Rise - Part Two (Rise #2)(22)

Chapter 21


––––––––

"I have to thank you, Tess." Gabriel moves towards me the moment I step over the threshold of the doorway and into his office.

"For what?" I stop mid-step. I've been working hard on the event in Los Angeles and even though we're still over a month away from launch, I've already created a buzz on social media. I anticipate that the interest in the pop-up lingerie shop is going to far surpass what happened after the lingerie show here in New York.

"My brother told me that you connected him with a music producer in L.A."

I scan his face wondering if he's mistaken me for someone else. The man has to meet countless people on a daily basis. "A music producer?"

"Ansel Rinaldi's producer," he clarifies as he motions towards one of the two chairs that sit in front of his desk. "My mother told me you gave her the number of his manager."

I'd forgotten all about that. I've been so fully immersed in the projects for Liore and Corteck that I feel as though I've been living in a bubble. "I did give her that number, yes."

"My brother is meeting with a producer the week after next. Ansel's manager set that meeting up." A broad smile courses over his lips. "I have you to thank for that."

I'm more in awe of how striking he looks when he smiles than the fact that Ansel's producer is actually meeting with Asher Foster. "I hope it goes well."

He nods in response before his gaze drops to the tablet on his desk. "I have the latest numbers for your expected budget for the event in Los Angeles. You're still under what you originally forecast."

I'm proud that he's recognized that. I've worked hard to keep the integrity of the event high without spending too much money. I have hired the best of the best in L.A. to help with the food, floral arrangements and transportation. Everything is falling into place and I couldn't be happier.

"Do you anticipate good coverage for the event?" he asks without looking up from his tablet. "You did remarkably well handling the event for us here. I'm expecting something even more far reaching."

"I'm expecting that as well," I say with every confidence as I tip my chin towards him. "I've been in close contact with many of the publicists there and I have a list of celebrities who have agreed to appear at the event."

"That must be costing us a pretty penny." His left brow cocks.

"Not a dime, actually." I lean forward in the chair I'm sitting in. "Most have agreed to appear in exchange for a tag to their social media feed. They recognize that this is an event that is going to be trending. It's free publicity for them."

He looks directly at me. "You're on top of this. I shouldn't be surprised by that."

"Are you surprised by that, Mr. Foster?"

"I'm surprised that it's taken Landon this long to find a woman like you." His jaw firms. "He's needed a woman just like you for years."

Those words mean more to me than any of the accolades about my work. He's Landon's friend and knowing that I have his approval plants a grin on my face that I can't erase.

***

"Did the package my mother sent to you arrive in one piece?"

I turn from where I'm standing by the bank of windows that overlook lower Manhattan. He'd left the room to take a personal call on his smartphone. I'd told him when it rang that I needed to get back to work, but with a lift of his hand in the air to stop me in my tracks, he'd insisted I stay.

"I haven't received anything from Gianna," I admit. "What was in the package?"

He rounds his desk and punches a few numbers into his phone. "Ivy had stopped by the day before yesterday with the jewelry pieces we commissioned for the L.A. event. My mother was here at the time and insisted on taking them with her. I made her promise to send them via courier to your office by yesterday afternoon."

I smile. Each time I've seen Gianna she's been dressed to the nines including extravagant, one-of-a-kind rings, bracelets and necklaces. It's no surprise that she'd take it upon herself to model each of Ivy's masterpieces before handing them over to me.

He sighs heavily as he swipes his thumb across the screen to end the call. His gaze falls to his watch. "My mother must be in the air. She's traveling back to California today."

As much as I'd like to have those accessories, there's plenty of time before the pop-up show to pair them with the model's outfits. "I can get them from her once she's back in New York."

"I want them in your hands now, Tess." His tone is firm and controlled. "I assumed you'd pull together the pieces from our collection that you're going to showcase during the event in Los Angeles. I'll need final approval on those."

Of course he will. He was just as hands-on during the planning of the fashion show here, in New York, last month. I had hired the same stylist to work with me on both events but obviously her word won't be the last. That belongs to Gabriel Foster. "I'll head down to the boutique here today with my stylist. We can choose some potential outfits."

"That will work," he acquiesces as he rifles through the top drawer of his desk. "My mother has been staying at one of the suites at our hotel. I'll send someone over there this morning to pick up Ivy's jewelry."