Dropping a Stitch

Chapter 1 – Designed to Deflect

Jane's heart felt as if it was going to rip apart at any moment as she gazed sightlessly at the archway that Billy and Zoe had disappeared through only minutes before. His words… the exact two words that he had spoken to her at the fashion show three months ago… rang in her head like a two-note melody over and over again… "It's you"… "It's you"… "It's you"…

Only it wasn't a melody at all. It was a dirge; because now he had spoken those words to Zoe. Sure, it had been on-stage... which didn't matter any more because he obviously meant the words anyway. After all, he had slept with Zoe. Jane's chest squeezed so tight that she almost couldn't catch her breath and she felt as if her world was crumbling around her. She felt the urge to flee. To run. To be anywhere but anywhere near Billy.

Then Ms. Clark stepped up to block Jane's path. In her usual bright-eyed fake-cheerful way she announced, "There's some people who want to talk to you. They're like, raving about your costumes."

"Really!?" Jane replied, temporarily happy.

Saying nothing more, Ms. Clark flitted away to seek out some parent or faculty member… preferably male… who would give her the attention that she knew that she deserved.

Jane turned to see a face that she recognized all too well and the ache in her heart turned into almost-blinding panic. Steeling herself as well as she could, she tried to push back the urge to cringe as Gray and Eli walked up to her. "Jane?" Gray looked momentarily confused. Then she looked slightly out of sorts and irritated. And then her face took on that set, expressionless expression that Jane dreaded the most. "Jane, I'm surprised to see you here… I would have thought that I kept you busy enough?"

Jane was still struggling to wrap her mind around this situation when Eli stepped in to save her, "Well, yes, that's true Gray… but at work she is your assistant. Here she gets the opportunity to sharpen her skills as a designer. And as you already mentioned, her costume designs were exquisite." He stepped slightly back so that his aunt couldn't see him. It wasn't a problem since Gray's eyes had never left Jane's face even once. As soon as he was confident that Gray couldn't see him, he made a pleading look for Jane to snap out of it and respond.

The teen finally broke out of her deer-in-the-headlights pose and slipped into her professional persona. "Gray, I'm surprised to see you here… of all places… Umm… I thought that you were scheduled to attend that charity event…?"

Gray's face dropped as she allowed her confusion to show, "That's what I thought that I was attending." She extracted an envelope from yet another of her designer purses. For once Jane was still too discomposed to lust after her boss' incredible collection. She watched as Gray gracefully opened the envelope and extracted the invitation. At her gesture, Jane took the invitation. Jane's eyes widened as she saw that Donovan Decker had been invited to attend as an honored guest, "in sincere appreciation for your generous donation."

Jane composed herself as well as she could and finally said, "I'm afraid that there was a… misunderstanding… You see, when the first costumes and the set were damaged, I… donated the bonus check that you gave me. It had Donovan Decker's name on it, so Ms. Clark must have…"

Gray remained silent for a long moment before she snapped, "It seems that I am in the wrong place. Where am I supposed to be?"

Jane scrambled for her phone, called up her scheduler, and quickly found the correct entry. "Number 7 Park Place. It actually only began half an hour ago, so…"

"Eli, go get the car. Jane, I will speak with you in my office tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's Satur… Yes, Gray, I'll be there," Jane felt her legs shaking as she watched her boss gracefully glide away.

Eli was laying in wait for Jane as she stepped into the lobby of Donovan Decker the following morning. Jane looked exceptionally stylish as she performed her best confident walk. She had been up since early morning ripping, tearing, altering and tweaking. It had been a therapeutic and welcome distraction from the many different and dismal feelings that had plagued her night. It didn't keep Billy out of her thoughts, but at least the attention to detail helped to focus her mind.

Besides, if she was going to be fired, at least she wanted to look good as she walked out of the building.

The handsome young designer pulled her to the side and guided her to his office, "Relax. Gray's not here yet." He handed her a Starbucks coffee.

Jane took it gratefully, unable to completely meet Eli's eyes. Finally he spoke, "You owe me."

She raised an eyebrow at this. He spoke again, "How old are you, really?"

Jane gripped her cup more tightly, closed her eyes, leaned forward and allowed the steam from the coffee to heat her face. She was completely unaware of the affect that she was having on Eli, just as she was still unaware of her own beauty. She knew it in a visual sense, but not at a subconscious level. When it became clear that Eli was going to wait her out, she expelled a deep breath and replied, "Can you close your door?"

Eli raised an eyebrow, but then he complied. Jane put her cup down, sat straight, and then began her tale. She told everything related to her internship, the mortgage payment that prompted her to maintain the deception, and her subsequent efforts to juggle two lives in secret. It felt good to reveal everything to someone even if she held back on any mention of Billie or her broken heart. When she finally reached the end of her story she stopped and waited.

