He tucked his cuffs "Shall we?" He spoke up and Tasha's eyes gleamed replacing her drinks and took his arm to accompany him toward the stand with several microphones.
She stepped back and clapped.
Edward gave a speech about the company and its plans. "I'm sure the artist behind such designs will be obliged to work with Luxe Textiles..."
...
Odetta held the car door and stepped down.
The valet recognized her and she handed over her keys to him.
She brushed her feather barette with fishnet over her eyes. "Not a scratch," She said in a completely stern voice.
He nodded gesturing her to the red carpet. "No words necessary, your vehicle is in good hands,"
The paparazzi had already left the barriers and the only life outside the mansion was the delicate orange glow of the show doors. They were inside and she huffed.
"Okay," The doors flailed open and she walked in holding her hands together.
What if Jake was right? She thought and paused and her eyes lowered. "No, this is my creation, I might as well do what the hell I want with it," She put on a false bravado.
She stepped inside the large foyer and her eyes moved about once the guest parted gushing over her get up.
The hum of murmuring waned as she stopped by the entrance and then walked.
They would recognize the polar head dollface from her profile.
Her luminous pink silk dress stood out in a room full of black suits and other dresses.
She had a straight white bob wig on and she had her face powdered and her lips were painted a deep apple red.
The feathers on her blue fascinator bobbed and the polka dot ruff slinging across her body heaved naturally and yet came off as stiff, it kept the attention and Tasha snorted.
She wore short, sassy polka dot blue and yellow gloves with butterfly hems. Her white platform heels were the talk of the moment whilst Odetta was very tall.
The guests needed to lurch to give way.
She needed a cane to complete the look and she waved a hand. "Bring her in boys,"
Caroline, her college mate stepped inside in the dress and beamed anxiously. "I'm not sure I can pull this off," She said and the escorts kept from cracking up.
"We're supposed to be looking out for each other, and furthermore, I'm sure you can," Odetta said and she paused at a reserved seat with her name on it and the staff motioned her to the platform.
She smiled at Edward clapping and the cameras at the front snapped as she tread up to the stairs. If it hadn't been for the cane, she would have fallen over herself.
Confidence, Stareyes. She hissed in her breath and pushed up inverted triangle glasses and it seemed like time slowed when Edward personally led her to the stand.
She froze with a smile when she was met with the cameras and so many faces. Her heart raced shielding her eyes at the lights from the gallery.
Her hand fidgetted on the rim of the stand. It was empty. "Uh...I forgot my lines,"
They laughed and Caroline walked shyly to the platform with her.
"Yes, this is my model, Danica...Charlie, and here I have my work, I call it The Candleflower," She revealed and the audience were quiet.
A sceptical reporter asked "Why is called a Candleflower?"
She answered and lectured them on the materials and the make up of the dress.
They were awed that she could utilize simple fabric to make it.
Edward keyed in as she talked and not what she said. Her voice was tricky but not tricky enough to hide her feminine range. She seemed like someone whom one would enjoy talking to.
Danica's shoulders shook when she laughed and Tasha raised her loose piece. "Hmm, she is good,"
She checked her watch. It was clocking on 10 pm and her introductory speech was supposed to end five minutes ago but the audience were keying in and asking more questions.
***
Odetta brushed her hair back drinking her glass of sparkling water. She spewed it and grimaced wiping her lip.
The staff offered her an exclusive place to rest at the Mode Mansion before tomorrow's meeting with Edward. She sighed at the estate and the rotary parkway in the middle of his property closing the curtains.
"Danica, did you see that? They loved us," She outstretched her arms swivelling around the luxurious room.
There was a king-size bed and beaded curtains, everything she could dream of. Even a jacuzzi.
"We're not hiding anymore," Caroline Duff brushed off her brown hairpiece and water drop pearl earrings outlined with silver.
She wore a sand silk undergarment and replaced the earrings in its case and then crossed her leg on her spot.
"I admit, this is the life, you can have your spotlight and your ordinary life, it's foolproof," Her fingers widened. She barely had them repainted and her toenails.
"Charlie, great thinking," She said drily and Odetta gave a deep chuckle.
"All's well," She reclined on her bed and didn't miss Caroline's concerned look. "Relax," She rolled over.
Caroline was hesitant to sleep in. She shrugged.
"That voice of yours though,"
She fidgetted while laying on her side and Caroline laughed.
***
Odetta pushed her foot into her shoes and hopped finally to a walk, her breakfast and workbag were in the wait on her chair.
She sprayed her perfume and sniffed the nozzle then read the label. "Hmm,"
Miss Stareyes may have to be commanding and at the same time respectful. "After all, she's only a break out designer," She recited putting on her glasses and pocketing her phone.
She was greeted by the blooming likes and DMs, she had to turn off the vibration settings.
She would need a regular online presence and that would be unlikely at this time and day.
The pictures need to be locked from