I inwardly sighed. Oliver had been overwhelmed, almost drowning in trying to get the company where it needed to be. He couldn’t be blamed for not looking at the designs properly. If they were as good as the women said, then Oliver had probably criticised them by error. Clearly, I’d caught him at the wrong time, and if Oliver saw them again, he wouldn’t be so cruel. Bless him, my timing always sucked.
“Oliver did,” Winona guessed.
“Oliver knows plenty about fashion,” I defended. “When I showed him these, he’d had a bad day.” I didn’t like the way they swapped glances. “I get the feeling you ladies don’t approve of Oliver. Well, he’s a good man. Oliver works hard for us and has sacrificed so much. He wouldn’t have put me down on purpose. Oliver wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Oliver has a lot of control over your life,” Oceane said. “Look at what you’re wearing. It’s asexual, ages you, and is unflattering. I highly doubt a woman of your age would deliberately pick that.”
“Well, I did.”
“By choice or because Oliver recommended it?” Zinnia challenged. “Alicia, Winona is nearly two decades older than you and dresses far younger.”
“Hey!” Winona exclaimed, amused.
“You know what I mean.” Zinnia waved Winona’s objections away.
“Oliver doesn’t control my life. I love my husband; why is it so wrong to want to make things easier for him?” I demanded. My temper was rising. Oliver was a good man. He took care of me, and they had no right to dismiss or criticise him.
“It’s not,” Winona said. “We all adore our husbands.”
I watched as Winona tapped her chin and then picked up a book and flicked through it again.
“For thirty years, Alicia, I’ve attended red carpet events, balls, and whatnot. I know excellence when I see it. The designs are beautiful with a spark of genius. Now Oliver runs a fashion chain; he’s not haute couture. Oliver is a ready-to-wear line, though on the higher-quality side. Some of these sketches are definitely haute couture.” Winona tapped her finger on the book.
She exchanged a glance with Zinnia, who pursed her lips and shrugged. “I’m not convinced,” Zinnia strangely said.
“Me either,” Oceane agreed.
I was confused. What were they talking about? Why did I feel like I was on the outside, peering in? I didn’t like this. It made me feel inadequate.
“However, those designs are inspired,” Rebel stated.
Saska made a gesture of indifference. “The WS Club helps people, Alicia. Not often, mind you, just one or two that we thinkare worth it. These sketches show you have talent. Don’t doubt that. If you could design, would you?”
“Yes. That’s my long-term plan. Once Oliver has Eliganz established and where he wants it, I’d like to return to the fashion industry. However, right now, Oliver needs my support at home,” I replied.
“Why? What do you manage that a housekeeper can’t?” Oceane challenged.
Defensively, I opened my mouth and closed it. That was a good point. These ladies were confusing me. I frowned and rubbed my chin.
“Alicia. Make this dress for me. I’ll wear it at the event, and we can analyse the outcome of the reactions,” Saska said.
I regarded Saska thoughtfully. “And what if people like it?”
“Then we discuss whether we set you up in a company of your own. But don’t tell Oliver our plans. What happens in the WS club stays here. If you can’t keep this a secret, then you’ll not be invited back, and that would go badly for Oliver,” Winona said.
Alarmed, I sat up straight. “Is that a threat?”
“No. I’ll be blunt with you. Oliver is one in a thousand businessmen looking to gain our husbands’ investments. He’s nothing special compared to most seeking funding. Honestly, Aaron would have refused him after last night. Oliver is ambitious and has accomplished a great deal. We’ve been watching his rise, but he’s stalled over the last six months because he needs this influx. Without it, Oliver will stay where he is,” Winona stated.
“Nobody has impressed us much lately. They’re all the same, and Oliver falls into the same category,” Saska added.
“Why would that matter to your husbands? It’s their businesses,” I replied, confused, trying to work stuff out.
Oceane grinned. “Like many of those touting for investment, most assume we’re trophy wives or women to suck up to forfavours. Pamper us, show some interest, and our husbands will approve. In fact, that attitude is likely to turn them off. The surefire way to get to know someone is to speak to their nearest and dearest. Truthfully, Oliver doesn’t impress any of us, but you do. We see potential in you, but we’re not convinced you’ll follow through.” That explained Zinnia’s and Winona’s comments.
I swallowed hard, remembering the instructions Oliver had given me. Thank God I hadn’t put them in place. If I’d followed them, I’d have blown this out of the water. Luckily, they had blindsided me first. Inwardly, I sighed in relief.
“Okay?” I muttered, wondering where this was going.
