Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 98

Cora's

POV

I have gone nowhere for a week. No one has heard from or seen Maddie, and Collin has hired investigators to try to locate her. The Agents didn't come out of his room because she didn't attack Collin like we all thought that she would. I am actually kind of scared of when she will pop up, as I know that since she didn't attack Collin, she is definitely coming after me and the babies. I wouldn't have left the apartment today, but it is the summer fashion show and I have to be here to work on it. Mateo did me a solid and had me only showing 4 outfits instead of 5, and I appreciated it. Iris would be there to help me with the three changes that I had to show, instead of just the last two outfits. I got here at 1110, as Thomas had changed my schedule, so no one would know when I was going to get here.

Collin has added another man to my security. He is an off-duty detective and was making some extra money today by helping out with my security. Thomas will stay in the back with me and when I go out onto the runway, he will stay in the back to watch me walk, and then he will go back to my dressing area after I clear the stage. The other man would sit with Collin in the seated area to watch the show and they would both come out if I needed help. Maddie would not be able to get into Ava's complex, as the building has security at all entrances. If you don't have a key card you have to go through them to enter the building, there is no slipping through when someone comes out, you might slip in, but you won't make it past Security. The safety provided by the building was the reason that Ava had moved there. Collin and the security guy were sitting next to Adam and the other firefighters who had come to watch the show. Michael will be seated next to Adam, and I know that Adam will be getting Michael ramped up about Anna while the show is going on. Mateo was glad to help her out and she fit right into my outfit with really no alterations needed. My chest is a little larger than hers is, but the rest of it fits her like it had been made for her. I think seeing her all dolled up and on the runway will be just the push Michael needs to get his focus solely back on Anna. I had given Anna instructions to get here at 1130 because we needed to show her the walk, and for her to get ready with hair and makeup too. She was really excited, and I knew she was going to enjoy her first modeling experience. Anna was a quick student, and she had the walk down after being shown twice. She has a nice gait and exudes confidence. I already know that Anna is going to kill it today and I am so happy I met her and that the dress that Mateo had made for me a few months ago before we found out I was pregnant is going to look fabulous on her. It will be her second dress and it is gorgeous. It is a strapless black evening dress, with the neckline dipping slightly, but not a sweetheart neckline. The dress flows to the floor and since Anna is only a half-inch taller than me, it is still perfect for her. The dress glides down her body in a slim silhouette and it has a thigh-high slit on the front of her left leg, so with every step she takes her leg makes an appearance, and with her naturally tan skin, she looks fabulous in it. Her first outfit was made for her and is also a dress you would wear out on a date. It is a little black dress with spaghetti straps and a straight neckline, it goes to about 2 inches above her knee and zips up the side. After her hair and makeup, she will look like a living doll in it, she can make it perfect for an office, or a meeting, or dress it up to go out in, and still be classically elegant. I took her over to introduce her and after they heard about Michael dumping her because he had a crush on me, they told her to not worry about it, they were going to glam her up. Eric outdid himself, making her eyes pop for the stage, and her lips wear a bright red to continue with the bold look. Since both her dresses had little to no straps, Franco decided that he would be doing Anna's hair up with curls coming down to her neck. They were fun and bouncy as she walked, and she was going to look great out on the runway. They were not going to recognize her at all out there, because I was with her and after they got finished, I didn't even recognize her. While Franco was doing Anna's hair, I got into Eric's chair while he did my makeup. As always, I looked stunning after he was done. Franco also did my hair half up and the rest fell down my back in bouncy curls. Thomas gave us both a thumbs up and continued to watch everyone that approached me. With Maddie on the loose, Thomas was taking no chances on her coming after me backstage. I go to check out my outfits and I love them all. Mateo never ceases to amaze me with how great a job that he does for me and all of his models. He really does portray us all in our best light, despite how different our bodies are. My first outfit is a ruched army green dress that goes down to my calves. It has a slim fit and had a thin-strap tank top-like top with a racerback. It was so comfortable to wear, and I thought I looked great in it. I have gained 32 lbs. with the twins here at the 8th-month mark, and I was all breasts and belly at this point, but my doctor said I was doing great, and the babies were growing very well. This dress was like a chalk outline on me, but I have to say that although I looked very pregnant, I also looked fashionable and cute as well. My second outfit was a black and white houndstooth pattern silk shirt, with a black mini-skirt. I was doubtful before I tried it on. The mini skirt also had buttons on the inside of the waistband, three on each side for a custom fit. When I tried it on, you couldn't tell that I was pregnant as I was walking towards you, it was only again when I turned that it showed. The third was a cute little light coral summer dress with a V neck and a little bow tie at the bottom of the V. It flows around me and completely hides my baby bump and is light as a feather on my frame. The dress has cute cap sleeves, it has a little flirty ruffled three-inch hem and hits me about 2 inches above my knees, it looks great on me. My fourth outfit was a red satin evening gown, the halter-like neck had a gap to show my breasts before the top of the halters ties were twisted around each other and then went over my right shoulder and continued the twisted part across my back and ended up on the left side of my back at the waistband. The flow and movement of this dress was hypnotizing, as it moved around me, and again it hid my baby bump like magic. I loved all my pieces and I felt that I would be back to my original weight quickly after I give birth to the babies.

