3.1 | Complete Me ✔

Pickles and Pies

Scarlett took deep breaths, trying to relax on her flight to Milan. This was the big break she'd been waiting for: her first international fashion show. Everyone had been dying to come, but only Divya had accompanied her, being a model in the show. Conner had flat out rejected the invitation, utterly breaking her heart.

But she wasn't going to allow something so trivial ruin her week. This was the major launching point of her career.

"This is great," Divya said with a sigh of pleasure. "I've never modeled in Italy before. Hard to believe, I know."

"Yeah, I'm excited too," she replied. "We have to indulge in everything possible before Fashion Week."

"Too bad the others couldn't come. I didn't mind paying their tickets," Divya said with an eyeroll.

"What?" Scarlett snapped, sitting up. "That's the whole reason they couldn't come, Divya! If you could have paid for them--"

"Nah, they can watch from home," Divya said with a wicked grin.

Scarlett glared at her for a moment before sitting back in her seat and staring out the window. Once they finally landed, they were transported to a 5-star hotel where a penthouse had been arranged for them. Divya was dying to go out and celebrate, but Scarlett was too exhausted. Her phone chimed in the middle of her dressing down for bed.

[Asshole 💗: Did you land safely?]

[S. Rose: Yes. It's so beautiful here . . . I wish you were here . . . ]

She stared at her phone for a few moments, waiting for a response that never came. She sighed and tossed her phone aside. He was really bumming her out, so she ordered room service to get drunk. Better to drown her feelings than to let them distract her the whole trip.

* * *

It was the big day, and she felt like she was going to die. There were hundreds of thousands of people in attendance - big fashion brands, reporters, recruiters, anyone she could think of. She wondered how Divya would conquer this stage.

She discreetly made her way to her seat, between an empty chair and some randy she didn't recognize. Everyone was buzzing excitedly and she felt the butterflies rise and choke her. She was going to vomit.

Suddenly, she felt the seat beside her filling, with the man practically sitting halfway on top of her. She scowled, looking up to snap at him, but her breath caught in shock.

"I'm sorry," he smiled. Her entire face turned red.

"Conner?! What are you doing here?" she squawked. 

"I told you a week ago that you'd see me soon," he said. She opened her mouth to respond, but actually came up short. He grinned in amusement. "You think I'd miss my girl's biggest success?"

"You are such an asshole," she snapped.

"Yup. That's why you have my number saved as such."

She choked, shocked that he knew that. Her face slowly turned redder as the first model came strutting out.

"Why did you reject my invitation in the first place?"

"Because I wanted you to have a heart attack when you saw me actually show up," he said, earning a hard punch to the bicep. "OW!"

"I hate you," she said, folding her arms. "I . . . I was really hurt that you wouldn't come. I was gonna dump you when I got home."

"I was here the whole time, my love," he said, putting his arm around her shoulder and kissing her hair. "And you're stuck with me, so . . ."

"What do you mean you were here?" she asked, pulling away.

"I have a room a floor down."

"You're a fucking stalker," she seethed.

He chuckled, raining her in kisses until she begrudgingly relaxed. She couldn't focus on the show until Divya came out in one of her best pieces. The crowd went wild, chanting Nizhoni over and over. Divya remained totally professional, and she just chuckled.

Her laughter quickly died when a male model came out, modeling a never before seen design. The audience went silent and she sucked in a deep breath, holding it in terror. Did they not like it?!

It wouldn't be surprising . . . the design wasn't technically hers.

"Oh, you did it," Conner said. Her eyes shot to him.

"Did what?" she asked nervously. Could he tell?!

"You used the designs," he said.

A wave of nausea washed over her. Oh, god. Everyone could tell the designs were stolen.

"Y-yes," she confessed guiltily. "I found them months ago . . . they were hiding in my belongings the day we left Wayne Manor. I knew I shouldn't have used them, but I had such high hopes and--"

She stopped to stare at him a moment. "Have you . . . h-have you seen them before?"

"Of course I have," he said with an amused snort. "I'm the one that drew them."

"What?!" she screamed just as the crowd erupted with applause, as more male models took the stage. "What were you thinking?"

"Calm down, please," he said, sending an apologetic wave to the people seated behind them.

"Conner, those are your designs, and everyone thinks I made them," she said, guilt becoming more apparent on her face.

"Yeah, well," he huffed, rolling his eyes. "You did make them. I wanted you to make them. I have no use for them. They're just ideas to me, but you have the talent, the business and connections. They're every bit yours as they are mine."

He looked at her puppy-like expression and chuckled. "Besides, a truly successful brand needs to be all inclusive, and you were . . . you know . . . lacking on the male front."

Scarlett paused, realizing he had a point. Her gaze softened as she continued to stare at him. "But . . . why? Why like this? Why me?"

"Because I love you," he said with a smile, looking back to the stage. "I want you to succeed, and you need male fashion in your repertoire. Now you have it all, babe."

She was silent for a very long time, and when he glanced back for a response, she had tears in her eyes.

"What did you say?" she whispered.

He looked at her, overwhelmed by her expression as his face slowly turned red.

"N-nothing. I didn't say anything," he said, turning back to the show.

"Conner, I love you too," she said, gently touching his arm. 

He sprung out of his seat in bewilderment.

"Okay, now you're lying!" he yelled.

She stood with a giant smile on her face, dragging his head to hers and kissing him passionately. The entire audience stood and applauded them. Or rather, the end of the fashion show as they beckoned the artist to the stage. 

She didn't care which it was. She just wanted to stay here, kissing and embracing this man forever.