Chapter 12
Jensen took Megan back to London after Stella and his parents left the next day.
“I really enjoyed meeting your family,” said Megan as they walked into his penthouse.
“You did?”
She nodded.
“Because I was pretty sure you didn’t take a breath until they walked out the door.”
“Okay, so I was a little tense around them. I just want to make a good impression. Is that a crime?”
“Not at all. I’m not sure why you were so nervous though. They adore you.” That made Megan feel good. She didn’t know why, but she always worried about what others thought of her. “So, do you have something to wear for tonight’s event?”
“Tonight’s event? Oh, God!” Megan quickly turned to Jensen. “The fashion show! It’s tonight!” And as if on cue, her cell phone bleeped. She grabbed it and read the text that came through. “It’s Lorena. She wants me to meet her at the apartment and get ready with her.”
I’ll meet you there after lunch.
Sounds good. I’m so excited! Lorena sent a picture of the dress she was planning on wearing and Megan frowned.
“What is it?” Jensen stepped closer and looked at her phone.
“Look at her dress. She is going to look fab and I’m... I need help.”
“We can go shopping.”
Can you help me? I don’t have a clue what I’m wearing?
Absolutely! I have just the dress!
“Lorena will rescue me.” She smiled at Jensen and went into the kitchen to throw a quick lunch together. Her phone went off again and she picked it up thinking Lorena was already in her closet and she was sending pictures of dresses. When she looked at it her stomach tightened. It was from Tristan.
I wish you would contact me so we can talk.
Megan erased the text and put her phone away. Why was he still texting her?
In Lorena’s apartment, Jensen waited patiently in the living room as Lorena helped Megan try on another dress. They had gone through her entire closet but nothing felt right. When she came out in her robe, Jensen knew she had given up.
“Should we hit Harrod’s?” he asked.
“Will you try my dress on now?” Lorena asked.
“But you made that dress. I couldn’t. What if I get something on it?”
“Just come on.” Lorena pulled Megan into her bedroom and after a few minutes they reappeared. Megan looked down at the dress she wore then looked at Jensen for approval. “I made this a few months ago and wore it once. What do you think?” Lorena was smiling ear to ear at the daring black dress. It went to the floor but showed more skin than Megan was comfortable showing. The front plummeted down to her naval, showing more than just a little cleavage and the sides showed her entire leg from her ankle up to her upper thigh.
“I… don’t think that is a fitting dress for Megan.” Jensen was shaking his head.
“Thank you,” Megan mouthed, turning quickly and going back into Lorena’s room.
“You people don’t know what good fashion is,” Lorena scoffed. She followed Megan back in and helped her into another dress she made. “Try this one,” she said, handing her a champagne colored dress. It was lace from the chest line to the bottom hem that reached just past her knees. A soft cashmere lined the dress underneath in just the right places, showing a little skin but tastefully, not tacky or racy. Jensen smiled immediately when his eyes took her in.
“Perfect. You look stunning. Lorena, you made that dress?”
“I did.”
“Thank you. It’s perfect, Lorena.” She hugged her. “Thank you for saving my life!”
"Awe, it was nothing.”
They finished their hair and make-up and were on the road headed to the show.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go in with us?” Lorena asked, getting out of Jensen’s car.
“No, thank you. Fashion shows aren’t my thing. Besides, I have some errands I have to run. You ladies go and enjoy yourselves.” He kissed Megan before she got out. “You look beautiful. Have a good time.”
“We will.” Her face beamed with excitement. “Thank you again. You rock.”
“Let me know when you have had enough and I’ll swing by and pick you up.” She kissed him again and got out of the car. Linking her arm in Lorena’s, the two walked into the venue and looked around. There were models and agents everywhere.
“Lorena, this is amazing. Your dresses are sure to get noticed here.”
Lorena smiled and nodded. Megan looked at her, furrowing her eyebrows.
“You okay?”
“I’m great.”
