Chapter 72
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“I can’t believe this, I breathe, running my fingers over the cool mooth surface of a cutting table, my very own cutting table. “This is all for me!”
the
“Every single thread,” Robert smiled, his arms curled around Helena’s waist.
“Okay, enough gawking!” Maya chirps, clapping her hands together “We have a debur hours! The models will be here for hair and makeup anytime soon. We need to do a li
her phone, “exactly two he collection”
“Models? Collection?” I blink, utterly lost. “Maya, what are you talking about? These are just sketches.”
Helen steps forward, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. A look I’ve come to recognize means she’s been orchestrating something magnificent. “Not just sketches anymore, darling. Consider this your final Found Day surprise. We had a few of your favorite designs professionally made. We’re having a proper runway show this evening for your debut.”
I gasp. My designs. On a runway!
Asher grins, snapping a picture of my stunned face. “And there tiny, is the blackmail material. Priceless.”
I ignore him, my mind reeling. “You… you sewed my designs? Without me knowing? How?”
“A mother has her resources,” Helen chuckled. “And a very talented, very discreet team of tailors. Now, come on. The ‘Aura‘ collection awaits its creator’s approval.”
She leads me to a back room I hadn’t even noticed, hidden behind a sleek, sliding panel. When she flicks on the light, I gasp.
Hanging in pristine garment bags are eight fully realized pieces. They are my sketches, but they are breathtaking. That’s an understatement. They are perfect.
“Oh,” is all I can manage to say as tears well in my eyes.
“Told you you’d cry,” Asher says softly, his teasing tone gone.
“We’re here.” A blonde tall lady shrieked as walked in along with five… sorry eight pretty looking ladies behind her.
The next few minutes is a beautiful but chaotic whirlwind. The boutique transforms from a serene studio into the buzzing backstage of a fashion show. Stylists and makeup artists flooding the space.
I’m pulled into every angle, checking seams, adjusting accessories and every other stuff I could. I’m so absorbed that I barely notice when the guests begin to arrive. Through the slight part in the backstage curtain, I see the main space filling with elegantly dressed people. They are Robert and Helen busy, rich and powerful business partners but they are here. For me.
My stomach clenches. I’m feeling nervous.
“Nervous, queen?”
I jump. “What are you doing here?” I gasped, clutching my chest.
“Ouch! That’s your question after not inviting me to this? Despite you knowing how much I love heart?” Jamal say with a dramatic pout. He is leaning against the doorframe, having somehow slipped past the security. They need to be replaced.
“Don’t be dramatic man. I had no idea about this too. It was a surprise so… but how did you know about it?”
“Part of the surprise queen. So are you nervous?”
“A little,” I admit, my voice shaky. “But for real, we’re you aware and invited? If not, how did you get past those securities?”
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Chapter 72
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He gives a lazy shrug. “Told them I was your muse and boyfriend. They bought it.” He steps closer. “This is incredible, Aria, You’re incredible.”
“Thank you, Jamal.”
“Five minutes to showtime!” Tall blondie who I now know as Ti calls out.
The models, all dressed gracefully, line up. My heart thumping ster at the site. T
The music begins–a modern, pulsing orchestral piece. The lights in the man of the runway. The first model glides out, wearing a stunning crimson pantsun
lly happening.
a single spotlight hits the start
The pants are slim–fit at the hips, hugging her curves, with a sleek high–waist and high slits from mid thigh downward that can be zipped and opened. It’s paired with a white blouse, a gold belt, a sleek gold necklace and gold earrings.
There’s a wave of appreciative murmurs from the audience and one by one, my creations come to life. Seeing them move, seeing the fabric flow and the designs command attention under the lights…. It’s a feeling I can’t describe.
Then, the music shifts. It’s the cue for the final piece, a design I named ‘Echo. It’s a masterpiece made of layers of ivory silk chiffon, with delicate, almost fossil–like embroidery spiraling up from the hem.
The model steps into the light. And my breath catches in my
It’s Maya.
throat.
And damn, she’s bodying that dress. Her hair is styled in an intricate braided crown, and the gown flows around her.
That’s my best friend. My first discovered model.
She reaches the end of the runway and pauses, striking a pose that makes the gown swirl around her. Her eyes find mine in the backstage, and she gives me a wink.
The room erupts into a thunderous applause as the lights come up.
“What are you doing?” I whisper as Helen is gently pushing me from the backstage, out onto the runway myself.
“Just go on there. Give a speech to end the night.” She replied.
I stumble forward, blinded by the lights, the sound of the applause washing over me. I can see Robert wiping his eyes… Was he crying? Asher is whistling loudly, Jamal is with his camera and Nolan is clapping with a proud smile on his face. I see the impressed expressions on the audience’s faces. And I see Maya, beaming at me.
“Speech!” someone from the audience calls out.
Helen hands me a microphone which I collected even though my hands are trembling.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I begin, stuttering a little. “Thank you. To my parents Robert and Helen, for believing in me even when I didn’t know who I was. For giving me a home, and now, for givi brother, for being the best big brother I could ever wish for.” I finally look a
“And to all the best people in my life, for the best surprise a girl could ever wani.
ms a home. I look at Asher. “To my
then at Jamal.
The applause sounded again. As it dies down, I take a deep breath. “A year ago, I woke up with nothing. No name, no past, nothing. But I met the most wonderful people. I was given a second chance. Aura is about that. It’s about the light we find after the darkness and how that light creates a better us.”
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