Cheating The Billionaire

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The paparazzi rained questions as they walked the red carpet hand in hand. Taylor was totally not expecting to make a public appearance with Chase Franshaw. What would Camila think?

“She’s Taylor, our lead designer, one of Camila Cresto's rare gems,” Chase introduced her to the paparazzi.

“Miss Taylor, please tell us something about your new designs, you certainly are a new face we haven’t seen,” One of the senior reporters asked her.

Taylor was too tongue tied to speak, she tightened her grip over his hand and got sweaty.

“Relax, I know you can do this. Be natural…You are born to do this,” He whispered words of encouragement in her ear and gently pushed her forward.

Drawing in a deep breath Taylor began answering the hungry reporters, soon she started enjoying the whole experience and forgot how nervous she was a while back. Chase watched her adoringly until it was time to head inside.

“How did I do?” She asked him excitedly as a little kid would.

“Fairly well, I was mighty impressed how you handled those questions out there…Especially about us…” He paused and glanced at her.

“I said what I said…I’m a head designer and you’re a Stakeholder at Camila Cresto,” she teased and walked ahead.

“Ouch!” He teased and followed her lead.

There was utter chaos backstage with models and makeup crew running helter skelter. Like a pro Taylor got to work while Chase watched from a distance.

“Mr. Franshaw! Aren’t you a rare sight to recall?” Naomi, one of the top models approached him fully drunk.

“Naomi, how have you been?” Chase recognised her and replied.

“You mean how I’ve been doing ever since our last business meeting,” she offered him a glass of champagne and winked.

Chase coughed and darted his eyes away from her, he caught Taylor watching them before she quickly got back to fix one of the model’s outfits.

Naomi followed his gaze and smirked, “Fascinating but a bit too low for your taste, isn’t she?”

“I heard you aren’t getting any modeling contacts these days, age catching up I guess,” Chase gave her a sharp look and put her in place before heading out.

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Taylor asked and looked around.

‘Where’s our show stopper, Naomi?” Camila’s assistant enquired frantically.

Everyone looked around but could seem to spot her. “Where the heck did she go?” Taylor panicked and began looking all over for her.

“This place is huge, why don’t we split up and look for her,” Camila’s assistant suggested as they both entered the main hall.

“Sounds like a plan!” Taylor sighed and went towards the pool area while Camila’s assistant went towards the lounge.

Taylor navigated her way through the pool area but couldn’t sight Naomi anywhere.

“Where are we to find her? We;lol be up in the next 20 minutes!” Taylor bit her lower lip and searched through the crowd of glamorous people.

“Excuse me, did you see a gorgeous woman in a glitzy white spring outfit?” Taylor caught one of the waiters and enquired frantically.

“Miss this place is filled with gorgeous women, could you be more specific?” The waiter chuckled.

“She’s black, tall and has beautiful hazel brown eyes…Ooh and she was drinking,” Taylor described Naomi.

“Hmm..I think I may have stumbled upon someone who fits the description in the restroom. There this woman who whose been puking non stop,” He quoted and before he could finish Taylor rushed to the restroom.

“NAOMI! What are you doing, we’re in next 15 min,” Taylor heaved a sigh of relief seeing her.

“b***h can’t you see me struggling for life here?” Naomi remarked arrogantly as she took another sip of champagne and puked again.

“Is everything alright?” Chase stepped in and surprised Taylor.

“Sorry for walking into the ladies restroom but I noticed how stressed you were when you crossed the pool,” Chase justified.

“It’s okay honey, you’re welcome anywhere!” Naomi greeted him with a flying kiss before collapsing to the floor.

“Oh no! Naomi, you can’t get drunk like this, you’re the show stopper!” Taylor rushed to help Naomi.

“My stomach hurts, I can’t do this…” Naomi began crying in pain.

“How reckless!” Chase looked in disappointment and glanced at Taylor.

“What are we to do now? Camila is gonna be mad if we don’t have a showstopper for our label!” Taylor was on the verge of having a meltdown.

“Good news, we just found a new showstopper!” Chase announced and grabbed her attention.

“Who?” Taylor asked innocently.

“You! You are our new showstopper!” Chase replied and startled her.

Are you out of your mind?” Taylor shook her head in disbelief.

“So this was all your doing! You wanted me out!” Naomi cried and held her stomach in pain.

“Shut up Naomi! Everyone knows what a boozer you are!” Chase reprimanded her before a team of medics came.

“Now take off that outfit and give it to Taylor!” He sounded stern.

“Chase, we need a known face to walk the runway. This isn’t the time to crack jokes!” Taylor reasoned with him but in vain.

“You heard that? Our rivals just finished with their display of designs. You’ve got only 10 minutes now” Chase heard the applause in the background and warned Taylor.

“But Chase, I’ve never done this before!” Taylor got all worked up and jittery.

“Trust me, you’ll rock it!” He grabbed her hand and looked at Naomi.

“Take it off before I do the needful,” He ordered Naomi angrily.

They both rushed backstage and got Taylor ready for the runway.

“Is this okay?” Taylor stood before him as they were just seconds away from their turn to be on the runway.

Chase was at loss for words when he saw her, Taylor was looking dead drop gorgeous in her own design.

“Hurry you’re next” The stage manager alerted Taylor.

Taylor gave one last look at Chase for some assurance when all of a sudden he came closer and kissed her on the forehead.

The gesture left Taylor warm and emotional as he pulled back and wished her luck.

Taylor was whisked away and made to stand in line with the other models, most of whom were taken aback seeing their designer in place of Naomi.

Taylor closed her eyes and prayed for everything to go well. She thought about what Chase told her and took in deep breaths until it was time to slay the runway.