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.

me intently before saying, “I designed this costume, and this is my

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

to drag himself down for a chance to

already made up my mind to reject him, Dominic pulled out the big guns, threatening to undress me

stubborn insistence

never been to a fashion show in my life, let alone modeled

changed,

sending me out there?” I

“One.”

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

“Two.”

you can’t turn around and blame me

could utter “three,” I grabbed the

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

Zanetti, may I come in to

sure. Please come

but since this was Dominic’s creation, I wanted to take every precaution while

my head if I ruin

managed to put on

I saw myself in the mirror. Dominic’s a pretty amazing

much so that I

female staff busy arranging my skirt, I asked, “Does

by my question and smiled. “Do you mean Mr. Hartnell? He mainly

the final

my curiosity could be satisfied, Dominic was yelling at us to hurry

my skirt for me as we left

changed into a tailored black tuxedo. It looked

outfits, we looked like a couple ready

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

he thinks it looks horrendous? Would he accuse me of ruining his

it nice?” I asked

a few more minutes before saying, “It’s all right.