Page 60 of Tell Me Something

Her eyes widened, and she glanced back at me. “Oh, my goodness. I knew you looked familiar. Josh told me all about you stepping in for Katrina Tross. What a mess that could’ve been, but the spread turned out amazing. Matter of fact, it’s in my magazine this month.”

Another reminder that Catherine and Josh must speak with each other often. “Thank you. Bart Chesley was wonderful, and Mr. Singer was more than patient with my jitters.”

She contemplated a moment, and then her face lit up. “Josh, I need her for an idea that’s forming in my head. Haylee, I just had this vision of a vintage spread, and since they’re your clothes and you’re a model, it’s fate. You have my card. I fully insist you call me next week. We’ll put something together.”

As evidenced by his expression, Josh was in the dark.

Catherine smiled. “You will let me borrow her, right?”

“Uh, yes. I guess I’m confused, though. What vintage spread?”

Catherine winked at me. “See, you work with a man who doesn’t know fashion at all. I struck up a conversation with her because she’s wearing a Jean Desses original gown. Then we got to talking about all of the designers she has in her collection, and I asked if she minded showing it to me. But now that I know she models too, we could talk about an actual spread.”

I was unprepared for the disapproval I heard in Josh’s tone. “I had no idea you had such an extensive designer wardrobe. Maybe you’d save more money for law school if so much didn’t go toward your clothes.”

My face burned with embarrassment. I was momentarily stunned to have him speak to me like that, especially in front of Catherine.

Luckily, she came to my defense. “Your collection is from your mother and grandmother, right?”

I could only nod, fighting the hurt that he could say something so rude and think so little of me. One look at my face, and he had to know how upset I was.

Catherine glanced between the both of us and sought to ease the strain. “Uh, I’m sure he didn’t mean to assume…”

My temper ignited and I finally found my voice. “No need to apologize for him, Catherine. I’m quite used to not getting an apology from Mr. Singer. Perhaps if he’d ever seen my Old Navy jeans or my three-pack underwear from Sears he might not have made the same assumption.”

I got the desired effect when Josh flushed.

I faced Catherine. “The highlight of my evening has definitely been meeting you. I’d be delighted to call you next week and look forward to showing you my favorite pieces, especially the beautiful wedding dress.” For some reason, it gave me satisfaction to mention this particular garment in front of Josh.

She gave me a sincere smile. “It was my highlight, as well. Are you leaving?”

Josh found his voice. “I’ll escort you back to the hotel.”

I shook my head. “No, no, you two catch up. Like I told Mr. Singer earlier, I’m on my way from this event to visit with some friends I have here in London. I’ll meet you in the lobby tomorrow morning, Mr. Singer.”

I could see in his eyes that he knew I was lying, but there was no way I was giving him a chance to accompany me back to the hotel.

“Oh, good, sweetie. Go and have some fun. I forget that the night is probably young for you.” She leaned in and gave me a hug. “I look forward to talking next week. It’s been a pleasure.”

I could tell she meant it, and I was grateful for the solidarity. I didn’t bother to glance at Josh again. Instead, I quickly made a beeline for the exit.

I hurried back to the hotel and went straight up to my room. There I changed out of my gown and put on my Old Navy jeans, cursing Josh all over again for humiliating me with such a rude assumption. After pulling on a sweater and shoving on my boots, I went back down to the lobby, thankful that the front desk clerk could give me directions to the nearest late-night pharmacy.

RELIEF FLOODED me once I was on the busy sidewalk, mingling with the crowd and luckily not running into Josh. I’d feared he would take off after me, and I wasn’t ready to speak with him. Of course, the fact that he was with Catherine didn’t thrill me, either, but considering she had a lot more in common with him and lived in New York—Well, perhaps it was for the best. I wasn’t typically insecure, but my emotions were heightened at the moment.

I stopped in the pharmacy and made short work of buying the essentials, which included chocolate. Tucking my purchases into my purse, I walked back toward the hotel. But since I wasn't yet ready to go back inside, I decided to stop in at the pub across the street. Happy that it wasn’t insanely busy on a weeknight, I took a seat. Smiling at the bartender, I asked for a cider and had started to relax when I felt my phone vibrate.

“Hello.”

“Where the hell are you?” Josh’s voice was angry.

“Are you kidding me? That’s the first thing you’re going to say to me?”

“Haylee, you’re trying my patience.”

I looked at the phone as if I wanted to strangle it and promptly hung up. Asshole. Not my most mature moment, however, considering he was technically my boss and this was, in fact, a business trip.

The phone rang back, and I sighed. Maybe we could start this over. “Hello.”