“You aren’t. You should be running and dragging me along behind to get inside. You should be jumping around and talking my ear off. Are you nervous?” Megan stopped her and hugged her. “Your dresses are stunning. They are going to love them. Come on.”
They walked inside and stopped. The ambiance consisted of photographers, models, displays of make-up, hair products, beauty tips, artists, exclusive pricing on the new pieces in the show and so much more. The place was energetic with excitement and tension as they made their way through the crowd. Interviews were being conducted with some of the biggest names in fashion and Lorena could only stare in awe at the buzz that was happening around her.
“Oh look! It’s Stella.” Megan grabbed Lorena’s hand and pulled her through the crowd.
“Who?”
“Stella! You made it,” she said as she approached her.
“Unbelievable right?” she said excitedly. “I somehow managed to get VIP passes at the last minute.”
“Somehow?”
“Jensen got them for me. Ya know, sometimes I think he can do just about anything. Let me guess. This is Lorena?”
“Yes. Lorena, this is Stella, Jensen’s sister. She is as in love with fashion as you are.” A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne and small hors d'oeuvres. “Excuse me,” Megan stopped him and they each took a glass. “Thank you.”
“Oh, we are going to be great friends.” Lorena shook her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Megan tells me you are a designer?”
“Well,” Megan nudged her before she admitted to only doing it on the side. “Yes. I am. I design dresses.”
“Do you have anything here?”
“This one.” She put her hand out toward the dress Megan wore.
“Oh, wow. You are talented. You made this?”
“I did. Do you think it will get noticed?”
“They would be stupid not to. You are extremely talented. Have you shown it to anyone yet?”
“Not yet. We just got here.”
“Who is your favorite designer?”
“Christopher Bailey, hands down.”
“Oh, yes! His Burberry collection is gorgeous. If only I could afford even a scarf.”
“I can’t wait to see what he has here today. What about you Megan? Who is your favorite designer?”
“I don’t know much about the designers but oh my goodness.” The girls followed her gaze and locked onto a male model in a pair of leather pants and long plaid coat who was being prepped for an interview with a fashion magazine. His eyes were a pale blue against his very dark coco skin and as soon as they started drooling over him, he looked in their direction. His smile broadened and the girls giggled like puberty driven school girls. He opened his jacket and posed for them before diverting his attention back to the make-up artist fussing over him.
“Oh, yes. This is going to be a good time.” Stella linked her arms into Megan’s and Lorena’s and they made their way toward the catwalk, sitting close to the front.
“These are our seats?” Lorena gasped.
“Looks like it.” Stella watched Lorena size up the catwalk, enjoying her child-like attitude.
They sat down just in time for the show to start, as the announcer introduced the first model and what designer created her outfit.
“I can’t believe this. Megan, if you don’t sink your claws into Jensen, I’m going after him.”
“Not a chance, sister. He’s all mine,” she smiled. “Tell her, Stella.” Megan looked at Jensen’s sister when she didn’t get a response. She was staring out into the crowd on the other side of the catwalk and she didn’t look like she was very happy. “Stella? What’s wrong?”
“Um, nothing.” She quickly looked at Megan and smiled.
“What did you see?” She glanced in the direction Stella was looking in and her heart leaped into her throat. Kristina was sitting with a group of her friends on the opposite side of the catwalk a few rows back.
Megan stared at the woman, a feeling of hatred and disgust forming deep inside her gut.
“Oh no,” Stella whispered as she watched Megan’s face change. “It’s fine. I’m sure she doesn’t even know we are here. If we ignore her, she won’t bother us.” Megan kept her eyes glued to her. “Megan, just relax. She has no idea we are even here. We could get through the night without a problem from her and her friends.”
Megan glared at her, barely listening to Stella’s attempts at trying to pretend Kristina didn’t exist. Lorena was oblivious as to what was happening. The only thing that existed in her world were the models walking quickly up and down the catwalk in front of her.
“Come on, Megan. Let’s just try to enjoy the show.” Stella stroked her arm.
