Laliana was a wizard. A wonderful magical wizard. By being in her presence, my entire story had changed in a matter of hours. My image had transformed overnight. Pictures of us together had consumed the internet. Showcasing us as best friends. Images of us laughing together as we left my office, eating pizza together on the lifeguard tower, splashing our toes in the ocean waves. We were suddenly a duo of girl power that was sparking headlines about female empowerment. The hashtags #Alliana and #SeasonGirls had taken Twitter by storm, trending for hours, and pushing all my bad press off the first page of 'Allie Winters' Google searches.
The same gossip columns that had been trashing me for days were suddenly applauding me for being a beacon of female friendship. It was stupidly dense. Irritating in how quickly they changed their story to accommodate a trend. I hate them all.
And my popularity only grew when the images of my clothing photoshoot with Tate, showcasing our new fashion line finally went public as I walked into work the next morning. I spotted an uptick in business as I entered the building. Employees running around, organizing first-day orders. Even though the numbers weren't in for our next set of sales yet, it made me proud knowing we were doing well.
Dillan, one of the members of my sales team, came rushing at me like a fire had broken out behind him. "ALLIE!" He gasped, screeching to a halt at my side.
"Hello, Dillain. Why do you look more terrified than usual this morning?"
When I didn't stop walking, he scrambled after me, falling into step with me. Dillain ran his thin, lanky fingers through his thick ginger locks, shoving his glasses up his nose, back into place. "Well... good news mostly, I promise. Just complicated news really. Everything is technically fine. I just... well it's a bit muchâ"
"Dillain, jump to the actual news part," I said, walking into my office with a spring in my step.
"Right! Well, our sales numbers are the highest they have ever been for launch day, which is great but..."
I dropped my purse on my desk, allowing myself a smile. Take that Laurence! Who's only worth 10 thousand dollars now?!? You and your ugly socks, that's who!
My phone chimed, and I checked the screen while I waited for Dillain to collect his wits.
LALIANA: Reason #1 of the You Should Date Tate List: If you two get married, we'd be cousins in law! That's a thing right?!?
I hid a blush, and typed out a quick response.
ME: Pretty sure that is in fact NOT a thing.
Her response was instant.
LALIANA: Let's make it a thing! #ALLIANA #SEASONGIRLS
ME: I'm going to ignore you now.
LALIANA: FINE! I'll leave you alone until tomorrow when I drop my next reason. BYEEEE!
I hid a smile, clearing my throat as I tucked my phone back into my pocket.
"But?" I pressed, looking back up at Dillain who seemed to be sweating. I needed to know what the catch to the good sales news actually was. Nothing seemed to just be good these days.
"But the orders are more than we can handle. And well, it's going to break our servers, and we don't have enough manpower to fill all the orders..."
I glanced out my office door and for the first time registered the level of chaos as my employees sprinted around, trying to keep up. Oh crap. Yay... but oh crap.
The song, Make a Man Out of You, suddenly played in my head as I transferred into EPIC BOSS MODE. It was time to get a crapload done.
...
The photoshoot images were all over magazines and billboards, and thanks to a supportive post on Laliana's Instagram and Twitter pages, several different couple hashtags sparked, inspiring the images of Tate and me in Winters clothes to spread all over the internet. The orders for Winters outfits were the biggest in history, leaving my team scrambling to get the orders ready.
Couples wanted to dress up as the badass duo that had worked together to trounce my ex-boyfriend. How the tables had turned...
Winters was now in chaos as a surprising number of clothing orders came pouring in, growing higher each hour. And by the end of the day, I had my staff on full rotation. They came in at random hours to keep orders moving. Each of their salaries got a nice bump to compensate for the influx of overtime, and my office floor was now constantly busy with people working twenty-four hours a day.
It felt like Santa's workshop... if Santa's workshop was filled with fashionable clothing choices and no squeaky hammer noises.
I started sleeping at my office, needing every free moment to keep things moving. And after a week of clambering to get larger and larger orders of our clothes ready to ship, and falling asleep mid-conference call, I finally cracked, hiring on more staff and a new assistant.
It was surreal. Exciting and terrifying. Because now if everything tanked, it would be a much larger fall. A public failure. One I refused to have.
I had barely left my office building in days and it was starting to show in my repeat outfit choices, my wrinkled clothes, and the purple bags under my eyes that were starting to become stronger than any set of makeup concealer could hide.
The bright side of it all was how little time I had to overthink things.
I didn't have time to storm into Laurence Royal's office in a rage when he sent a bouquet of flowers, congratulating me on my uptick in business. But I did throw the roses away in front of Susanâ just to see her reaction. Which I know was mean, but made me laugh.
I didn't have time to panic when Tate had a bowl of ramen anonymously delivered every day from my favorite ramen shop. There was no note, but I knew it was him. It was too insanely kind and all-knowing for it to be anyone else.
