Falling For My Playboy Boss
Chapter 99

Cora's

POV

I take off when Iris gives me the signal and head out with my head high and head to the end of the runway. I hit my poses and as I turned to go back down the runway, I heard someone yell out "Slut". I almost faltered my steps, but I kept the same expression on my face, and I already knew that Collin and the off-duty cop were probably headed to see who had done it, or if Maddie was there.

I headed to my area and Thomas was already asking questions; what side of the stage did the sound come from? Was it a man's or woman's voice? Do I think it is Maddie? I answered him quickly as I changed into my second outfit and Livi helped me with changing. Thomas has been here for a while and I still have my underwear and nursing pads on, so I am basically covered, and I am scared, so I am not putting too much thought into it right now. I answered him, "the right side of the room, woman, and yes, I think it is Maddie" before I put the shirt on and got my skirt buttoned. I know that Thomas is on high alert as I think he wants to walk down the runway with me. He knows I am safer back here than out there. Thomas walks to the entrance to the runway with me and stops just short of anyone seeing him. He is dressed all in black to blend in with the backdrop at the beginning of the runway, and I already knew that he would be stepping out to watch me and be damned if anyone saw him for the rest of the show. Iris hugs me and whispers into my ear, "It will be OK, Cora. Dalton and Nicolas are out there and watching out for you as well. None of the guys are going to let you get hurt by that b***h". I nod and smile at her, but if Maddie figured out a way to get in here, even with her on the do not allow list, and a photo of her at the entrance, she is here to cause a problem and I am worried someone will get hurt. Maddie is desperate now and has nothing to lose. The police are after her as well as the Fed, because of what she has done previously, she is not going to come willingly to them. She is here to try to get to me, and frankly, I am terrified for my babies. It is my turn next, and I hold my head up and blank my face to walk out. I walk down the runway and get to the end and hit my poses. I went to turn to come back down the runway when I heard "w***e" being called out over the music. I had just walked back up the runway, when I left the view of the guests, I almost collapsed with worry into Franco's arms. He helps me to my area and starts rubbing my arms and telling me to focus. Eric was right there with him, and Franco said, "do not worry" that he was standing at the exit to the runway for my next two outfits with Eric right behind him, in case I needed them. Eric sees me getting emotional as I change into the cute little coral baby doll dress with the bow, smacks Franco in the arm, and tells him, "She is already scared, and you are scaring her more. Cora, you have to calm down honey, this is not good for the babies. I know people are already looking for that b***h right now, and they are going to find her. Only two more outfits to go and you are done. Focus on your breathing, we are all going to get through this". I nodded at them and headed to get in line with the other girls. Anna was standing ahead of me with her first outfit, two people in front of me and looking scared. I touched her arm and spoke softly to her, "Just walk, hit your marks, and walk back. Don't overthink it and remember to breathe". Anna smiles back at me and looks calmer now. Anna looks fantastic in the little black dress that Mateo made for her. I hope she gets to keep it. It is a lovely dress, and her figure is amazing in it. I hope Adam recognizes her enough to get the ball rolling with Michael for making him jealous over Anna. I smiled as I watched her take off down the runway. She is doing great, and I glance over at the guys sitting in the center of the left-hand side and see Michael's eyes on Anna. He is interested and Adam is talking, so I think that he is doing his job. The way Anna looks I am surprised that they recognized her. I started getting anxious as I was about to go out again and I had a sneaking suspicion that they had not located Maddie in the room yet. I am going to be called another ugly name and it is hard not to react to someone defaming my character when I can do nothing about it. I don't want people to think that is the truth about me. I am not a slut. I fell in love, and I slept with the man I love, while he was not with anyone else. Maddie twists and turns things to benefit her, and she is so wrong for telling lies about me. I am stressed out and frustrated right now, but I get my cue and hold my head up and head down the runway. The dress was flowing around me, and it looked super cute in the mirror I glanced at before heading to get in line. I get to the end of the runway again, and I try not to roll my eyes when I hit my poses. I turned to go back down the runway and I heard "Skank" being screamed over the music. I headed back into the dressing room, with Franco and Eric by my side. I can see by their faces that they are worried as well, and that doesn't make me feel better at all. I am worried about my babies, and I will do whatever I need to, to make sure that they are safe. I heard this one from the left-hand side, so I told Thomas that while I was changing into my last dress. The satin felt wonderful against my skin, but I was in full-blown panic mode right now. This was the last time that I would be unprotected. It was at the end of the runway. I know that Collin and the off-duty detective would be there to help me, and I should have others who will step up and help me, but what if she has a gun? So many what- ifs are flying through my brain right now, and I am almost trembling with fright. The only what-if that matters to me, is the safety of my unborn children. I will do whatever I can to protect them both, no matter what Maddie does to me. I see Anna crossing the room to go get in line and I stop her to tell her how beautiful she is, and she smiles and looks down. I know she is about to knock Michael's socks off of him as soon as she steps out to go down the runway. Anna tells me how gorgeous I look in mine and I thank her for the compliment. Iris and I explained to Anna how she would come back off the runway to the dressing room area again along with everyone else and that she would come back out while I was still at the end of the runway. Iris tells her that Mateo will motion to the girls and the crowd will applaud them, and then they will file off the stage and come back to the dressing room area. I told Anna she could change into the romper that I had given her, or for the full effect, she should go out there to see Michael in the dress that she was wearing. Anna looked down and blushed a little before saying that she would like Michael to see her up close in this dress, and I don't blame her. Iris gets Anna in position and gives her the cue to head out. I heard a low whistle from the crowd and smiled as I was about 98% sure that it was Michael who had done it. I am last and will soon go out again and my hands are shaking. What is Maddie planning on doing? Is she alone? Does she have a weapon?

