Claudette Reed

ini

ver come across. She seemed ruthless, and

could tell that she was going to be a complete pain in

ng her workspace, I was just curious how far

nch my lips together to keep from laughing. The embarrassment that I saw then was the

told my driver as

he would be intimidated by me and run off, but she didn’t. She su

paparazzi as I took a good long look at it. The windows were all t

rocess. I worked on the top floor mainly, where meetings and more office work were done. I

on, but I don’t dare to use a machine. When it comes to steady hands, I lack them, and

expanded across the country and even gone international these last few years in Italy, Fr

eting, Mr. Knight?” as

going to partner wit

said the name like it

is in financial cri

a few drinks that one of his clients was threatening bankruptcy, then Stepha

drew together. “

giving her money. No, I’m going to make the “Baddest Bitch in Fashion” wor

ing this just

want something from her. The fun of m

that you wan

s across my torso as I looked

ation, “You know you can g

rom anywhere. I want h

r you sa

eel and left my offi

ephanie Greene mine, even

to pay an unexpected visit to Steph

ken my entire building and turned it all into a single floor. I fo

hair and a stack of fabrics asked

anie G

ce. I’ll go tell h

Dominic

rned crimson red, “Oh, you’re… right

possible to get Stephanie, wh

my first name yesterday. I’m not entirely used to people greeti

e,” I smi

ed surprise. What

studio and discuss s

els. If I didn’t have my contacts in, I would probably think that she was naked. I cleare

f of the floor is planning and the beginning steps

u do everyth

rs, but we send them out and have them manufactured elsewhere to lessen our shipping price

e, “You have co

ly need them, more like they would be a convenience. Maybe her contacts in Asia aren't of any use to me after a

s building with her teams. It seems like she has a thriving business after

ake our collaboration legit before we ge

opy of them and take

you want to d

was cozy with lots of natural light coming from the floor-to-ceiling windows, a

the wall as I answered her, “I wanted to look at your portfol

w breaths of silence. She was s

rtainly do some digging online to find any of

ay, I wanted to see your studio. So, two birds, on

e of my investors are here, so you won

can wait. I’m patient.” I wanted to tel

d began searching for a p

f the shelf and found one ph

ah Gr

led at me. “My uncle. Are you a baseb

her. I played it cool and shrugged bef

I decide that I like you, I c

t pound slightly, but I contained my comp

o to me and I took it from her and hea

oat before looking through the large book. Stephanie s

y pocket earlier and opened them, beginning to chew loudly. Stephanie stopped

flipped through it, ignoring her glare