Page 11 of Tailored for You

Not that it would work. Enzo had three inches on him, and so many more muscles that it made Charles appear almost frail in comparison.

I took both of them in while they sized each other up—both in Brioni, though only one wore it well.

Charles came across as plain, like wearing a designer's name was enough to impress people. Enzo, on the other hand, wore his suit like it was armor. He showed it off the way every creator hoped someone would show off their work. He breathed life into it, and...

I had to stop thinking about how Enzo looked and focus on how to get out of this rapidly devolving situation.

“If I remember correctly, the only time you need to speak to her is regarding Harper.” Enzo shifted his stance, giving me the opportunity to get a good look at Charles, whose face was turning redder with every breath.

I opened my mouth, then quickly shut it. How did he know her name? Or the stipulations of my custody agreement.

Charles looked from Enzo to me and sneered. His eyes had that glint in them that I knew meant he was going to get meaner the longer I stood there. “I guess the only way you can get a man is if you butter them up while you’re on your knees, fixing a pant leg.” The insult hit like a punch to the gut.

Enzo got closer to Charles, his body coiled with tension, and leaned in, whispering something in his ear. Color leeched from Charles' face. Without thinking, I reached out and touched Enzo’s hand as it curled into a fist, trapping my fingers in his grip.

Immediately, Enzo stood back, a vicious smile on his face, but didn’t let go of my hand. I wiggled my fingers, but Enzo merely adjusted his grip to the point we were fully holding hands. He glanced down at me, his smile softening, and squeezed my hand.

It was a silent gesture that filled me with relief and made me want to cry. A moment of reassurance that let me know he was with me and I didn’t have to face Charles alone.

I shifted my focus, using Enzo’s reassurance to bolster my wavering confidence and focus on what Charles had said.

Of course, he would make a comment about me sleeping with a client. It was his go-to insult.

It was so hard to be cordial with someone who tried to put you down whenever they had the chance.

“Charles, it’d serve you well to stop speaking,” I said, keeping my voice soft, knowing I had to diffuse this situation.

An arm wrapped around Charles’ waist—long, pointed ballet pink, an enormous ring on her finger she’d bought herself. The only woman I genuinely hated.

Apple McBurger. As in the apple of her daddy’s eye.

“Oh, sweetheart, let’s be cordial to the service workers.” She turned to me, her eyes going from Enzo to me, and mock-whispered, “If you need money, there are other ways to get it.”

If I were a violent person, I’d punch her in her pinched, over-botoxed face. Apple hated me for having the gall to, as she put it, "steal Charles from her." Which made no sense, considering she’d moved to Paris to chase after a man more than a year before Charles and I even met.

When her scheming in Europe didn’t pan out she came back to find me pregnant and engaged to Charles, she launched into a hate campaign against me. She told lies, spread rumors, and my life miserable.

She ostracized me from would-be friends in a time when I’d never been more scared, because being pregnant was scary, and I needed a friend.

I don’t know why she was worried. It wasn’t like Charles was faithful; he’d never been. He was incapable of any type of monogamy. I was just too hopeful and scared to recognize what the late nights, weekend meetings, and constantly buzzing phone meant. When that video of Charles cheating went viral and landed on Page Six, I wasn’t surprised to find out it was Apple.

By that time, I knew I wasn’t in love, but it gave me the push I needed to act.

I was done. Done with them and everything to do with them.

“Apple, pleasure to see you again,” I said in a sickly-sweet tone. I eyed her pants, lingering on the pocket that bulged, a telltale sign that it wasn’t tapered correctly. “You know, I can always help if you need a better tailor. Whoever you’re using should know better than to allow puckering at the waist.” I motioned to my hips. “And it’s so good to see you reusing styles. That Hermes from last season really goes the distance, doesn’t it?”

Apple’s smile dropped, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead three times over. I might be a simple servant to her, but I knew her world, how to play her game of insults, and exactly where to hit her the hardest.

Minnie would be pleased. I couldn’t wait to call her.

I stepped around them, pulling Enzo’s as I went.

He beat me to the door, opened it for me, and followed me out.

I didn’t know what to do. I had so many questions running through my head, I didn’t know where to start.

My heart was racing. I pulled the hand that still held onto Enzo like a lifeline and tried to shake it out to help with the adrenaline that was pumping through me.