It was now 10 minutes to the show, so I went to use the bathroom and Eric waved me over for him to fix my lipstick. I hadn't realized it, but I had gnawed off most of my lipstick in the last hour and he needed to fix it.

"Don't worry honey, we are all here. If something happens and she does happen to show up, we will all help you. Call out for us, or better yet, we will be watching the camera on the stage. I will set my phone up to record the screen covering the runway, just in case. We love the babies too and don't want anything to happen to you while you are out there. They have people out there watching for her, Cora. We will be watching you on the runway, baby girl. Everything is going to be all right", Eric told me. I smiled and hugged him because I knew that they were all here for me and I am so thankful to all my friends. They are all coming to my baby shower next weekend at Marlowe's house, and we have all been busy talking about how fun that is going to be for the last week. I went over and put my first outfit on and again, I just love how comfortable this outfit is. I had brought nursing pads for my n*****s as my milk had already come in, and my breasts were visibly bigger. I put the tape on to keep my now larger breasts up and the nursing pads will keep anything from staining my outfits on the runway.

Ava comes up to check on me and tells me how cute I look. She always likes the outfits that show off her niece and nephew to the world. She cannot wait for them to get here, and she gets more excited each day. I know that both Ava and Marlowe have gone bananas buying stuff for the babies. I have tried to slow them down, but they have their own money and my trying to tell them that the babies can't wear all those outfits before they outgrow them falls on deaf ears. They always just smile and say whatever outfits they don't get to wear, the next one can. I haven't even had these babies and they are ready for me to get pregnant again. Sorry, but they are going to have to wait at least two years for me to have another. But I can always give the clothes to Sadie and Michael, as they are now engaged to be married, and will probably have another before I do. I smile as Marlowe will absolutely love that, and Ava and Jacob are doing great in their relationship as well. I would not be surprised if they didn't end up together "officially" and soon. I know Ava and Marlowe will be spending a boatload of money when that time comes, because Ava is the baby and the only girl. I know that baby will be welcomed with many open arms. Plus, I know that Jacob and Ava will make a really cute baby too. I join the lineup near Iris, and we all hold hands and make our good wishes before it starts. I hear music come up and it is go-time. I so love getting to walk the runway. So much energy comes up and makes me feel like I can do anything when I do this. I remained in the third spot because I didn't feel like I needed to start and stop the show. That felt a little greedy to me and I am not a supermodel. I am just an accounts manager that Mateo can make beautiful clothing for, an average Jane that can be buffed and polished to shine by the dream team. I think that this show, which marks a year for me being with the company, and with Mateo, is going to be the best show ever. I am so excited to see Michael realize that Anna is the new model after the show. I cannot wait to see his face when he replaces out.