A hand reaches out for mine, and I turn and see Thomas standing there looking at me with his face totally serious. I see him pull his jacket back and see he has a gun on his hip, and I am surprised I had never seen him armed before. He takes both my hands in his hand and tells me to "Breathe". We stood there for a minute and Iris sent the last person out, so I would go out next. Thomas tells me, "No matter what, I will come out there and keep Maddie from hurting you and the babies. I will not allow her to hurt anyone. I will protect you, Cora, just stay calm and if you see her coming, scream. I will be right there for you". I feel calmer after he tells me this, and I know that he has my back and will take care of both me and the babies. I breathe easier, and I plan on keeping my eyes sharp at the end of the runway because that is where I will be the most vulnerable out there. I see Ava and Livi giving me a smile and a thumbs up and I know that Ava will help keep watch out there. I saw Ava talking to Anna, who was watching Thomas trying to calm me down. I see Franco and Eric standing across the runway from me on the exit side and giving me a thumbs up and then they motion towards their eyes and then towards me, in the "We will be watching you" motion. I have a lot of eyes on me, but I am still scared for my babies. I see Mateo and Ella walk up and stand next to Franco and Eric and I smile at them and see them both smile back at me. Mateo is going to come and get me, probably sooner than he usually does because of Maddie being here. Iris told me what she said and what Mateo told her. That is another reason why she is angry with me. I get my head on straight and get ready to go out. I may not know what she has planned, but I have friends who are willing to help me out no matter what.

I can do this, I just need to pay attention to anyone coming near me and hope that the people watching out for me can warn me. I don't stop at the complete end of the runway. I stop about 2 feet short of the end because if I need to back away and run, I don't need to be at the end where she can be on top of me before I can see her, due to the lights on my face, for the runway and the photographs being taken. I hit my poses and stayed in my last one. I hear the girls coming out onto the runway behind me. I relaxed a little, maybe she realized that this is a very public venue, and it would be stupid to try to get me there. I am so hoping that is what happened, or that they did locate her when she was running around here screaming at me because it is totally calm and normal right now. I continued to be vigilant while trying to see past the lights in my face to see if I could see anyone heading toward me. I wait to hear Mateo walking out towards me so we can get off this runway as I feel like a sitting duck right now. I try to hold my hands still as they start to shake again and then I hear Collin yell out, "Cora, look out!".