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92 Challengers

Author: Liza
last update Last Updated: 2023-04-15 23:18:38

Already, ideas were whirling through Monica's mind. “Please select a card with your model’s name and measurements,” Tobias instructs, holding up five white cards with the House Corbin logo visible. Katarina runs toward him, her heels clicking on the floor. She snatches a card and dashes back in line with it pressed to her chest. The remaining four of them look at her and then each other and then attack Tobias for cards of their own. “Ladies, you don’t even know what you are fighting for. All of the models are suitable, I assure you.” Monica grabs one and holds it tightly as though Yori might steal it from her, but it was with a smile because they were all laughing at their own outrageousness. “Mine, mine, mine,” Monica drawls out, mimicking the seagulls in Finding Nemo.

Only Molly seems to get it. “Shut up, you rats with wings,” Molly answers. They meet eyes, grinning like loons. Monica looks at her card. Jeanette. The accompanying photo shows a gorgeous woman with short, tight natur
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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   93 The confidence

    Monica looks over to Molly, knowing that she can mostly only curse in the other languages she knows, but she seems to be doing fine. They were chatting it up like long-lost besties. “It’s okay,” Monica assures Jeanette. Fashion is a global, multi-linguistic industry, and she won’t let this first obstacle stop her. “We’ll figure it out.” Monica points it out to herself. “America. Massachusetts.”Jeanette thinks for a moment and then says, “France. Marseilles.” Monica flashed her a thumbs-up and then holds up his tablet. Pointing to her eye and then the fabric, she asked, “See clothes?” “Yes!” she answers confidently, knowing that word for sure. She shows her several of the sketches she have been playing with, eyeing the screen and then Jeanette’s body. She can visualize the completed outfits, flattering designs that will highlight a woman’s shape and be timeless and exciting. Monica opened a new page and sketch a caftan type dress with a low V-neck and mirrored low V-back. Monica adds

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   94 a gust of confusion

    If Monica were in heels, she would have busted it on this tile floor. Hell, she might still fall in the flats as fast as Tobias was hustling. “Did you know ferrets can get the flu?” He keeps running, keeps talking, not letting her answer. But no, she did not know that ferret flu is a real thing. “It’s a big deal because it’s a working ferret, so he was got to get healthy.” “I’m sorry, did you say a ‘working ferret’?” Tobias laughs at Monica's confusion. “I didn’t know either. He’s trained to run cables through walls. They cut a hole for him to start and one where he needsto exit. Release him inside, and then use a little clicker at the exit, and he will go along until he gets there.” Monica blink, not sure if he was fucking with her. His expression is earnest, but seriously? “Well, I hope he’s okay.” It seems like the safest response. “So do you need me to run cables?” It’s all she can think of based on whatever he was talking about. Tobias blinks, looking at her like she was the o

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   95 a quick exchange

    Involuntarily, Jackson's breath catches at seeing her very nearly on her knees in front of him. Is she trying to drive him crazy? If so, it’s sure as fuck working. “Take these off,” she orders. Unfortunately, she was talking about his shoes, not his pants. She assists, pulling the loafers off, followed by his black dress socks. As a model, he was accustomed to dressers helping him put on pieces or take them off. Sometimes, they were fragile, or one of a kind, or they didn't want him bending around and getting things wrinkled. It’s never seemed as intimate as it doesnow. “Put these on.” Monica was holding out a striped sock, and though he was not sure of her vision, he lifts his bare foot and she slips the sock over his toes. He can’t help but Wiggles and she laughs. “Ticklish?” “A little,” Jackson confesses. She looks up, shooting him a small smile. “Your secret’s safe with me,” she vows with a playful wink. She grabs a pair of black leather lace-up shoes and ties him into them as w

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   96 Fantasies

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   97 A mistake?

    “Oh! Sorry, I did check and figured you would be up to start your day. I’m wrapping up here, late night, you know, but wanted to hear how things are going.” Nora works all hours of the day and night, so Monica was not surprised that she was burning the midnight oil back home. And with them being able to work. whenever and wherever they had like to meet the fashion show deadline, she spent hours sketching last night with fabric samples spread out all over her bed. Her finger one of the riskier selections that she has fallen in love with, a pale pink polka-dot fabric. It could go a bit juvenile, but she have plans for it. “Things are amazing! We officially started yesterday morning . . .” Monica tells her all about this week’s theme, the supply room, Jeanette, and the dress she made yesterday seemingly all in one breath. It was exciting to relay everything to someone who understands how a room full of fabric can spark so manyideas that your brain can not even hold them all at once.“

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   98 A mission for Monica

    As Yori glances up. “It doesn’t fit the theme, but I like it.” Monica can see her point. Though it is floral, it was black and gray and would be more suitable for a winter design, or springtime for Goths. “Maybe work with it and play around. If the result is not what you want, you can always cut it out of the final show. You have got to respect your muse, though. Sometimes, she knows more than you do.” “Arigato,” she says, her eyes still locked on the fabric. Monica settles in at her worktable and begins pulling together fabrics for the designs she has worked on last night. At some point, Katarina and Beatrice comes in. Together, but working on their own projects, they make magic happen. They chat about fashion and their families while they work. At some point, when Molly starts growling at a particularly ornery sewing machine, they even have a dance party to break the stress. As bass beats fill the space, they make their own circle, cheering each other on through moves that are more s

