Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 59

Cora's POV

A month has passed now, and I have been busy, but my heart is broken. Collin and Maddie are engaged and if I needed any confirmation that I was tricked by Collin, that was it. They probably stay up at night laughing at the naïve girl that got played. I pushed it back behind me and got to the show early. It is the Winter fashion show today and I am excited about seeing my friends. I had been staying inside my parent's house and only going out to shop for us for the week at the grocery store and then for brunch on Sundays with the girls. Catherine sometimes comes, usually every other week, and keeps me abreast of what is going on, even though I do not ask her to do so.

I actually ran into Adam, from the plane, at the grocery store while he was there with his fellow firefighters to get groceries and I remember he lives close to me. We exchanged numbers, but I was probably not going to call him. I haven't been excited about much these days. I felt sad all the time and I don't like bringing my friends down, so I just stayed to myself. Next month I will be getting out and going to get my hair done, so that would be fun. I was actually making about the same exact money even with changing jobs. I had found investments for hard-to-place investors and was now known as the "go-to" person for difficult cases. Jerry and Alderidge could not be prouder of me and the level of professionalism that I am operating at working from home. I have gotten several bonuses for doing so, so it is really working out well for me. It is pretty easy for me. I go out to eat with my clients, and I really listen to what they are saying, and to what they are not saying, to me. I have gotten my questions down to an art form now, and I am excelling as the faith they have in me and my work, makes me continue to want to succeed.

I want them to know that I am working hard for them, even though they are letting me stay at home to do it, and I really appreciate it. I am spoiled, so I am trying to show them that their faith in me is warranted. I entered the door and headed straight to Eric for a hug. I started to tear up and he hugged me harder and said, "Baby girl, you don't have to say it, Iris already told us. We love you and we are here for you, beautiful girl. Now you let that sadness go. I am going to get you so glammed up that you will be crying with happiness"

Eric did my makeup and when he saw Ava coming up behind me, he pointed at her and said, "Do NOT get her to cry, her face is my masterpiece, and I don't want a tear on it". I hold my arms out to her and she hugs me tight.

"I am so sorry Cora, please don't be mad at me, I am still your friend," Ava told me, and I drew back to look at her.

"I am not mad at you Ava, I love you," I told her.

"Well, you won't love me soon because dad said to tell you that Maddie and Collin will be here today, so you might not want to come out after the show. Dad also told me to tell you to "not give up on Collin". It was kind of weird what dad said because it was something like " it's not what it appears to be" or something like that. I didn't understand, but dad said to tell you that anyway. I just don't want you to ever be mad at me. I am giving Collin the cold shoulder still, and of course, mom will be here too, and we both have your back, every single time", Ava told me, and I hugged her again because I needed to hear it.

"I can't dodge them forever. I can come out for a little while anyway. I still have Dalton and Nicolas gifts to give them. Since I don't get to see them anymore on Fridays", I told her and then went to see Franco to get my hair done.

"Hey baby girl, come here and give your favorite stylist a hug," Franco tells me, and picks me up in a strong hug and I put my arm around his shoulders and hugged him back.

"Hey there, don't be trying to take my man," I heard Eric call across the room to us and then started laughing.

"Franco, can you set me a hair appointment for next weekend for me, and also for the first week of December as well, so I will have a fresh color for the last show of the season on the following Saturday?" I asked him.

