Chapter 19:
Sabrina
It took everything in me to be cold to her after the first model walked out on stage. I felt my heart drop and my blood boil as one after the other Isobel’s designs walked out onto the runway. Jenny should be ashamed of herself she is a talented designer she could produce better than these hesitant designs that Isobel had started with. Our show was going to wow. She did this for revenge to get back at me.
As the models lined up on stage Jenny walked down the runway standing at the front of the stage smirking down at me. She thinks that she bested me that inside my cool demeanor that I am panicking. She would be right but not about the show. I hurt Isobel I saw it in her eyes when I told her what I had done.
There was a light in her eyes that vanished when those words left my lips.
There was no roaring applause as people excitedly chose what part of the line they wanted for their store. There was a smattering of polite applause as people filed out of the room.
Jenny stood on the stage her smile frozen in place.
I turn to leave as I feel someone grasp my arm.
“Did you do this? Is this some kind of payback for stealing Jenny from you. How could you Sabrina?”
Elena face white her hand trembling stared at me.
“I didn’t do this, until the first model walked out on stage, I thought you would be debuting the collection that Jenny and I worked on. The one that she stole from me when she left.”
I gestured towards the stage “This is what she did as revenge. She stole some very early designs of my new collection thinking that they were the finished product. She wanted to spite me and ruin me. She didn’t succeed. I am very sorry Elena if you would have reached out before hiring you, I would have warned you.
“Good luck.”
I remove her hand from my arm and go to walk away.
“What is this Jenny. This is trash no one is going to buy this. You have ruined our reputation you are fired!”
Elena strode away, I stop and look up at the stage. Jenny’s eyes are filled with tears of rage.
“You did this, you and your new slut girlfriend.”
I look up at her and any last affection I had for her melts away.
“No Jenny you did this to yourself.” I say and walk away. She continues to scream at my back, but I don’t acknowledge her.
She has put herself in this position now she has to live with it. I have an employee to fire and a relationship to salvage I just hope it’s not too late.
****
I sit behind my desk folding my hands in my lap. Clarissa sits across from me looking like the cat that got all the cream. I called her pretended to panic. I told her that Jenny had gotten ahold of our designs for the spring line I needed her to help me create something new we only had tonight our show was tomorrow evening.
“I am so sorry Sabrina I can’t imagine who would betray you like this. If we work through the night, we can get new designs to the seamstresses by early morning, then we will at least have a few choices to debut.”
“Are you going to keep the collection as Isobel by Bella Flore’ is there any way to change it to Clarissa?”
I sit back and give her a feral smile.
“Clarissa nothing is ruined. The designs I gave you to make a complimentary line were fake. They were the earliest drafts of Isobel’s work. The line that will debut tomorrow night will stay Isobel by Bella Flore’ it will because those designs look nothing like what was presented tonight by French Boutique.”
I watch with savage pleasure as the color drains out of her face and her hands start to shake.
“It wasn’t me I didn’t leak the designs it must have been someone else….”
I shake my head “No one say those designs except for Isobel, myself and of course you. I didn’t leak them I know Isobel didn’t so that just leaves you.”
She starts to speak again, and I hold up a hand.
“Don’t try and justify what you did. You have two choices you can leave now and I will not press charges on you for breaking your contract or you can continue to lie to me and I will sue you, drag you reputation through the mud and make sure you never ever work again.”
Clarissa stands her entire body bristling. “You are a bitch do you know that. An ice queen with no heart. You are awful to work for and I hope you get everything you deserve.” She turns around and storms out of the office.
I sit back and sigh. I might have already gotten what I deserve. What I did to Isobel was despicable I am not sure she will ever forgive me, but I have to try.
Chapter 20:
Isobel
“Hey girl at least your career is intact.” Penny says handing me the ice cream. I have the best co-workers Penny and Peter showed up after reading my text about the show.
Peter had hefted one bag of take out and another bag of ice cream supplies grinning at me.
“That’s true my heart may be broken but I still have a career.” I say then roll my eyes and laugh.
“I sound pathetic ignore me.”
“The Ice Queen claims another victim.” Peter says as he digs into his ice cream.
“I am so sorry Isobel. I thought that it may be different this time. She seemed very taken with you. I didn’t think that she was that good of an actress.”
