Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 22

Cora's POV

I am in line and ready to go. My heart is racing, and I squeeze Emily's hand as she is right behind me and also nervous. She looks beautiful, but she was beautiful, in my opinion, before Eric made her over. Franco worked his magic too, but Emily had a beautiful head of hair, and all he had to do was some quick curls and we were good to go. I hope Dalton and his mom don't get mad at me for coming out and stealing his sister. I was in and out quickly and a few people saw me, so I thought I was OK. The music came up and I waited for my turn. Iris stands just out of sight of the people there to watch the show, but she directs us to come out and keep things moving. I knew as soon as I got off stage, I had to run and change quickly into my next outfit, and Olivia was going to help me do that.

I step out with my heart beating a mile a minute, but I walk to the end of the runway and am thankful for all the light on the stage and it seems like I am walking into an empty room. This helps calm me down. I hit my poses and then went back up the runway. As soon as I am backstage, I run over to my area and get my next outfit on. It is a pencil skirt and an ivory top. When I have them on, the button emphasizes how truly small my waist is, and the top shows off my breasts very well, as it actually was made just for me. I put on my black heels and headed back to the entrance to the stage to go out again. I hear murmurs in the crowd now while I am on the stage. I don't know if it is because I am less nervous, or I am paying more attention, or if I am doing something wrong, but I know I am hearing more talking this time around. I hit my poses quickly and remind myself do NOT to smile. And then head off the runway again.

I ran over to my area again and put on the pantsuit and looked over to catch Eric's eye. He held up the foundation and other items and I knew that he was ready to go. I will have a little more time after this next run. We are going according to the schedule and two more girls will be doing their first run after my next one. That will buy me 2 minutes, and I hope that is enough time. I get my pants suit on, and Iris reminds me at the stage, to hold one side of the jacket open to show the creamy, tan chemise underneath. I appreciated the reminder and nodded to her and headed out. I am glad that music is changing, and this is really going a lot faster than I thought it would. I head on out and the murmurs are a little louder this time. I hit my poses and make sure I hold the jacket open like I am supposed to, and then come back up the catwalk. I took the jacket off quickly and ran across the room to go to get the romper and walked back over with the top half of the romper down and my right arm covering my breasts, as Eric started working on the bruise. He works quickly and has it done in a minute and a half. Franco is fluffing up my curls as they are getting a little droopy, and adding some more hair spray. Eric started working on my eyes while I went ahead and pulled the strap up to where it was supposed to be and I made sure to lift both breasts up and get them sitting in the cups securely and evenly before I went to change my shoes. My items were all near the entrance to the stage, so it was just a quick stop. I step out and, for some reason, this outfit makes me feel like a million dollars. I feel voluptuous in it because my curves are all lovingly highlighted in this walking piece of art. It grips my waist very well and shows off my a*s nicely. The strap is on one side and curving down and then going straight across my breasts, and the neckline looks really nice, but at first, they won't see it. I have the jacket on covering it, I hit my pose at the end of the runway and then take the jacket off and hold it in my opposite hand. I hear a lot of talking now, and it isn't just a murmur. I turned in both directions so both sides of the seating areas could see me, and I turned on my heel and walked back off stage. I wonder if they are talking about all the outfits, and I hope that they are. I hope that this is Mateo's best show ever, because he has been so good to me, and I just want to help him out. I cleared the runway and ran over to my clothes. I am going to need Olivia to help me fasten the shoes because I don't want to wrinkle my dress. I changed quickly and I put the dress on with Olivia's help and I was in love. It feels so good on my skin. I don't even know what type of material this is, but it feels absolutely cool and smooth against my skin, now I think that I am going to need some boob tape and look around and see Olivia coming at me with a box of it, in a flesh tone, which will help keep my heavy breasts up and looking nice in the dress. We got my breasts taped up quickly and I liked how the box had adhesive pieces that also covered the n****e in case of any wardrobe malfunctions. We make sure no tape is showing and I ask Olivia if she can see my bruise, and lift my left arm for her to look at it. She assures me the bruise is covered and I head to stand next to Iris at the stage and notice all the other girls coming up to stand behind me in their outfits. They had already been out in theirs and this is the last round. I AM the showstopper. I get it now. I have the top girl outfit on. I walked out to the end of the runway and am really hearing loud murmurs now. I do my poses at the end of the catwalk and stand there as the rest of the girls come out and flank me on either side all the way down the runway. When the last girls are in place, I hear loud applause and stand there in my last pose, as I don't know how we are supposed to finish this, as Iris never told me. The clapping gets even louder, and I hear someone walking up towards me and suddenly, Mateo is standing next to me, waving to the crowd of people in their standing ovation, and then bows towards me and puts his hands out towards me as if pointing out not just me, but the outfit as well, he then tucks my arm into his and we turn and come off the stage last as the girls had started filing off after Mateo waved to the crowd and bowed. My adrenaline is on high, and I have extra energy and feel like I could run 10 miles if I needed to right now. Franco and Eric are right there to hug me and tell me what an excellent job I did, but how do they even know? I frown at them, and they point at a TV that I didn't see earlier, that shows the whole runway.

