Angel (Book One of Protector Series)

Chapter Two

[Alex's POV]

Three days. It's been three days since I'd gone to see Valentin Stepanov, three days since I'd mentioned my brother to anyone, and three days since my brain was first overloaded with rather intimate thoughts of the Russian mobster. I feel like a teenager again, lusting after boys who would in no way reciprocate my affection.

With a body like that? There is no way Valentin doesn't have women falling at his feet. Women with rich fathers and fake boobs, probably with a lower education than me, but maybe I'm just being stereotypical. Plus that power, he looks like a man who wouldn't take shit from anyone. I'm surprised he agreed to help me, but after calling Freya she said it wasn't surprising. Apparently Valentin has already reached out to Ivan, and spoken with a few of his fighters.

"Earth to Lexi, you in there?"

I turn my head to see Faith grinning at me. She's one of the models for the fashion show coming up next week. My fashion line is called 'Luminescent' for a very good reason. It glows. I use a unique fabric that does in fact glow. It is only a hue when the lights are on, and is still amazing but when the lights are out does it come to life. It glows in an array of colors and is absolutely magnificent. I might make the dresses, but the fabric does all the work.

Faith is currently standing on a stool with her arms outstretched, a rich silk dress wrapped around her lithe body. It's white at the bust, slowly becoming a cerulean blue near the hem. I'm trying to make sure it fits her. 

"Sorry Faith, I was off with the fairies."

"Oh I don't think it was a fairy, unless it was a very handsome male fairy. I've seen that look before." She wiggled her eyebrows and I sighed. "You haven't gotten any in a while have you?"

"No. I've been too busy trying to get these gowns right for the showcase next week. Now hold still." I check the measurements of the silk around her waist, scribbling it on my arm before draping the tape measure around my neck. "I'll need to take it in a few inches, maybe add another layer at the bottom. Does it fit around your chest?"

"My flat boobs? Yeah that's all good." I smile and walk around her, muttering under my breath.

"The colour is great, brings out your skin. I knew this would be the perfect dress for you."

"That's good. It reminds me of the waves back home, when my dad would take me out surfing." Faith is Hawaiian, with beautiful caramel skin and waves of inky black hair.

"I'll fix the measurements later, but are you ready for a test run? See if the layers want to cooperate?"

"Sure thing." I pull the blinds down over the windows and smile. The hem glows perfectly, the blue in the dress lighting up. The layers of lace show up wonderfully. "Well would you look at that. I'm a lightbulb."

"It looks wonderful Faith, just give me a second to adjust this." I go up to her and pin back some of the fabric, writing more numbers onto my arm.

"Alex there's someone here to see you," Casey shouts from the doorway. "Said it's pretty urgent."

"Send them in, I'm just finishing with Faith."

"Of course." I pull the blinds back up. "I need you to go find Ivy. She's currently stitching some of the other dresses and will help with yours, plus she'll have some makeup ideas that I couldn't possible come up with."

I say that because I'm standing next to a beautiful woman in a gown, dressed in a tank top, jeans and ankle boots, with numbers up my arm and paint on my jeans. Faith wanders off and I smooth down my shirt, sifting through the rack of gowns near the door. I hold a gown up, a simple summer dress with golden highlights. I start muttering about improvements, writing down a few coloured fabrics I could use.