Chapter Nine

Still seated on the other end of Mr Luxe's table Lila continued to speak, outlining their proposal with passion and conviction, Mr. Luxe found himself increasingly drawn to her. Not just because of her eloquence and determination, but because of an inexplicable connection that seemed to pull him towards her.

The meeting was coming to an end. Lila's voice had filled the room, her words painting a vivid picture of their vision for the Luxe Hotel Group. Mr. Luxe sat in silence, his gaze fixed on Lila.

 He was captivated, not just by her words, but by the passion with which she spoke them.

Finally, Lila finished speaking and looked at Mr. Luxe expectantly. There was a moment of silence as he collected his thoughts. Then, he nodded slowly.

"I will consider your proposal," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the large office.

Lila and Maya exchanged a glance, a mix of relief and anticipation on their faces. They had done their part; now it was up to Mr. Luxe.

As they rose from their seats and were about to leave his office, Mr. Luxe's voice stopped them in their tracks.

"How about dinner?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Maya.

Maya turned around in surprise, her eyes wide. She looked at Lila, who seemed equally surprised.

"Dinner?" Maya echoed, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

"Yes," Mr. Luxe replied with a nod. "I believe we have more to discuss."

Maya glanced at Lila again, seeking reassurance. Lila gave her a small nod, encouraging her to accept the invitation.

"Alright," Maya said finally, turning back to face Mr. Luxe. "Dinner it is."

Mr. Luxe's eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched Maya's reaction. "Excellent," he said, standing up from his desk. "But I must clarify, the dinner invitation is for the owner of the Sparkle Rose Fashion Studio alone."

Maya's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Lila, her eyes wide with surprise. Lila gave her a reassuring nod, encouraging her to accept the invitation.

"Alright," Maya said again, this time with more confidence. "she will see you at dinner then."

As they left Mr. Luxe's office, Maya began to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her friend was about to have dinner with one of the most influential men in the city, and she wondered what the outcome of the dinner would be.

"Are you sure about this, Lila?" Maya asked, her voice filled with concern. "I mean, he's your ex-fiancé. Are you okay with this?"

Lila paused for a moment before responding. Her voice was shaky, betraying her inner turmoil. "I… I'm not sure, Maya," she admitted. "But this is about our studio, our dream. I can't let my personal feelings get in the way."

Maya looked at her friend, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean by your personal feelings?" she asked.

Lila opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She looked at Maya, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. But before she could say anything, she became numb, her mind filled with memories of the past.

*****************

Meanwhile, across town in the quiet office of Vane Couture, Victor Vane was enjoying another successful day. Contracts were pouring in, each one more lucrative than the last. 

The silence of his office was broken by the arrival of a wealthy woman known for her craze for fashion wear. Her name was Ms Isabella D'Amore.

She walked in with an air of confidence, her bodyguards trailing behind her. Victor's workers greeted her respectfully as she passed by. Victor himself was outside his office, witnessing the scene from behind his tinted glasses.

He didn't move from his spot, just sat upright in his chair, staring at the lady as she made her way through the office. There was a sense of anticipation in the air as everyone waited to see what would happen next.

He didn't move from his spot, just sat upright in his chair, staring at the lady as she made her way through the office. There was a sense of anticipation in the air as everyone waited to see what would happen next.

Ms. Isabella D'Amore, with an air of nonchalance, dropped her handbag onto the Vane Couture customized table. The bag was filled with Cubans made of pure diamonds, their brilliance reflecting off the polished surface of the table and casting a mesmerizing glow around the room.

She then began to speak, her voice echoing through the silent office. "Mr. Vane," she said, her voice as smooth as silk. "I've heard a lot about your work and I must say, I'm quite impressed."

Victor remained silent, his gaze fixed on Isabella. She continued, "I am hosting a charity gala next month and I want Vane Couture to design the dresses for my guests."

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed her words. This was not just any order; it was an opportunity for Vane Couture to showcase their designs to some of the most influential people in the city.

But then, Isabella added a twist that left everyone in shock. "And Mr. Vane," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I want you to model one of your designs at the gala."

Victor was so surprised that he took off his tinted glasses. "What? Me?" he exclaimed, his voice echoing around the room. "I've got models. Why me?"

Ms. Isabella, known for her high flair for men, simply smiled at his reaction. "Because of your physique, Mr. Vane," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "You have the perfect build for our theme this year."

As she spoke, she seemed to be lost in thought, her eyes slightly unfocused as if she was already imagining Victor on the runway, modeling one of his own designs.

Victor was left speechless, his mind racing as he tried to process her request. After a moment of silence, he finally found his voice.

"This will cost you," he said, his voice steady despite the surprise still lingering in his eyes.

Ms. Isabella simply laughed, a sound that echoed around the room. "Name your price, Mr. Vane," she said arrogantly. "I will pay."

Victor was taken aback by her confidence, but he didn't let it show. He simply nodded, acknowledging her statement.

Then, Ms. Isabella asked the question that had been hanging in the air. "Are you in, Mr. Vane?"

Victor looked at her for a moment, his gaze steady. Then, with a determined look in his eyes, he responded.

"Yes," he said firmly. "I'm in."