3.1 | Complete Me ✔

Fulfilling And Satiating

"Okay, we're going to go over this one more time, okay?" Scarlett looked expectantly at the seven people lined up before her. Today was the debut of her Spring fashion line. She was dressed in a stunning black lace dress and donned a pair of sexy spectacles. Her fiery red hair was styled in perfect curls, piled high and falling elegantly down her shoulders. She clutched a clipboard in her arms, glaring down at the checklist like a hawk as she waited for everyone to stop murmuring and fidgeting. 

"Zain is on hair and make-up, correct?"

"Yes," Zain said with an exaggerated sniffle. "Since you didn't craft anything for me to model . . ."

"Sorry, baby. Next season. Ezio, you're on costume change? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah!" he answered enthusiastically. "I've done it before! I won't let you down!"

"Perfect," she smiled. "Annnnd, Alfred is on refreshments . . ." Her demeanor softened considerably at the mention of Alfred, gushing as he stepped forward and bowed.

"At your service, Miss Rose," he replied diligently. "The master has a grand surprise for you today. May I escort everyone there?"

They nodded and followed his lead. Scarlett was super confused when they walked past the foyer, the living room, and every other room in the house, heading for the backyard. Once they got outside, she stopped in her tracks in shock.

Right between the pool and the maze stood a makeshift catwalk, complete with changing panels and seats for her audience. Her clothes were already arranged on a rack off to the side, zipped up in their dress bags. Chairs flanked either side of the stage, and there was a bar positioned on the opposite side for catering.

"Oh . . . my . . . goodness!" she muttered, looking to Alfred with wonder dancing in her eyes. "This is spectacular!"

"All the gentlemen worked really hard to assemble it for you, Miss Rose," he informed, smiling at her reaction. "A splendid fashion show is all the thanks we require."

"I'm not one to disappoint," she replied with a wink, turning to her friends with the flames of determination flickering in her eyes. "Let's get to it!"

Everyone hurried to prepare while Scarlett went back to assess the stage one last time. It truly was flawless; just what she had envisioned in her mind. She climbed up onto the structure and strutted back and forth across its smooth, polished surface, her excitement bubbling up uncontrollably. She was a little nervous about what everyone would think of the show, but she was overall confident about her work, and would display it this Spring no matter what.

Her heart raced a little faster when the person she really wanted to floor entered her mind: Conner.

She wasn't sure why she wanted to impress that dumb oaf; he probably didn't know a thing about fashion. But since he had been the first outsider to come so close to what was nearest and dearest to her, she wanted to show him something he'd never forget.

Soon enough, Alfred was carting out the food, and Zain was leading the dolled up ladies toward her. Ezio followed at the back of the line so that he could start getting them changed.

"You did an extraordinary job, Zain!" Scarlett praised, gazing in awe at his masterpieces. "The span of your talents never cease to amaze me. You all look gorgeous~"

"Yes, I must say . . . if you weren't already running the bakery, I would hire you as my new hair and make up artist," Divya remarked, daintily touching her coiffure. "Those marvelous hands are wasting away there."

"Nonsense. Everything I do is an art," he remarked, folding his arms. "But thank you all for the flattery. I tried my utmost to make you all a compliment to Scarlett's handiwork."