I didn't have time to be flustered to death when Laliana sent me a daily text, each one with a reason why I should date Tate. Instead, our daily texts bloomed into friendly banter. A stress reliever when I was up to my eyeballs in fabric.
On day twelve of what I had begun to call, Winters chaos, my phone chimed, pulling me out of a power nap I was taking at my desk. Wiping the drool from my face, and rubbing a mark the keyboard left behind on my cheek, I spotted a text from Laliana.
LALIANA: Reason #12 of the You Should Date Tate List: Your babies would be beautiful!
I snorted, sending off a quick text, no longer phased by her ridiculousness.
ME: I regret giving you my number...
LALIANA: SURE... You'd block me by now if you actually had an ounce of regret.
ME: Don't tempt me.
LALIANA: Fine! I'll behave... Until tomorrow, when I tell you about how you are both great and should get together because that much greatness is meant to be shared!
LALIANA: (Sorry for the spoiler...)
ME: Bye.
LALIANA: *WAVING EMOJI* Have fun at the Masquerade tonight! I know your plus one is gonna love it!
I checked the time, kicking myself for nearly forgetting the event altogether. 3:45 pm. Crap! I really should get on a better sleep schedule.
Another text popped up on screen.
LALIANA: You forgot all about the Masquerade Fashion show thingy didn't you...
I scoffed, irritated that I was so predictable. I was suddenly thankful that I had finished my dress a while back. I had all but forgotten about the event over the last week.
ME: Maybe...
LALIANA: I knew you would! You are welcome for the reminder :)
I laughed.
ME: Thanks. My life is a mess right now.
LALIANA: A beautiful mess that is deserving of a VERY nice boyfriend with a name that rhymes with GREAT! *Cough Cough* It's Tate... Great rhymes with Tate.
ME: Save your poetry for your text tomorrow. Bye.
LALIANA: Okay, now I am going to go write an entire love ballad for you two. Beware. MUAHAHA! BYEEEE!
Pulling my masquerade dress box from its hiding place in my office, I tucked it under my arm and bolted for the front office doors. Shoving the giant box in the back of my car, I drove home in a mad dash, took a shower, downed two cups of coffee, hoping it would help me stay awake, and added on more makeup than I ever had in my life to hide how bone-tired I was.
Then after working my hair into a set of intricate curls that fell down my back and shoulders, I finally put on my beautiful intricate ballgown.
Black lace covered the deep red dress, creating the illusion of bright embers sparkling brightly in a dying fire. The top was cut to look like flower petals weaving across the bodice. There were no straps, giving the top clean lines. My dark hair looked like curls of smoke, finishing off the illusion of fire licking across my body.
The waist pulled in before flaring out below the hips, creating a beautiful hourglass shape hiding my choice of flats. I loved high heels, but in a dress this large, I would take every advantage I could get. And I didn't feel up to my signature choice of power heels today.
Pulling on a set of black lace gloves that pulled up past my elbows, I stared down at the masquerade mask that a mysterious 'admirer' had sent me to wear. I sighed, taking a moment to think. To wear it... or not to wear it... that is the question.
I hadn't finished my own mask and it was a masquerade ball which required a mask to attend. But... I didn't want to encourage this admirer's creepy behavior by wearing the mask like a love charm for everyone to see. After a moment of deliberation, I tucked the mask into my dress pocket, relenting. The mask didn't need to mean anything. It was just something I needed to keep up the masquerade facade. It's fine. Don't overthink it.
My doorbell rang, sending excited butterflies through my stomach. That was the effect of fancy events. It left you nervous and excited because you were showcasing the most dressed-up version of yourself, and when that happened, a small part of you believed that something magical could and hopefully would happen. You felt beautiful, so for one night, you started to believe the world was beautiful too.
Pushing away the jitters, I glided to the door and opened it to find my plus one beaming at me.
"Hey!" Iz said with breathless excitement.
She wore a similar dress to mine. Black lace covered a mermaid-style red dress with hints of glitter hidden underneath the lace, making it spark when the light caught it just right.
When I had learned I was allowed to bring a guest, and Laliana turned me down, expressing how little she would enjoy dressing up and being stared at for hours, she suggested I bring Iz.
And based on the excited look on her face as she twirled, showing off a dress of her own design, paying tribute to mine, I knew it was the right decision. Her black hair spilled down her shoulders and back, making us look like fashionable twins. She wore simple a black lace mask, that matched the smokey eyeshadow she wore.
"ALLIE!" She gasped. "You look beautiful!"
I smiled back at her posing for fun. "Thank you! So do you! Your dress is incredible. I demand that you intern with me, if you ever wantâ"
"YES!" she replied cutting me off with an excited squeak. "Of course! I would love to!" Iz cleared her throat and lowered her voice, wringing her gloved fingers together. "I mean. Yeah. That would be cool at a very normal volume."
