Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 69

Cora's

POV

Mateo started the conference by telling the reporters that he would be issuing a statement that Livi prepared before we would answer any questions, and I sat in my chair and listened to him speak.

"In December, Maddie Summers made some terrible and untrue allegations against both myself and my model, Cora Bowers AKA "Shea". Cora was working under a pseudonym as she didn't want modeling to affect her professional work environment, or it reflected badly on her or her 9 to 5 job. Not because she was trying to hide anything else. Cora and I have never been in a relationship, now or when we met. We have only had a business relationship, and a friendship together. Additionally, Cora actually introduced me to and encouraged me to date, my Fiancé, Ella Adams. Ella is pregnant and the stress that she goes through on both her friend Cora and me being defamed and slandered by Ms. Summers caused us all a great deal of stress. Cora was assaulted in her home, and her father was also assaulted because some of you acted on alleged and unverified information. So, I will clear that up for you as well. I didn't hire Maddie Summers because she does not fit in with my brand and line. Quite simply, Maddie is tall and slim, and yes, beautiful, but she doesn't have the lush curves that I prefer to design for. She is also a very abrasive person, with few redeeming qualities, as I have seen her screaming at Cora on several occasions when she didn't know that I was there behind her. Maddie had asked her agent to get her hired as a model for my team, and I was just not interested in her. She has a thin angular body, which is why I didn't want her in my line. I instead told her to tell her Agent to stop calling me. Again, that was my decision, not anyone else's, and instead, I hired two other women that were present at the time, who both had curvy and lush shapes, and WERE more in line with my vision and designs. Maddie then promptly went off on them both, and then asked me if "I was out of my mind" with my choices. Maddie has a personal problem and issue with Cora and has gone out of her way to be ugly to her, including threatening to assault her, which we have proof of, on video, and that also will be produced at the trial. Cora actually asked me to change my mind after Maddie asked me to design her wedding dress and I refused her because that is the kind of person that Cora is, kind and forgiving. I already had my wedding outfits to design, also in April, and produce gowns for the bridal party as well, as Tuxedos for my groomsmen in the same month as Maddie was requesting hers, and between my wedding and my design line, I didn't have time to tack on any extra work for myself. I have my Spring line coming out next month. I have the semi-free month of April that now has my wedding in it, but I also have to prepare my summer line for it to be ready for May. So, you see, I didn't turn her down because of Cora, or for Cora. I did it because I am too busy to take on anything extra during this busy period. I want you to all know that every vicious thing that Maddie told you was in fact absolutely incorrect. You were set on an innocent young woman who you then attacked, and she cannot even feel safe in her own home because of you. She has been stalked and slandered. Assaulted and maligned, and we will not be letting any of this go. I plan on suing Ms. Summers for defamation, slander, and causing my pregnant Fiancé undue stress with all the lies that she told. Cora will be suing her as well for the same charges of defamation and slander, as well as for assault charges, and her father will be suing Ms. Summers for his assault as well. Any one of us should be able to feel safe in our own home and when Maddie got angry about the attention that Cora was being given by Maddie's ex-boyfriend, Collin, at that time, it was all in her jealous mind and should not have been passed onto Cora, to be punished. The bottom line is, everything Ms. Summers gave you was incorrect, but you ran with it like it was the truth. We will also be looking into suing the people who actually did the actual assault as well unless you are willing to give your sworn statement to the police as well as any proof of who called and told you these lies. We already know who did it and unless you want to be tied up in this lawsuit as well, it would be wise to just come forward and speak to our attorney after this press conference" Mateo motioned to Livi, who was standing between me and him right behind our chairs and the fierce look she wore on her face, even scared me, as she looked ready to take on the world right now. Livi said, "we can start your questions now if you would like to ask some".

"So, you and Cora have never dated Mateo?" One of the reporters called out.

"Never, we are only friends, and she was helping me out with promoting my line, and as you can see, she is perfect for it. Cora has a body that was meant for a runway. I saw her and my first thoughts were of Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, who were all built similarly, with a small waist and other large attributes, which show off my clothing very well. Does she not excel on the runway?" Mateo questions back to the reporter.

"Yes, she does a great job, but we were told that you made her your star, because of your relationship" The reporter continued his line of questioning.

"I made her my star because she is a star. She comes in early, ready to work, she doesn't demand anything, she just gets her hair and makeup done with no problems and issues for my team, she is kind to her fellow models, and she doesn't have an inflated opinion of herself. She is an intelligent woman, and I am very happy that she is on my team. I feel like we have doubled our visibility and sales since she started working for me last May, and I hope that she continues to work with me for as long as she chooses to do so", Mateo answered him.

"So, Cora didn't tell you not to design the wedding dress for Maddie Summers?" another reporter asked.

"No, she didn't. Cora came to get me at the request of Maddie Summers, who wanted to speak to me after our show back in October. Cora did not know what Maddie wanted to ask of me. She stood in the back of the dressing room area until she heard an argument between Maddie and the future Groom's mother and sister. Cora was worried about her friends and came to the door between the dressing area and the floor where we were speaking to make sure that they were OK, as that is the type of friend that she is. Maddie then accused me that Cora had told me not to design her gown, but I decided to do that myself. I am incredibly busy, and I honestly didn't have time to do it. I had already declined her offer twice when Cora came to the door and Maddie immediately verbally attacked her, which we also have on video thanks to my quick-witted attorney. Cora did not in any way factor in on my decision not to make Maddie's dress. It comes down to two reasons, basically: Ms. Summers did not fit in with my curvy clothing line, and two Ms. Summers is a bully and goes out of her way to be mean and ugly to others. I did not want to be tied to her in any way and I felt like my design would not be complementary to her angular shape. I also will not have any extra time to design and make her a dress as I have a wedding coming up at the same time. I would also like to take this opportunity to say that the women that I have modeling for me now are just the very best group of women. They help each other out, they root for each other, help straighten each other's outfits, and they do what is needed to make each show a success. I didn't get that vibe from Maddie at all. From what I have seen of her, and I have a video to back it up, Maddie is a hateful and difficult woman who enjoys causing pain to others and only promotes her own agenda. I didn't want her on my team for those reasons, and I enjoy my drama-free dressing room. The shows are hectic and stressful enough without adding a malicious person to the fray", Mateo tells them. "Cora, why did you try to take Collin Lauder away from Maddie?" another reporter asked me.

"I have never taken a man from another woman. Maddie and Collin were not dating for a period of time. Collin and I were together for only a very short time. But neither one of us was with anyone else when this occurred, and I have not approached him since. I do not know what Ms. Summers' problem is, but she was incorrect to say that I tried to take him from her because that never happened", I tell them. "Cora, do you still have feelings for Collin?" was called out from the back and I froze in my chair.

"I did have feelings for Collin, but he has made his choice, and I am moving on. I do not need a man in my life to make me whole or valued, I make my own value. I am a strong woman with a good head on my shoulders and a lot to offer. If and when I am ready to date again, I will think long and hard about what type of man would be able to fill those shoes and make better decisions, based on who that person has actually shown me that he is. Because I did have warning, and I chose not to believe it, even when I saw it with my own eyes", I told them as flashes of light continued to show as my picture was taken several times. "I am through. I will not be taking any further questions" I said as I got up from my chair and headed to the back to take off my makeup, brush out my hair and get back into my leggings and hoodie. I knew I was about to cry, and I didn't want pictures or a video of it to remember it by.