Page 124 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Once she sat again, she finally,finally, showed me what she’d been studying so intently. “Tell me more about this one.”
The moment I set eyes on the design, I couldn’t keep my lips from stretching into a wide smile. “I was in Spain recently. The mountains and vineyard were extremely inspiring.”
One stroke of my finger over the dress, and I was back at the Castilla, sitting on the balcony watching the sun dip behind the mountains. The memory was so vivid, I could smell the fresh air, the grapes… Zach.
It didn’t even shock me to realize that was where I wanted to be. Where I wanted to build my life. In Spain, at the Castilla. With Zach.
But unfortunately, that would always be nothing more than a daydream.
With that crushing realization, I forced my attention back to the present and a dream I could actually attain.
“I didn’t go to school for this,” I said to Aurulia. “I don’t have the qualifications the other applicants might have. But I have passion, determination, and drive. I’ll always strive to give you more than one hundred percent because this isn’t just a job or a stepping stone to something better.
“Mrs. DuBois… Aurulia, designing is as much a part of me as the air I breathe. It’s something I’m good at. And I believe with all my heart that I can become better under your guidance. But know this, if you tell me no today, I’ll be sad but I won’t give up.”
The moment the last word left my lips, an anvil lifted off my chest and I could finally take a few much-needed breaths.
It was time I started believing in myself as much as the people I cared about believed in me.
“You’re right.” Her voice finally sounded after a long moment. “There are people more qualified than you. In fact, I actually hired one of those people earlier today.”
My chest constricted. So tight, it verged on being painful. I always knew this was a long shot, but somewhere deep inside me, I’d hoped.
With a deep breath, I gathered my sketches and held out my hand to Aurulia. The fact that I wasn’t shaking like a leaf came as one hell of a surprise. “Thank you for seeing me and looking at my sketches.”
Her gaze flicked to my hand for a second, then she leaned back. Throwing her arm over the top of the couch, she crossed one leg over the other and tilted her head. “Leaving already?”
I drew my brows together. “You said you’d already hired someone.”
“But I didn’t say I wasn’t hiring you.”
My brain had a hard time keeping up, and apparently my limbs too, my arm limply falling into my lap. “I don’t understand.”
Aurulia chuckled softly. “Of course you don’t, you haven’t given me time to explain yet.” When I just stared at her, she went on. “You have a gift, Natalie. Few people can bring emotions out in a sketch. I saw that dress and I immediately wanted to be the bride wearing it. That’s a very rare talent. And something I can’t do.”
I was about to argue, but she quickly silenced me by thrusting her index finger toward the ceiling.
“Adding a bridal line to House of DuBois has always been part of the plan, I just haven’t found the right person to take lead on it.”
She leaned forward and clutched my hand. “Until today.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
Surely, she wasn’t saying… No, she couldn’t be. Could she?
“I’m offering you a job.” Aurulia’s fingers squeezed mine, and she laughed. “If you want it.”
“Of course I do!” The words came out too loud and way too pitchy. Clapping my hands over my mouth, I shook my head. “I’m so sorry.”
Aurulia laughed some more. “Don’t be. I want excitement and glee from my employees.” She pushed to her feet and held out her hand. “Allow me to be the first to welcome you to the DuBois family.”
Smacking my palm against hers, I got up, too. “Thank you so much, Mrs. DuBois.”
This was all so incredible. We spent another hour going through what she expected of me and when she wanted me to start.
By the time we were done, I all but bounced out of the building. My heart was so happy and so full. And I was bursting at the seams to tell someone. Unable to stand still, I shifted from one foot to the other as I retrieved my phone from my pocket.
I’d just unlocked the screen when a firm hand clamped down on my elbow.
