Chapter Twenty-One

Rina

Hanging from my hotel room door was a sultry emerald-green dress that featured strategically-placed cutouts above my chest, below my chest, and around my hips. It was enhanced with shimmering bling.

Below the designer dress sat a pair of heels that were understated, but had bling to compliment the dress.

I looked away from my outfit for this evening and watched in the mirror as my hair stylist added extensions and fixed it in a sophisticated updo. Gone were the days when I had to do my own hair and makeup. Though there were times when I did, they were few and far between. Honestly, I was so used to it by now that when I was left to do it on my own, I usually grabbed a blow dryer and round brush and hoped for the best.

Sitting in the chair beside me was my mother, her eyes lit up as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. I let her borrow my experts to do her glam, too. You see, I was invited to the Bellissima Milan Fashion Week After Party and I got a plus-one.

I would’ve brought Knox, but he had already been invited. I just hoped Bianca wouldn’t be on his arm all night. There was nothing that would’ve made me want to expel my dinner faster than the sight of those two, pretending like they were anything more than a minor relationship snafu before the real deal.

Really, they were kidding themselves if they thought they’d make each other happy. Bianca grew up one way. Knox and I, a whole other way. I understood him. Bianca was like a sheltered little girl. Maybe she’d have fun playing with him for a while, and him her, but they were never meant to be more than that.

“What’s on your mind?” my mother asked, turning to me.

I kept my eyes focused ahead, but answered, “Knox.” I had nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I wanted to be with Knox again, so sue me. It wasn’t like exes could never get back together, and before you went thinking it, don’t—it wasn’t a bad idea. Second chances were rare, but we had been given one, and I was going to take it.

“Sweet girl, look at yourself. You can have any boy in the world.”

I clasped my hands together in my lap and pursed my lips. “I don’t want any boy in the world. I want Knox. He’s it for me, I’m telling you.” I looked out of the corner of my eye, and saw she was furrowing her brows.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to see you settle. Knox was your past and he was a good high school boyfriend, but now,” she paused. “Do you really think he’d fit into this world you’ve created for yourself?” If anyone knew, you’d think it’d be my mother, but she was wrong on this one.

I swallowed. I’d given this a lot of thought, and I needed to break up with him to figure out myself and see my dreams come true. But all of that happened and now when I went to bed at night, I did so alone. It made it feel just a tad less worth it. So nodding, I said without hesitation, “Yes. Knox is different. He’s made something of himself, too.”

“And he wants to be with you again? Even after you broke up with him?”

Why did that need to be brought up? I had broken up with him, but it wasn’t like I’d killed his dog. It was more like a separation than a divorce. What I was trying to say was that it hadn’t been permanent because we’d ran into each other here and now we could pick up where we’d left off. Only thing was, it would be better this time because we were better off than before. We weren’t the same two pathetic people from Minnesota. We’d made it. Hello, was no one listening?

Knox could’ve been happy, I knew, living in that disgusting apartment for the rest of our lives so long as we had each other—his words, not mine. But that wasn’t me, and he knew it. He’d always known I had big dreams and they weren’t pipe dreams, they were more than that. I wanted a better life than we had growing up. I wanted my child to have a better life one day.

Having parents who lived paycheck to paycheck and feared retiring because they didn’t have money saved? That wasn’t something I wanted for my child.

So I’d fixed my situation. And apparently, so had he. Maybe my leaving him was just the kick in the pants he’d needed; just look at how he’d gotten his life together.

“Not yet,” I said, finally answering her question about whether Knox wanted to be with me again.

When she didn’t respond, only got up and out of my line of sight, I added, “But he’s confused. He doesn’t know what he wants.”

She came back with a glass of champagne in each hand. “Then you have no other choice, sweet girl. You have to make him see that it’s you he wants.” She passed one to me.

I smiled and held the glass on my lap, pleased that she understood and was on my side. “That’s what I’m going to do. He wants time to be with Bianca? Fine, then I’ll wait. Because when she’s out of the picture, I’ll be there.”

“Good. And well done with your dress choice. That boy won’t know what hit him when he sees you in this design.”

“That’s the idea.” I smiled, proud of myself.

Sitting down next to me again she reached for my hand. “I have another idea,” she said, surprising me with the mischief in her voice. “How do you feel about showing up fashionably late?”

I was about to answer when she added, “With Anthony.”

Oh, to make Knox jealous. I liked the way she thought.

Stefan had introduced me to Anthony when I’d started working with him. We’d hit it off—naturally. Now whenever I was in Italy, we met up and got reacquainted, you could say. This time around, though, I hadn’t because of my imminent future with Knox.

I wiped my lips together after my makeup artist swiped lipstick over them. “I guess I could call him and see if he’s busy,” I said in between puckering and studying myself in the mirror again. Now I had two men I needed to look divine for.

Introducing the Exclusive Paolo Gicchio x Bellissima Collaboration : “Promiscua” Lingerie Capsule Collection

With a shared Italian background, world-renowned designer Paolo Gicchio collaborated with the New York fashion magazine Bellissima , owned by the head of the Morelli family, Angelo Morelli.

During fashion’s most prominent weeks, the collaboration is unveiled during Milan Fashion Week at the Bellissima Milan Fashion Week After Party. This seven piece capsule collection is crafted with couture details. With sleek, modern silhouettes, “Promiscua” draws upon a female’s natural sex appeal by enhancing her best qualities.

Reimagining bold beauty with lace appliqués, cheeky leopard embroidery, and pearls, each piece is a sight to behold. “This collection has been years in the making, and we couldn’t be prouder to finally share it with the world,” says Maria Morelli, Fashion Editor of Bellissima .

“It was our intention to create a masterpiece collection where the ferociousness and sensuality a woman carries is on full display. It’s a dedication to those who need to remember they’re in control, even if sometimes it feels like that’s not the case,” shares Paolo Gicchio, fashion designer and founder of the line Paolo Gicchio.