After he dropped me off and I paid the fare, I walked up to the display window, pressed my palm on the cold glass, and stared back at my own reflection. I looked at the mannequins, dressed in creations I’d spent countless hours designing. Then I opened the doors and switched on the lights. I spun in a slow circle and looked at all racks of clothing, trendy outfits in all sizes for less than fifty bucks. That place was my dream.
The décor in our boutique played a vital role in our success. We kept the atmosphere modern and contemporary, with a huge black dresser in the corner, its top drawer open for accessories and the jewelry Nadia designed, from crystal earrings and necklaces to beaded bracelets. We furnished the place with big, comfy chairs and lounge benches with cushions, as well as mirrors, lights, display cases, deep shelves in the wall, dressing rooms, a sitting area, and a public bathroom.
The thought of losing our business was devastating, and I knew I couldn’t let that happen as long as I had a way to prevent it. How hard can it be to take some stupid pictures with an idiot I won’t even have to talk to? I’ll just stay as far away from him as possible and only get close when we have to take photos.
I frantically dialed Nadia’s number. When she picked up on the third ring, I said, “I’ll do it.”
Ecstatic, she screamed so loud, my ears began to ring. “Awesome!” she squealed.
“I’ve got to make the arrangements and call my idiot traveling companion.”
“Look, Ashly, I know you’re taking one for the team, and I can’t thank you enough.”
“I’ll grin and bear it…but you so owe me for this.”
“Owe you? You’re gonna be rich. You’ll have twenty-five million dollars for putting up with that ass for a couple of photo sessions.”
“A couple? Try almost a dozen of them, all in different locations!”
“Don’t cop out now. We need this. Promise me you’ll put up with the ass. Think of it as a horrible, horrible job assignment. Don’t even talk to him. Just get the photos and hurry back. I’ll have a stiff drink waiting for you the second you get off the plane.”
“I’ll do my best. I just hope I can handle spending all that time with Jake.”
“If you feel like leaving, promise you’ll call me first.”
“So you can talk me out of it?”
“Absolutely!” She let out a breath. “Listen, if it hurts that bad, don’t put yourself through it. We’ll find another way. We’ll survive. We always do.”
“No, I’m gonna do it, even if it means losing half to Jake. I can’t give up all of my mother’s money, and if I don’t do this, everything will go to the lawyer, who’s already filthy rich. I like the guy, but the thought of that just makes me cringe.”
“It’s your money now, girlfriend. Go get it.”
I smiled. “I will, Jake or no Jake.”
“And listen,” she said, “you gotta promise me you’ll jump in the blue water and kiss a dolphin. No thinking about work, because I swear that’s all you live for. Don’t be designing clothes in your head while you’re ride a horse seaside or snorkeling.”
I laughed.
“I’m serious. All work and no play makes Ashly a dull girl. While you’re gone, I’ll handle everything. No worries. And I still have that extra key, so I’ll be happy to stop by and feed Tiger.”
“Thanks, Nadia.”
“You can even take one of the bikinis from the Reflection Collection.”
“They’re so gorgeous.”
She laughed. “Of course they are. I designed them. You’ll look fantastic. We’ve been going to that workout class for a long time, and you have the flattest abs. Just flaunt that bod in Jake’s face and show him what he missed out on.”
“Thanks, Nadia.”
“I’m serious, girlfriend.”
After we said our goodbyes, I hung up and pondered, Can I really put up with Jake without killing him on this vacation? The truth was, I wasn’t so sure.
Chapter 5
Three weeks later…