Once Upon a Dare (Risky Business)(55)

“Tell me everything.”

So she spilled her guts, telling her best friend how she’d thought maybe, just maybe, Cole had had feelings for her, and then how he’d gone behind her back and proved she was an idiot for imagining he could have wanted anything but the obvious.

“I’m going to kick his ass!” Chloe shouted with enough conviction that Olivia experienced momentary concern for Cole’s physical wellbeing.

“I don’t think that will actually help.”

“I don’t care if it helps,” Chloe argued. “He clearly needs a good ass-kicking to get his head on straight. What was he thinking?”

“Who knows?” She sighed. “It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. And while I appreciate the offer, I’d rather not think about you sharing a cellblock with New York’s finest. I have enough to worry about right now.”

“Fine,” Chloe said. “What if I just drop a little Ex-Lax in his morning coffee?”

“Chloe…”

“Well, I can’t just sit here idly! There must be something I can do to help. I feel sort of responsible since I made the dare in the first place. Not to mention, I told him about your lust for lilies.”

Olivia swallowed a lump in her throat. The flowers. She’d forgotten the flowers he’d sent just before the Vixen pitch. For a real Vixen. He’d asked Chloe about the lilies.

She had to stop thinking about him.

“I was so sure he was going to be the one. I can’t believe he fooled me,” Chloe said. “What a schmuck!”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. He fooled both of us.” It was hard for her to accept that she’d been played for a fool. Again. She was a smart woman. So why hadn’t she seen his betrayal coming? Maybe she needed a coach. They had fashion coaches and weight loss coaches and even life coaches. Surely she could find someone to keep a watch out for dirty, underhanded backstabbers.

Olivia shook her head, clearing her thoughts. “Actually, there is something you could do for me.”

“Anything,” Chloe said without hesitation. “It sounds like I owe you one.”

“Will you be my date for the Vixen fashion show tomorrow? I know it’s short notice, but I’ve got an extra ticket and I really don’t feel like going alone.”

“Really?” Chloe squealed. There was a loud bang and Olivia was certain she’d dropped the phone in her excitement. When she returned, she rushed on. “I’d love to. Just one question. What should I wear?”





Chapter Twenty-Two


Olivia skirted her way through the sea of bodies, searching fruitlessly for Chloe. Where on earth could she have gone? She prayed Chloe hadn’t snuck backstage for an early preview while Olivia had been busy with Natalia. She had been at it for the last hour, shaking hands, making polite conversation and basically torturing the hell out of her feet in a pair of too-tight Jimmy Choo’s that desperately needed to be broken in. Fortunately, Chloe was a social butterfly and perfectly comfortable making the rounds on her own while Olivia did the work thing.

If the energy in the room was any indication, the show was going to be a huge success. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d been in such a charged environment. Of course, she didn’t make a habit of frequenting the fashion scene, but the excitement in the air was nearly palpable as the crowd speculated on the new Vixen designs. Natalia had worked the crowd, teasing them into a frenzy without giving anything away. Even Olivia had been swept up in the excitement. For the first time in days, she was starting to feel like her old self.

Spotting Chloe, she grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing server and made a beeline for her friend. The show would be starting soon and she wanted to claim their seats along the runway before some overly eager fashion blogger snagged them. Besides, her feet were screaming for mercy.

“Having fun?” she asked, as she handed Chloe a glass.

“The. Most.” Chloe laughed appreciatively and sipped her champagne. “I’ve never been to a fashion show before. This is ridiculous! There are so many people. And all these lights!” she cooed, spinning to admire the lights that cut across the crowd, continuously moving and shifting.

“Tell me about it,” she agreed. “The show will be starting soon. We should probably find our seats. We’re on the right side of the runway. Front row.”

“Front row?” Chloe squealed.

“This job does have its perks,” she teased, weaving her arm through Chloe’s and linking elbows.

“Have I told you I love your new job?”

Olivia rolled her eyes, steering Chloe toward their reserved seats. “You may have mentioned it once or twice.”

The lights flashed briefly as they settled into their chairs, signaling the crowd to be seated. She smiled and checked her watch. Natalia had warned her the show wasn’t likely to start on time and she’d been right. No surprise there. She scanned the crowd, nodding to a few of her coworkers as they waited.

A hush fell over the crowd as the lights died down and the runway came to life. Spotlights danced across the stage, keeping time with the loud techno music pumping through the speakers. She snuck a quick peek at Chloe, who was awestruck. It was hard to blame her. The videos she had watched of prior Vixen shows hadn’t done justice to the real deal. The music pulsed through her body, making it impossible not to get caught up in the mood.