Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 28

Cora's

POV

It was show day and I was super excited, well at least I was until Ava just told me that Collin had asked her for two tickets and then found out that it wouldn't be Maddie coming, it would be Eden. I try to push the jealously down, but it is a bitter pill to swallow. I just have to let it go, he has never shown even the slightest interest in me, it is just a pipe dream of mine. I need to do my job of going out there and not tripping and falling. Go out, don't smile, hit my poses, and come back up the runway and repeat. I got in Eric's chair and he told me "Hey, gorgeous, why the long face?"

"Just frustrated, it hurts when you like someone, but they don't know that you are alive, you know, that kind of thing," I tell him.

"Honey, if he doesn't know that you are alive, he may not have a pulse," Eric tells me and laughs. Eric then says, "Honey, you are a gorgeous woman. Sometimes gorgeous women intimidate men. You may need to smile more and show him that you are approachable". "No, because it is a guy at work, you know where I am, plain jane, with no makeup and my hair in a bun," I told him.

"OH! No! Oh no, girl. My Spidey senses are tingling, please do not tell me you have a thing for your boss?" Eric says.

I see Ava's head come up quickly and she looks at me, smiles, and says, "I would love for you to be my sister-in-law, that would be freaking awesome" and I start to blush furiously.

Ava continues to say, "My mom and dad would love for you to date my brother. Mom has made mention of it several times and also mentioned how gorgeous her grandchildren would be if it were to come true. But today you get to meet my other brother, Michael. He is also gorgeous and 28 years old, so he is one year younger than Collin. He is also tall, with deep brown hair like Collin's, but he has mom's blue eyes, not that that is a bad thing, but only me and Collin got the green eyes from dad. He is super smart and is a lawyer here in New York. I would be happy if you married either one of them. I would love to be related to you".

"I would love to be related to you too, but I would have to love someone, and they love me for us to get married. I was kind of saving myself for marriage", I tell Ava.

Eric freezes his movements and comes around to the front of my chair and looks me in the eye and says, "Shea, are you a virgin?".

"Yes, why? Is that a problem?" I asked him.

"Oh, you, sweet, sweet girl. The more I learn about you, the more I love you. I have no idea how a girl that looks like you is still sitting on her cherry, but that is amazing", Eric tells me and gets back to work.

Ava practically skips up to me and is almost vibrating with excitement and then she says, "Mom knew you were a good girl. I don't know how she knew it; she just had a feeling. I bet that is why she wanted you for her son. I don't think that she cares, either one is good for her, but I bet you have a preference" and Ava winks at me and then starts to laugh, and if I didn't have my foundation on, I know that my face would be completely red at this time.

"Ava, be serious, neither one of your brothers is interested in me" I whisper, yell at her.

"Well, you haven't even met Michael yet, so give him a chance. I can almost guarantee that he will be. He is a sweetheart, so just give him a chance. Also, I asked him to come to dinner with us after the show. Plus, we already told him your little secret, but Collin is still in the dark about it, and just so you know Collin IS actually interested in you, he just doesn't know that it is YOU yet. He has been trying to replace "Shae" for over a month now, according to Nicolas and Dalton, who both replace it hilarious. You are literally sitting outside his door at work, and he hasn't figured it out yet", Ava says, laughing.

"Ava, no offense, but I kind of want him to want me for me, the regular me, not the dolled up me. But the nerdy girl that likes to read and loves math, that version of me, not this one. I want someone to love me for who I am, not for being arm candy. Beauty fades, so you need to make sure that the core, the love, that you have, is strong", I told Ava.

