say to him because her mouth had gone dry, so it was time to dig out that strength she’d worked so hard to build up and make him realise how she really felt. Although, that wasn’t all that easy when she wasn’t entirely sure how she really felt herself. ‘It’s been over for a long time, Michael, so please, let it go. Because the only person you’re going to end up hurting is yourself, and I really don’t want that to happen.’
‘I still care about you, baby. I always will, can’t you see that?’
She looked at him for a few seconds more, staring into those piercing blue eyes, trying to believe that every decision she’d made had been the right one. Because it had. Hadn’t it? ‘Just leave it alone, Michael. Please.’
He let her go, watching as she walked away, watching as Dominic MacDonald stopped her in her tracks and the smile she gave him almost broke Michael’s heart, because it was the smile she’d used to give him. The smile that said she wanted to be near you, she wanted to spend time with you. Michael hadn’t had that smile from her in so long.
He wanted back all those times when they’d been so close nothing could tear them apart. The days when their lives had revolved around each other. But then, his life had never really stopped revolving around her. Never. And he couldn’t see a day when that would ever change.
***
Dominic watched India talking to Michael, watched their exchange with interest as the expression on Michael’s face changed the longer his ex-wife spoke to him. That relationship was so one-sided; only an idiot would think otherwise.
Sliding his dark glasses up onto his head Dominic knew he’d seen enough. He’d gauged just how high the stakes were and now he was ready to play hard. Michael Walsh hated surprises, he knew that much. But he’d better be ready for what Dominic had in store, because, as far as surprises went, this one would floor him. And nothing he could do would stop it from happening.
***
‘Callie! Your model, sweetheart, where is she? She needs to be ready in five minutes… Alan, you’re next – Alan! Come on, quickly! This is it, it’s finale time now guys, move it, move it, move it!’
Charley was almost hoarse with shouting but the chaotic atmosphere and the cacophony of noise backstage wasn’t something you could whisper over. You needed a voice, and her good old northern English mouth was proving to be very useful indeed right now as she tried to gather her team together and get everyone’s models out on time.
The show was going like a dream and Candice was more than happy with what Charley’s girls and boys were coming up with. They were sticking to her brief but also putting out their own creations that she’d chosen to compliment her collection, and Charley could only stand back and watch as the models walked that runway looking absolutely fabulous. All thanks to the team from Charley’s.
She couldn’t wait to get home though, and sink into a nice, hot bath. It had been a long day, but an experience she’d never forget, sealing the deal, in Charley’s eyes, that this was where she wanted to be. This was a world she loved, but she also loved her husband and she couldn’t wait to finally get to Vegas and spend some time with Vince. She also couldn’t wait to catch up with India and find out all the gossip on her and Michael and the mysterious Dominic MacDonald, because that’s how India had described him to her when they’d spoken on the phone last night. Mysterious. Charley was intrigued, although she was more intrigued by the relationship between her best friend and her ex-husband. India and Michael getting back together wouldn’t exactly be a surprise to Charley, but she couldn’t say she wouldn’t be shocked if that did happen. But then, she was all too aware of the power Michael had over India. Everyone was. Everyone except, maybe, India herself.
With the show finally over and just one more day to go before she could pack her bags and head to Vegas, Charley declined the team’s invite to a nearby club for a bit of a post-show party and headed back to the salon to grab a few bits and pieces for tomorrow. It was late and she was doing an elaborate up-do first thing in the morning on a rather famous young actress