Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Social media went crazy when they saw her work, and with my funding behind her, there was no way Janelle was going to keep her down.
It took a little longer than it might have if we didn’t have a war to fight, but within two years, Rain had a successful women’s fashion brand going that focused mainly on upscale dresses and blouses.
And that’s when we made it official.
I put a wedding ring on her finger in the French Riviera where we vacationed for two weeks, drinking champagne and making love by the sea. Then we went to Paris to check out all the best fashion spots that Rain had always wanted to see but had never had the chance. I spoiled her rotten and loved every second of it.
Then it was back to New York to continue our work.
My company continued its growth as I picked up more and more contracts, and Rain worked harder and faster on her designs, inspired by what she’d seen in Paris. I’d never seen such creative output from her before.
Her collections came one after the other, never stopping, never losing an ounce of quality. The reviews were phenomenal. She was a force to be reckoned with. Celebrities were wearing her stuff, and she was being tagged online. She couldn’t believe it, and every time she would talk about the success of her brand, her eyes would light up.
I couldn’t have been happier for her.
Until today.
I look up as she steps out onto the runway, wearing a simple pair of cropped black jeans and a checkered black and white blouse, her hair up in a ponytail. She told me she didn’t want to dress up because she didn’t want to compete with the models, but I told her there was no competition.
“You’re already going to be the most beautiful woman in that room tonight, baby.”
I’m on my feet in an instant, clapping and cheering as she steps out into the light, looking like she always does: slightly nervous, slightly timid, bashful and anxious, but also proud of herself–as she should be.
She gives a few tiny head-bows, then waves to the crowd a few times. I catch her eye just before she starts to turn away, and blow her a kiss. Brian, Charlotte, Taylor, and Jasmine all shout and cheer and wave with major enthusiasm.
There she is, I think as my heart floods with happiness and joy. My beautiful, talented wife.
I have to brush past what feels like a thousand half-dressed models on my way backstage to find Rain, and although I’ve done this many times now, it still feels awkward. I’m a married man; I’m not here to pick any of these girls up, and even if I was, it just doesn’t feel like the right environment for it.
So I keep my head down and my eyes averted as I thread my way through them as I search for my wife.
To my surprise, I bump into someone I never expected to see here–not in a million years. Janelle Blanc, standing in front of me, wearing a thick wool blood-red pea coat with the collar popped, causing her to look even more villainous than she normally does.
“Ah, Marlon,” she says, as though she’s trying out my name like a person does when they first taste a wine. She then looks me up and down with zero shame. “The man behind the woman.”
I frown. Did she really just say that?
“Yeah, uh, that’s me. Can I do something for you, Janelle?”
“I don’t know. Can you?”
Janelle has always been a bit bizarre every time I’ve interacted with her, which is why I’ve always done my best to steer clear of her. I prefer people who are a bit more straight up, and Janelle always feels like she’s speaking in riddles.
“Funny how things turn out in life sometimes, isn’t it?” she asks. “Ever wonder where some of these girls, some of this fabric would be had Rain never met you?”
I glance around as Janelle waves her hand at the models walking past us.
“Um, no. I guess I never thought of it like that…”
Suddenly, I notice Rain to my left staring at me, looking completely mortified that I’m talking to Janelle. Her eyes go wide and she mouths, Why is she here!? I mouth back, I don’t know. Come here!
Rain slowly creeps over and stands next to me. Janelle is in the midst of checking out the girl in the red dress that resembled a flower and doesn’t even notice her arrival, so she clears her throat, causing Janelle to turn.
“Ah, Rain, how are you, dear?”
“How am I?” Rain asks, her face twisted in confusion. “Um, I’m fine.”
“Well I’d hope you’d be more than fine after a show like that, dear.”
Rain turns and looks at me, but all I can do is simply look back at her and raise my eyebrows. I honestly have no idea what’s going on.