Page 12 of At Your Service
“Classy and retro. Not only will folk in the industry not have a clue who you are, they’re gonna fall over themselves trying to label your style. We’re gonna use this moment to set the stage for a whirlwind of different looks that will put you at the top of the fashion game.” Lila was obviously excited as she nodded her head, hair swaying over one shoulder.
For a moment Nina didn’t know who she was. This wasn’t why she’d come to New York. But it was beginning to be a hell of a lot of fun!
CHAPTER FIVE
“WHATAREYOUlaughing at?”
Major frowned as Maurice chuckled.
“You and this crazy situation you’ve gotten yourself into,” his brother responded.
“First, I didn’t get myself into this situation, it just happened.”
Maurice frowned now, his full brows tilting downward, which added a more ominous look to the thick beard he sported.
“You’re the one who suggested this tech woman become your fake fiancée.”
“Yeah, but I’m not the one who came up with the whole fake fiancée idea in the first place. Oh no, that was Desta’s brilliance, which you happily cosigned.” Major walked around the king-size four-poster in his room, trying his best to ignore the suit, shirt and tie that had been laid out neatly on one side of the mattress.
Maurice had left the office and followed him to his penthouse. For what reason, Major didn’t know. But considering what his brother was doing at this moment—lounging with one leg draped over the arm of a leather recliner across the room, staring at him and making irritating comments—he would assume his presence was meant to antagonize him to no end. If that were the case, he was doing a damn good job.
“We needed a plan, something that would grab the customer’s attention and keep it riveted on the Golden Bride line.”
Major shook his head as he yanked his shirt out of his pants before pulling it over his head and off. “And I look like the one to do that?”
“Your reputation—” Maurice started, but Major quickly cut him off.
“I’m not the one with a reputation, man. You know that’s all you. You’re the one who flaunts every affair you have. Hell, you pose for pictures for all those photographers and tabloid workers. You give them so much ammunition.”
“I wasn’t named the Fashion House Playboy. A snub, I might add, I’m still considering being salty about.” Maurice gave a fake pout.
Major tossed his shirt into the hamper a few feet away and sat heavily on the bed—his back to the clothes. “Those dates were a coincidence. And, actually, one was a favor to Mom and Dad. I couldn’t say anything about it because it would have embarrassed poor Hannah Lincoln, whose parents didn’t want her to go out in public alone because her jet-setting, race-car-driving boyfriend had just dumped her.”
Major’s head fell back and he groaned. He loved his mother above all else in this world, but if she ever called his cell phone and started the conversation with, “Hi, my favorite son,” again, he was hanging up on her. She’d made that sugary-sweet request for him to take Hannah out so she wouldn’t appear depressed and lonely over the breakup and he’d agreed.
Hannah had spent the entire evening talking about her ex and how she was being super strong and not crying over her ex, and how her ex was the love of her life, but how glad she was to be rid of her ex. It was a long and insufferable evening that had capped off the three-day stint earning him the ever so wonderful title in the fashion industry. The tabloids loved to take any snippet of information and run with it. That was their job, and while Major could totally respect someone being dedicated to a job, he didn’t have to like being caught up in it.
“But you still selected the woman to be your fake fiancée,” his twin pointed out.
“That, right there—” Major turned to see that his brother had grabbed a beer out of his refrigerator on his way to the room and was now twisting the top off so he could take a long swallow. After a shake of his head, he continued. “That’s the best part of this stupid stunt. At least she’s someone I have something in common with and won’t die of boredom or irritation from when I’m alone with her.”
“So you like her?”
Major blinked and then shook his head. “That’s not what I said. But yeah, I like that we’re both IT techies and that she’s smart and courageous enough to start her own business.” Thoughts of how their companies overlapped popped into his mind and Major instantly pushed them back.
“Like you did,” Maurice said.
Major leaned over and untied his Tom Ford leather sneakers, but he sat up before taking them off. “Yeah, like I did.”
Maurice was the only person in his family who knew about Brand Integrated. Being fraternal twins came with a certain amount of closeness that didn’t resonate with his other two siblings. And while he and Maurice weren’t constantly on the phone or, notwithstanding this present moment, sitting in each other’s bedroom talking the night away, he and Maurice told each other pretty much everything.
So when Major had started to feel a little itchy working solely for RGF, Maurice was the first to notice. And when Major confided in his brother about the idea for his new business venture, Maurice had stood firmly in his corner. As a matter of fact, Maurice hadn’t agreed with Major keeping his business a secret from the family. He believed that Major should be proud of himself and bold enough to step away from the Gold fashion house, especially considering none of the other siblings had been able to do that.
“You’ve signed the lease in the building, started hiring staff, and have your first marketing plan ready to roll out on day one. I’d say you’re set to do this,” Maurice said before taking another drink.
“Yeah, I am,” Major said. “But first, I’ve gotta get this fake wedding on a roll. After that, I’m out.”
“Not out,” Maurice said. “You’ll always be a Gold, no matter what building you walk into for work each day.”
