Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 26 - One Big Happy Family

Silence fell over the small group like a heavy blanket and lasted for a total of five seconds. On the sixth tick, several things happened at once.

Rosemary and Jean Luc snickered simultaneously. Rosemary had the decency to transform her audacious, piglike snort it into a strange, little cough but Jean Luc still grinned shamelessly behind Victoria Weston. Abi's face lit up at the idea. 

"Ah, so simple," she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

There was no doubt that Jack Monroe agreed with her. He wiggled his eyebrows playfully at Kayleigh and obediently threw his arms around her, hugging her from the back. "For the cause," he declared cheekily before kissing her cheek.

But Leon and Marcus were not so easily convinced. Marcus could not hide his disdain and threw a murderous glnce at Jack before turning away. Meanwhile, Leon literally hissed like a feral cat until Jack's smile faltered. He let go of Kayleigh, clearing his throat and took a step back.

Kayleigh's head was spinning. She pressed her face into her palms, suppressing a much-needed scream. This weekend was complicated enough as it was. She didn't need romance-on-demand and paparazzi predators thrown into the mix.

"Don't worry, Kay," Abigail said sympathetically. "It's going to be fine."

"Yes, everyone keeps saying that, but nobody is actually fine, right?" Kayleigh reiterated rather snappishly.

Abi's usual cheerful expression fell. "Well, not at the moment, no," she mumbled.

Seeing her boss's change in demeanour, Kayleigh immediately regretted her outburst. Abigail Kilton was absolutely blameless in all this. More than that, she was the victim in this great web Kayleigh had spun.

"I'm sorry," Kayleigh said sheepishly. "I didn't mean it like that. And I'm sorry for all the trouble-"

"Kayleigh, stop apologising. It's not your fault. Look, I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now," Abigail went on carefully, "but you are working in a very public industry. I understand this is not exactly the best way to be introduced into the fashion world, but your name had to come out sooner or later. Unfortunately, some people will do anything for a story, and really, all things considered, this isn't that bad."

Abigail looked at the photo from the magazine that was still clutched in Leon's tight grip. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but Kayleigh saw the ache in her eyes.

"Marley is right," Abigail stated forcing her head up high again. "So long as there is nothing to the story, the best way is to parade the truth for everyone to see. All the other media companies will want to get in on the action and disprove this article as quickly as possible."

Kayleigh couldn't agree less. The last thing she wanted was more people looking into the truth behind that photo. But of course, Abi didn't, and couldn't, know all this. 

Her eyes flickered to Marcus again. His back was still turned towards them, his head shaking slightly, his toes tapping the floor. She wondered if he felt it too. The fear of getting caught and hurting so many people in the process. The realisation that one stupid mistake had spiralled into a flaming wrecking ball that was now a hairline away from crashing into everything she'd been dreaming of ever since she was a little girl.

Turning her focus back to Abi, who was still waiting patiently for her decision, Kayleigh realised she had no choice. She nodded her agreement and was already looping her arm with Jack's when her brother decided he had more protests to voice out.

"I don't know about this, Kayleigh. I mean, I get that you love drawing clothes and all that, but don't you think this is more than what you signed up for? Let's just go back home. It will all blow over by the time of the wedding and we can all forget about it."