Chapter 3 3

The weeks after that were only a whirlwind of cloth samples, design conferences and nights without sleep spent manifesting my imagination. The place was creative turmoil and I worked within its ambience as one who knew it well as King Fashion House would testify to my designs which got accolades from them. But there were old stories barely masked underneath glitziness and fun which began infiltrating amidst elegance and cheerfulness.

One night during one of our sketching out sessions late into the night when all I could hear were humming sewing machines in background Victoria broke our tranquility. "Have you heard anything latest about the Moretti clan Alexander?" she asked casting fleeting looks towards me before she diverted her concentration back to those patterns she held closely to herself. Surprisingly he darkened over those pair of eyes; on his face was something like shadow for an instant before it disappeared again from view. Despite that steadiness in voice I heard some tension in that man's reading while all about him remained calmness. Victoria moved closer still regarding him with unyielding gaze "People say that family Morettis are linked to mafia organizations."

My physique feeling frayed, I halted and breathed in, waiting for Alexander's answer. He shrugged casually and did not take his gaze off Victoria. "There are rumors, Victoria. The city is full of them; we can't believe everything we hear." Victoria raised one eyebrow, her eyes fixed on him. "Maybe but those rumors persist. And they involve some pretty powerful players." A hush fell over the room as soft strains of classical music played in the background. A deep sense of disquiet sank in my stomach and my eyes bounced between Alexander and Victoria. Alexander glanced at me, concern evident in his eyes. "Ms. Taylor, I assure you that my whole attention is only on King Fashion House and preparing for our collection's launch. These rumors are just that-unfounded hearsay." I smiled faintly back because I appreciated his last words. But there was something else stirring inside me – unease and uncertainty started to emerge. Day by day I started to end up in elite spots throughout the city where Alexander and I would be attending fancy events and rubbing shoulders with influential people around town. He represented this kind of definition for luxurious living which drove one crazy; although it was indeed beautiful at the same time!

Amidst the glitz and glamor, rumors still circulated. I stumbled upon bits of aired gossip with cryptic messages like 'Mafia connections' dropped here or there, hints that affirmed an interest in crime on the part of Alexander than rectangular walls, which separated it from rumors alone. It was conflicting and I felt torn between curiosity and my strong instincts. One night, we attended a charity gala, and I found myself standing alone on the terrace with Alexander while city lights twinkled far away. "Those rumors regarding my links to mafia, Ms. Taylor – what do you make of them?" The heart missed a beat as he asked this question directly staring at me; his expression gave no lie away at all searching for motes upon his face never quite like small pieces through the air that drift through time without being able to return again back to us former dustballs once lost forever beyond possible reach. "I- ", my voice choked out midway unsure how much any more need be said into it really? "I've heard those stories out there before Mr. King," I trusted you are just concentrating on King Fashion House. Intensely, Alexander's eyes bore into mine. "You're wise to believe me Ms Taylor. Never has my loyalty to this fashion house wavered nor will it ever!" Relief surged within me since he embraced me sometimes. But a small voice in the back of my mind whispered caution, urging me to dig deeper into the shadows that seemed to follow Alexander King.