“You’re welcome. I’m sorry things had to end this way. Thank you for your work, and sharing your creativity with us. Your skills speak for themselves. Enjoy the rest of your day.” And she walked out leaving Madison and Becky alone. Sabrina’s model had followed her out, knowing she wouldn’t be getting the coveted magazine spread.
Madison turned to Becky. “Sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me. You did nothing wrong. I’m sorry it had to end this way. What are you going to do now?”
“I think I’m going to go home and rest. You?”
“I’m going to go out with my family to celebrate. Even though I didn’t get the cover position, I made it to the finals and lots of people were there to see me walk, so I should get some agency calls.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Madison wasn’t even sure if anyone had come for her. Dante had been out when she left, so she wasn’t sure if he made it. She had seen her parents, but she doubted her mom had stayed.
Madison helped get Becky out of the garment and packed it up along with her things ready to leave.
“Sir, you’re not allowed back here,” a guard said.
“That’s my wife.”
Madison looked up to see Dante trying to get to her. “Dante, you made it.”
“Of course I did. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
She looked at the security guard. “It’s ok. I’m ready to leave.” She picked up her things and walked over to Dante.
“What happened?”
“Sabrina stole my design. I’m ready to go home.”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.”
“It sucks. In the end, I couldn’t prove it was mine, and I lost the job. Not only that, but no other fashion house will touch me, since it wasn’t proven who stole from who.”
“That’s terrible.” He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Do you want to go out and take your mind off things?”
“No, I don’t think so. Not right now anyway. It’s been a stressful few hours. Are my parents still here?”
“I’m not sure. They were out there when I came back here. They were headed in this direction.”
Madison and Dante walked out from the back to see her mom and dad waiting.
“Mom, Dad, you guys stayed.” Madison gave her father a hug.
“I wish I hadn’t. I told people my daughter was going to be a famous designer, and it turns out she copied someone else’s work. I’m going to be a laughingstock.”
“Mom, I didn’t cheat. Sabrina copied my work.”
“Either way, dear, you’re not famous now, are you?”
“No.”
“Milford, let’s go home.”
Madison watched her parents walk away.
Dante had a protective arm around her and squeezed her tight. “She’s not worth it. Let’s go home.”
Chapter 22
Dante could see the stress and a kaleidoscope of emotions on Madison’s face and in her body when they got home. “Why don’t you go and take a bath? When you’re ready, I have some news for you.”
