Aside from his relationship to Tobias he was an outsider. His specialty was in a totally different industry. Still, Tobias had paid for Chaz’s education, which had given Chaz the tools to create his own multimillion-dollar brand. The least Chaz could do was use some of what he’d learned to help his uncle get back on top. If Lenzo didn’t understand, that was his problem.
“We’ll need sheer drapes at the back, pin lights as well as spotlights,” Lenzo continued.
Chaz nodded to Ram, approving what Lenzo said. Ram made note of it and Lenzo huffed. There was some commotion at the front doors and Lenzo hurried off to assist.
“I have an engagement at seven. We need to get on with the run-through,” Chaz told them.
“I’ll get everyone together,” Ram told him before walking away.
Chaz ran a hand down the back of his head and sighed. This had been a really long day. It had also been the second day of not seeing Riley. He didn’t like that. And when he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone, he didn’t like that she hadn’t sent him a text since earlier this morning. He scrolled through his emails quickly, wondering when he’d become so concerned with whether or not a woman had texted him back. Normally women waited for him to return their messages. He frowned down at his phone for a few minutes more, wondering if he should break routine and text her again.
He didn’t have time because they were ready to do the run-through and getting this finished in the next hour was important.
Forty minutes later they were entering the last minutes of the show. The run-through was going smoothly with two other designers on-site making a few suggestions and changes to the models’ hairstyles and positioning on the runway. Chaz happily stood to the back to let them do their thing. His job was the overall picture. Making sure everything he’d been working on with the designers and his team for the last six months had been implemented. All of that made the arrival of four models on the stage wearing wedding gowns even more disconcerting.
He moved closer to the runway, where Lenzo was now directing. The shorter man was clapping his hands and motioning for the models to come to the spots he pointed to immediately. His midnight-black hair was shaved on the sides and left to hang long in a curly strip down the center, and he was constantly pushing the strands out of his eyes.
“This one should be front and center. So you switch places with her. Yes, just like that. And then turn slightly.” Lenzo looked back to the booth where the lighting guys were sitting. “I want the beading to sparkle. Shine the light right on her so that she glitters throughout the room.”
“What the hell is this?” Chaz asked. He’d spent a few seconds trying to come up with a less irritated way to ask why these models wearing dresses he’d never seen were on the runway, but he couldn’t.
Lenzo turned to face Chaz, annoyance evident in the narrowing of his eyes and the smirk of his lips.
“It is high fashion. I don’t know what these others have done to appease you and your specialty branding idea, but this is what we do here at King Designs.”
Chaz didn’t really have a problem with the dresses. They were fine from a cursory glance. What he didn’t like was someone attempting to usurp his authority.
“The first portion of this show is dedicated to the unveiling of the men’s line—fifteen new designs. There are seventeen women’s designs that will follow. We specifically decided to focus on ready-to-wear designs for this showing, waiting until next year to present haute couture pieces. Therefore, King Designs isn’t offering any bridal wear this year.”
Lenzo sighed heavily. “It’s the spring/summer season—that’s precisely when we would unveil such one-of-a-kind bridal designs.”
Again, Lenzo’s logic was not totally wrong, but Chaz’s rebranding plan called for King Designs to do the unexpected. Lenzo turned away from Chaz and continued to instruct the models. Chaz took another moment to gather his thoughts. Then he went into action.
“This run-through is over.” He spoke loud enough so that everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at him. “Thank you, models, stylists, supervisors. We’ll see you again on Monday.” He turned to look at Ram and said, “Shut the place down for the night and make sure it’s locked up tight.”
Lenzo, because the