"Thank you so much for this, Jean Luc. I promise I will pay you back as soon as I get my paycheck."

Kayleigh maneuvered her way into the tiny lift and tried to make herself and her three large bags of fabric and sewing material as small as possible so that Jean Luc and the four bags he was carrying could fit in beside her. The man squeezed himself into the corner with a grunt and bumped the button to the fifth floor with his elbow.

"Don't worry about it," he assured her as the doors closed on the hotel foyer. "I just want to see that maniac's smug smile wiped clean off his face when he sees your masterpiece."

Kayleigh frowned. The bags she was carrying suddenly weighed heavier in her hands. She searched for a shred of the determination she woke up with, the ambition that gnawed at her as she recalled Pierre Aubert's not-so-subtle comment about her one good design being inconsiderate of the laws of physics. She was so sure, so certain she could pull it off that she burst into Jean Luc's room that morning and vowed to him that she would be make that dress happen as soon as they were back in London.

She was thrilled when the man matched her fire and raised it. He jumped into his designer jeans and sweater and dragged her across the streets of Paris, straight to the finest fabric and haberdashery stores and bought her everything she could possibly need to make the impossible dress happen.

The Impossible Dress.

That was not the right attitude to colour Pierre Aubert a nice shade of impressed, was it?

The elevator doors opened on the second floor revealing a young couple kissing passionately on the landing.

Surprise, Surprise.

Kayleigh had seen nothing but kissing couples every time her eyes strayed off the pretty materials and clothes that morning. She had found Paris's one flaw. It sucked if you were alone.

The lovers tore away reluctantly from each other as they heard the soft ding! and laughed somewhat shyly.

"We'll take the next one," the man said, oblivious of the comical way his long, dark beard was sticking out in odd places.

Kayleigh on the other hand, was not oblivious. The slight blush, the longing in the man's eyes reminded her of another bearded man who looked at her exactly the same way mere days ago.

I hope it turns out better for you than it did for me, Mademoiselle, she thought bitterly as the doors closed again.

"So, what happened between you and Pierre?" she asked Jean Luc. She wasn't one to pry but the curiosity had been killing her since the night before.

Her friend's gaze darkened and Kayleigh knew instantly this wasn't going to be a happy story.

"We worked together many, many moons ago at Dior," he started, dropping his first bombshell.

"You worked at Dior?"

Jean Luc narrowed his eyes turned to her looking positively murderous.

Right. No interrupting The Great Jean Luc.

"Oui. I was a nobody there. Just another sewing girl, as was Pierre. A few months after I joined, there was a vacancy in the design team and Pierre and I both submitted our designs. He got it and I was happy for him, even if I didn't quite understand it. I'm not saying my design was better, I was very, very new after all, but there were so many talented people on the team. Pierre was merely average at best."

Jean Luc straightened his spine as the lift reached the fifth floor and the doors opened once again.

No kissing couples here. Thank the Lord.

"Anyway," Jean Luc went on, pushing his way onto the carpeted landing. Kayleigh followed him quickly, careful not to get any of the overflowing material caught in the doors as they closed behind her. "Dior had this rule that banned intra-department dating. I think they were afraid of people going at it behind the dresses. So, I was still happy one of us was promoted to another section. At least we would be able to stop sneaking around like grimy, little mice.

"Fast forward to two weeks later," Jean Luc drawled, waving an elegant hand in the air. "We were at a Première and everybody who was anybody was there, including Pierre's new boss. I had a couple of Margaritas to the head and went to kiss Pierre, thinking it was no big deal now that we didn't have to hide anymore. Only it was a big deal. He pushed me off him and looked at me as though I was crazy."

"Oh no!"

"I was humiliated, but more than that I was hurt. He snubbed me in front of everyone!"

"But why?"

"Je ne sais pas! Maybe he was afraid his manager would guess we were together before that night and take his promotion away. Maybe he just didn't want to be seen with me. Maybe he was interested in the new Italian boy who'd just joined on..."

Jean Luc shrugged his shoulders, but it was obvious to Kayleigh his wound was not completely healed yet.

"I'm sorry. You know it's his loss, right?"

Jean Luc stopped walking and sighed. "Of course. Only, he's not exactly doing badly, is he?"

"No. But neither are you. Is that why you left Paris?"

"Sort of. I drank myself stupid and bonded with some guy over a tray of Sambuca shots. That guy happened to be none other than Max Kilton. He took me to Kilton's House of Fashion where I was immediately put on the design team for their evening and elegance collection and I guess I never looked back."

"Well, I guess London Fashion has Pierre Aubert to thank," Kayleigh smiled, trying but failing to imagine Maxwell Kilton downing shots at the bar.

They continued their way down the corridor, turned towards their suite and bam!

Kayleigh's bags crashed to the floor as her eyes landed on a familiar, large man looking hopelessly lost and uncoordinated. He turned at the noise and an obvious wave of relief rattled his body.

"Kay Kay! Oh thank God, I had no idea which door to knock on!"

"What the hell are you doing here, Marcus Burrows?"

Her words were out of her mouth before she could process what she was saying, or rather, in front of whom she was saying it. Her eyes widened as she realised her mistake. "I mean... er... Abi's room is that one. The second door on your right."

Jean Luc cleared his throat and reached over to take the bags from Kayleigh's hands. She blushed seeing the smirk on the boy's lips but Marcus kept his eyes fixed on her.

"I'll take these inside while you catch up," he said. But Kayleigh pulled the bags closer to her body.