Megan tore her eyes away from Kristina only for a few moments to watch the next model walk out and do her thing. As soon as the model turned, Megan’s eyes went back to Kristina. Anger bubbled out of her as she thought about the countless times Kristina tried to ruin her life. She thought about the dozens of texts and calls, emails and attempts at getting Jensen back.
“You aren’t going to let this go are you?” asked Stella, worried that their perfect night was going to be ruined.
“How can I?” Megan seethed.
“Shit.” Stella pulled out her cell and texted Jensen. We may have a problem. Kristina is here and Megan wants a piece of her.
She sent the text then turned her phone upside down. She kept her eyes on Megan’s, glancing at Kristina to be sure she didn’t see them. When she got a reply, she read it.
On my way.
“Megan,” Stella whispered.
“I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and forced her attention back to the show, trying to enjoy it as best as she could. Lorena gasped and took dozens of pictures of the models and the pieces they wore as Megan kept glancing out toward Kristina. She watched her lean into her friends and laugh. She sneered as Kristina tossed her long blond locks over her shoulder and reapply her bubblegum lip gloss.
The first half of the show wound down and a short break gave everyone the chance to fill up their champagne and stretch before the rest of the show commenced.
“I can’t take this,” Megan mumbled standing up.
“What are you doing?” Stella sprang up onto her feet.
“I am going to get some drinks for us. Anyone want anything else?”
“No, I’m good. Want me to come along?” Stella was hoping for a yes.
“That’s okay. I will only be a minute. Stay here and keep Lorena grounded. I do believe she might just float away.”
Stella looked at Lorena and then back toward Megan, but she was already gone. She seriously thought about going after her, but sat back down instead. She tried to locate Kristina, but she was missing too. “We have trouble.” Lorena looked at Stella.
“Hello, Kristina.” Megan’s voice was sharp and cold. Kristina turned around at the sound of her name. Her eyes glistened and her skin glowed. Megan was intimidated at first but quickly turned her intimidation into anger.
“Can I help you?” She put her hand up, supporting her elbow with her other arm and spreading her long pink fingernails out in front of her.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
Kristina squinted her eyes, sizing her up then making a face. “You look a little familiar.” She turned away from her, taking a glass of wine from a passing waiter apparently not interested in who Megan was or what she had to say.
“I’m Jensen’s girlfriend.”
Kristina stopped and turned back around. A smile spread slowly on her face as she cocked her head. “Really.” She looked her up and down again, sipping her wine as she walked closer. “You’re the little tramp that holds his attention this week, huh?”
“No. I am his one and only girlfriend and I came over here to tell you that you had better back off.”
“Or… what?” Kristina got in her face, towering over her, her eyes boring down on her. “I suggest that you turn around and walk away before I dig my fingernails into that pretty little face of yours.”
“Hey guys!” Stella interrupted abruptly.
“Stella! Oh my God!” Kristina backed away from Megan and hugged her. Megan’s mouth dropped open. “What have you been doing? We have got to get together soon.”
“Stop it, Kristina.”
“What? What did I do?”
“Come on, Megan.” Stella extended her hand toward her. “Let’s get out of here before you….”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Megan crossed her arms and glared at Kristina. “I have something to say and I’m not going anywhere until she understands every word.”
Stella linked her arm in Megan’s and tried to coax her away but nothing she did or said worked.
“Don’t worry about her,” said Kristina linking her arm into Stella’s other arm. “Let’s get out of here. You want to come sit with us?”
Stella pushed Kristina away from her and narrowed her eyes. “Knock off the charade, Kristina.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You are as fake as they come. We stopped being friends a long time ago.”
Kristina laughed. “Oh, you. Always the jokester.” She glanced at her friends behind her. “Well, if you can’t pull away right now, come find me after the show,” she said as she started to walk away. She turned her head just in time to run into Lorena. “Watch where you are going,” she snapped.
“What’s going on here?” Lorena looked at Kristina then at Megan. “Megan? Why are you so angry?”
“This is Kristina,” said Stella, pointing in her direction. Lorena gasped and covered her mouth.
“You are Kristina?”
