Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 67 Pushed Into The Spotlight

Dominic slung an arm around my waist and pulled me into his embrace. He whispered, “The costume for the finale.”

I blinked dumbly, my brain stalling at his words.

About three seconds later, I asked, “You’re letting me wear the final design? What about the model? What’s she going to wear?”

He chuckled and replied, “Liliana, you really should be adding more brain foods to your diet. You’re taking forever as always to connect the dots. Since you’re wearing the costume, doesn’t that make you the model?”

I was about to retort his backhanded jibe when the word “model” struck me dumb.

And indeed, I was silent for a while before I fully understood the implications of his words.

“Dominic, are you making me take the runway? Now’s not the time for jokes. It’s fine if it’s only my reputation at stake, but I don’t want to ruin someone’s hard work and the entire fashion show to boot!”

I stared at Dominic like he was deranged, wondering if he was the one who should be checking out brain foods.

It was not a sense of misguided humility that had me denying his request but a fair assessment of my actual talents.

Walking a runway? That’s absurd.

“Do I look like I’m making a joke right now?” Dominic arched a brow and asked calmly.

I heaved a long sigh. “I can’t do this. If this is your way of pranking me, there are way more appropriate occasions for that. Modeling is beyond me.”

My brain was blank save for one thought – Dominic was definitely trying to embarrass me.

Soon enough, the staff who had left to retrieve the costume returned with a garment bag in hand.

Dominic took the garment bag from the staff and inspected the dress. Satisfied, he dropped the dress in my arms.

“Get changed.”

His tone left no room for argument, and I felt like I was about to dissolve into tears.

“I’m not getting changed! Like I said earlier, it’s not only my reputation at stake. I can’t be responsible for ruining other people’s hard work.” I draped the dress carefully over a nearby chair and stood my ground.

this is my fashion show. You’re not messing things up for anyone

was a jaw-dropping revelation, and my mind was running wild. “Why on earth would you have me wear

was perplexed. Really? He’s going to drag himself down for a

made up my mind to reject him, Dominic pulled out the big guns, threatening to

stubborn insistence was

to a fashion show in my life, let alone modeled on

Get changed, or I’ll

won’t regret sending me out there?” I

“One.”

him. “Dominic, you need to think things through. I could really damage your brand’s

“Two.”

you can’t turn around and blame me

he could utter “three,” I grabbed the dress

had gotten undressed, I heard a woman’s voice from outside the dressing

I come in to assist

sure. Please

since this was Dominic’s creation, I wanted to take every precaution while

if I ruin a zipper

put on the masterpiece, which

help but sigh when I saw myself in the mirror. Dominic’s a pretty amazing bridal

like a glove, so much so that I almost thought that he

female staff busy arranging my skirt, I asked, “Does

question and smiled. “Do you mean Mr. Hartnell? He mainly designs casualwear for

why is the final piece

Dominic was yelling

my skirt for me as we left

had changed into a tailored black tuxedo. It

looked like a couple

earlier had nothing but praise for how I looked in the gown.

if he thinks it looks horrendous? Would

nice?” I

a few more minutes before saying, “It’s all right.