“Yes. I haven’t been happy with my position as accountant. And even though our marriage is legal, she is still nervous with who we are.”
“That’s a part of you. Won’t change if you leave.”
“I know, but it would make her feel more comfortable.”
“And that’s what you want? She’s caused a lot of problems in the family between you and Enzo.”
“Those were Enzo’s problems. Madison has always made it clear she didn’t want Enzo.”
“Right. I remember her words at the engagement party.”
“Yeah.” Before he had fucked it up.
“So you want to leave because of her?”
“No. It’s just this life isn’t me. I got picked for this role because I was good with numbers, but I want to run businesses and invest. Not spend my time keeping two sets of books for everything and looking over my shoulder.”
“I see.”
Don Calo stared at him hard. “I knew this life wasn’t for you. That’s why I let you not only go to college, but overrode your father so you could get your masters. You’re a learning person. I can see why Stanley and Richards want you.”
Dante was shocked. “You knew?”
“Of course. Nothing happens in the town or especially with this family that I don’t know. Take the offer, and I’ll release you from your duties. But you will still always be family. You may go home and tell your wife.”
And just like that a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. He was free, and he had Don Calo’s blessing to leave and the knowledge that he and Madison would be safe.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. What are uncles for? Come.”
He motioned for Dante to come over and his uncle clapped him on the head and then hugged him. “You can go in peace. But I still expect to see you at family functions.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Now get outta here. I have an empire to run and a new accountant to bring on board.”
Dante left the office and closed the door behind him. He could go home and tell Madison the feelings he had for her. He didn’t want to put pressure on her, so he would wait until after she had fashion week.
****
Madison was glad when the time to walk the runway was here. Her design was ready; her model was prepped. She just had her last-minute changes to do to make sure her creation fit the model to perfection and showed off the design and movement.
She knew she had aced the make-up interview and was still in the top. Her design would either keep her there or not. She crossed her fingers and toes and hoped granny was looking out for her.
Behind the stage everything was chaotic. Models were undressing and being dressed. Hair and makeup were either being done or retouched. Madison was waiting for her model who was in hair and makeup. She had her pin cushion and her trusty butterfly seam ripper with her in her hidden pocket.
Once this was over, she and Dante would look for a bigger place. And she couldn’t wait. Dante had been avoiding her, which she guessed was fine. But it seemed more awkward that he always happened to never be around or always leaving when she was coming in.
She shook her head, now wasn’t the time to be concerned with it. She looked around, her model was done. “Perfect. How do you feel?”
“Good, nervous.” Becky looked at herself in the mirror.
“Me too. Let’s get you dressed.”
Madison helped Becky into the dress. In the end, the hidden pocket at the waist hadn’t worked like Madison wanted. She had changed the design to include two invisible pockets in the side of the dress and she had figured out how to do a hidden pocket in one of the folds of the dress that wouldn’t mess with the look when not empty. What was the use of a hidden pocket if you couldn’t use it or it changed the look of your dress.
Becky looked amazing. Madison made some final last touches, and then they went over to the runway for her turn to walk. She hadn’t gotten a chance to see Sabrina’s design, but her other competitors’ designs were ahead of her. They were going in reverse order, from bottom to the top. As the other two designs went to walk, Sabrina’s design came off.
