Page 84 of Sweet Surrender
How Nash knew Dominique was one of my favorite designers, I hadno clue, but I’d long since given up guessing how Nash knew so much about me.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, quickly shaking my head, and grabbing herhand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”
Dominique’s smile grew. “It is always an honor to meet my fans.”
I stared at her for a few seconds. She was even prettier in real lifethan she was in the magazines I’d seen her in. Nash squeezed my hand again, and it was only when his eyes dropped to where I had Dominique’s clasped in mine, I realized I was still shaking her hand.
My cheeks heated in embarrassment, and I let go.
“I’ll leave you ladies to talk,” Nash said, giving my hip a squeezebefore turning away.
Panic rushed through me as I watched him disappear into the crowd.I turned back to look at Dominique, and all coherent thoughts vanished from my brain.
What the hell was I meant to say to her?
Thankfully, she put me out of my misery. “Nash has told me lots aboutyou.”
“Oh. I didn’t know you two were friends,” I replied, wondering how aFrench fashion designer and an American casino owner’s paths crossed.
“We met a few years back, here in Vegas, actually. He helped me outof a situation,” she replied, answering my unspoken question.
“Oh.”
“He gave me your sketchbooks to look over,” Dominique said,dropping an unexpected bomb.
My mouth fell open as all the air rushed out of my lungs and my heartplummeted to my stomach. “He…he gave you my sketchbooks?” I replied weakly, feeling the blood drain from my face.
I always thought my designs were good, but notDominique Chèrongood.
“You did not know?” she replied, raising a perfectly sculptured brow inquestion.
I shook my head, disbelief gripping me so tightly that I couldn’tform the word.
She chuckled before shaking her head in amusement. “It does notsurprise me. Nash has his own way of doing things.”
I gaped at her like a moron. She seemed to know an awful lot aboutNash, and I couldn’t help but wonder what situation occurred for them to become acquainted, and then a thought occurred to me.
Had they slept together?
Not seeming to notice my insecurities coming out to play, Dominiquetook a sip of her champagne before continuing. “He asked me if I would take a look at your sketchbooks, and consider taking you on in my employ,” she said, shocking the absolute shit out of me yet again.
I think for the millionth time, my jaw dropped open. “Oh...erm…right,”I stuttered, certain Dominique thought I was nothing but an idiot.
“It would not be my usual practice to take someone on just bylooking at their designs. I’m sure you understand,” she continued. “I have a very rigid process, and high expectations of designers who want to work for me and my company.”
“Yes, of course,” I said, feeling my cheeks turn a deeper shadeof crimson.
What the hell had Nash been thinking? He couldn’t randomly askpeople to look at my designs and expect them to take a chance on me. Hell, I hadn’t even gotten through my first year in college, let alone graduated with any form of qualification in design.
“But Nash reminded me that I owed him a favor,” Dominique said, afond smile gracing her face as she looked over my shoulder to where Nash had disappeared. A wave of jealousy ran through me, but I pushed it away before her gaze returned to me again. “So I looked at your designs.”
My heart began racing in my chest as my palms grew clammy. Theroom around me felt like it was closing in, and my dress was suddenly too tight, making it hard to breathe. I waited for her to put me out of my misery, and tell me that I would never make the grade to work for her but she didn’t say anything.
“And?” I whispered when the tension became too unbearable tostand.
“And I shall tell you the same as I told Nash. Non, I will not employyou,” she said bluntly, crushing my hopes and dreams to ashes in an instant.
My eyes dropped to the floor as the euphoria I’d been riding allevening died a quick but excruciatingly painful death.
