Chapter 1

Jadyn

I run my polished thumb over a bullet point on my list: finish alterations for the new suits launching tomorrow. 

I roll my eyes. “Why hasn’t this been done?” I say, pushing my tablet into the arms of Neville Pricker, the man who envies my job yet will help me tirelessly.

         He chases briskly behind me as I walk over to Jocelyn who is my best designer, and fastest tailor. She’s running a piece of fabric through a sewing machine. She looks up at me with a needle in her mouth.

         “Jocelyn, would you be so kind and help me alter some suits that launch tomorrow?” I ask pulling my tablet back from Neville and show her the checklist.

         She peeks over, momentarily taking her eyes off her task. “You bet.”

         I give a curt smile and walk to the four handsome men standing in the middle of my room.

         “Alright, the suits are in your assigned dressing rooms. Please come out when you’re ready for alterations done by Neville, Jocelyn and I.”

         “First one out gets Jadyn!” one of the male models shouts. I roll my eyes, and they just about reach the back of my head.

         The four guys race into their dressing rooms, in white shirts and boxers. Though many people would swoon at the sight, I am way too used to seeing this.

         The four men emerge and stand on the alteration platform, facing a mirror.

         I grab a stool and roll over to the first platform I see. I peek up and Kevin Sherchand smiles down at me. “Hey, gorgeous girl. I knew you would pick me.”

         “Good morning, Kevin,” I say, picking up the pincushion.

         “What’s with the formalities, beautiful? It’s okay to lighten up with your boyfriend.”

         I scoff and roll my eyes with a slight grin. “You wish.”

         “So do you.” He winks and straightens out his collar in the mirror.

         I’m used to Kevin’s flirtatious remarks, and if it’s a good day, I’ll play along too. I work closely with Kevin as he is the most popular model at Casimir. He is basically the most well-known face of our brand.

If he wasn’t so young, I think I might actually take him up on his suggestive comments. But I have a brand to uphold, and I cannot mix business and pleasure. Our brand makes only the best and most luxurious men's clothing, making me feel like the black sheep in this male-dominated job.

However, I worked hard for my position, and I have proven to be the best at what I do. This can be a men’s business, but every company needs a strong head.

“Alright, what’s going on in my department?” The voice of my rival sounds like sirens in my ear, how blissful. I slowly stand up,  pull the pin from my mouth and turn to face Derek Maverick. He’s an ex-model who runs the modeling department as an executive of this brand.

“My department is doing just fine; I’m making some last-minute alterations before the launch happening in less than twenty-four hours.”

“Last minute?” he scoffs. “We don't do ‘last-minute’ things here. You should’ve been more prepared, Jones.”

         I give him my narrow gaze. “Aw, well maybe I wouldn’t have to be doing this if your department didn’t overlook it.”

“I know my department, and I know that I did my job.”

         “Incorrectly, might I add.”

His jaw ticks and he exhales sharply. “I want this done as soon as possible.”

         “I don’t answer to you. You aren’t my boss. Don’t you have other people to unnecessarily harass?” I place my hands on my hips. Obviously, it’s going to get done today if the event is tomorrow. He just loves a good power high.

He crosses his arms on his chest. “I have to be here as the head of the modeling department. Need I remind you I’m an executive?”

His alpha-male, egotistical act makes me want to punch him in his picture-perfect face. 

My eye twitches. “Just stay out of the way.” My smile does not fall.

“Muy caliente,” Kevin says under his breath to me.

“It’s always heated between us, Kevin,” I say, now irritated and annoyed—which sucks for anyone working under me today.

I go back to altering the hems of the slacks and try to imagine that Derek is not here. Perhaps he is just a figment of my imagination that my overworked mind came up with.

*

At my apartment, I flick on the lights and see my dad in my kitchen, basking under a single dim light.

“Dad!” I say. “I could’ve walked in with a guy feeling me up.”

“Please,” he laughs. “When was the last time you even dated? I’m starting to worry about grandkids.”

         I sigh defeatedly. He has a point. I place my bag on the sofa and walk towards him, kicking off my heels at the same time.

         “You walk like a newborn giraffe in those,” he says as he stands to give me a hug.

         I scoff. “Only at the end of a long day.”

         “Top Gun Guy giving you a hard time again?” my dad says, pulling two beers from the fridge.

         “His name is Derek, and he always gives me a hard time.” I take the beer from his hand.

         “Agh.” He waves a hand. “People like that are always going to be encountered. Don’t let it bother you.”

         “I’m not bothered or intimidated by him, I’m just annoyed.”

         “So, you would say that you’re bothered?” A playful smile hangs at the end of his lips.

         “Shut up.” I grin and take a sip of beer, sitting across from him at the table. “So what’s new?”

         My dad talks about his day, his encounters and his fun life. Coming home to my father and best friend is the most relieving part about my hectic day.

