Fredrick slammed his fist on the desk, making his assistant, Josh, jump. "Damn it, Josh! I can't get a hold of Carina anywhere! No response, no nothing!"
Josh hesitated, "Maybe she's just busy, sir. But, if you shared her contact with me, I believe I'd be able to set up a meeting." Josh didn't know who 'Carina' was, but he believed in his abilities to wear people out and convince them. He was certain he could get this lady to grant his boss some audience.
Fredrick turned to Josh, "She's not someone you can just talk to… forget about it. I'll handle it."
Josh nodded. He's never seen Fredrick so worked up about meeting a lady. On the contrary, the ladies were always swooning around him.
"We still need to sort out some last minute details for the show sir."
"What details?"
"We are yet to finalize on the guest list, as well as the accessories for the last clothing line."
Fredrick waved his hand distractedly, "Take care of them."
"But sir…"
"Josh, how long have you worked with me?"
"Four years sir."
"And haven't you learned anything in those four years?"
"I…"
"I will take that as a 'yes.' Now, take care of those, and just send me the final draft when you're done."
"Okay sir."
Fredrick slumped back into his chair as Josh exited the office. Carina's words echoed in his mind; he had to kill Stacey… And that they would be sending him a special guest as a gift. She refused to say more.
He thought about finally letting his family and Stacey's in on his interactions with Carina and Oded, as well as the weird dreams. But he was scared to what extent Carina might go to if she found out. He didn't want to put his family and Stacey at more risk than they already were.
He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache brew. Then, his phone rang, drawing him from his thoughts.
"Hey man, what's good?" Alex chimed on the other end of the line.
"I'm alright, Alex. Are the models ready?"
"Yes. We are about to begin the shoot. You still coming?"
"Yes, I am." Fredrick replied, already getting up from his seat. "I'll be there in ten."
Alex's studio was just a few blocks from Fredrick's fashion house. A walk there would take about fifteen minutes, but Fredrick drove and got there in five. He easily navigated his way to the studio where the models were already lined up for the shoot.
Alex approached him, "you ready?"
"Yeah. Let's get started."
Alex signalled to the guys behind the camera to begin.
"Places, everyone!"
As they worked on the photo shoot, Frederick's mind kept wandering back to Carina's message. Somehow, he was more concerned about the 'guest' she said he would receive, than his 'duty to kill Stacey'. He would never be a party to murder, so that was totally out of the way.
Alex noticed his distraction and nudged him playfully. "Hey, Frederick! You're not even paying attention to the fabric swatches."
"Sorry, why did you say?"
Alex eyed him with concern. "You okay? You seem a million miles away."
Fredrick forced a smile. "Just stressed about the show, that's all."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You, the great Fredrick August, stressed over a fashion show? That's very unlikely."
"How do you mean?"
"I mean, in all the years I have known you, I have never met anyone more collected and confident as you. Things like this do not get to stress you. So, I know you're lying."
Fredrick let out a sigh, "It's family stuff."
"And by that, I'm guessing you mean Stacey Brown?"
"Uhm… maybe."
"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait. The show is in a few days, and we have work to do. So, I need you to stay focused."
Fredrick nodded, looking around the bustling studio.
"And… when we are done with this show, you'll have to tell me what is actually going on, man."
Just then, one of the designers approached him, holding up a dress. "Mr. August, what do you think? Should we go with this one or the other?"
Frederick wanted to say 'anyone', but then, something caught his eye. A small, intricate design on the dress's hem. It looked unfamiliar, yet eerily familiar…
"Where did you get that dress?"
"Oh, it's one of the dresses your office sent over last night… your assistant said it would be a possible replacement for the other one." The young lady pipers excitedly, still admiring the design on the dress.
Frederick couldn't believe his eyes. "Please, stick to the previous one. Who exactly sent this over?"
"I don't know…"
"Let me have it."
The model handed the dress to him, a frown on her face as she stalked away. Frederick ran his fingers across the design on the dress, slowly, gently…
"Fred, why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"
Frederick hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "It's just... this design, it's not mine, and I don't know how it got among the dresses. But it looks uhm…familiar."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Familiar? From where?"
