OWNED BY MR. MANRIQUIZ [THAT RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE]

CHAPTER 2

I showed her the second sketch—simpler, with a classic sweetheart neckline—and the third, a bold off-shoulder design with lace sleeves.

Lexi finally looked up at me. “You’ve been busy.”

“I have,” I admitted, keeping my smile professional. “This wedding is important, and I wanted you to have options.”

She tapped her fingers lightly on her knee, still studying me more than the sketches. It felt like she was trying to read my entire soul, to figure out if I was genuinely capable or just lucky to have landed this job.

“They’re all… beautiful,” she finally said, her tone measured. “Especially the first one.”

Relief flooded me, though I kept my smile composed. “I’m glad you think so.”

“But,” she added, and my relief immediately froze, “I don’t just wear beautiful gowns, Miss Torres. I wear statements. The first one is close to what I want, but…” She leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze pinning me to the chair. “I need to know if you can make it perfect. Darious has high standards. He said you were the only designer in Linus City who could handle this. Tell me… should I believe him?”

My throat tightened at the mention of Darious Manriquiz. He said that? I wanted to ask, but now wasn’t the time.

Instead, I met Lexi’s gaze and forced every ounce of doubt out of my voice. “You should. Because I don’t just make gowns, Miss Bellington. I create moments. When you walk down that aisle, nobody will see just a dress—they’ll see you. Powerful. Timeless. Unforgettable.”

For a moment, the room was silent. Gwen stopped fidgeting, waiting for Lexi’s reaction like it would decide the fate of the entire boutique.

Then Lexi smiled. It was small, but it felt genuine this time. “Good answer,” she said, sitting back gracefully. “I like your confidence.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll trust you for now,” she continued. “Make sure the final piece lives up to your words, Miss Torres. I don’t give second chances.”

“You won’t need to,” I said, my voice steady even though my palms were damp with sweat.

Lexi stood, smoothing her dress. Gwen rushed to the door to open it, nearly tripping on a rug in the process. I quickly followed, walking Lexi to the exit.

“Expect my next visit soon,” Lexi said, giving me one last look. “I look forward to seeing if you’re as good as Darious believes you are.”

As the door closed behind her, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.

Gwen practically threw her arms around me. “She didn’t hate it! Oh my gosh, she actually liked it!”

I laughed, leaning against the counter. “She didn’t hate it, but that’s not the same as liking it, Gwen.”

“Callie, she smiled. Lexi Bellington smiled! Do you know how rare that is? You’re practically halfway to the history books already!”

I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. But Lexi’s words kept echoing in my head—Darious has high standards. He said I was the only designer in Linus City who could handle this.

Why did that make my chest tighten? Why did it feel like he was watching from somewhere, waiting to see if I’d live up to his expectations?

I shook the thought away. This wasn’t about Darious. This was about me, my boutique, and my dream.

And I was going to make sure this gown turned my name into a brand everyone in Linus City would remember.

The moment I saw Lexi Bellington’s sleek black car pulled away from the boutique, I changed my mind for what I said earlier…

“Yeah…she didn’t hate it,” I murmured, more to myself than anyone, pointing out what Gwen said earlier.

“She LOVED it!” Gwen squealed, practically hopping on her toes like a kid who just found out cotton candy was free. “Miss Torres, you were amazing! The way you talked about the gown? I almost cried! Like, I felt—what’s the word?—inspired!”

I couldn’t help laughing at her enthusiasm. Really. Gwen, my ever-loyal but disastrously clumsy secretary, always had a way of making everything feel a little lighter.

The other staff, who had been silently eavesdropping behind the curtain during the entire meeting, peeked out one by one.

“Did she approve it?” one of the seamstresses asked nervously.

I straightened, letting a proud smile spread across my face. “She did. Well… almost. She said she trusts me—for now. But that’s enough. It means we’re on the right track.”

The room erupted into cheers.

“Let’s celebrate!” one of the junior designers shouted.

“Right now?” I raised an eyebrow, but the excited faces around me already answered for themselves.

Five minutes later, the boutique looked less like a luxury fashion studio and more like a tiny party hall. Gwen had grabbed a box of cupcakes from the pantry, the staff brought out juice and soda, and someone even played soft pop music from their phone.

“Miss Torres!” Gwen suddenly announced like she was the host of an awards show. “A toast!”

Before I could stop her, she climbed onto one of the stools, holding a paper cup of soda high in the air.

“To the best designer in Linus City,” she declared, “who’s going to make Lexi Bellington the most beautiful bride ever and make Magic Fashion Boutique more famous than ever before!”

The staff cheered again, clapping and raising their cups.

I felt my cheeks heat up, but I lifted my own cup and smiled. “Thank you, everyone. But this isn’t just me—it’s us. You’re all part of this, and I couldn’t do it without you.”

“Awww, she’s humble!” Gwen gushed, dramatically pretending to wipe fake tears.

I rolled my eyes playfully, but before I could sit, Gwen made her grand attempt to hop off the stool… and, of course, disaster struck.

Her foot slipped, the stool wobbled, and she let out a yelp as she stumbled forward. The paper cup in her hand went flying—straight toward the pile of freshly delivered white silk.

“Gwen!” I gasped.

In a moment of pure instinct and probably fueled by sheer terror of ruining imported fabric, I lunged and grabbed the silk roll just as Gwen’s soda splashed onto the floor instead.

The staff froze for a second before bursting into laughter.

“Oh my gosh, Gwen!” one of the seamstresses said between laughs. “You almost destroyed Miss Torres’s masterpiece fabric!”

Gwen’s face turned bright red as she scrambled to her feet. “I—I’m sorry! I swear, the floor attacked me! It’s slippery!”

“Sure it is,” I teased, still holding the rescued fabric like it was a baby.

Gwen clasped her hands together, bowing dramatically. “I’m sorry, Miss Torres! Please don’t fire me—I promise I’ll bubble-wrap myself next time!”

That made everyone laugh even harder, and even I couldn’t help joining in.

“Relax, Gwen,” I said, finally placing the fabric safely on the counter. “But seriously, maybe stay away from anything liquid for the rest of the day, okay?”

“Noted,” she said, giving me a sheepish thumbs-up.

As the laughter died down and the staff went back to their snacks, I leaned against the counter, watching them with a soft smile.

This was my family. My little chaotic, talented family. And for a brief moment, I allowed myself to enjoy this tiny victory.

Because tomorrow, the real pressure would return—and I needed every ounce of strength to make sure Lexi Bellington would never regret choosing me.