"Honey, please stop, you are making me cry now, and I need to see you for me to be able to finish your makeup. Plus, Franco is looking over here now and thinks that something is wrong. Just know, that when you meet the right one for you, the road is not always paved in gold. There are problems, and potholes too, some so big they will throw you out of the car. You need to stay strong and do what you know to be right, and you will eventually get where you need to be, with the right one. Give it some time. I think he does have a thing for you, he just hasn't acted on it. He may just be attracted to the pretty packaging because, with this type of occupation, models are not usually known for being innocent maidens. So, he may want the girl with more experience per se, instead of taking your innocence from you, because unfortunately, Collin is not known for being in relationships that last. He is more of a "good time" guy right now", Eric tells me and finishes my makeup. "Now go over to Franco and tell him I just got teared up over your sweet self, and that everything is OK, or he will be worried. Oh, and don't forget to come over here after you leave the stage in the third outfit, I will need to bold up your eyes again and make sure that your lips are on point too". Eric gave me a hug and sent me off to Franco and I relayed the message to Franco that Eric said, "that he was OK, I just got him worried and sad about something that I said". Franco nodded and said, "We both worry about you baby girl. You are like our little sister, and we try to keep an eye out for you". Franco did his magic and this time I look more sophisticated than I did for the last show. My hair has been curled and piled up on top of my head in a stunning updo including braids and twists, with a few strategic pieces of hair coming down onto my shoulders that he quickly refreshes with a few beautiful curls that flow down gracefully on my shoulders, and a few on my back, leaving my upper body almost completely uncovered by my hair. I look delicate and graceful right now. Franco looked at me, looking at myself in the mirror, and said, "I like your hair down too, but your last 2 dresses have some lovely necklines to show off, and Mateo mentioned that he wanted it up this time around, and he is the boss honey". Franco tells me.

"No Franco, I love it. I look so grown up right now. I have to say that every time you and Eric work on me, I feel like I look the absolute best that I can look. When you two do this, I have never felt more beautiful in my whole entire life. I am so glad that my parents are here to see me model and get to see me like this", I told Franco and looked up to the ceiling, trying to keep a tear from falling, and started fanning my face.

"Do NOT mess up my work baby girl!" I heard Eric calling out to me from across the room and that helped me laugh and the moment passed.

"I will tell Eric the lovely compliment that you gave us, sweet girl. You are truly a joy for us to work with, and I thank you for the referrals. I have 6 new customers in the last month alone due to you telling them about me, oh, and my fantastic hair washing capabilities. Eric has seen growth in his business as well, and on the weekends that we are free from the show, we are now doing hair and makeup for weddings. We have seen a significant increase in word-of-mouth work coming in for us. But we will always have room for you sweet girl. Now go ahead and check out your clothes, and good luck out there today, but as you said, I don't think that you have ever looked better either, you are absolutely gorgeous", Franco tells me, and he is having to fan his face as he is now

overcome too.

I go over to my clothes and see my two business outfits hung up, but the pencil skirt, although modest in the front coming to the top of my knee, the slit in the back is up to the top of my thighs, it is paired with a bright red shirt, with a deep V in it, and I think this must be on the sexy end of the business, which doesn't exist in the corporate world, but it is a nice outfit, I just think Mateo pushed the "office appropriate" line hard.

My second outfit is a long-sleeved, romper pantsuit in a gorgeous teal color, I love it, but the V neck plunges low, almost to the waist and I see I will have to be taped up early, so I ask Livi to help me as I might as well do it now, so I won't be rushing later. Livi goes to get the tape as I continue to look at my clothes.

My third outfit is a pants suit, which thankfully is my second work outfit. The tailored, slim-fit, high-waist, pants look really nice and are made to show off your high heels and slim legs. I bet they will also highlight my rear end as well. We will replace out when I put them on. They were fine at the fitting last weekend, so I can't think of any problem arising today. The jacket is cropped and looks great, especially with the sleeveless silk cami in a coral color. The coral really pops against the black and I make sure to remember to hold the jacket open to one side as I wear it on the runway, when I hit my poses.

The fourth outfit is stunning. It is an emerald green, halter-neck, evening dress. It fastens behind my neck with a clasp, leaving my back entirely bare down to the waist of the dress, which stops just on top of my rear. My front is totally covered with the sides coming down right next to my breasts to the waistband in large wavy scallops, so you will see a little of the side of my breasts when I pose, so I will be sure to wear the n****e covers again today, just in case. It also has a slit, cut to the top of my thigh, for my left leg. It is a stunning dress, and I can't wait to show it on the runway.

The last dress is the showstopper. Literally, this silky, clingy, black dress is truly a curvy woman's dream. The floor-length, long-sleeved, slinky, black dress has a deep V neckline that goes all the way down to the waist on the front and on the back of the dress. It has long tight sleeves and is not totally form-fitting on the bottom, as it has a little room for the dress to move, making it look sensuous as I move. Like it has a life and mind of its own. The fabric curves on my butt like a dream and then falls like a silly waterfall to the floor. It also has a slim, detachable, braided, gold belt that has a lariat end to it, right below where it fastens, that moves very well as you walk too. The belt emphasizes how small my waist is, and the movement draws the eye as well, so you notice the silky movement of the dress. If the neckline and back weren't so low, it would be the most modest thing that I wore today.