as the limo drew close to the curb. “I mean—it’s incredible! It looks like something from another world! Are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
Park, sitting directly across from her, nodded. “It really is beautiful.”
“Is that all you can say?” Lex snapped, turning to face her sister. “It’s spectacular! Dad did an incredible job with this one!”
“You’re right,” Park replied evenly. “It’s spectacular. And
we
look downright spectacular too, by the way.”
Lex glanced down at her violet dress with its intricate serpentine weavings and pale fringe. It was a showstopper. It hugged her waist, accentuated her curves, and was perfect for dancing. And it was, of course, one of her own designs, a Triple Threat original.
Park’s black silk suit, with its oblong belt and matching leather gloves, was also Triple Threat. In fact, for the next several months, the Hamilton triplets wouldn’t be wearing anything
but
Triple Threat designs in public. That was part of the marketing campaign. Whenever they were photographed, the label would be photographed. It didn’t matter if they were attending a movie premiere, a stockholders’ meeting, or just going out to a simple dinner—the Triple Threat fashion line ruled their closets, with the exception of a few pairs of jeans and shoes.
So far, the plan was working. In just over a month the line had made international fashion news, and Lex was currently in the middle of designing her second collection. Come fall, Barneys and Saks would be among the elite retailers stocking the label.
“Do you think Madison is here already?” Lex asked, reaching for her purse.
“Madison is always on time,” Park replied. “She and Theo are probably already on the dance floor.”
Lex made a sour face. Mentioning Theodore Aaron West was like hearing a rude burp pierce the air. Despite the fact that the West and Hamilton families were social and corporate rivals, Theo and Madison were totally—and sickeningly—in love. After a year of secret rendezvous, they had finally taken their relationship public. In truth, their relationship had been exposed via a gossip column, but that hadn’t mattered to either one of them. They were more than happy to stop sneaking around. And the press was having a day in the park photographing them all over town.
Lex didn’t understand it. She knew Theo West was a hottie. She knew he had brains and exuded sexiness, but she didn’t agree one bit with Madison’s decision to rock the media boat. There were so many guys who adored Madison. Why couldn’t she just pucker up to a less threatening affair?
“Stop making faces,” Park said suddenly.
“What?”
“You’re scowling because I mentioned Theo West. You have to get over it, Lex. They’re together, and that’s that.”
Lex pursed her lips in a disapproving frown. “Fine. But I don’t have to like it. And
you
can’t make me.”
“Is that any way to talk to your older sister?”
“You’re only older than me by three minutes!”
Park shrugged. “That still gives me certain rights, and telling you to chill is one of them, okay? I mean, if Dad can handle Madison and Theo being together, so can you.”
A dramatic, heavy sigh escaped Lex’s lips. She swung the strap of her purse over her left shoulder and winced. It was her all-purpose Louis—the magic purse; beautiful but painfully heavy, it contained everything a girl needed to conquer a difficult moment—or, in her case, the world. “I’ll
try
to be on my best behavior,” she said. “And while we’re talking about attitudes, you should totally curb yours.”
“I don’t have an attitude,” Park replied calmly. “I just have a lot on my mind.”
“You’re going to star in a blockbuster movie!” Lex screamed excitedly. “You should be thrilled. It’ll be the start of a whole new career!”
“I’m
not
starring in that movie. I just have to figure a way out of it.” Park reached for her own purse.
Park, sitting directly across from her, nodded. “It really is beautiful.”
“Is that all you can say?” Lex snapped, turning to face her sister. “It’s spectacular! Dad did an incredible job with this one!”
“You’re right,” Park replied evenly. “It’s spectacular. And
we
look downright spectacular too, by the way.”
Lex glanced down at her violet dress with its intricate serpentine weavings and pale fringe. It was a showstopper. It hugged her waist, accentuated her curves, and was perfect for dancing. And it was, of course, one of her own designs, a Triple Threat original.
Park’s black silk suit, with its oblong belt and matching leather gloves, was also Triple Threat. In fact, for the next several months, the Hamilton triplets wouldn’t be wearing anything
but
Triple Threat designs in public. That was part of the marketing campaign. Whenever they were photographed, the label would be photographed. It didn’t matter if they were attending a movie premiere, a stockholders’ meeting, or just going out to a simple dinner—the Triple Threat fashion line ruled their closets, with the exception of a few pairs of jeans and shoes.
So far, the plan was working. In just over a month the line had made international fashion news, and Lex was currently in the middle of designing her second collection. Come fall, Barneys and Saks would be among the elite retailers stocking the label.
“Do you think Madison is here already?” Lex asked, reaching for her purse.
“Madison is always on time,” Park replied. “She and Theo are probably already on the dance floor.”
Lex made a sour face. Mentioning Theodore Aaron West was like hearing a rude burp pierce the air. Despite the fact that the West and Hamilton families were social and corporate rivals, Theo and Madison were totally—and sickeningly—in love. After a year of secret rendezvous, they had finally taken their relationship public. In truth, their relationship had been exposed via a gossip column, but that hadn’t mattered to either one of them. They were more than happy to stop sneaking around. And the press was having a day in the park photographing them all over town.
Lex didn’t understand it. She knew Theo West was a hottie. She knew he had brains and exuded sexiness, but she didn’t agree one bit with Madison’s decision to rock the media boat. There were so many guys who adored Madison. Why couldn’t she just pucker up to a less threatening affair?
“Stop making faces,” Park said suddenly.
“What?”
“You’re scowling because I mentioned Theo West. You have to get over it, Lex. They’re together, and that’s that.”
Lex pursed her lips in a disapproving frown. “Fine. But I don’t have to like it. And
you
can’t make me.”
“Is that any way to talk to your older sister?”
“You’re only older than me by three minutes!”
Park shrugged. “That still gives me certain rights, and telling you to chill is one of them, okay? I mean, if Dad can handle Madison and Theo being together, so can you.”
A dramatic, heavy sigh escaped Lex’s lips. She swung the strap of her purse over her left shoulder and winced. It was her all-purpose Louis—the magic purse; beautiful but painfully heavy, it contained everything a girl needed to conquer a difficult moment—or, in her case, the world. “I’ll
try
to be on my best behavior,” she said. “And while we’re talking about attitudes, you should totally curb yours.”
“I don’t have an attitude,” Park replied calmly. “I just have a lot on my mind.”
“You’re going to star in a blockbuster movie!” Lex screamed excitedly. “You should be thrilled. It’ll be the start of a whole new career!”
“I’m
not
starring in that movie. I just have to figure a way out of it.” Park reached for her own purse.
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