"There's no need. I'm coming too," she announced.

"No, you're not," Marcus said, voice low and determined. "You have to let me explain, Kay. You won't even hear me out. You're clearly angry at me and it's driving me insane!"

"I'm not angry at you," she objected looking firmly away from his sullen face.

"You're not? So why won't you talk to me?"

"Because there is nothing to talk about!"

Jean Luc raised his hand tentatively. "I'll give you two some privacy."

"Thanks, buddy."

"No need, Jean Luc."

Marcus's nostrils flared with frustration. "Kayleigh-"

"Stay here!"

"You know what?" Jean Luc said with an uncharacteristically sweet smile. "I am my own person and I want out of this situation. I am going to my room."

He opened the door and vanished inside. Kayleigh tried to squeeze in behind him but Marcus stepped in between her and the doorway just before the door closed shut. She looked up at him at the same time as he looked down. They were so close their noses brushed against each other and Kayleigh's breath hitched in her throat.

She could feel her heart thrashing wildly in her chest, her lungs pressing against her ribs, as everything else slowed down.

"Kay Kay..."

Judging by the huskiness in his voice, Kayleigh wasn't the only one struggling.

How? How could he still have this effect on her after every thing he'd done to her?

The feeling of his hand on her wrist brought Kayleigh out of her reverie. She clutched her bags tightly and stepped back, eyes dropping to the floor once again.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"I miss you."

"You can't. You can't miss me. You can't want me, Marcus." Kayleigh squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips together. Was she saying these words to him or to herself? "Look, I'm not angry, okay? Or at least, not at you. You did what you had to do. You don't have to beat yourself up."

"Did what? I didn't do anything, Kay Kay. You didn't give me the chance to do anything. I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to tell you... I wanted to find a way to be with you. I still do."

He took a step forward but Kayleigh took a step back, afraid that if he touched her again she wouldn't be able to stop him.

"It's what I wanted too," Kay confessed trying to keep her emotions under control. "But it didn't work out that way. You belong with Abigail. You wouldn't be having these doubts if I hadn't come to London. So, let's just pretend I didn't come back at all, alright? I promise I'll be out of your hair as soon as I can, but for now, I need to take care of Abigail. I just need to get her through this wedding without any more scandal."

Marcus's face contorted with alarm and confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well, she's really nauseated and she's no longer a size zero, so some of her clothes don't fit properly. I'm the only one who knows she's pregnant so I have to cover for her until the wedding-"

"No, Kay," he interrupted. "What do you mean out of my hair?"

Kayleigh dared to look into his hazel eyes again. Did he... Did he look scared? Surely, he wasn't expecting her to stay after the wedding, was he?

She tried to formulate an answer for him but before she could do so, she heard a soft ding! coming from down the hallway, quickly followed by hurried footsteps.

Two blonde figures came running round the corner. They belonged to two young men, both of whom were flushed and sweaty. Their panicked expressions transformed into ones of relief as soon as they saw them and one of them, the one who was familiar to Kayleigh, bent forward and rested his hands on his knees in order to catch his breath. He let out a long whistle.

"Don't take off like that, Burrows. You scared the crap out of me. How the hell was I going to tell your mother I lost you at your own Bachelor's trip?"

Kayleigh narrowed her eyes at the man, her fingers tightening around the handles of the bags she was still carrying.

"Bachelor's trip? What the heck are you talking about, Leon?"

"Hey, baby Sis. Yeah, we moved the bar hop to Paris. The groom finally changed his mind and wanted a killer final farewell to his freedom. Wait a moment, what are you doing here?"

"This is my room!" Kay replied exasperated.

Her brother groaned. Clearly, he too was not too happy with the turn of events. "No flipping way! We're in the same hotel?"

Kayleigh turned to Marcus and replied with gritted teeth, "What a fortunate coincidence!"

The young man behind Leon leaned backwards and slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks. Kayleigh raised a brow at him, thinking he had no business wearing slacks in Paris during fashion week, even if they probably did cost more than her whole outfit. But coupled with a white t-shirt and white Calvin Klein sneakers, she was impressed that he pulled it off.

"Fortunate?" he scoffed. "Oh, ho ho, I don't think so. My sister is going to flip! I, on the other hand, am terribly enjoying this little plot twist. Why didn't you tell me your sister was hot, Leon?"

It was like Kayleigh was sixteen again. Leon and Marcus hunched their backs and bared their teeth at the young man, instantly reminding her of wolves ready to pounce.

Not that Kayleigh felt sorry for him. He was good looking in a charming sort of way, with beautiful curly hair, a chiselled baby face and gorgeous blue eyes. But all his likeability went down the drain as the look he was giving her made Kayleigh want to swing one of her bags at his arrogant face.

"I'm sorry. Who are you?" she asked.

At that moment, the door behind Marcus opened and Jean Luc's head popped out, evidently checking whether it was safe to come out yet. Then his eyes widened at the sight of the newcomers.

"Max? Mon frére, is that you?"

The boy's face lit up. He nodded and grinned, opening his arms wide as Jean Luc went over to the man and gave him a brotherly hug.

"Boys, hide your women and your Sambuca bottles. The last time Maxwell Kilton Jr and I were in the same city, they had to call the police and the fire brigade."

🇫🇷🗼🥃

Well, well, well... What do you think of the new turn of events?

Do you think Abi will be happy to see her beau or will she 'flip'?