I spotted Aiden out in the hall, leaning against the wall, a sour expression on his face that screamed that he wanted to be anywhere else but here. Unfortunately, Grumpy Dalton was part of the package. He had insisted on driving us to the event, stating that he... 'refused to let Iz within a mile of a place with so many toxic unstable fashionistas without a pair of sane eyes watching things.'
After reluctantly confirming with the venue that we were allowed to bring a bodyguard, Aiden was granted a pass to join us as our crabby shadow. Yippie...
"Ready to go?" I asked, ushering Iz out into the hall and closing the door behind us.
"YES!" Iz shouted, giving my hand a squeeze as she pulled me towards the elevator. "Let the magical night begin!" She burst into giggles as a grumpy shadow trailed behind us.
...
The car was filled with two kinds of energy as we drove towards the Getty Museum where the Los Angeles Fashion Fall event was being held. Iz bubbling with excitement, chatting up a storm while she gazed dreamily out the window, and Aiden silent while he drove, looking uncomfortable with the entire situation.
I felt caught in between them, sensing two warring factions of energy. Aiden's brooding levels felt off the charts in the dark evening light. Shadows crossed his features, before slices of streetlights cut across his face, revealing a furrow of concern, betraying what looked like a neutral expression in the dark.
His brow seemed to furrow deeper and deeper, his fingers clenching the wheel tighter and tighter as we took the final long uphill incline towards the Getty Museum that sat on top of a mountain overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows of the museum were brightly lit, showcasing an elaborate event inside that had already begun. It felt like driving up to an enormous modern-day castle.
Aiden pulled the car up to the waiting valet, cameras flashing wilding in anticipation. I couldn't hear anything over the sound of my own breathing which sounded like Darth Vader. Iz squealed as our door was opened and she clambered out, forgetting to be graceful.
As I followed suit, Aiden was suddenly at my side, one arm looping around Iz's to keep her from bolting off ahead.
"Try not to get lost," Aiden said quietly, his sharp eyes moving over the crowd of photographers as if looking for an underlying threat.
"I'm fine Aiden," Iz said, eyes on the beautiful outfits further ahead of us.
"You don't have to keep your sister on a leash," I muttered, irritated that he was going to ruin her fun.
Aiden's eyes snapped to mine. "I am trying to keep her safe," he hissed quietly.
I barely kept my eyeballs from releasing an eye-roll. "Nothing is going to happen to her Aiden. It's just a fancy event with fancy clothes. Something she really likes."
We slowly moved towards the red carpet, waiting for our turn to pose before the cameras. Aiden spoke softer, his voice taking on an edge. "Unless you are willing to promise me that you can keep my baby sister safe, I am sticking to her like glue." A flash of pain filled his expression. "I can't... I am not messing this up Winters."
My irritation fizzled, replaced with understanding. He had nearly lost Tate and Laliana in a car crash when Laliana's popularity had grown to terrifying heights. And I had asked his sister to a high-profile event where she was going to be thrust into the spotlight. No wonder he was so utterly terrified.
"Aiden," I murmured, pulling him to a stop. "I promise to keep an eye on her. I promise to keep her safe. But you need to promise to let her have some fun tonight, okay? Maybe start with letting her walk on her own?"
Aiden stared me down, searching my face. I stared back at him from behind my mask, determined to gain Iz an inch of freedom.
We were next in line to move in front of the cameras to pose in our outfits. Iz peered up at Aiden, a pleading look on her face. "Please Aiden."
His resolve melted, and after a long pause, he slowly unlooped his arm from hers. "Okay."
Then I watched Iz move in front of the cameras, her face beaming as she posed in her beautiful handmade dress, head tilted back with pride as she showcased her work. This was her moment, but all I could see was Aiden's face. A mixture of pride and terror warring across his features.
I was in for a long night ahead. And a secret admirer was the least of my concerns.
An unwanted question filled my mind as I took my turn in front of the cameras. The flashes washed away Aiden's look of fear and replaced it with sparks of white light that washed everything away into a blur. And all that was left was the question I didn't want to give voice to...
If something were to really happen, would I be able to act fast enough to keep Iz safe?
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Thank you for reading chapter thirty-six! I hope you are enjoying the story! Or are at least curious to see where it goes! Add this story to your reading list to know when the next chapter drops!
UPDATE DAYS - A NEW CHAPTER EVERY FRIDAY!
Aiden is super protective of Iz. Does he have a reason to be worried?
Will Allie and Iz have a good time?
Will Aiden loosen up and have fun too?
How will meeting Allie's secret admirer go? Will it be someone she knows or someone she's never met?
What is Tate up to during all this?!? Will he crash the party?
What will happen next?
CHAPTER QUESTION - Have you ever gone to a fancy event? Maybe a school dance or dressed up for fun and gone somewhere? What did you wear? And how was it?