I knew Ava could use on her social media pages to draw in clients not in attendance at the actual event.
"She looks gorgeous," I whispered to my friend.
Ava squeezed my hand, her eyes not on the runway but on the crowd's reaction. "Let's hope they all think so too."
"They will," I promised. I gave her a grin and squeezed back.
As the show came to a close, all of the models joined Gia on the stage, and Costello and Daisy both made the walk down the runway to thunderous applause.
"Thank you all so much for coming to support such a worthy cause," Costello said into a microphone as he reached the end of the runway. "We hope you've enjoyed the look at our latest collections and will bid generously in the auction to follow the reception."
More applause followed as Costello did a deep bow and Daisy curtsied.
"And," Costello added, straightening up again, "we would both like to thank Ava Barnett of Silver Girl for the loan of the magnificent jewelry you've seen our models wearing today, all of which will be available for sale in her shop downtown and online." He blew a kiss in Ava's direction, and I felt her relax beside me for the first time that day.
She smiled and waved as the eyes of the crowd went her way.
"Advertising doesn't get better than that," I mumbled to her.
"Let's just hope the sales follow," she said. But the smile on her face looked much more optimistic.
As the designers and models left the stage, we waited a few minutes for the crowd to thin out. Guests slowly rose from their seats, making their way toward the lounge where a cocktail reception preceded the live auction. If there were two things the Links Club set enjoyed, it was spending money and drinking. Tonight I hoped they indulged in both.
I hoisted my bag onto my shoulder, and we followed the crowd to the brightly lit lounge, where servers in the blue polos bearing the club logo were already circulating the room with trays of red and white wine. I snagged a couple glasses of white from a passing waiter, handing one to Ava as we made our way through the crowd.
"This is well deserved," I told her. "Cheers to a great show."
She took the glass, clinking gently against mine. "Thank you. I couldn't have done it without you."
"You could have," I argued. "But it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun."
She laughed. "Agreed," she said, taking a sip from her glass. "Let me go collect the jewelry and get it in the safe, and then we can really celebrate."
"I'll help," I offered, following her toward the hallway that led to the Grand Ballroom.
The mood backstage was even more celebratory than the one in the lounge, the collective breath everyone had been holding now exhaled on a successful finish. We passed a few models heading toward the lounge—changed from their designer duds into street wear. I didn't see Daisy or Costello anywhere and assumed they were likely in the lounge chatting up their designs pre-bidding. Several of the crew seemed to have dispersed already as well, a couple makeup artists cleaning up brushes and models lingering as they changed into lower heels.
The Silver Girl jewelry the models had shed was laid out on a low table near the back wall. Ava made quick work of putting each piece back into the velvet lined box she'd brought it in and checking it off her inventory list. A few were still unaccounted for as we began, but they trickled in as she packed pieces away until almost every velvet lined box was full.
"Just one piece left," Ava finally said, looking up from her list. "Gia's emerald."
I glanced across the room to the closed dressing room door bearing her name. "Well, she took her time getting ready. Maybe she's just as slow undressing."
Ava picked up the last box, a large, square one. "Think we should rush her? I'd really feel better once this is all locked up in the club safe."
"It is your necklace," I pointed out.
Ava nodded, and I followed her to the starlet's dressing room door, where Ava rapped sharply. "Gia?" she called.
No response. We waited a beat, but I heard nothing on the other side of the door to indicate that she'd heard us.
Ava tried again. "Gia? It's Ava Barnett—the jewelry designer? I need to lock up the emerald necklace now."
Still nothing from the other side of the door.
Ava pursed her lips together.