I feel the tears threaten again and blink them back I have given enough tears to Sabrina she doesn’t get anymore.
A knock at the door has us all looking at each other.
I get up and go to the door looking through the peephole. Sabrina is standing on the other side.
I open the door “What do you want? Worried I won’t come to the show tomorrow? Don’t worry I care about my career I am not Jenny I don’t feel the need to sabotage myself to get back at you.”
“Can we talk?” She says looking down at her shoes. I roll my eyes I am not falling for her sad little woman routine.
I open the door wider and see that Peter and Penny are standing right behind me.
“We will let you guys talk.” Peter says patting my shoulder.
“Way to go Ice Queen.” I hear him mutter as he walks out the door.
After they leave the apartment is quiet and still.
“If you want to talk then talk.”
“What I did was wrong. I am sorry but I needed to know she was dirty Isobel.”
“I agree but there were other ways around that. You have gobs of money you could have had her followed, bugged her office phone, just asked her. Gone to Elena told her of your suspicions. You didn’t do any of that because you wanted revenge on Jenny. You wanted to watch her get humiliated and, in the process, you broke my trust.” My voice broke on the last word.
“I know and you have no idea how sorry I am.”
“No, you don’t know.” I screeched at her the rage bubbling up in my blood.
“I love you, and you betrayed me. Sold me out so that you could get back at your ex. They are right you are the Ice Queen. I want nothing to do with you. I will work for you because unlike Jenny.” I spat it at her and there was a savage pleasure in me when she flinched.
“I won’t sell you out but our personal relationship it’s done.”
“You love me?” She asks tears streaming down her face.
“Yes, but I don’t trust you and I refuse to be in a relationship with someone I don’t trust. If you would please have my bags delivered so I can dress for tomorrow it would be appreciated.” I grab the door and open it using one of her signatures moves against her I glance at the door and then back at her.
“Yes, I will make sure they get to you.” Thank you I say. Slamming the door behind her.
I sit down on the couch sob my eyes out. She did a horrible thing, but I still love her, and it hurts to see that she is in pain. I think she really might have feelings for me, and I don’t know what to do about it.
I curl up on the couch and turn on my favorite show on Netflix. I am going to drown myself in someone else’s problems for a
while.
Chapter 21:
Sabrina
I wipe my sweaty hands on my skirt and look around for Isobel. She said she would be here, and I know she will. I spent most of last night searching my soul looking at what I have done what I have become and what I want to be.
Meeting Isobel was the best thing to happening to me professionally and personally. I am going to make it up to her. I am going to fall on my sword and hope that she forgives me. I am going to pour my heart out to her tell her that I love her and want her forever I just hope it’s enough.
I see her walk in the door and my heart quickens. I hope that when we are 90, I will still feel the same way about her. She lights up a room.
I walk over and she nods at me. She is stunning in her gown.
“Hello Isobel, are you ready for this?”
Her eyes soften she lets some of her nerves show through.
“You think they will like it?”
I resist the urge to gather in my arms.
“I think they will love it.”
She nods and the lights flicker. I take her back stage she puts her game face on seeing the models all lined up.
The music starts. She inspects the first model adjusts her gown and nods she walks out onto the stage; the next girl follows and the next. The buzz from the crowd is electric the excited whispers from the crowd brings tears to my eyes.
The last girl goes out makes her walk and comes back. The entire line struts out and it is Isobel’s turn.
I take a deep breath it is almost time for the grand finale.
She walks out the crowd gives her a standing ovation. Tears stream down her face.
I strut out behind her and there is whistles from the crowd. I turn on the microphone in my hand and stand next to her.
“I have a confession to make I did something inexcusable to this woman, an act of revenge that hurt her deeply. I want to apologize here in front of you all. I turn to Isobel holding both of her hands in mine.
“Isobel, I need you to know that you are the love of my life. You are everything I have ever wanted, and I am going to spend every day and every night for the rest of our lives making you happy that is if you will have me.
The room is silent you could hear a pin drop.
She searches my eyes looking for any signs of deceit.
I put the microphone down by my side.
“I love you Isobel, I am so sorry please forgive me I don’t know if I can live without you.”
She smiles as fresh tears stream down her face. “I forgave you already and I love you too just don’t be an idiot again.
She throws herself into my arms and the crowd goes wild.
Seductive Boss Page 6
