Billionaire’s Unlikely Bride - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Brian chuckled, parking the car and stepping out. "Yep. Penthouse suite, courtesy of Charles. I can’t believe you expected anything less from him."
"I just thought, since I'm staying alone, it wouldn't be so... big."
My jaw dropped as we walked into the lobby, and by the time I stepped into the penthouse, I was speechless. The place was massive! It didn’t have a key, it had a fingerprint scanner! And a key, but only for emergencies.
I've never lived alone before, but I could get used to this.
"This place is incredible," I whispered, still in awe. I've lived in a mansion all my life but this, this is different. It's a place I could call home. Just a drama-free life. My eyes widened when I saw an entertaining area outside – with a swimming pool!
Brian grinned.
"Charles wanted to make sure you were comfortable. He said you needed a fresh start.” Brian told her, putting my luggage beside the most beautiful, clearly comfortable, couch I have ever seen. “Speaking of fresh starts, there's an event tomorrow night. A big one. Fashion designers from all over will be there, you can think of it as an industry mixer. I thought you might want to come along, meet some people, and get a feel for things before you dive into your projects."
I looked at him, wide-eyed. "Are you serious? I would love that!"
Brian smiled. "Great, I'll pick you up around seven tomorrow. It’s a black-tie event, so dress to impress."
As I walked Brian to the door, I couldn’t stop thanking him. But he waved it off, saying, "Thank Charles, not me. He’s the one who assured me you were good, so I trust him on that."
That night, I stayed up late, putting my things in order. I couldn’t stop squealing, meeting Brian was already a dream come true, but the idea of meeting even more designers and being part of the fashion world I had always admired? It was even more exciting.
The next evening, I could barely contain my excitement as I dressed for the event. I decided to wear one of my designs to the event, which could give me more exposure. It was an ice-blue dress with crystals that sparkled around the bodice and scattered throughout the flowing skirt. Brian’s jaw dropped as I stepped out of the door.
“Wow,” he said, whistling as he admired my dress. “You look… stunning.”
“Thank you-”
“And the dress… Did you design it?” Brian asked, his gaze changing to one of professional admiration.
“Yes,” I laughed, lightly. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
When we arrived, I looked around and saw models and designers from all over the world. Brian had been right, the event was glamorous indeed. Reporters were lined behind a rope along a red carpet. I immediately felt uncomfortable and turned away from them, hiding against Brian.
“Are you okay?” he asked me, using his body to escort me discreetly into the building.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak yet. The truth was, I wasn’t just camera shy. I didn’t want to risk being recognized back home, and with Blair and Candice both being part of the industry, there was a chance Mason would see me.
"Come, Raven, the scary cameras are gone," Brian chuckled, escorting me to meet dozens of people throughout the room. "There's one more person I'd like you to meet."
I went with him, without any hesitation.
"This is my good friend, Anastasia. But you can call her Sia for short. She's a high-class model, and her father owns a modeling agency."
"Nice to meet you, Sia; I'm Raven Prescott," I said, smiling at the lovely red-haired woman in front of me.
"Lovely meeting you, Raven. Forgive my manners, but I can't seem to take my eyes off your dress; it's gorgeous."
"Thank you. It's a part of my new collection." I informed her.
"You know, I think this would look great for the fashion show my dad's planning." She reached for her purse and brought out her card. "This is my card; it has my phone number on it. So give me a call and we can meet up to discuss further."
"I'd love that, enjoy your evening."
Brian introduced me to several other people, and I found myself getting more comfortable, chatting with people about fashion, design, and the industry, as the night went on. I felt like I belonged – and that was something I had never felt before.
By the end of the night, I was glowing with excitement. I had met so many incredible people, and I could already feel the creative energy flowing through me.
"I'm guessing, that smile means you had a great time?" Brian turned to me and said as we left the venue. I nodded. "You know, Raven, I've been thinking about something ever since I saw that dress."
I looked at him, curious, and waited for him to continue.
He paused for a moment, then smiled. "I'm creating a new brand. And after thinking about it all night... I'd like to ask if you'd want to be my partner?"
I stopped in my tracks, staring at him in shock. "You... you want me to be your business partner?"
Brian nodded. "Charles was right. You’ve got talent, and I see a lot of potential in you. What do you say?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I was speechless and freaking out.