Breaking Through (The Breaking Series Book 3) by Juliana Haygert Read Free Book Online

to compete with Fallon White, or to open a studio in Los Angeles where I could have more clientele—and also more competition.
    I shook those thoughts from my mind, because they were out of place. This was not the time to daydream about so far away in the future. I would worry about that when the time came. Now, I had to focus on the next step of my journey.
    My cell phone beeped—I had set a reminder for 10:55 a.m. After a deep breath, I stepped inside the studio.
    A receptionist, dressed in a beautiful white and light gray casual dress, smiled at me from behind a white, curved reception desk.
    “Good morning. How can I help you?”
    “Hi. I’m Hilary Taylor. I have an interview with Ms. White in a few minutes.”
    The receptionist—Sonya, the silver tag on her chest read—glanced at the computer screen for three seconds. “Yes, I see you.” She gestured to the large white sectional to the side. “Please have a seat. I’ll let Fallon know you’re here.”
    I turned and sat on the soft sectional. From here, the studio looked quiet, as if it was empty, except for the receptionist. To the left, a three-foot wall rose, and white lines like fringes hung from the ceiling, meeting the wall. The lines were dotted with small lights blinking in a slow, alternating pattern. The wall and light curtain separated the dresses being shown in the windows.
    “Miss Taylor,” the receptionist called me. I jumped from my seat and found her standing in front of the desk. “Fallon is ready for you. Please, follow me.”
    She stepped to the left of the front desk and opened a white door for me. The door led into a long, white corridor with several doors on each side and one set of double doors at the end. Of course, Sonya took me there.
    “This way,” she said, opening the doors.
    Seated on a tall, white leather chair behind a long glass table, Fallon White was just as I remembered. Tall with generous curves, a sharp nose, white hair cut into an asymmetrical bob, and dark brown eyes behind white-rimmed glasses. Even in her late forties, she looked young and elegant.
    “Hilary Taylor,” Fallon said, walking around her desk to meet me. “It’s nice seeing you again.”
    “You too, Ms. White.”
    She huffed. “Please, call me Fallon.” She gestured for me to sit on one of the white chairs in front of her table. “How are you, dear?”
    “I’m doing well. Very excited to be here.”
    She took the chair beside mine. “I’m excited too.”
    Sonya appeared by my side. “Can I get you anything, Miss Taylor? Coffee, water, juice?”
    “I’m good, thank you.”
    Sonya nodded then left the room, closing the doors behind her.
    “So,” Fallon said. “Let’s talk business.”
     
    ***
    I arrived at the bistro six minutes late. Bia was already at a table in the middle of the little restaurant, looking at the menu. She probably got here six minutes before the agreed time. I had to walk past the bar and noticed several men having lunch alone—most were drinking beer at noon on a workday, and some were looking at the females in the bistro. Including Bia and me.
    A little spark of fear made its way down my body, and I tried to remember that was normal. Guys were like that. They looked at pretty girls. And Bia was stunning. She deserved to be looked at.
    Still, I couldn’t shake the fear and the disgust that took root in my gut.
    I halted beside the table and pulled out my chair. “Hi.”
    “ Oi guria ,” Bia said, lowering the menu. “Are you going to end my misery and tell me what you are doing in Santa Barbara?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Usually, you have class Friday mornings and, when you come home to spend the weekend, you don’t arrive until late in the afternoon. So, when you invited me to have lunch, I knew something was up. Spill!”
    I smiled. “I just had an interview for an internship with the greatest fashion designer in Santa Barbara. Hell, she’s one of the best in the country.”
    “Really? That’s