"Baby girl, you did such a great job out there", Franco tells me.

"Honey, you were absolutely stunning, you were made to do this" Eric tells me.

"Shea, I am so glad you needed some clothes, honey, you were perfect, and I never dreamed how perfect you were going to be for the show. That was a standing ovation by the whole crowd. I am thrilled at the turnout for the show and there was not an empty seat out there. I am sure that Saks will definitely be wanting your dress. It was gorgeous on you Shae. You did such an excellent job; it was like you have been doing this your whole life. I could not be prouder of you. If it is OK with you, I would like to only do 2 work outfits for the next three shows. I think your body type is more like for a little black dress, the rompers looked fabulous on you, and I will have to go back to the drawing board. I have so many ideas right now, I don't even know where to start. I will be bringing a sketchbook, or at least a notebook next time, so I can note everything, in case I forget something for the next show at the end of July. I am so pleased with how this show went. I haven't forgotten about your friend, Ava. I will be sure to talk to her too. You really can't have too many stunning women in your show, can you? Where is Emily? Is she still backstage? There she is, Emily. Could you please come over here? Emily, I am so thankful you were able to help us out and if you would like to be in the next show, please give Iris your information and we will let you know when you need to come in to be measured next week, and, the next time around, the clothes will be made especially for you and you will be even more stunning in them. Thank you so much for agreeing to help and with basically no notice, I heard from Shae that you are a fan, so please, whichever of the three outfits that you wore on the runway today, pick the two you liked the best and take them as my way of saying thank you for helping us out with my show. I would not have been able to show those 3 things and you never know what the "favorite outfit" of the show will be by the public and by Saks. I will catch up with your group later on out in the hall when I stop to speak with you all and Ava," Mateo says, and then he walks off to go do his interviews.

Emily squeals like a cheerleader and turns to me and takes me in a tight hug and says "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am so sorry I was rude to you when you came to me and asked me what size I was. I thought it was one of those things where someone was going to make fun of my size, and I was embarrassed. I am so sorry if I upset you at all. This has been the best day of my life and I am so happy. I can't wait to get out there and see my mom and brother. I hope one of them filmed the show or at least took pictures, so I can have it, and we can show dad when mom and I get home". Emily was bursting with pride, and I couldn't help but be happy for her. She did an excellent job, and I am sure that her family is super proud of her for getting up 20 minutes before the curtain and agreeing to do that. That takes a lot of courage and confidence.

"I will tell you if you ever need to get your hair done, that Franco is the best. I will be going to him from now on as I can't pass up the little neck rub while he washes my hair, it is my favorite part. I know he belongs to Eric, but I swear I almost moaned when he washed my hair", I tell her, trying to drum up more business for Franco.

Eric passed me and laughed and said "Honey, you did moan, but I understand, he does have some nice strong hands" before he winked at us and walked on.

"Let me get changed and out of this makeup and we can go outside. I don't want anyone to realize that it was me up on the stage", I told Emily. I brushed my hair out and used a spray bottle of water to mist my curls out and brushed it back straight. I then got a makeup wipe and got my face clean and the makeup off my side that was covering my bruise. I put my blue jean cut-off shorts and my T-shirt back on and went out to greet my friends. I got hug after hug all the way down the group, starting with Marlowe, Ava, Catherine, Abigail Fossett, who is Emily and Dalton's mom, Dalton, and then Nicolas. They all told me that I looked like a professional model up there and didn't look scared at all. I excused myself and told them that I would be right back because I wanted to speak with Victoria and the potential investors for Mateo. I saw Victoria in the corner with three people and walked over.