Free His Rules: Ludlow Nights - Book1 (A Ludlow Nights Romance) by CC MacKenzie

make the best of it. After all, she was starving and if Olivier wanted to spring for dinner then she was perfectly happy to let him.
    The waiter took their food selection, the football players all ordered large portions of grilled chicken breast and salads without dressing. Danni ordered the same. T.C. (who had a hate-hate relationship with food) hummed and hawed until she ordered grilled fish and steamed vegetables. Anastacia ordered a double beef burger with cheese, crispy bacon and a double portion of sweet potato fries.
    T.C. turned to glare at Anastacia in utter disgust.
    "I hate you. How can you eat that and never gain an ounce? It's not fekking fair."
    "Probably because I'm not sitting on my ass all day and I have a fast metabolism. Plus I don't have a giant bowl of candy at my elbow. If you got rid of the sugar you wouldn't have a problem, babe."
    "To me, you look like a goddess," Fabio said to T.C. in a deep and throaty Italian accent, and sounded absolutely sincere. His dark eyes took a leisurely and appreciative stroll over her hair and her face. It wasn't often Anastacia saw her friend lost for words, but T.C. was lost for words now and blushing like a girl.
    Across the table, Danni made big eyes at Anastacia as if to say, ' How hot is Fabio ?'
    "You always look stunning, piccolino ," Olivier murmured in Anastacia's ear. The way his breath heated her cheek made other parts of her heat, too. And she didn't care for the sensation at all. He continued, "I love your dress. I love your sense of style."
    Deeply unimpressed, she turned to face him and spotted how his gaze had dropped to the amount of thigh she was showing. It cost her, but she refused to pull the hem of her dress down. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
    "You've seen me twice."
    His gaze drifted up her body, met her eyes. "Expensive. You must be paid well."
    Nosy bastard.
    Anastacia showed him her teeth.
    "I'm worth it," she shot back. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "It's written into my contract that I receive a quarterly clothes allowance. In this business I represent the Ferranti brand and it's important I hold my own."
    "You are tiny."
    There's news.
    But what the hell, she wondered, did her height have to do with her ability to do her job?
    "Yes... well, that also makes it problematic when buying clothes. In my world my appearance, my presentation, is a declaration of intent. A proclamation of purpose that matters, a lot."
    "Yes, she is soooooo right," Danni interrupted in a chirpy voice that made her best friend want to belt her. "Ana's small, but she is mighty . I like to think of how I dress Anastacia as readying her for battle. Her clothes are almost like body armour. Exquisite tailoring, beautifully proportioned, constructed of the right fabrics and fit just for her. VB's designs are perfect for her shape. I've ordered a whole new collection for the summer season." Now she grinned at a glowering Anastacia. "You're gonna look fab, babe."
    "And Nico pays for this?" Olivier's question was aimed at Danni.
    "Yep, he works through me now, because when left to her own devices Ana never spends her allowance. When I choose her clothes, it saves everyone a lot of time and pointless debate."
    Now Olivier turned to Anastacia.
    "Danni and Nico manage your wardrobe?"
    Before answering the question, she paused as her huge burger and a small mountain of fries were placed on the table. Anastacia ignored the wide-eyed looks from her companions as she dived right in dipping her fries in ketchup. God, she was starving. T.C. tossed her a napkin to catch the sauce running down her chin.
    Anastacia cleaned her face, her fingers, balled up the napkin, and turned to watch Olivier eat his grilled chicken salad.
    "Yeah, it's not a big deal. Danni knows what works for me and what doesn't a lot better than I do myself. I'm too busy to be bothered. And because I couldn't be bothered, I clashed with Nico. This way, I focus on work and dressing me like a doll keeps