The Masked Truth

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

My phone rings twice before I realise its Lucy. I sprint out of the pool an answer her third call before it goes to voice mail. I silently pray she's not too angry with me for not answering. Good chance she's past furious.

"Nathan's coming," I shout down the line before she can say anything.

On cue, Nathan quickly scrambles out of the pool and takes a towel with him before entering the house to retrieve her. Roza gets out of the pool and we both start drying off before making a move to sit on the chairs undercover.

Nathan soon returns with Lucy in tow. Lucy is all excited until her eyes catch Roza and for a second I worry about what she might say. Her shocked face turns to a professional composed one.

"I have the improved dress designs," she says.

Lucy opens the manila folder and spreads the designs across the table for us to view. As I look over them, nothing pops out or screams perfection. Each of the dresses has a flaw that I'm not too excited about or could over look.

"They are good, but not exactly what I'm looking for." I frown.

"Let me have a proper look." Roza pushes past and intently gazes at each design for a couple of minutes before moving onto the next one. "I have some suggestions, paper?" She eyes off Nathan.

"Yes, Madame," he chirps before entering the house again.

When Nathan returns Roza places the page on the table and starts scribbling something similar to Lucy's design, but makes a few simple changes to each of the dress which I surprising like a lot more. The changes are a bit daring, but interesting. I hope Lucy isn't feeling humiliated to have someone else change her designs before her, but I suppose she can hate me later when people think her work looks stunning.

"They look amazing, Roza." I smile.

"Roza?" Lucy frowns.

She puts the pencil down, then turns her body around so that she's looking directly up at Lucy with her undivided attention.

"Roza Volkov, nice to meet you Lucy!" Roza extends her hand for Lucy to shake.

"Oh my goodness," she screams, "You're from Volkov Designs, I love your families work!" So maybe Roza helping Lucy on her designs won't be something she kills me for. I bet she's probably really excited to be collaborating with someone like Roza – wealthy, talented, famous in the design industry.

"My brother is going to be at the award show, maybe I'll introduce you two. He's looking for an assistant."

Lucy's eyes go as wide as a bug, "Really, that would be amazing. I've always wanted to work at Volkov Designs." Attending Roza's party has actually turned out to be pretty good. But if Lucy keeps fangirling over Roza, I'm going to shove her in the pool.

When Roza isn't looking, I have my hand over my neck to symbolise cut it out.

"And don't skimp out on the material you buy either, you want the expensive materials because it's better quality and anyone with a trained professional designer's eye is going to give your outfit so much more credit," points out Roza.

"Uhm." Lucy looks worried about Roza's pointer. Lucy's roommate Sasha is going to be all over this dress and she's going to be questioning us if she's making it from really expensive material, but Roza has a very prominent tip, I don't want anything cheap. Critics are vicious, nasty little things.

"Budget isn't an issue," I casually reply. "I'm going to get a drink."

I quickly walk away from the table and head inside. I want a minute to regroup my thoughts, but the soft following footsteps disable me from doing so.

"Lucy, she's your friend, right?" Roza asks.

"Why would you ask?" I frown.

"The way you two talk to each other, it's the comfort of a friendship built over years. Again, lips are sealed." She motions with her finger sliding across her plump red lips.

"Water or juice?" I open the fridge door.

"Is there tropical juice?" I bend down to survey the different labels on the cartons. On the very ends is a fresh cartoon with tropical juice written across with curly pink font.

"Yes," I answer.

"Tall glass of that, thank you."

"Right away." I grab the carton and open the cupboard doors until I find where they keep the glasses. While I'm searching, Roza shuffles closer to me.

"I hope we can be friends like that," she slips in.

"Really?" I ask.

Instead of an answer, she says, "Do you not like me?" Her bright curious face turns a sour, sad expression which makes my stomach swell up with guilt. I hadn't meant it in that way. It's just, people never want to be friends with Riley.

"No, it's just, usually people want a gain for status."

"Sometimes they just want friends." She plays with the strings on her bathers.

I find the cupboard stacked with glasses. I take two out and fill them with the tropical juice. I slide one over to her and then make a toast. "To new friends."

"To new friends." Our glasses clink, "I always thought we would be the best of friends." Roza takes a sip before returning back outside.

I quickly follow in her footsteps. Roza and Lucy are circled around the table while Nathan has returned to the pool to swim around.

"Everything okay now?" I ask as I peek at the new designs forming.

"Do you like the additions she's made?" Lucy questions.

"They look amazing, I love it!"

I add in a few things that could be changes or slightly tweaked until I have three different dress designs. It's a hard choice, but I manage to narrow it down to just two designs. I'll have one for the show, and a separate one for the after party which is a bit shorter and flirty than the one I'll be wearing on national television.

Nathan continues to float in the pool while we finish up with the designs and Lucy decides to head off so she can get a head start in shopping for the material and making the patterns since the show if vastly creeping up on us.

"Nathan, Lucy's going." I smile at him.

He stops mid stroke and swims to the edge of the pool to get out. Nathan walks over to the table as he wraps the towel around his body.

"Can I see the finished designs?" he asks.

"Sure." Lucy shows him the two I'll be wearing.

"Stunning designs." He nods his head with approval. "I'll show you out."

Before Lucy goes into the house, I give her a quick hug and wave goodbye. I don't want to trek through Nathan's entire house while being wet. I'm not sure the cleaners would appreciate me for it.

"Just be careful," Lucy eyes off Roza and Nathan wearily.

"Have fun with the dress," I dismiss, not wanting to get involved with any of the drama.