The Cinderella Moment by Jennifer Kloester Read Free Book Online Page A

world-famous couturier, reached the microphone, Angel Moncoeur, waitress and aspiring fashion designer, crashed to the floor in front of him.  

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Plates and silverware hit the floor with a resounding crash. As she lay among the debris, it seemed to Angel as though the noise would never end, but the deafening silence that followed was worse.
    She lifted her head and found herself staring straight up into a pair of sympathetic grey eyes. Antoine Vidal smiled gently and nodded to her right. Someone touched Angel’s elbow and helped her to her feet.
    The microphone squeaked, the lights dimmed and, as she limped from the ballroom, Angel was relieved to see all eyes turn towards Vidal.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight your generosity has raised over half a million dollars for America’s homeless youth.” Vidal held up his hand to still the applause. “I believe in today’s youth. I believe in their energy, creativity and ability to succeed—that is why, six years ago, I created the Teen Couture.”
    He looked around the room. “I wished to create a competition that would test not only design excellence, but also each entrant’s dedication, determination and enthusiasm. This is why every Teen Couture garment must be made with the designer’s own hands.”
    Angel stopped outside the Staff Only door. She longed to stay and hear the rest of Vidal’s speech. It was against the rules but she was certain she’d already lost her job so it hardly mattered. She looked back at the stage and was startled to find Vidal’s eyes on her. It was only for an instant, but long enough for his next words to burn themselves into her brain.
    “Young people need to be both challenged and supported. It takes time to develop skill and years to master a craft. There will always be obstacles, but those who overcome them can achieve extraordinary things.”
    Angel stepped through the door and heard no more.
     
    ***
     
    In the days that followed, Angel decided she was totally sick of obstacles.
    As expected, she’d been fired on the spot. She’d tried to explain about being tripped, but her manager wouldn’t listen. He was so sure it was her own clumsiness that had caused the catastrophe that by the time she got home Angel had begun to think she’d imagined that brief tug on her ankle.
    It wasn’t until the next morning she learned the truth.
    “It was Clarissa.” Lily had come downstairs early, still seething. “You should’ve seen her, looking all innocent and pretending to be sympathetic.”
    “I felt something grab my ankle.”
    “Yes. Her foot—only no one else saw her.”
    “I don’t suppose it would’ve made any difference if they had.”
    “Margot made sure of that,” agreed Lily. “She was all charm and sympathy, pretending to be so sorry for the poor little waitress.”
    “That sucks.”
    “Sure does. I wish my dad had never met her.”
    “We need to stay out of her way.”
    “That’s the plan.” Lily clenched her jaw. “And with any luck, in a few weeks I’ll be in London and by the time I get home, Margot and Clarissa will be gone—hopefully for good!”
     
    ***
     
    The next week was a struggle. School was manic with end-of-year activities and Angel was unusually distracted. Taylor even went so far as to ask if she was smoking something, which made Angel laugh so much that she felt better than she had in days.
    She desperately wanted to be at home working on her ball gown, but she’d promised Taylor and Katie she’d help them pick out their dresses for the dance. They’d spent two afternoons downtown trying on dresses and Angel had eventually managed to talk Taylor out of the strapless apricot number she’d set her heart on and instead found her a gorgeous flame-colored fifties-style dress guaranteed to dazzle her date.
    All the distractions meant staying up later than usual to sew, but by Friday the calico practice dress was finished—and a disaster. When