Behind The Seams Novels & Stories

I need to find Mamba's mask. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacob didn't say anything. He just opened the car's door for me. "Hi." I said and tip my toes to reach his cheek. "Get inside." He said when I stared at him. I took a deep breath and did what he said. I looked at the backseat and searched for the mask but I saw nothing. I fastened my seatbelt as he walked back to the driver's seat. Good thing he's using the ferrari. His eyebrows were almost one when he got on his seat.

His eyes are still dark, I like how he is looking at me. “Oh, I guess we will have to figure this out together. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” (I want to kiss him. Oh my god, did he hear that?) Dez’s licked his lips, I turned and walked away. "I need to remember he can hear my thoughts." I said quietly to myself. I hurried through the shower and put on my favorite black sweat pants and band T-shirt. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Dez** (Ruby, someone is coming.) I can smell them, and something foreign to me.

Even stranger, Maggie hadn’t even deleted the backup, as if she wanted us to see it on purpose. Suddenly, I remembered a glint of reflected light under the passenger seat after practice that day—something like a tiny lens. A chill crept up my spine. I realized then that this carefully designed trap had been laid long ago. But who was behind it? And why were they determined to push us into a corner like this?

she said. "Things only the wearer knows are there," I said. "The collection brief." I paused. "Being seen." I paused. "The hidden pocket as the central concept." I paused. "Not just the pocket in each garment. The idea of it." I paused. "Every piece in the collection has something in it that only the wearer knows about." I paused. "A hidden seam detail. A fabric choice on the lining that's invisible from the outside." I paused. "A specific construction that only makes sense when you're wearing it."

When I joined the company, Marcus never publicly announced our relationship, claiming he was afraid people would call it a family business and criticize the company. But while others might not know, how could Ben not know? He was clearly lying through his teeth. Before I could defend myself, several cameras were pointed at my face. "Don't worry, Lucia. I hate homewreckers the most. We'll help expose her! How shameless!" I looked at Marcus in disbelief. He struggled to speak for a while, but ultimately only said, “Let's talk about this later." I shook my head in disappointment, "Marcus, you're such a loser!"

I dressed, slid into a simple dress, and reached for a jacket to throw over my shoulders. Normally I would have shrugged it on and left. Today I set it on the table and inspected it. My fingers traced the seams, the lining, the pockets. Then I stopped. One large button didn't look right. The stitching around it was awkward, not the neat uniform holes I’d seen a thousand times. I leaned closer and saw a tiny device tucked into the button's rim.

When she finally went to bed, she had dreams of designer gowns, diamond jewelry, and expensive shoes. The next morning, Sarah was up early, getting dressed and ready for the day ahead. As she waited for the driver to arrive, Sarah tried to quell the nerves that were fluttering in her stomach. She knew that this was a business arrangement, but there was a part of her that couldn't help but wonder what Daniel was really like. Was there any ounce of goodness in him or was he just a cold, heartless businessman?

The kind of look that said I am here, even when you don’t ask me to be. Something in my chest eased, we didn’t need words. Just that quiet companionship, the small comfort of being seen without having to explain yourself.

There was nobody behind it anymore, but she instantly understood. She whipped around to stare at me, her eyes practically bulging out of their sockets as her entire body trembled. "Tobias… you… you replaced the mirror? You set me up?" I slipped my hands into my pockets and smiled brightly. "Ms. Sutton, that's an odd thing to say. I only wanted to make it easier for the two of you to admire each other's beautiful figures. How was I supposed to know you'd be so impatient that you'd start handing out employee benefits in broad daylight? No need to thank me. Just doing my job."