“Yet it’s still mine,” Winona snapped.
I hid a laugh as Oceane looked disgruntled.
“Well, I’m having this pantsuit,” Rebel announced, holding out another sketchbook. “Actually, I want at least half the items in this book.”
“Honey, you don’t have the butt,” Zinnia said, and I gasped while Rebel clutched her chest as if in pain.
“You wound me, bitch!” Rebel shot back.
I laughed, a real belly giggle with the others. Strangely, it felt weird, out of place. I couldn’t remember the last time I full-on laughed. Early on, I’d mastered the polite laugh, and that sucked, honestly.
“Okay, I’ll get these taken home,” I said.
“Actually, we’ve got a proposition.” Winona reached out and stayed my hand.
“Oh?”
“Yes. But first, you need to sign this NDA.” Oceane slid a folder across the table.
“Why?” I was instantly on guard.
“Because you’re going to want this,” Saska stated obliquely. Well, that wasn’t helpful.
Quickly, I read the NDA, and thankfully, it was simple and easy to understand. I signed and handed it back. Perhaps I should have had Oliver check it first. Who knew what these women were about to offer?
“You’ve got talent, Alicia, a lot of skill and creativity. The dress wowed those yesterday, and quite a few wanted your contact details. I played coy, which made you even more mysterious and gave you a name: Mystique. Those bitches are now scouring the web for any trace of you,” Saska stated, leaning back on the sofa.
“Okay? They won’t find anything,” I said, and Saska nodded.
“No. But Mystique is out there. When Winona and Rebel wear your dresses, there will be a clamour for your designs. Alicia, we’re proposing to help you get started in business.” Oceane shocked me.
“Oliver wants investors, not me!”
“Oliver will get funding from our husbands. Butwewant to invest in you,” Zinnia said patiently.
“Why?”
“We’ve told you why. God knows why you won’t accept our word. And we’re not going to keep repeating ourselves. Either believe us or not. If you don’t, leave and don’t return,” Winona ordered.
“Will Oliver get your endorsement?”
“Do you do anything without thinking about precious Oliver? Girl, you’re brainwashed or obsessed, I’m not sure which. Girls, this is a mistake, and our initial impressions were correct,” Oceane said brusquely.
“Hey, I’m neither! Just because I adore my husband and want what’s best…” I began to get irate.
“Alicia, we all love our husbands, but don’t put them at the front ofeverythingwe do. Oceane may have been blunt, but she’s right. You’re acting like you’re brainwashed or have Stockholm Syndrome,” Winona said gently.
“Jesus, I don’t! I have my own life!” I exclaimed. But my gut sank. Did I? I stayed at home most days and rarely went out. If I did, Oliver usually accompanied me, and I was happy with that status quo. Clearly, although Winona and the others were loved, they didn’t have the love Oliver and I had.
“You do? Prove it.” Oceane’s eyes contained a challenge.
I held them, not willing to back down.
“Fine. We want to invest in Mystique, which means you. You can’t tell Oliver because of the NDA. Alicia, you claim you aren’t under his control, then this is an offer nobody would refuse,” Winona stated calmly.
“What we’re offering is simple. We’ll fund a floor in a building and hire staff. You’ll require skilled seamstresses and tailors, as well as other employees. Alicia, your task is to create several one-offs for us, and we’ll get you noticed. These sketchbooks need organising into categories. Some of your ideas need a littleupdating. However, you’ve enough valid designs here that you don’t have to design for a few years,” Zinnia said.
“Then, when we’ve got Mystique some attention, we’ll upload a website. And probably also hire a social media expert to tout your up-and-coming range. This won’t be easy, and you’ll work hard. Start by organising these designs; you’ve day wear mixed with evening gowns and so on. Do that first,” Saska ordered.
