Fashioned For Sin

Chapter 13

Blair

Leonardo walked beside me, his hand gently resting on the small of my back, guiding me forward. I could sense his own unease, though he tried to conceal it with a confident demeanour.

Inside the restaurant, the warmth of the dim lights created an inviting atmosphere, though I couldn't shake the weight of the impending introductions. We rounded the corner, and there they were-Leonardo's family.

His father, Charles, was the first to notice us, his sharp eyes lighting up as he stood. His presence commanded attention, a man who had seen and conquered much. Beside him was his mother, Angelica, her smile warm and genuine, but her eyes held the kind of scrutiny only a mother could have. And then there was Josephine, Leonardo's younger sister, her vibrant energy unmistakable even from afar.

Blair!" Angelica greeted me warmly, pulling me into a light embrace. "We've heard so much about you."

"Only good things, I hope," I replied, trying to keep my tone light."Of course, of course," Charles chimed in, his voice deep and authoritative. "Leonardo's spoken highly of you."

We exchanged pleasantries as we settled into our seats. I could feel their eyes on me, assessing and evaluating. It was to be expected; after all, I was the first girl Leonardo had introduced to them in a long time. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the moment.

Josephine leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, Blair, you're a fashion designer, right?"I smiled, grateful for the icebreaker. "Yes, I am. I've been working on my own line for a while now. It's been a lot of work, but I love it.""That's wonderful," Angelica said, her tone approving. "It's good to see someone with ambition and passion for their craft."

We continued to chat, the conversation flowing more easily than I'd anticipated. They asked about my work, my inspirations, and the challenges of starting a fashion line at a young age. I could feel Leonardo's eyes on me, his silent support comforting amidst the slight tension.

As the waiter came to take our orders, I started to relax, thinking that maybe, just maybe, this dinner would go smoothly. But of course, life had other plans.

Just as our orders were being taken, I felt a cold splash against my back, followed by the unmistakable sensation of liquid seeping through my dress. My body tensed instinctively as I heard a high-pitched gasp.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" a voice chimed, feigning shock. I turned to see a woman with blonde hair standing there with an empty glass in hand and a look of mock concern on her face.
I didn't recognize her, but something about her presence seemed off. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, and her designer dress hugged her in all the right places. She looked every bit the spoiled, wealthy girl she appeared to be-a stark contrast to the more grounded life I had worked so hard to build.

I could feel my cheeks flush with anger, but I forced myself to stay calm. "It's okay," I managed, though my voice was tight.

"I didn't see you there," she continued, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "You should be more careful next time."Before I could respond, Leonardo was at my side, his hand on my arm.

His expression darkened as he recognized her.
"Amanda," he said, his voice cold. "What are you doing here?"Amanda? Of course. His ex-girlfriend. The one he never talked about in detail, only mentioning that it ended badly. I suddenly understood why.

Amanda's eyes flicked to Leonardo, a brief flash of something like hurt crossing her features before she covered it up with a smirk. "Oh, I'm just having dinner. Didn't expect to run into you here... with her," she said, glancing at me with thinly veiled disdain.

Leonardo's expression tightened, and I could feel the tension in his body. "Focus on your own table, Amanda," he replied firmly.

Amanda gave me one last glance, her eyes narrowing slightly before she turned back to her table without another word.

Angelica quickly signalled for a waiter, who brought me a towel to clean up as best as I could. My dress was ruined, but I wasn't going to let Amanda see how much she had gotten to me. I could feel Charles's critical eyes on me, and I wasn't sure if his disapproval was aimed at Amanda or the situation as a whole.

Despite the rocky start, the conversation eventually resumed its flow. Leonardo's family was gracious, and as the evening wore on, I found myself genuinely enjoying their company.

In the middle of dinner, Josephine cleared her throat, a big nervous smile on her face, "So, I have an announcement to make, which you all have been waiting for."

We all waited with anticipation.

"I'm getting married!" She said happily, handing us a beautiful invitation.

"Oh my god!" I say, giving her a big hug. "You're definitely going to be one of the bridesmaids." She says, my eyes widen.

"I will happily be one." I admit.

"Okay, but that's not all guys, I'm also pregnant."

We all looked at each other, our jaws on the floor.

"So much news in one night, I think my head is going to hurt." Charles joked, chuckling.

We all toasted again, but this time, to Josephine about her pregnancy and wedding.

Charles insisted on paying for everything, waving off any attempts from Leonardo or any of us to chip in. We thanked him, though, making our way out of the restaurant, my heart calmly beating inside my chest as the cool air brushed against my skin

Tonight started off hazy, but it ended really well. I'm happy.

Charles is a sommelier. I think he served us a bit too many wine bottles, and damn they were good, he also gave us a bottle extra to keep at home.