3: Wedding Dresses

Madison stood in front of a mannequin, carefully adjusting the lace on the wedding gown.

“Move the waistline slightly higher,” she instructed.

One of her employees immediately stepped forward and made the adjustment.

Madison tilted her head, studying the dress.

“That's better.”

She took a few steps back.

The wedding dress was one of the newest designs in her collection. It had taken her several days to get the details right, and she was very happy with how it turned out.

Her boutique was one of the places Madison was most proud of.

It was large, elegant, and always busy.

Rows of beautiful dresses filled the showroom, from simple evening gowns to elaborate wedding dresses. The walls were decorated with sketches of some of Madison's original designs, while several mannequins stood around the shop wearing her latest creations.

Madison had started designing clothes for as long as she could remember. Her mother was a tailor.

What had once been a hobby had eventually become a successful business.

She loved fashion.

She loved seeing a design she had imagined in her head become something real.

Usually, being at work was enough to make her forget everything else.

But today, it wasn't working.

Her mind kept returning to the phone.

Madison shook her head.

She didn't want to think about it.

She had barely slept the previous night because of that message.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again.

“Madam?”

Madison looked up.

One of her employees stood in front of her.

“Yes?”

“There is a young lady asking to see you.”

“Who?”

“She said her name is Mia.”

“Mia?” Madison frowned.

“Yes.”

Madison thought for a moment before her eyes widened.

“Vivian's sister?”

The employee nodded.

“Send her in.”

A few moments later, a young woman walked into the showroom.

Madison immediately recognized her.

“Mia?”

“Hi, Madison.”

Mia smiled warmly.

Madison hugged her.

“It's been so long. What are you doing here?”

“I came to look at wedding dresses.” Mia said, glancing around the boutique.

“Wedding dresses?” Madison asked as she pulled away from the hug.

“Yes.”

Madison stared at her.

“You're getting married?”

Mia laughed.

“I knew you were going to react like that.”

“Because I had no idea you were getting married!”

Madison shook her head in disbelief.

“Vivian never told me anything.”

“Because she doesn't know everything yet.” Mia shrugged.

Madison's eyebrows rose.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. I just haven't told her much.” Mia smiled.

Madison looked at her curiously.

“When is the wedding?”

“We haven't picked a date yet.”

“We?”

Mia nodded.

“My fiancé and I.”

Madison smiled.

“Well, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Madison looked at Mia carefully.

She remembered the last time she had seen her.

Mia had been much younger then.

Now she was 20 years old and apparently preparing to get married.

“Does Vivian know you're engaged?”

“She knows I'm seeing someone.”

“But she doesn't know you're engaged?”

Mia shook her head.

“I wanted to tell her myself.”

“Your sister is going to kill you.” Madison laughed softly.

“I know.”

They both laughed.

“Come on,” Madison said. “I'll show you some of our newest designs.”

Mia followed her toward the wedding collection.

Madison pulled out several dresses and began explaining the designs.

“This one is more traditional. The lace is handmade.”

Mia touched the fabric.

“It's beautiful.”

“This one is more modern. It's one of my personal favorites.”

“I like this one.” Mia said as she stared at the gown.

“I knew you would.” Madison said with a smile.

She couldn't help feeling excited for the young woman.

There was something special about helping someone choose a wedding dress.

It was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with designing bridal gowns in the first place.

“Do you have a picture of your engagement ring?” Madison asked.

Mia smiled.

“Not with me.”

“Then you'll have to show me later.”

“I will.”

Mia continued looking through the dresses.

After nearly an hour, she finally found one she loved.

“I think this is the one.”

Madison smiled.

“Then we have a winner.”

Mia looked at herself in the mirror while Madison adjusted the dress.

For a moment, Madison found herself imagining what it would have been like if she had been able to have children.

Maybe one day, she would have helped her own daughter choose a wedding dress.

The thought came unexpectedly.

She quickly pushed it away.

She had promised herself she wouldn't dwell on things she couldn't change.

After taking Mia's measurements, Madison wrote down the details.

“When you're ready, we'll make the necessary adjustments.”

“Thank you.”

Mia hugged her.

“I'm glad I came here.”

“Me too.”

Mia smiled before leaving the boutique.

Madison watched her walk out.

She smiled to herself.

At least someone was having a happy beginning.

She turned around and walked back toward her office.

As she passed the employees, she heard whispering that made her stop.

“Did you see her?”

“Yes.”

“She looks so young.”

“She's only twenty.”

Madison frowned.

She didn't want her employees gossiping about customers.

She continued walking, but then she heard another voice.

“I heard she's dating a sugar daddy.”

Madison stopped.

She turned around.

“What?”

The two employees immediately looked at her.

“Nothing, ma'am.”

Madison folded her arms.

“I heard what you said.”

One of them looked embarrassed.

“We're sorry.”

“Don't gossip about our customers.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Madison gave the women one final look.

“I don't want to hear another word about our customers. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma'am,” they answered almost simultaneously.

“Good.”

She turned away and returned to her office.

The rest of the afternoon passed without anything unusual happening.

For a while, she managed to forget about everything else.

By the time she finished for the day, the sun was already beginning to set.

Madison grabbed her handbag and walked out of her office.

“Goodnight, everyone.”

“Goodnight, ma'am.”

She stepped outside and headed toward her car.

She unlocked her car and got inside.

After starting the engine, Madison pulled out of the parking lot.

She drove through the busy streets, barely paying attention to the cars around her.

Her thoughts were elsewhere.

Madison frowned.

She needed to stop thinking about it.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the car in front of her slowing down.

Madison stepped on the brake but it was too late.

BANG!

Her car jolted forward.

“Oh my God!” Madison gasped.

She immediately looked ahead.

The front of her car had collided with the back of a black luxury sedan.

Madison stepped out of her car, already furious.

“Are you serious?” she snapped, glaring at the black sedan she had just hit. “You came out of nowhere!”

She slammed her car door and marched toward the other vehicle, ready to give the driver a piece of her mind.

As the driver’s door opened Madison stopped.

A tall man stepped out, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His expression was cold and intimidating enough to make the words hang in her throat.

She stared at him as her anger vanished instantly.

She knew that face.

Everyone in the city knew that face.

Her heart skipped.

She had just crashed into the most powerful man in the entire city.

Alexander Voss.