Frederick shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I don't know... maybe I've just seen it somewhere before." He folded the dress and tossed it on a chair.
Alex looked skeptical but dropped the subject. "Well, if you're sure you're okay, let's get back to work. We have a lot to do before the show."
Frederick nodded, grateful for the change in subject. But his mind was still racing with thoughts of Carina. The design on the hem of the dress was a replica of the tattoo on Stacey's arm! Carina was obviously sending him a message… one he couldn't ignore anymore.
***
A week passed, and the day of the fashion show finally arrived. Frederick's team had worked tirelessly to ensure everything was perfect. He had invited Stacey and her family, as well as his own, to attend the show.
As the guests began to arrive, Frederick's eys found Stacey, and her parents just behind her.
"You made it." He said with a smile as he approached her.
"My parents didn't give me much of a choice." Stacey replied drily.
"Oh…"
"Yeah."
"Are you still mad about the kiss? It been over a week already. When will you let it go?"
Stacey made a show of rolling her eyes. "Can we not bring up the past?"
"Same on you're still living in?"
Stacey was about to fire some poison darts with her next words when her mother, Susan interrupted.
"Hi Fred, how've you been?"
"Mr. Brown, ma'am…" he bowed his head slightly, acknowledging Stacey's parents. "I've been good. Just busy with trying to put this together."
"You should take some time off after this. You look like you could use a vacation." James chipped in.
"Yes, definitely." Frederick replied with an easy smile.
"Stacey could join you too."
"Mum!" Stacey's voice blared at the arrangement her mother was trying to make.
"What? You do need some time away from that office of yours. You almost got assassinated some days ago!"
Frederick's smile was replaced with drawn lips "Yes, I heard about that in the news. Has the bastard confessed to who ordered him to do it?"
"Not yet. The police are still investigating. But rest assured, I'll get to the bottom of it." James replied.
Frederick's hand found Stacey's, "are you okay?"
She nodded, head turning unconsciously to Adrian who was now always just two steps behind her.
Just then, his own family arrived, and Louisa gave him a warm hug. "We're so proud of you, Frederick," she whispered. "Your father and I can't wait to see the show."
Frederick grinned at her. She adored him, and he loved her dearly. He might have just found out that she didn't give birth to him, but she would always be his mother.
He signalled to one of his staff. "He'll show you where to sit. I set up a VIP section for you guys."
"Thank you." Susan beaamed.
Frederick nodded before walking away to attend to things.
After some minutes, the lights dimmed and the music began. People took their seats, and the anchors of the event set the ball rolling.
The music grew louder, and the lights flashed as the first model stepped out onto the catwalk. The crowd gasped and applauded as each new look was revealed, and Frederick couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.
As the show progressed, Frederick's eyes kept drifting over to Stacey, who was watching the show with a mesmerized expression. He could tell she was impressed. The corner of his lips lifted into a smirk.
But as the final model walked off the catwalk and the audience erupted into applause, Frederick's gaze was drawn to a figure standing at the back of the room. A figure he hadn't noticed before, dressed in a long coat and sunglasses, her face obscured from view.
Frederick's heart skipped a beat. He felt a shiver run down his spine. He tried to brush it off as mere paranoia, but the image of Carina's message flashed in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that the figure was the 'guest' he was expecting.
As the applauds died down, Frederick made his way onto the stage to give a closing statement. He scanned the crowd, his eyes landing on the mysterious figure at the back. And then, as he raised the microphone to his lips, she took off her hat and sunglasses.
Her eyes locked onto his own with a piercing gaze.
Frederick's heart stopped. "Mum?"
He felt like he was in a dream, his mind reeling with confusion and shock. Was he being pranked? His biological mother was dead!
So, what was she doing at his fashion show?
He was frozen in place, unable to draw his gaze from his mother's face. His mind raced with questions and fears.
The microphone trembled in his hand as he repeated, his voice barely audible. "Mum?"