Styling Wellywood: A fashionable romantic comedy (Wellywood Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

intently.
    “ She’s going to the gala dinner at the Wearable Arts at the end of the month and told me on the phone if she’s happy with what we come up with she wants us to style her for it. It’s black tie, so should be totes fun.”
    I admire Morgan's self-assurance. I’m listening to her as she talks, thinking, wow, this is really happening. Do I know enough? Am I good enough? Will this Stephanie woman like me? Thank god I've got experienced, together Morgan with me.
    “ That sounds really good, Morgs. Thanks again for giving me this opportunity to work with you. I’m going to work really hard and I promise I won’t let you down,” I reply as I look at her earnestly.
    I almost feel like I should have my hand on my heart, pledging my allegiance to her , so keen am I that we make a success of Estil.
    “ O.M.G., Jess, relax! You're not being interviewed for your first job as an office girl. I know you'll be amazing at this. You’ve got really awesome personal style and you're good at working out what looks good on people. You just need to have confidence in yourself.”
    See, I told you - nice.
    Changing the subject she asks, “How’s the website coming along?”
    We agreed with my computer skills, gleaned from years workin g as a project manager, I would be in charge of the technology aspect of the business. I’m feeling really quite proud of myself as I’ve already made inroads on it and think it’s looking pretty darn fabulous so far.
    “ Oh it’s starting to look really great. I think you’re going to love it.”
    I had spent several hours on the flight working on it, but there was still a lot to do. “I’ll have it finished by the end of the week, no excuses.”
    “ That’s fantastic, Jess,” she beams at me. “I’m absolutely positive we’re going to make an awesome team.”
    We’d better. It’s my only positive in a veritable sea of panic and misery right now.
    We make a plan to meet for lunch to prepare for the new client tomorrow, and walk out of the café together, happily chatting about mutual friends.
    “ When are you catching up with Laura?” Morgan asks. “She's knee deep in nappies and baby spew, but if you can overlook that I know she'd totally love to see you.”
    If you were to try to describe Laura in one word it would be sensible . That’s not to say she didn’t join in the fun, but she was virtually middle aged by the time she was sixteen.
    We all met at the start of Term One in our first year at high school and were inseparable from then on, despite puberty, boyfriends, parents’ divorces, zits and other adolescent catastrophes. Laura had married her high school boyfriend, Kyle, about two years ago, the last time I'd been back in New Zealand. They’d gone on to have twin boys, Liam and Noah, the aforementioned nappy-wearing, lunch-spewing eight-month old babies.
    Although I'd been a bri desmaid at their wedding Laura had been a little distant towards me at the time. It didn't seem appropriate to ask her why when she was busy with all the wedding arrangements and besides, who needs that drama? So I’d let it lie, assuming whatever it was she was upset about would pass in due course.
    But although we’ d stayed in touch on email and Facebook while I was away, I hadn’t seen her since the wedding and I was putting off doing it now because I wasn't sure what sort of reception I’d get from her.
    “ Think I'll drop around to see her over the next few days,” I reply.
    I can't put it off forever, especially since our fair country’s capital city really is just a big village and I’m bound to bump into her accidentally at some stage anyway.
    “ I need to meet those boys of hers. Mind you, I’ve seen so many photos of them on Facebook I already feel I know them intimately,” I continue, making light of it all. “How's she doing, anyway?”
    Adjusting the shoulder strap of her black Tod's handbag Morgan replies, “Oh just great. You know, still the same old Laura,