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   99 Mouthful of desires

    Monica goes downstairs to wait for Jackson. In the courtyard, it occurs to her . . . how does he know where her apartment is? But House Corbin is providing the space, so of course he could find out. Checking her details from their files is a little sketchy, though. Back home, that would be worthy of an HR grievance for sure.The gate opens, and Monica's heart, gut, and ovaries all do simultaneous triple.backflips worthy of an Olympic medal as Jackson steps through, looking like a movie star knockout. The breeze carries to Monica a soft scent of cologne and manliness, a heady, almost feral waft that has her mouth watering even as her eyes feast on his simple attire of a white dress shirt and black slacks. His hair was brushed to the side and he also looks freshly shaven. Not that Julien was any uglier than him. But he failed to be the one for Monica. Elegant is not usually a word associated with men, but Monica can’t think of a better way to describe Jackson right now. He stalks towar

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   100 For both of them

    Jackson knows that his city is beautiful, all of her uglier sides hidden by the cloak of darkness and the dazzle of her lights, but seeing it through Monica’s eyes makes him fall in love with his city all over again. Like he never loved anyone before. The need to love her is anything to go by. He turns on music, finding a song every French person knows, La Vie En Rose. “I know this,” Monica says in delight. “It’s the perfect soundtrack for this.” Jackson turns a corner and in front of them stands the Eiffel Tower, lit up in her golden glow. Monica gasps. “Oh, my God. It’s beautiful.” “Millions of people come to see her each year because of her beauty, but tonight, her beauty pales to yours.” “Wow,” she says breathily, her eyes falling to his. He can see the reflection of the Tower’s lights in their depths, and the moment feels heavy with possibility. A car horn honks behind them, and he have to focus on the roadway once again, but he doesn't forget the look in her eyes. As they drive

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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   Epilogue

    As they both share a passionate time.“Princesse, please.” It’s a beg, Monica will admit, but it’s growled with deep hunger. She flips her hair over one shoulder, putting her weight onto one arm to take Jackson in hand. Standing him upright, she aligns herself with him. “I loveyou, husband,” she says sweetly. “I love you, wiiiiife.” Jackson means to return the sweet words, knowing it will get her off as much as it does him, but Monica sinks her bliss down onto him, taking all thought and word formation skills from his brain. Engulfing all of Jackson in her warmth and wetness, she begins to move, sliding up and down his shaft at an unhurried pace. Jackson murmurs to her in French as he pinchens and plucks her nipples, reaching between them to circle her clit with his thumb, and lay a sharp smack to the flesh of her hip. Tobias once told Monica that a man has three women—his wife, his mistress, and his whore. He was the lucky bastard who has found all three in onewoman. Monica was eve

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   173 Altar to his future

    The reception was full of laughter, dancing, and magic. It must be magic because nothing else could bring that big of a smile to his bright bride’s face. Monica was on the dance floor with her bridesmaids. They were swaying andmoving, lifting their hands in the air as they sing along with the music. “She’s beautiful,” Jamaica grunts from beside him. “Congratulations.” Jackson looks over at him, taking a slow sip of his scotch. “Watch it,” Jackson teases. They have made peace, with each other and their pasts, not letting them affect their precious futures. In fact, Jamiaca was doing much better now, working an apprenticeship in home construction with plans to become a project manager one day. He grins back. “What can you tell me about her?” Jackson follows his line of sight and chuckles and he sees Claire from the coffee shop that Monica prefers. Monica insisted that they fly Claire to France for the wedding. “Good luck. Just don’t fuck it up, or that one will eat you alive.” “That s

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   172 prayers

    His expression was like he had too much on his head already. He grew beards and had an manly scent. Not that she was still attracted to him. But his expression told her that he was not happy with the life he was living. The knowledge of breaking the news of getting married with Jackson had filled Julien with false hope and accusations that she can always come back to him if she wanted to. She can still have a half portion of his heart and stay there for his and hers little boy's sake. “How do I look?” Monica asks her Mom, glancing down at her beautiful dress. “Gorgeous,” she says, on the verge of tears again. “Are you sure you are not going to be cold, though?” Hopefully, she holds up the lacy shawl she found online for her. Once upon a time, she would have heard that as a way to say she doesn’t like her dress or as a critique of the timing of the wedding, or even a question about whether she should be getting married in the first place. Now, Monica takes it for what it is. “I’m no