"Hang on baby girl," Franco said, and then picked up his phone and checked his schedule. "Done, I set it at noon for both of the first Saturdays of November and December for you in my system. You are my favorite client, and I will always make a spot available for you" Franco gets working on my hair and he made it straight this time, basically as it is a sleek fishtail braid that comes from the right side of my head over to the bottom of the left side of my head and then trailing down to the top of my left breast and leaves my face as the focus this time. I looked at my outfits and saw that I had a "little black dress" for the first outfit, and it was just beautiful. My second outfit was a pair of wide-leg pants and a winter white sweater with the sweater a boat neck and off my shoulder. I looked sexy and classic in this outfit. The third outfit was a fuchsia-colored long-sleeved silk shirt with a pair of tight leather pants. I realized why my hair was like it was when I looked at my two evening gowns. The fourth outfit was a winter white gown in a slinky material that clung to me, it had a strap on my right shoulder that circled my shoulder and then went across the back onto the other side of the dress, and a sweetheart, kind of neckline, just showing off the tops of my breasts, and then moving down again towards my waist leaving my back almost bare except for the one strap running across my back to hold the two sides together. The last dress was my favorite one. It had long sleeves, and a high neck with a peek-a-boo cut out between my breasts, that offered occasional glimpses of my breasts and fastened around my neck. My back was completely bare from the neck fastener to my waist and there was a slit on my left leg that went higher than I thought it should. It stopped about three inches under my v****a, and I was glad that I had black underwear to wear today, or this could have been an unfortunate incident. As usual, Mateo had outdone himself, and I tried to psych myself up for the show. I got in my position in line as the third person and waited for my cue to go from Iris. She smiled at me and pointed down, and I saw the shoes that I had bought her while I was in Paris on her feet. She made a heart shape with both her hands for me, as we couldn't speak that close to the runway. I nod and smile at her and then get my game face on. I step out in the little black dress, and it is a great cocktail dress. It could also be worn to the office as well because the only hint of sexy on it is in the back with the slit. I hear murmurs of approval as I get to the end of the walkway and hit my poses and then turn and come back up the runway. I hurry across and change into my next outfit, which I have to say is my second favorite. The pants fit me like a second skin at my waist and a*s before the legs got wider and my shoulder showing gives this classy outfit a hint of sexy. I love this outfit and I will be wearing it out the next time that I meet clients at a restaurant. It is dressy, but not over the top dressy. I hit my poses with my head held high and then went back up the runway. I hurry over to my area, calling out to Eric that I have one more outfit to get before I come back to him, and he nods and shows me that he is ready for me. I hope Livi will be coming to help me with the dresses as I am putting on the leather pants and I am glad I won't have them on for long. They are beautiful and classic, but you can get sweaty in them. They hug my a's though cradling it as a lover would, and it makes me a little sad thinking of that. I shake it off and hurry over to Iris, still buttoning the shirt. Emily helps me straighten it out and I smile at her in thanks. Iris gives me the go-ahead and I head out. I again get some murmurs about the outfit and I really throw my hip out in each of my poses, as I know my a*s is the star of the pants in this outfit too, and then turn and come back up the runway. I send up a sign of relief that Livi is here now, and I see that she is rocking the shoes I got her in Paris too. I hurry over to Eric and start unbuttoning my shirt before I get to him, so he is good to go as he does my face and I know the pants are not going to just slide off me. Eric gets my eyes a little darker for my evening gowns and I run to Livi to get the pants off, and thank God that they come off easier than I thought they would. Livi holds the dress up and I slide under it. She lets it slide down my body and I like the dress even more now, it has me covered with only the rise of my breasts and my back showing. I hurried to Iris, and I made it by like 30 seconds. I take a good deep breath and slowly exhale. I take another deep breath in, and Iris gives me the signal and I head out with my head high and like I own this place. I hear loud murmurs as the dress sways with me in all its silken glory. I hit my poses and the murmurs got louder as I turned and headed back to the dressing room. I get some help from Livi to get the dress off and she grabs the n****e covers as there is a cut out between my breasts, and I don't want a nip slip picture getting out there. I got the dress on, and it felt as good as the winter white one did. I love how silky they feel against my skin, the cutout was noticeable, but not scandalous, I was covered and there was something about the long sleeves attached to the top of the dress. But there was really no real side panel to the dress, the dress fasted behind my neck and my whole back was exposed, and the front and a small section of the side ended right next to the side of my breasts going down to the waist. I felt bold and alive again in this dress. I felt powerful and empowered. I felt like I had been given something by this dress that I had been missing for the last month. I take my position and I see the girls getting excited again and filing in behind me. Iris gives me the go-ahead and I take off. The murmurs are a lot louder, and I feel like a warrior in this dress. I feel confident and strong. That's what it was, I felt stronger, that I would be just fine, no matter what happened with Collin. I could find love again, and I remember my worth. I look down that runway and, with my fiercest face, I head down and hit my poses and then stop and wait. I hear the girls coming out, and then I hear the crowd clap as Mateo steps up to me. I keep my head high and gaze straight out at the cameras while Mateo motions at the girls and they turn to leave. Mateo makes a big production of bowing to me and the crowd gets louder, and he takes my arm through his and escorts me off the stage, as he gets a standing ovation for the winter line.