56

Isabella

I was nervous.

My palms began to sweat as Miguel pulled open the sliding doors of the van. The van was more like a large black bus that I had remembered celebrities used in Korea. Inside was luxurious with beige-colored seats and rug.

The dark tinted glass gave the feeling of intimacy, and I was grateful for that. Still, I was nervous. I didn't understand why, but I chalked it up to my lack of knowledge of fashion and not to the fact that I suddenly felt eyes on me.

As though Paula could sense my unease, she reached out from her seat across the aisle and rubbed my hand. "I got you," she said with a smile.

Miguel sat in the passenger seat in front, Alessandro took the wheel, while Michael wiggled his way through the aisle to sit at the back of the bus. The ride was relatively smooth with little traffic on the way.

Paula had directed Alessandro to a famous mall with the best and most expensive designer brands.

"Whose money are we spending?" she asked. I had no idea wha