Chapter 2

Derek

         I didn’t become the executive of the modeling department for Casimir overnight. After spending years modeling seriously and learning the Casimir brand, the CEO, Myles Casimir, made me the face of his brand. I paved the way for male models like Kevin Sherchand, and I never let them forget it with good reason. A few years later I was promoted to my current position, which I’ve held for five years.

         My biggest adversary over the years has definitely been Jadyn Jones. I give her the worst treatment of all the staff, not because I’m a misogynist, but because we are both alphas and butt heads severely. It’s astounding how she hasn’t quit her job by now. She just never seems to back down from my challenges.

         The chatting from the audience can be heard from backstage as I verify that my models Kevin, Greg, Omar and Todd are dressed appropriately for the runway. They stand in a horizontal line as I scan their attire from head to toe. I lower my glasses with my right hand as I look down at Omar’s dress shoes. “Omar, how many times do I have to tell you to polish your shoes? These big name industry people notice these things.”

         “Yes, sir.” He lowers his eyes, standing as frozen as a block of ice.

         I move down the line to Greg, adjusting his tie. “You always look the sloppiest of the group.” My feet take a step to the right, adjusting the buttons of Todd’s jacket. “We never button the top button, only the middle.” Finally, I stand face to face with Kevin. “I remind you at every show, you are my protégé. Do you remember what that means?”

         Kevin nods respectfully. “Don’t embarrass you out there.”

         “Attaboy.” I pat him on his right shoulder before stepping back to look at all four guys with my left hand balled into a fist. “Casimir!”

         The guys imitate my action, chanting in unison. “Proud!”

         I make my way to the event floor to find my seat along the runway. It is a typical fashion show setup with the stage in the back connected to a long, white runway with the chairs of the audience on both sides of it. As I lower myself into my chair next to Myles Casimir, he leans his head over to me to ask one question. “Are they all prepared?”

         “They’re going to put the other brands to shame,” I whisper back, then scan the opposite side of the runway to see Neville Pricker and Jadyn Jones sitting diagonally to my left. Jadyn meets my gaze, her big brown eyes narrowing immediately. The thing I appreciate about our rivalry is that we don’t smile in each other’s faces inauthentically. My eyes stay fixed on her just as fiercely as I cross my right leg over my left, opening the black fan in my left hand to regulate my body temperature.

         The lights of the stage become brighter as the host steps onto it from behind the shadows with a microphone. There is a chill down my spine when I recognize the tall, skinny woman with blonde hair. Damn. It’s Ksenia Snarska. 

We had a fling that ended recently. It ended pretty badly, actually. She didn’t like how I ghosted her so she slandered me all over social media. It didn’t look good for me at all because she has a huge following.

         She walks to the center of the stage in her royal blue dress that hangs off her frail shoulders. “Welcome to the 12th Annual Taaffe Macmeikan Fashion Show. I am your host, Ksenia Snarska and tonight we will be featuring the luxury brands: Neal & Milman, Casimir, Byron Rose, and Sharel Obrigado.” 

She pauses to allow the applause from the audience then announces each brand before their models walk the runway. The cameras flash brightly throughout the night, making me optimistic that our suits will end up in the spread of some of the most popular fashion magazines and blogs.

         After all the brands are featured, the models do their last strut as they clap their hands along with the audience. Ksenia then recognizes each CEO individually, asking them to stand so they can be admired. When it’s Myles’s turn to stand, I look up at him respectfully, knowing that one day all my hard work will get me where his has.

         Ksenia says some final words as she makes eye contact with different people in the crowd. “Thank you all for showing your support tonight. It’s because of you that this show is a success every year. I personally want to thank the biggest asshole you’ll ever meet who happens to be here tonight.” 

The crowd releases a ripple of gasps as they look around cluelessly. It is then that Ksenia makes eye contact with me while extending her left hand outward to me. “Derek Maverick, ladies and gentlemen. If you’re a woman, avoid him at all costs because he will manipulate you into fucking him and then ghost you afterwards-”

         One of the event coordinators takes the mic from her. “Thank you. Have a great night!” He escorts her backstage. I can feel my boss’s eyes boring a hole through the right side of my head but I attempt to maintain my composure while still fanning myself with the flick of my left wrist. His deep voice speaks into my ear. “Get up. We need to talk.”

I follow him through the crowd of people to an empty corner of the large room. Myles crosses his arms over his bulky frame. “I’ve grown tired of having this conversation with you, Derek.”

“Mr. Casimir, it’s all a misunderstanding.” I sigh heavily as I try to plead my case.

“The words out of her mouth were very straightforward.” Myles stands firm with a serious demeanor. “The only reason I’m keeping you around is because nobody executes my vision as well as you do, but your promiscuity is ruining the brand’s image. I won’t tolerate any more embarrassment from you, Derek. If you don’t show that you can be more responsible with your personal life, you’ll have to be separated from the company.”