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   171 Dreams and dreams

    “I already gave some to Simon. You got yourself a good one here.” Monica's mother's gives Jackson a smile of approval as she fans herself playfully. “I think I’m the fortunate one to have captured Monica's heart,” hereplies, looking deeply into her eyes. Monica thinks Mom flat-out swoons at his poetic words, French accent, andgrumbly voice. She was pretty sure she hears her whisper to Jacqueline, “I think we are going to be grandmas soon if he keeps saying things like that.” “Mom!” Monica exclaims aim, flushing brightly in an instant. “Oh, I’m only teasing,” she says. She turns to Jacqueline and Nora. “Has she told you how she struck out from our little town, with nothing but piss and vinegar in her blood and a dream in her heart? I was so worried, but this one . . . you can’t tell her a thing!” Monica's mother goes on to tell Nora and Jacqueline how she had worried about her being in the big city, had waited for her to come home with her tail between her slender legs, and how proud

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   170 Across the knowledge

    Most of the models are local to NYC, but she had lamented that her Amour mourning dress was meant for Jeanette and that she was sad she would never get the chance to walk it. So Jackson secretly surprised her by flying Jeanette in to do it. She was not wishing the show away, but she truly can’t wait to see Jeanette strut in that gown. No one can do it justice the way she can. Monica swears, she blinks and the time flies past until she was standing backstage with Jeanette in the voluminous black gown. “Remember, slow. Eyes forward.” Monica demonstrated the defiant gaze she wants on Jeanette to have, tackling the future with strength after the loss of love. “Pose, small smile of hope. Then back like a queen.” “Slow. Strong. Hope. Queen,” she repeats clearly. Her English has gotten much better. Monica's French was improving daily, too, from listening to Jackson. “Tue cette piste, fille,” Monica tells her, snapping her fingers. Jeanette looks at her in surprise. “Oui, I will kill the run

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   169 love bites to moon

    Molly pushes Monica's shoulder. “You would bust ass to get as much done as possible, and then leave to ‘work at home’ or ‘visit the park for inspiration’ and come back the next day with barely anything else done since you left.And you would have a dreamy smile on your face.” Molly makes a vacant-eyed, open-mouthed smiling expression that Jackson thinks is supposed to be what Monica looked like. Jackson did that to her, he thinks cockily. Katarina nods, agreeing. “We thought you had found a French Romeo, and then we saw Jackson wearing the same necklace you had started wearing. It didn’t take much to put one and one together.” Beatrice adds quietly, “We were a bit worried for you, as he has quite the reputation. And it didn’t seem to be helping you in the competition. We weren’t concerned about that until . . .” She trails off, and he knows that his aunt turned that particular screw to get Beatrice to do her bidding. “Okay, so no hard feelings?” Monica asks them all. Molly leans over

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   168 A life of assurance

    “I should have told you,” she whispers back. Monica pushes at him, nearly shoving him out of his chair. “Get up and hug her, or I’m going to have to do it, and I’m not getting snot on her jacket. It’s too fabulous for that.” Jackson gets up to come around the table, and for the first time in he doens't know how long, he enfolds his aunt in a hug. Jackson knows it’s been long enough that he have forgotten how thin she truly is. And he doens't think he have hugged her when he have been taller than she is, even in her power heels. How long ago must it have been since they embraced? It must have beenwhen he was truly a child, before he was a teen growing inches seemingly overnight. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs into his chest. “Me too.” They sit back down, and he looks to Monica, silently asking what she thinks about his aunt’s request for a fashion showplace. They have a conversation consisting solely of raised and lowered eyebrows, pursed lips, and smiles. Finally, Monica turns back to J

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   167 Pure truth

    She has let that go and is looking toward the future. With Jacqueline, Monica was only concern is him and his little feelings. He squeezes her hand tightly so she knows how much he appreciates her. “Yes, well . . . I guess . . . when I found out that you were gallivanting all over Paris together, I will admit that my first thought was that you’d seduced Jackson to improve your chances in the competition.” Monica points to her own ample chest. “Not a gold digger, just so that’s clear.” Jacqueline nods, accepting that fact now. “At the time, though, it made sense. It wasn’t the first time.” She looks to him for confirmation, and Jackson grunts in agreement. “There was that idea in my mind. But also, if the reverse were true, that Jackson had in fact pursued you” —she flicks her eyes to Monica this time— “I felt like it would be doing you a disservice. I didn’t want you to be distracted by him and miss out on your opportunity, because I know what something like this could mean to a youn

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   166 Love is so cruel

    They sit in folding plastic chairs at Jackson's folding plastic table after he closes his laptop. In the awkward silence, Monica can hear the loud buzz of a drill every few seconds as the crew hangs new drywall. “What are you up to, Jacqueline?” Monica was not doing niceties or waiting for her to launch into a practised speech. She wants to throw her off, make sure she knows that they were not under her thumb and have no problem calling out her game play. She has come all the way here to talk about something, after all, so may as well not delay. She presses her lips together in response but gives in. “The reactions to the fashion shows have been quite exciting. Perhaps you have heard?” Monica doesn't look at him, but Jackson stays quiet, and something Jacqueline sees in his expression must give her pause because her nostrils flare. “Or maybe not. But the media buzz has been quite positive. For House Corbin and the designers themselves. Seeing as two of the designers are from America,

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