Page 26 of I Want You

“You’re welcome,” Victoria replies, looking her up and down. “You look really pretty.”

“You’re not half bad yourself,” Harper says.

Victoria steps over to the dressing table to pick up a pair of pearl earrings.

“Do you think these are too formal?” she asks as she puts one on. “I don’t want to look like the typical woman who thinks she can lecture a haute couture house on elegance.”

Harper takes in her ex-wife’s entire outfit.

“Not at all. I think you look perfect.”

Harper swallows hard, needing to shatter that perfect facade.

“Let’s go over the roadmap…” Harper begins, her tone hardening slightly. “So neither of us has to wing it when we’re in front of the communications director.”

Victoria nods, resting her hands on the table.

“Go ahead. Fire away.”

Harper opens the first page of her notebook, running her finger over the information in the outline.

“The magazine is going to offer them the opportunity to produce a video report after the launch.”

Harper points to a section in the dossier.

“We’ll also promise to reinforce the brand’s presence in the narrative of the main article,” Harper continues. “We’ll highlight the company’s expertise, feature the designer, and give them a prominent spot in the trends section.”

Victoria nods.

“Without veering into advertorial territory, of course.”

“Exactly.”

“Well, I think we’ve got it all figured out,” Victoria says, taking another look at herself in the mirror.

Harper closes the folder and goes to get her perfume.

“So, we can go now.”

*

The chauffeur-driven car rolls down the avenues of Beverly Hills as the city wakes up. Harper is pressed against the window, mentally reviewing her notes. Victoria is beside her, answering emails on her phone. It should be a moment filled with anxiety; the cover of the year depends entirely on the next few minutes. Yet Harper feels a strange sense of composure.

Despite years of resentment, working with Victoria remains an almost mystical experience. Their minds intertwine with the same perfection their bodies once did.

She has proof of it right there.

“What’s bothering you?” Victoria asks without taking her eyes off the screen.

“How do you know I’m worried?”

Victoria points to the space between Harper’s eyebrows.

“You have that tiny wrinkle right here. It always shows up when you’re a little worried.”

Harper immediately runs her hand over her forehead.

“Don’t be silly…”