Alessia stopped in her tracks and leaned casually against a marble column.
“Honestly, none of them can hold a candle to you. These people clearly have no taste–it’s just because she’s a little pretty, that’s all,” one of Sienna Winston’s friends whispered.
Sienna shot her friend a sharp re, clearly unimpressed.
Realizing her attempt at ttery had backfired, the friend pressed her lips together and fell silent.
Another girl, eager to ease the tension, chimed in, “Can you believe she’s bold enough to host her own showcase? The nerve! Even the old drafts <i>you </i>tossed out, Sienna, look better than her so–called showstopper.”
As expected, a smug smile curled at Sienna’s lips, pride flickering in her eyes.
“I put in real work–perfection, every time. Not like some people who doodle a few sketches, and call it a collection. It’s just embarrassing,” she scoffed.
“Exactly! It’s all hype anyway. She gets a little praise and suddenly the world thinks she’s a genius. Look at this–her showcase isn’t even over and her name’s everywhere, trending with celebrities.”
“Our Sienna’s just too modest. If you yed the PR game like she does, you’d be a household name by now<i>,</i><i>” </i>another friend added.
The chorus of backhandedpliments sent Sienna floating, her confidence growing with each word.
“I only work with the best. As for her? Please,” Sienna said, dripping with disdain.
“Couldn’t agree <i>more-</i>”
“Aah!” Sienna’s shriek cut through the conversation.
A few heads turned, but most people barely nced over before returning to theirworking and business deals.
“What the hell is wrong with <i>you</i>?” Sienna snapped, staring at the sticky orange stain spreading across her designer dress. Her re zeroed in on Alessia.
Her friends looked startled, frozen in ce and unsure what to do.
“Oh, sorry.” Alessia held the now–empty ss in one hand, the other covering her mouth in feigned surprise. Her apology, however, sounded anything but sincere.
12:41
Chapter
“I just thought you might want to rinse your mouth out, since all that trash talk was starting to stink up the ce. But, well, I guess even the orange juice would rather sacrifice itself than be anywhere near you. My apologies.”
It was hard to tell whether Alessia was apologizing to Sienna or the juice.
With a nce at Sienna–who was frantically dabbing at her ruined dress–Alessia snapped her fingers. Instantly, a waiter appeared, silently taking away the empty ss without so much as a nce at Sienna.
“Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? This is an A&P limited edition–there are only five in the entire world!” Sienna hissed between clenched teeth. Alessia blinked innocently back at her.
“Oh? Can’t thisdy even afford three million for a recement? Besides, it may be limited, but isn’t this from their collection two years ago?”
Sienna’s friends exchanged nervous nces, none daring to speak. Sienna was shaking with rage.
She raised her hand, about to p Alessia across the face–only to have her wrist caught in a firm grip.
No one had noticed Liam’s arrival. He stepped in behind Alessia, pulling her protectively into his arms, one hand wrapping gently around her shoulders, the other firmly gripping Sienna’s wrist.
“Excuse me, madam. What exactly are you nning to do to my sister?” Liam’s voice was calm, his eyes cold.
“Your sister? For a second I thought you were someone important. Turns out she’s just a wannabe celebrity,” Sienna sneered, wrenching her hand free. She rubbed her wrist, red with the clear imprint of Liam’s fingers. “Did you see that? Three million–ruined, thanks <i>to </i>your dear sister!”
Liam nced down at Alessia, who gave him a small, confident nod.
“I understand. Give me your ount details and I’ll transfer the money,” he replied, face unreadable.
“But next time, you might want to watch where you’re going. Trying to start a scene with a teenager isn’t a good look.”
At that, Alessia couldn’t hold back augh. She ducked her head to hide her smile. Liam said nothing more, simply ruffling her hair fondly, with not a hint of me in his touch.
<i>212 </i>