Disaclaimer: I don't own it
Please R&R
Confessions of a Potter Princess IV
"Names please" said the check-in guy at the entrance to the Carnaby street studio where the preparation for London Fashion Week would take place.
"Jamison Halliwell and Charlotte Potter", answered Jamison.
"Ok thank you, please make your way down the hall into the main studio. The orientation meeting is just about to start."
Jamison and I hurried down to the main studio where there were six other people all sitting and chatting casually. I figured these were the other students selected from the other design schools. We found seats and waited, too nervous to talk, for the meeting to begin.
"Good morning everyone" said the chipper but stern voice of a tall, slim distinguished looking man, "My name is Gates Canning I will be the advisor for your work on London Fashion Week. I am the assistant coordinator of the event and creative director for Balenciaga. For the next two weeks you are going to be choreographing the models, selecting the soundtrack and picking a lighting scheme for your show, on top of making your collection come to life. Now, by the look on your faces I can tell the mere thought is overwhelming, but not to worry, each of you will have a small team of assistants to help you just like each of the big designers. Remember, a show only lasts ten to fifteen minutes. That's ten or fifteen minutes to make it or break it in this industry. And even if your mind-blowing this season, and invited back for the next, you must be just as fabulous then. Each stitch of thread, each swatch of fabric determines whether you become a fashion icon or a fad. The fashion world is cutthroat and fast-paced; you better believe it when I say this is probably the only shot you're going to get. You eight were chosen because your professors believed you have what it takes to create your own fashion empire. Each of you shows the aptitude to become your own design house that will last not for five or ten seasons but for fifty or sixty years or more. You will become the next Chanel or Chloe; that will be your name."
I was going out of my mind as I listened to his speech. This was intense and exciting and amazing and frightening and a million other things. This is the only chance I'll get. I can do this. I can be mind-blowing and innovative. I couldn't wait to get started.
Later
I arrived home about 3:00 absolutely exhausted. This fashion thing was a lot harder than it sounded. Today I had worked for four hours just trying to come up with how I wanted the runway to look. Tomorrow I have to decide the order in which I want the outfits to come down the runway. Apparently there was a certain science to that I had yet to learn. I also had to get started on actually creating the designs. The fabrics and materials had all been bought already, thank god, but I still needed to oversee the construction of the clothes by my assistants. Wednesday I was to meet with a DJ to select the music, which it turns out sets the mood for the show entirely. I was going absolutely insane, but at the same time I had never been happier.
Suddenly I heard a peck on the window. I made my way over to the window and let the owl in. I recognized the elegantly embossed parchment as Rainier's and sprawled on our bed to read it.
Hey Princess just finished the game against Latvia. We won again. I thought of you the whole time. You must be my good luck charm. I miss you so much; I can't wait to get back to England. I hope your first day at that Fashion Week thing was fun. I'll be back from touring the 20th. Just eight more days away. Your father and Cal say hi. With all the love in my heart, Rainier
I smiled at his words. He tried so hard to be romantic. Our relationship had changed a lot since that dinner with Colton. It's been a week and a half and already I felt more in love with him. We had spent more time knowing each other now.Our relationship had gone to the next level physically and emotionally. I said I love you as if I had never been surer of anything in my life. When we made love it was different. He ran his rough calloused hands over my silky skin and kissed tenderly each bit of me with his eyes closed, as though trying to memorize me. He knew all of me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Charlotte! Charlotte, are you here!" a voice called out waking me from my nap four hours later.
"Maybe she already went out"
"Nah her Fendi is on the table she never goes anywhere without her Fendi."
"What is it with women and purses?"
"Are you kidding me? Her whole life is in that bag"
"It's just a purse"
"It is not it's-"
"Should've known it would be you two", I interrupted as I walked into the living room where Delilah and Colton were arguing.
"Hey so there's sleeping beauty, come on get dressed Delilah and Maxim got into another fight and we need to cheer her up", Colton said upon seeing my sleepy appearance.
"I swear I'm going to castrate that fucker!" Dee said obviously still angry.
"Ok, ok let me just change and we'll go.Merlin knows I could use a stiff drink right about now", I said in response.
I slipped on a pleated black mini skirt and a silver silk halter top with a pair of silver leather ankle boots. I grabbed my favorite black coat and swiped on a bit of glittery black eyeliner and a touch of red-tinted lip-gloss. It had been a while since I had gone out; Rainier was more of a homebody than I originally thought. When we did go out he usually sat with my brothers or friends while I danced the night away.
"Ok let's get out of here"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we arrived at Glitterati, another Lee Jordan-Maxim Potter club, we walked right up to the front doors. The bouncer recognized Delilah and I and let the three of us in right away. We got inside and headed straight for the bar. Double Grey Goose Martini Dirty was my drink tonight. Colton, Dee and I danced with each other and others as the night went on. Eventually Maxim showed up and took Dee away apologizing for whatever happened this time and they went off to have make-up sex.
Around 1 in the morning, Colton and I decided to leave. As soon as we stepped out of the club the paparazzi stormed.
"Charlotte, who is this mystery guy" Flash of a Camera
"Charlotte, where's Rainier" Another flash
"Charlotte, does this mean it's over for you and Malfoy" flash
"Charlotte" flash.
Colton grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd of photographers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning as I pay for the mail the first thing I see on the cover of Witch Weekly is a picture of Colton and me; he's holding my hand and the headline says: Trouble for Rainier and Charlotte: Charlotte's New Mystery Man?
All I can say is FUCK!
The tabloids had been trying to find a way to screw with our relationship for months. When they weren't claiming we were engaged we were apparently fighting and breaking up. Never before had they accused either of us of cheating. This of course had to happen just as Rainier and I were really good and just as I was about to take off for his parents house in ten short days. I was beyond pissed right about now. Rainier and I had agreed that we wouldn't listen to the paparazzi at all, but he was already uncomfortable about my relationship with Colton.
Later that day, I sat in the living room papers strewn over the coffee table as I tried to decide what the backdrop for the fashion show was going to be.
"Charlotte, are you there?"
I looked up to see Rainier's head in the fireplace. His voice sounded tired. I walked over to the fireplace to talk to him. When I sat down I found I couldn't say anything.
"Charlotte, just tell me one thing, is it true, is any of it true."
His voice seemed exasperated, just completely beyond frustration. It was heartbreaking, almost hopeless.
"No", I said my voice low. "No, please just trust me", I pleaded my head down.
There was a long heavy pause.
"I love you" he said
I looked up finally able to meet his gaze, "I love you too" was all I could say.
Then he was gone.
I'll review yours if you review mine