Chapter 15 - Nobody Hates Chocolate

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The bridal department waited with bated breath while Abigail studied the sketch carefully. Her striking blue eyes flitted between Kayleigh's binder and the tattered photograph she'd given her.

Kayleigh had finally found a way to redesign the splendid tiara in a way that complemented the ethereal garment that was being brought to life for the blonde beauty. She replaced the large diamonds in the middle with South Sea pearls and rotated the geometric patterns slightly to give them a more natural, earthy feel. Then, she bent the frame to shape it into a softer curve. If Abigail gave her seal of approval, they needed to start working on it straight away for it to be ready in time for the wedding.

"Kayleigh," Abi said finally, her tone not giving anything away. "I'm astounded! I gave you that photograph just four days ago and you transformed it into this... this work of art! It's beautiful, really!"

Kayleigh felt Ms Weston and Greta relax on either side of her as her own body elated with relief. Her lips stretched into a wide grin. It wasn't just four days ago. It was the longest four days of Kayleigh's life. It was a whole ninety-six hours, the last twenty-six of which she'd spent awake, sketching like crazy.

"Thank you," she breathed.

Abi bit her lip and looked at Kayleigh tentatively from beneath her long lashes. "I was wondering... What if we added a large onyx here? In the middle?" She pointed with her finger to the pearl in the centre of the concept sketch.

"An... An onyx?" Kay repeated, not sure if she heard right.

Abigail nodded her head enthusiastically and Kayleigh was stumped.

"I... uh..."

Then Abi's face split into a dazzling smile and she touched Kay's arm lightly. "I'm just messing with you," she tittered. "It's perfect. Do we have the materials for this?"

Kayleigh gave her head a slight shake, not really getting the joke. "Almost. We need to have some stones made specifically for these petals here. And the pearls would need to be shipped in. But we can start working on the frame immediately."

"You're the best! Well done, ladies," Abigail added to the managers flanking Kayleigh, before turning to fish out her buzzing phone from her large, designer bag.

"Hello, my soon-to-be husband," she crooned.

Kayleigh involuntarily cast her gaze at the beautiful woman with the beautiful voice. Abi's raspberry lips danced as she spoke to her beautiful man on the other end of the line and Kayleigh swallowed the bile trickling up her throat.

I'm sorry. For all of it.

His words were on repeat in her head since the day before. What did that even mean?

"Kayleigh, love?"

Kayleigh blinked and Abigail's pleading face came back into focus.

"I need a favour." 

#

Kayleigh tried to exhale all her apprehensions before walking out of Kilton House of Fashion's large glass doors, but her insides still felt heavy when she saw Marcus leaning against his black SUV on the other side of the road. He did not look happy and Kayleigh didn't blame him. She wasn't too excited about the turn of events either.

"Hey," she waved awkwardly as she approached him.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head stiffly before opening the car door for her.

"I'm really sorry about this," Kayleigh said, not sure why she was apologising.

"Get in, Kay," he muttered through gritted teeth, still not meeting her eyes. "We're already late and it's a thirty-minute drive."

Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding DressWhere stories live. Discover now