his line for the Metrosexual man thrown in near the end. There is no doubt about it, Black Butterfly shines. Standing along the sides of the stage, Carla and I dance with each other.
“As beautiful as the two of you may look dancing together, I need to borrow you, Erin,” Rafe says and pulls me toward the stage before I realize what’s happening.
“Wait. I’m not going up on there,” I say, panic rising in my chest.
“No worries, hotness. You’re the luckiest girl in here tonight. You’ve pulled off a successful showing. Now you have two of the hottest bachelors in Italy about to escort you out on stage,” Rafe says loudly, his dark eyes swimming with excitement. I can smell the alcohol on his breath, and I’m thinking he’s a bit too tipsy to even consider walking up on a stage. Sober models fall off the platform all the time.
“Are we ready?” Luca asks as he approaches us. Carla trails behind him. Both of us are wearing black mini dresses. The only difference between the two is that mine has a small train of red fabric in back that ends just below my ankles. I’m also wearing a cropped leather jacket to preserve modesty. The rebel in me fires to life.
Think about Alek and Red sitting out there.
And you should strut like a queen after you take it off.
“You know what,” I say to Luca, “I don’t think I’ve been more ready for anything.” I remove the jacket, exposing my bare shoulders and generous chest. My boldness makes me think Rafe might’ve given me a cup of spiked punch.
That’s not what it is and you know it. Live.
Let him see what you can do.
“That’s my hot girl. There’s only one more thing we need to fix here.” Rafe reaches behind my head and releases my bun. My dark, wavy hair falls loose, cascading over my shoulders and down my back. Rafe crushes me against him in too tight of an embrace. Pulling away, I glance back at Luca just before we head toward the stairway leading up to the stage.
With my mind spinning and my belly buzzing, I step out into the spotlight after the announcer introduces the designers of the Black Butterfly Design House.
Cameras flash from all directions as Rafe, Luca, Carla, and I stroll down the stage, stopping at the end. There’s too much going on for me to be able to see anything at first. I have no idea when we pass by Alek and his family. I do now understand why so many models sometimes tumble off the stage. At the end, Luca and Carla take a short bow, posing for the cameras. And then they turn around and leave. Now only Rafe and I remain onstage.
He points at me, as I stand there in the spotlight. But I feel conflicted. Pieces of old memories race through my head. I think of Jada and my smile fades, but the flashes around me continue. I’m lost in thoughts of the things my sister will never get the chance to do when I feel a mouth clamp down on mine.
Holy Hell! Rafe is kissing me in front of the entire fashion industry’s most influential. I freeze at once. We’ll be headlining the next edition of the Corriere. I bet my next paycheck on it!
He backs away, beaming. The crowd roars and most of the people rise to their feet. I’m too stunned by what Rafe just did to truly be able to enjoy the moment. I can’t very well smack the shit out of my boss in front of every single fashion guru. So I shrug it off and make a mental note to remind him to please keep his lips to himself from now on. I make a small finger wave at the audience.
We turn around and head back toward the dressing rooms. This time the flashes from the camera are behind me. I have a clear view of Alek’s face as we pass by his group sitting on the front row. His lips are pinched together and turned up in the upside down pouty-lip thing he does when someone pisses him off during rehearsals. I inhale and hold my breath. He locks gazes with me, following my body until I pass by.
“Go, Erin!” Adriana calls out to me. Her expression is the total opposite in appearance than her brother's.
Serves him right.
Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be playing with fire.
Several prominent press members wait for us after