#1 in newreleases on 2nd Nov 2024
The Mafia Prince Series - Book One
Theodora Lane is one step away from achieving every designer's dream - Skye Maxwell. Thea is over the moon when she discovers the fashion icon herself has booked an appointment wit...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I glanced at the clock on the wall of my boutique. The ornate hands showed a quarter past six. Skye was supposed to arrive at six to pick up her anniversary gown. I had worked meticulously on the dress, ensuring every detail was perfect. It was an elegant number, one of a kind, designed to make even the most discerning eye marvel.
I sighed, picking up my phone to send Skye a message. "Hi Skye, your dress is ready to be picked up whenever you're free. I'll be here."
Almost instantly, Skye replied, "Thanks, Thea. I'll come by in a while. Busy right now."
I put my phone down and tried to focus on some other tasks, but as the minutes turned into hours, my patience began to wane. I had sent Pattie and Leah back early, now I began to regret the decision. By 9 PM, the streets outside had quieted down, and the soft glow of the streetlights filtered into the boutique, casting long shadows.
I tried to keep myself occupied, tidying up the workspace, adjusting the displays, and organizing fabric swatches. But my mind kept drifting back to the dress, and the clock ticked ever closer to 11 PM.
"How much longer am I supposed to wait?" I muttered to myself, feeling a mix of frustration and fatigue.
Finally, at 11 PM, I decided enough was enough. I locked the front door but left the lights on, just in case Skye decided to show up. I needed to find some way to keep myself entertained, so I wandered over to the row of dresses I had designed and decided to try some of them on.
I slipped into a stunning emerald green gown with a low-cut back. The fabric hugged my curves perfectly, and I couldn't help but smile at my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. "Not bad, Thea. Not bad at all," I said, striking a pose.
The dim lighting of the boutique added an air of mystery, and I felt a sense of liberation as I twirled and danced around, admiring the way the dress flowed around me. I moved on to a deep red number, its silky fabric cool against my skin. "You should be on the runway," I told my reflection with a playful wink.
I was so lost in my little fashion show that I didn't notice the figure standing in the shadows, watching me with amusement.
"You know, that butterfly tattoo on your lower back is quite the surprise," a deep voice commented, startling me out of my reverie.
I whirled around, heart pounding, and saw Conrad, the so-called mafia prince, standing in the shadows. He looked tired, dressed in a white shirt and dress pants, but still impossibly handsome. He pushed his tousled hair back with one hand as he leaned against the wall.
God help me.
"You really need to buy some new clothes. I'm beginning to think you are colorblind." I stated, once I overcame the shock and embarrassment. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped out of the shadows, a smirk playing on his lips. "Picking up my mother's dress. She got held up and asked me to come instead."
I crossed my arms, trying to regain some composure. "You could have announced your presence instead of lurking in the dark."
