys alive. He still struggled to believe his old mentor was capable of what she’d already done, and he was terrified what we might find and what it might mean for his business.

“You’ll have to get in line for that particular pleasure, although I suspect Kip might beat both of us to it and probably do a better job.”

“This is true. And definitely the more painful option. I like the way you think.”

I caught sight of Jack waving me over. “Hang tight. It looks like Jack found something.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. Anyway, I’m gonna hang up and try to avoid being noticed while I video what he’s found and send it to you. Text Jack if you need me to go back over anything.”

“Will do.”

By the fury on Jack’s face, I knew Kip’s waggling antenna had been right. Gloria hadn’t stopped with just one design. Kip had already found another two pieces in her online store—a linen jersey and a shirt—almost exact copies of designs Rhys had recently added to Flare’s store. They were designed to work together with a retro grunge vibe. The speed of the copy meant she either had a source in Rhys’s manufacturing process or had somehow seen the finished design or the sample in his studio.

Gloria’s rip-offs differed only in the prints used on the fabric itself. Rhys had commissioned original art from an Auckland street artist, whereas Gloria had used a cheap generic print. She’d also replaced the front buttons with a zip, but the overall effect was almost exactly the same, but priced at three hundred and fifty dollars cheaper. Bitch.

Kip’s theory was that there had to be more where those came from, hence our undercover mission. Neither Kip nor Rhys could set foot in Mennz without being instantly recognised. That left me and Jack. Jack, because at least he knew something about fashion and what Rhys’s designs looked like, whereas I knew... yeah, enough said.

“What have you found?” I stood back and pretended to consider the shirt Jack held up against his chest.

“Can I be of assistance?”

I jumped at the voice and almost dropped my phone, juggling it to safety as I turned to find the assistant looking me over like an interesting specimen.

“That’s a Flare shirt, right?” He lightly fingered the collar of my blue shirt. “He does nice work, if a little expensive.”

I almost jerked away, unused to having my clothes touched by perfect strangers. “Ah, yes, it is. And yes, he does. And also, you get what you pay for. Fashion is a reflection of personal choice, right, and you can’t put a price on creativity.”

Jack turned a striking shade of ‘are you fucking kidding me’ puce and almost choked on his tongue while I prayed I’d remembered to mute the sound on the video that was still running in my hand because... Never. Ever. Gonna. Live. That. Down.

“True.” The assistant’s gaze heated enough to make me squirm. “So, what are you looking for today?”

Certainly not you, buster.

Jack got himself under control and answered before I could embarrass him further. “My uncle’s here to bankroll me into something for my senior leaver’s dance. Hauraki College.” Jack rattled off the name of one of the country’s leading and most eye-wateringly expensive private schools.

The sales assistant immediately produced a shark-like grin and I could almost see his hands rub together with glee. “Well, there’s certainly been a lot of attention on our new spring range. Perhaps I can show you something.”

“Maybe later.” Jack shot the man a bored look and I almost laughed. The kid was seriously good. “I’ll wander on my own first.”

“Of course.” The assistant’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Let me know if you need any help.”

When he was gone, I clapped Jack on the shoulder. “You should consider a career in theatre. That was impressive.”

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