Page 197 of The Rebel Billionaire

“Brooke, these are really good,” she says before returning her attention to my sketchbook. “Have you thought about your fabric selection, stitching detail, trim?”

Debra laughs as a trail of sweat trickles down my back. Elise holds my gaze. She has questions and will no doubt want answers.

“Elise, I love your enthusiasm,” Debra says, with an awkward giggle. “Give the young woman a chance. We haven’t reached that part in the course yet. Although you can see why I wanted to introduce you.”

“I look forward to seeing how you progress,” Elise says with a smile before handing back my sketchbook.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Brooke, wow, that was the Elise Brown… you should be jumping around in your seat. She loved your designs,” Andie says when Elise and Debra finally move away. “Maybe Elise will offer you an internship at St Clair if she likes your work that much.”

“I’m sure she was just being polite,” I say awkwardly.

Andie scoffs but turns her attention back to her own designs.

No one here knows where I work. They simply know me as the PA. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, which working for one of the major fashion houses whilst studying fashion design was bound to do. Not that I can give them any insight into their creative process, as that’s top secret.

I’m on edge until we’re dismissed.

Elise stays talking to some of the other students as I make my escape.

Mitch is waiting for me in the car.

“How was tonight’s class?”

“It was fine.”

Mitch looks over and raises an eyebrow.

“Fine?”

“I think my cover’s been blown,” I say, making him swerve towards the kerb and slam on the brakes.

“Sorry, not that cover,” I say quickly.

“Shit, H, don’t do that. My brain went instantly to extraction protocol.”

“I have an extraction protocol?”

“What did you think would happen if they found you or your cover was blown?”

“You’d rush in? I wasn’t entirely sure.”

He chuckles.

“We would have,” he says. “But it would have been a little more structured.”

“It’s good to know there’s a plan. It was the only thing I could think about when I first arrived,” I say.

“I’m sorry. It must have been hard.”

But life’s different now, more settled. Brooke is starting to make a life for herself. Having them both in my corner is helping, although I know they’re not thrilled about my relationship with Alex.

“A little. I imagined myself running around in a panic, throwing clothes into a suitcase, calling Kris or my family.”

“Should something happen, there won’t be time for that. You’ll be extracted from wherever you are and moved to a safe house. The rest will come later.”

My heart rate speeds up. I suppose, over time, I’ve pushed the threat to my life and freedom to the back of my mind. I’ve simply been living day to day.