“I’m warning you,” said Megan, pushing Lorena out of the way. “Stay out of Jensen’s life and leave us alone. He obviously doesn’t want anything to do with you, so stop kidding yourself. Why don’t you make everyone’s life a whole lot better and move on?”
“Listen to me you little whore.” Kristina walked up to Megan and repeatedly poked her finger into her shoulder. “I know a lot of people both good and bad, and I have a lot of power to make them do things for me at my request.”
“Is that a threat?” Megan held her head high and tried to stand her ground.
“If you know what is good for you, you will pack up your little duffle bag and crawl back under the cardboard box you came from. My fiancée, Jensen and I don’t need something like you fucking things up for us.”
Megan’s opened her mouth in disgust at what Kristina had the nerve to say. Without thinking twice, she reached up and slapped Kristina’s face.
Kristina gasped and covered her face, stepping back and throwing her entire glass of wine at Megan, soaking her face and staining her dress.
“No!” Lorena ran to Megan and tried to wipe it off before it soaked in but it was too late. “My dress! What the hell is wrong with you? I spent hours on this dress!”
“To be honest, it looks better now.” Kristina laughed and thrust her hip out.
“What is wrong with you?” Lorena squealed. “Why do you have to be so vicious?”
“Sometimes you have to take what you want in this world, and I plan on taking back what I had, no matter what,” she spat, staring at Megan.
Megan doubled up her fists and felt her balled up anger build quickly. She pulled her fist back and just before she thrust it forward, Kristina fell backwards and landed on the carpet. Megan looked over as Stella was shaking her hand back and forth.
“My nose! I think you broke my nose!” Megan gasped at the sight of precious Kristina on the floor with her hand over her face, blood trickling down her mouth. “You bitch!”
Flashes went off all around them as paparazzi closed in at the action. Stella was smiling ear to ear, still shaking her hand.
“God, that felt good.”
“What the hell is going on?” They all spun around at the deep voice behind them and saw Jensen standing there with his arms crossed. Black stood to the side of him with no facial expression whatsoever. He looks at Megan’s stained dress, Kristina’s swollen nose as she got up from the floor and tried to put the scene together. He grabbed Megan’s arm then Stella’s arm and escorted them away from the scene. “If you want a way home, I suggest you follow,” he said to Lorena.
Kristina glanced at the paparazzi and straightened her dress out. “Thank you, Jensen,” she called out. “Take her out of here. I will see you at home, lover!” She smirked as the cameras continued to flash around her.
Just as she turned away, Megan screamed, getting loose from Jensen’s grip and running back toward Kristina. She jumped on her back, tripping her to the floor and grabbing her hair. “He’s not yours, bitch!” she screamed, pulling her head back by her hair. “Leave him alone you psycho!”
Kristina grabbed Megan’s arm, sinking her fake nails into her skin. Megan yelled and let her go. She was able to get turned around just in time for Megan to strike her face with her fist. Kristina squealed and grabbed Megan’s hair, pulling her to the floor on top of her. Jensen and Black rushed over and each of them grabbed a girl and pulled them apart.
They both squirmed and kicked, trying to get away to continue the fight but Jensen and Black held them back until they stopped struggling. Megan was seething with so much hate for Kristina that she had to turn away from her. She buried her face into Jensen’s chest as he started to walk her out.
“Oh.” He stopped and turned back around. “Kristina, I was going to wait and deliver these properly, but I suppose now is as good a time as any.” She smiled and smirked at Megan, straightening out her dress and smoothing her messed up hair. He reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out an envelope. After he handed it to her, he didn’t wait for her to read it. He turned away from her and with Megan in his arms, they walked toward the front doors where Lorena and Stella were waiting.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Kristina screamed from a distance. “You son-of-a-bitch! What the hell is this going to do? You can’t stay away from me Jensen! I will not back off! I will take you and your little whore down! Do you hear me?”
“What did you give her?” asked Megan.
“Her restraining order.” He kept walking, Kristina’s words fading away into the distance.