Chapter 2: Work addicts

Iron a peplum top with sleeves and the dark circles under her eyes.

Aunt Dinah had brown hair, blue eyes and a stunning face. She was whom anyone would consider robust and sported one of her own tailor-made dresses.

She sighed and thought never mind. She has work to follow through and not mess up for herself again. There just wasn't any pleasing that woman. She thought and heaved the pieces together in a dress and worked with office pins.

***

"My my, look at that dress. Anyone who would make that is truly a star. Has Miss... Star Reyes accepted our invitation yet?"

"Not quite Madam Brooke," Edward said sitting on his chair to analyse the work 'Miss Star Reyes' put out.

There was only one 'R' on her username and he was deeply in love with the design.

He wondered why she didn't have a model wear this and it added a dash of mystery. He rubbed his chin inquisitively.

Usually, he had an eye for catching mistakes but this one was flawless, he couldn't imagine who would have such a hand for a masterpiece.

The mail he sent had been pending for three days.

"Oh well,"

He adjusted the tie on his deep-sea blue three-piece suit. One tailored especially for events like The Mode Unveiling.

Edward Cummings was a bigshot CEO of Luxe Textiles. He was a work addict and had little time for frivolities.

He was fit to an athlete's requirement and he had his share of swooning from lades. But in Luxe Textiles, they were well informed that he was here to work.

He had roughly styled brown hair and devilish blue eyes, his nose was well sculpted and his lips were like those of a fallen angel, his forehead especially creased when he gave a bemusing smile.

Edward brushed his easel he'd been drawing on aside to face Madame Brooke Hall. The company's Executive Director and a Fashion Consultant.

She wore a brown three-piece chiffon blouse with a scarf around her grey-blonde hair, designer shades and her pink lipstick hardly overshadowed her glossy pink high-waist pencil skirt.

She wore white kitten heels and a pink bag was clutched under her arm. A rope traced to her Corgi, Lure, she was seated on a special white carpet. With her tongue sticking out.

He had something against animals in the building but Brooke had just recovered from a heart-rending divorce from her husband David Crosby.

A famous singer on Bold iTunes with a platinum streak and a silver tongue.

She needed more than just a platinum card and a walking plush toy to get over him. She loved Crosby and so did Edward.

The two were 'crazy in love' and they shared photos in lavish estates and landmarks until he came out of the blue to file for a divorce.

After soughting a younger female model to take her place.

Hmm, he scoffed when she plonked behind her desk across from his and she carried her carton aside "I've never felt so ashamed," She was destroyed but life must go on.

She flipped her iPad open and her manicured fingers worked at the screen.

"I still haven't figured out how any numbskull would dump me over some lame supermodel who probably sold her soul for a gig,"

She admitted bitterly and his lip quirked nursing a cup of coffee, he rose from a chair and unlike many others, he preferred to make coffee on his own and he offered her a mug.

Her eyebrow quirked and her lips curled taking a mug, their mugs clinked in a quiet toast at the office.

"Good to have you back, Brooke,"

And they downed their contents. Enjoying each other's company.

He shoved his hand into his pocket and gazed down at the buildings by the windows. He grabbed an iPhone and received a call from his household that a car had been stolen. He flipped a car key into his hands and went home leaving his work list unattended.

***

Odetta squealed at her invitation from Brooke Hall. She had to double-check her spam box. To top it all, Luxe Textiles, the parent company of Mode was planning to do a Mode Unveiling early this year and they were cordially inviting her!

Her heart was swelling with joy. "Yes!"

She swivelled on her chair to her PC to watch her growing comments on her account, about a mail-order. Odetta thought twice. To the world, she was Miss Stareyes. She couldn't possibly attend a huge hit unveiling as Plain Jane Odetta Lawrence.

Her hand settled on her cheek as she scrolled up the flashy banner of the Main Event and then she drew out her drawers.

"I wonder what a little makeover would hurt,"

She pulled up on the table and checked the new email address she set as a public account online. There's no way I'll be able to answer all these emails on time.

In her old mail, she got a reply from Luxe Textiles. Her application was unable to follow through with the requirements because she didn't finish college and concurrently had no years of experience in the fashion industry.

Her heart skipped a beat and her eyes rounded at the timing of the impromptu interview.

She checked her watch. "Oh, shit,"

The interview was supposed to happen the next day. Her drive from here to Luxe's would be arduous and she had just little amount of time to be preparing for an impromptu.

"What am I gonna do?"

She stopped fidgeting on her bed and flipped through her ideas and none of them seem to add up.

She picked up a blunted 4H pencil and she scrawled the figure and added the costume.

The dress could have a single collar that stretched diagonally across her shoulder to the hip portion.

It could be whimsical with yellow polka dots and blue background.

She could have sassy wrist gloves too with the same details.

"And maybe do something with my hair,"

She held a wisp of her brown nape-length hair,