Page 123 of Pretend To Be Mine

Tonight, the world would see what I’d seen from the beginning.

Elizabeth Laramie was extraordinary.

I couldn’t wait to watch her take her first step into the world.

40

ELIZABETH

Ihelped backstage, making myself useful where I could. The controlled chaos of a fashion show was becoming familiar. I thrived on the frantic energy and the last-minute adjustments. I watched the models moving between stations and completely transforming.

One of the models wearing my emerald dress caught my eye and waved me over. Her name was Giulia. She had this effortless beauty that made me feel like a potato in comparison.

“Elizabeth, yes?” she said, her accent thick but charming. “This dress, it is beautiful. You made this?”

“I did. Well, Annika helped, but the design is mine.” I couldn’t keep the pride from my voice.

“It is perfect.” She ran her hands down the fabric. “I feel like a goddess in this.”

“That’s exactly what I was going for,” I said, warmth flooding through me. “Thank you for wearing it.”

“No, thank you for making it.” She smiled at me. “You are very lucky, you know. Adrian Blackwell. He is… how do you say… a dream?”

I felt my cheeks heat. “He’s pretty great.”

“Pretty great?” She laughed. “No, no. He is perfection. Handsome, rich, powerful. And the way he looks at you? It makes me so jealous. I feel I have to hate you.” She pressed her hand to her heart dramatically. “He looks at you like you are the only woman in the world. Every woman wants a man to look at her like that.”

“Thank you. He is pretty awesome.”

We spent the next few minutes discussing styling. I found myself genuinely enjoying the conversation. The old me would have been intimidated by someone like Giulia. Now I was trading fashion advice with a professional model like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I walked away from her and just kind of mingled. I wanted to soak in as much as possible.

The venue vibrated with energy. Three thousand people packed into an opera house that Dash had transformed into a temple of seduction. I wasn’t sure if the guys did the actual decorating schemes or if they left it to professionals, but damn, they were good. It was impossible not to feel the vibes. I was pretty sure everyone in the room was feeling it. It was like drinking straight ambrosia. Everything felt heightened. Every look, smell, and even the casual brushing of shoulders in the crowd.

I felt like I had stepped into the dark side.

And I liked it.

Damn, did I like it.

I loved being a little naughty.

The deep reds and splashes of gold made everything look sinful. Provocative. The simplest gesture, like reaching for a glass of champagne could be evocative.

I was seriously considering grabbing Adrian and dragging him into a dark closet. The man made me want things I had no business wanting in such a public gathering.

I peeked into the crowd and watched the audience settle into their seats. Celebrities, fashion editors, influencers, buyers from every major department store in the world were all in attendance.

And somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, three dresses I’d designed were about to be judged.

What if they hated them? What if they assumed the dresses were only in the show because I was engaged to Adrian?

Which, I supposed, was exactly why I was in the show. Not because I was engaged to Adrian, but because I was sleeping with him. Was it pity? Was it him feeling guilty because he was sleeping with me and planned on dumping me the second our contract was up?

Oh shit.

I never considered this might be him trying to make me feel better because he knew what was coming.