hapter 0215
Chapter 0215
Ella POV
“It’s a beautiful gown,” Antonio Kingsman said, scrolling through the pictures on my phone. “But is it stunning enough for a bride being married at a castle?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, a flicker of defensiveness creeping into my tone. “Are you saying the dress isn’t glamorous enough?”
“I think it should be customized for you,” he replied, his tone measured. “To ensure you stand out as the bride— and not just another of many this winter.”
I hesitated, his words stirring an unwelcome memory. Amanda in her dress–so similar to mine–on my first wedding day. The image flashed through my mind, and my stomach turned.
“Isn’t it too late for all that?” I asked, forcing myself back to the present. “You have Alexander’s suit to make, after all.”
Antonio chuckled softly. “I’ve already started on that.”
“How?” I asked, surprised. “You hadn’t seen the dress yet, and Alexander said he hadn’t ordered the suit.”
“I started with the basics,” he explained. “I knew Alexander would want something more traditional, so I’ve worked from that assumption. Now that I’ve seen your dress, I’m confident I can finalize the details to make the outfits complimentary rather quickly. Besides, we have a whole team here. Hiring us to make alterations and customize your gown doesn’t mean I’ll be doing everything myself.”
“That’s true, I suppose,” I muttered, considering his point. “I do want to make sure the dress is unique. What kinds of changes are you thinking about? There won’t be time for me to try it on again if we go through with alterations I’d just have to trust your judgment.”
“That’s true,” Antonio agreed with a small nod. “I’d like to think you can trust my judgment, but we’ve only met a few times. I’d understand if you felt uncertain about that.
“Alexander trusts you, right?” I asked.
“He trusts me enough to make all his clothing,” Antonio said with a faint smile.
“Then that will have to be enough for me,” I said, though my confidence felt shakier than my words suggested. ” If you think customizing the dress is the best course of action, then that’s what we’ll do.”
“You won’t regret it,” he assured me, his voice filled with quiet conviction.
“Now, about that special outfit you had me working on for Alexander,” Antonio said, his tone teasing yet professional. “I have some sketches for you to look over. It would be helpful if you told me exactly what you plan to take him to do.”
“I haven’t decided exactly yet,” I admitted, leaning forward “But if you let me look at the sketches, I’m sure I can pick something”
The truth was, Alexander was more mysterious than I had realized. My attempts to learn more about him had yielded little beyond rumors. Many of the photos I’d found of him in different locations–events, exotic places, lavish parties—had turned out to be nothing more than publicity stunts.
None of it gave me a real sense of where he would actually choose to spend his time.
It seemed so much of his life was carefully constructed to maintain an image, a polished version of himself for the world to see. The line between the public Alexander and the real Alexander was blurry, almost nonexistent at
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Chapter 0215
times.
Antonio placed the large folder he’d been carrying on the table and opened it with a flourish. Inside was a collection of meticulously drawn sketches.
“Here you go,” he said, sliding it toward me.
I flipped through the pages slowly, taking in each design. Antonio’s work was impeccable, and picturing Alexander in any of these outfits was surprisingly easy. He’d look good no matter what he wore; I was convinced
of that.
Still, the choice felt daunting. Without knowing where we were going, it was hard to decide. As I turned another page, one design caught my eye.
It was a sleek, modern look that exuded understated confidence. The design included a tailored black jacket with subtle leather accents, giving it a rugged yet sophisticated edge. Beneath the jacket was a deep charcoal shirt with a faint pattern to add texture.
The pants were slim–fitting and tapered, made from a material that looked comfortable enough for movement but stylish enough for any upscale event. The look included boots with a polished finish and an embossed detail at the heel.
“This one,” I said, tapping the sketch with my finger.
Antonio raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Interesting choice. It’s versatile–sharp enough for a formal evening but casual enough to suit a more adventurous setting.”
“So no matter what we end up doing, it should work,” I said, smiling.
Antonio nodded. “I agree entirely. It seems I have a lot of work to do.” He smiled in a way that made it seem like he was excited at the prospect. “Have your dress delivered here, and I’ll get started on the alterations immediately.
11
“Okay,” I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please let me know as soon as this outfit is finished,” I said, tapping the sketch again, my fingers lingering on the page as if reluctant to pull away.
An image of Alexander in the outfit flashed in my mind, and my breath caught. It would look incredible on him, the sleek lines of the suit highlighting his broad shoulders and long legs.
My pulse quickened, and I felt my face heat at the thought. quickly shook the image away, not wanting to let my thoughts wander too far.
“I will,” Antonio assured me, his smile both knowing and understanding. “Now, I’m sure you have plenty of work left to do before the wedding. I won’t keep you any longer.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft but full of gratitude before I turned toward the exit. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, but I forced myself to keep walking, my heart still racing from the moment.
As I left the shop, my phone began to ring with Alexander’s familiar ringtone. It was as if he could sense that I was thinking of him.
I glanced at the screen, a smile tugging at my lips. I had finally changed the contact name from the silly, made–up credit card company to Alexander’s true name. I no longer had to hide my connection to him.
There was still so inuch to be done for the wedding, so I was certain he was calling to ask me some quick question.
But even so, a slight thrill ran through me at the thought of hearing his voice again. It seemed I could never get enough of him–no matter what we talked about, whether pleasant or not.
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Then, unexpectedly, a sad thought struck me. I realized that the day would come when Alexander wouldn’t call me like this anymore. The game we were playing would end, and we would no longer be tied to each other.
The thought of putting all of this behind me should have brought comfort, but instead, it weighed heavily on my
heart.
The thought of losing Alexander was almost too much to process. Since this second chance had begun, he had been my anchor, far more than just a business partner. The idea that one day this would all be over was almost too painful to accept.
I cleared my throat, trying to mask the wave of emotion that threatened to slip through, then answered the phone, my voice steady but my heart racing.