Eli surprised her by giving one of his best smiles, "Well, that does explain an awful lot. All of this time I thought that it had something to do with me." He laughed self-consciously, but his eyes seemed to be devouring Jane. "Soooo… seventeen, huh?"

Jane nodded, slightly uncomfortable under Eli's gaze. She couldn't guess what Eli might do next. A part of her actually wanted him to expose her… to get everything out into the open and to end this exhausting deception. But another part dreaded it more than anything. After all, this was her world now. Never before Donavan Decker had she ever had such a fulfilling existence. Even if it was all based on deception, the truth was that she had found her true home in fashion. Jane was doing what she loved and she didn't want to lose all of that now.

They both sat silently, sipping on their coffees in the pregnant stillness. Finally Eli said, "Six years isn't that much."

Jane blinked, lost in his meaning for a moment. Then she rolled her eyes, "I don't think that is the biggest issue here. What are you going to tell Gray?"

Before Eli could reply they were both startled by an sharp rapping on the glass of Eli's office door. Jane turned to see Gray's imperious gesture toward her office. She sighed and stood as she watched Gray walk away. Then she met Eli's eyes with a question. Eli smirked, "I'll tell you what: If she doesn't fire you, I'll keep your secret. But it'll cost you."

"What will it cost me?" Jane asked suspiciously.

"Forgiveness. A second chance." Eli's eyes were very serious now. Jane was formulating a reply when she heard Gray's demanding call and walked out of the office.

Jane stood in front of Gray while the older lady examined her minutely. It was the most difficult thing that she had ever done not to squirm. Jane only jumped a little when Gray stood up suddenly. Then the older lady walked around her desk and walked behind Jane. "Turn," she instructed sharply.

Jane forced herself to relax and she turned. It took her a moment to realize that Gray was closely examining her newest creation. Jane had a thousand things she wanted to say but she kept her mouth shut. "I suppose that this is one of your creations as well?"

"Yes?"

"Was that an answer or a question," Gray asked, smiling for the first time.

Jane stood up straighter, "I made it this morning."

Gray returned to her seat. She leaned back, crossed her still-shapely legs and steepled her fingers. "In January each year the International Fashion Consortium holds a 'Rising Designers Competition.' This year the competition will be held here in New York. Donovan has been requested to participate in the hosting of the event. Basically, a representative from this office will be in charge of coordinating the event hall, providing publicity, and housing the competitors. It is a great honor and a great opportunity for Donovan Decker. It is also an opportunity for epic failure.

"I had intended to give you that responsibility…" she didn't appear to notice Jane paling as she continued, "… but I've decided to enter you in the competition instead. Jane, you will be entering the competition as the representative designer for Donovan Decker on the same year that we are hosting the competition. The entire international community of designers will be evaluating your designs… so I would advise you to get to work... Why are you still standing there?"

Jane felt her nausea rising as she walked out of Gray's office. Maybe it would have been better if she fired me!

Billie opened his eyes as he felt Zoe's soft, warm body shifting against him. He looked at her face and tried to feel happy. Zoe was beautiful by any standard and she was so much more. He should be totally happy to be where he was at… but instead he felt miserable. I am an ass, he thought dolefully, I have no right to be here when my heart…

He flinched as Zoe's soft hair rubbed against his cheek. Her eyes opened and she looked at him with bleary adoration. Billy kissed her, as much to hide his expression as to taste her lips. When she responded to him he did his best to be the lover that Zoe deserved… but he couldn't keep another face out of his mind.

Jeremy and India finished off their coffees as the boarding call for their flight was announced. They appeared oblivious to the stares from other people at the airport as they grabbed their carry-ons and proceeded to the gate. They appeared to be the perfect couple: beautiful, stylish and with the world at their heels. Nobody looking at them could have guessed at the tumultuous year they were having or the layers of deceit and blackmail that had darkened their relationship. Outwardly, they were more than perfect.

Jeremy felt the thrill and terror of his new venture. He was returning to New York to start his own business; his own label. His entire career, his savings, and most of all, his reputation was hinging on this venture.

India, on the other hand, was returning to the fold of Donovan Decker after being falsely accused and fired. She had returned as the representative of Harrods with the intention of destroying Gray and that little upstart Jane. But necessity and her own reputation had forced her to actually start working to make their joint-project succeed.

But now it was different. Now she was returning as the Head of Fashion for Donovan Decker… and she intended to see Gray and Jane gone, dishonored, and destroyed before she was done.