Love the Second Time Around

Chapter 67 Pushed Into The Spotlight

Dominic slung an arm around my waist and pulled me into his embrace. He whispered, “The costume for the finale.”

About three seconds later, I asked, “You’re letting me wear the final design? What about the model? What’s she going to wear?”

He chuckled and replied, “Liliana, you really should be adding more brain foods to your diet. You’re taking forever as always to connect the dots. Since you’re wearing the costume, doesn’t that make you the model?”

I was about to retort his backhanded jibe when the word “model” struck me dumb.

And indeed, I was silent for a while before I fully understood the implications of his words.

“Dominic, are you making me take the runway? Now’s not the time for jokes. It’s fine if it’s only my reputation at stake, but I don’t want to ruin someone’s hard work and the entire fashion show to boot!”

I stared at Dominic like he was deranged, wondering if he was the one who should be checking out brain foods.

It was not a sense of misguided humility that had me denying his request but a fair assessment of my actual talents.

Walking a runway? That’s absurd.

“Do I look like I’m making a joke right now?” Dominic arched a brow and asked calmly.

I heaved a long sigh. “I can’t do this. If this is your way of pranking me, there are way more appropriate occasions for that. Modeling is beyond me.”

My brain was blank save for one thought – Dominic was definitely trying to embarrass me.

Soon enough, the staff who had left to retrieve the costume returned with a garment bag in hand.

Dominic took the garment bag from the staff and inspected the dress. Satisfied, he dropped the dress in my arms.

“Get changed.”

His tone left no room for argument, and I felt like I was about to dissolve into tears.

“I’m not getting changed! Like I said earlier, it’s not only my reputation at stake. I can’t be responsible for ruining other people’s hard work.” I draped the dress carefully over a nearby chair and stood my ground.

stared at me intently before saying, “I designed this costume, and this is my fashion show. You’re not messing things up

mind was running wild. “Why on earth would you have me wear this,

going to drag himself down for a chance to denigrate

to reject him, Dominic pulled out the big guns, threatening to undress me himself if I

stubborn insistence

never been to a fashion show in my

three seconds. Get changed, or

regret sending me out there?” I

“One.”

attempt to dissuade him. “Dominic, you need to think things through. I could

“Two.”

you can’t turn around and blame

utter “three,” I grabbed the dress and dashed

had gotten undressed, I heard a woman’s voice from outside the dressing

may I come in to assist you with

sure. Please

in front of others was uncomfortable, but since this was Dominic’s

might come after my head if I ruin

help, I managed to put on the masterpiece, which happened to be a wedding

help but sigh when I saw myself

a glove, so much so that I almost thought that he might have designed it

female staff busy arranging my skirt, I asked, “Does he specialize in

you mean Mr. Hartnell? He mainly designs

is the final piece

could be satisfied, Dominic was yelling at us to hurry

my skirt for me as we left the dressing room in

into a tailored black tuxedo. It looked like

a couple ready to head to the

who had been with me earlier had nothing but praise for how I looked in the gown. Under Dominic’s scrutiny, though, insecurity

he thinks it looks horrendous? Would he accuse me

nice?” I

a few more minutes before saying, “It’s all right. The gown is the true