As Isla walked back to her dressing room, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. She slipped into a robe, covering up the white lingerie that had made her feel like a million bucks just hours before. Now, it felt like a reminder of the opportunity that Liam Lockwood had given her.
Why had he done it? She wondered, her mind racing with possibilities. Was it because he saw something in her that no one else did? Or was it simply out of charity? She thought back to the rumors she had heard about Liam's philanthropic side, despite his reputation as a deadly and ruthless businessman.
Isla sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment. She had been hoping that there was more to it, that Liam had seen something in her that no one else did. But now, she realized that it was probably just an act of kindness. He had saved her from her toxic boss, and now he was trying to do something good for her.
She shouldn't think more of it than it was, she told herself. It was just a favor, nothing more. And with that thought, she decided to leave. Her walk was done, and she didn't need to stick around any longer.
As she was about to leave, she was stopped by two of the most popular Victoria's Secret models, Miranda and Taylor. They were both stunningly beautiful, with flawless skin and perfect bodies. Isla felt a pang of intimidation as they approached her.
"Hey, are you a newbie?" Miranda asked, her voice friendly and curious.
Isla hesitated, feeling a little self-conscious. "Yeah, I am," she replied, trying to sound confident.
Taylor smiled. "Well, you weren't too bad for a newbie," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We should get you to join us for the after-party. It's happening upstairs in the VIP lounge."
Isla's heart skipped a beat. She didn't want to go to the party, not if Liam Lockwood was going to be there. She didn't want to get allured by him again, and she knew that seeing him again would only make things worse.
But Miranda and Taylor were insistent. "It's really important for you to attend these parties," Miranda said. "You need to get your face out there and meet people in the industry. It's a great way to get brand endorsements and boost your popularity.”
Isla sighed, feeling a little overwhelmed. She didn't know if she was ready for all of this, but she knew that she couldn't say no. Not if she wanted to make it in this industry.
"Okay, fine," she said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "I'll go."
Miranda and Taylor cheered.
After Isla got changed into a white dress, she followed Miranda and Taylor to the party. The VIP lounge was packed with models, designers, and celebrities. Everyone was laughing and chatting, and Isla felt like a small fish in a big pond, making her feel like an outsider.
She decided to sit alone and drink, feeling a little overwhelmed by the crowd. But before she could even take a sip of her drink, Miranda came over and pulled her into the gang.
"Hey, everyone, this is Isla, the new girl," Miranda said, introducing her to the group.
Isla felt a little shy, but the group welcomed her with open arms. They asked her questions and made her feel like part of the group. Isla couldn't help but feel a little grateful to Miranda and Taylor. Maybe they were really kind, and not just pretending to be friendly.
As she chatted with the group, Isla realized that this was a tough place. The world itself was a tough place to climb up and get noticed, especially when you were competing against people who were just as beautiful and talented as you. She was aware of the backbiting and the gossip that could happen among the girls and she was still skeptical,
wondering which one of the girls around her could become her rival. She wondered if any of the girls around her were secretly plotting against her, waiting for her to slip up so they could take her place.
Miranda, still holding Isla's hand, led her over to a group of former top models, including Kate Upton and Stella Maris. "Girls, I want you to meet Isla, the new face of Victoria's Secret," Miranda said, beaming with pride.
Kate Upton, a legendary model known for her curves and confidence, looked Isla up and down before asking her to turn around.
Lily blinked.
"Just do it," Miranda whispered, and Isla obliged, spinning around and facing Kate again.
Kate touched Isla's hair, her fingers running through the strands. "Are you really blonde?" she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism.
Isla nodded, feeling a surge of pride. "Yes, I am. My mom was a blonde, and I inherited her hair color."
Kate raised an eyebrow. "That's nice. But let's talk about your height. How tall are you?"
Isla stood up straight, trying to make herself look as tall as possible. "I'm 6’0," she said, trying to sound confident.
Kate nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That's not bad, but you're not going to stand out on the stage just because of your height. You need to work on your overall presence. You're missing something.”
Stella Maris, a former supermodel known for her striking features, chimed in. "I think it's her eyes. She has big green eyes, but they're not standing out because of the dark circles under them."
Isla felt a pang of embarrassment, realizing that she had forgotten to reapply her concealer while dressing up for the after-party. She cursed herself for being so careless.
Kate nodded in agreement. "And it's not just her eyes. She lacks confidence as a whole. I saw her on the stage, and she paused too much. She needs to work on her stage presence.”
Isla felt a surge of defensiveness, but she bit her tongue. She knew that Kate and Stella were just trying to help, but their words felt like a subtle put-down.
As Kate and Stella walked away, Isla turned to Miranda and whispered, "Wow, they're really vicious."
Miranda smiled sympathetically. "I know, right? The industry can be tough, and being at the top only increases the challenges. But don't worry, Isla. You'll get used to it."
Isla nodded, feeling a sense of determination. This was her dream job and she was going to prove herself, no matter what it took. But as she looked around the room, she couldn't help but feel like she was under a microscope, with everyone waiting for her to slip up so they could pounce.
Miranda and Taylor led Isla to a circularly arranged seating area, where two other girls were already seated. The area was posh, with plush couches and a beautifully decorated table. Drinks were served to the five of them, and Isla, feeling a bit frustrated, decided to take a shot. One down, two down, and on the third, she felt her heart stutter as she noticed a familiar man approach them.
He took a seat right next to Taylor, and his striking blue eyes locked onto Isla's. She felt like she was frozen in time, unable to look away from his gaze. He was just too handsome, too unreal, with a perfect, symmetrically beautiful face and angelic jawline. His brown hair formed a striking contrast to his blue eyes and pale skin, and he looked like a modern version of the French actor Alain Delon.
The other girls immediately went gaga over him, squealing and cooing as they said, "Liam Lockwood, so you're back!" Of course, he was Liam Lockwood, the richest and most handsome man in New York City. Only Miranda and Taylor seemed unfazed, speaking to him in a normal, friendly tone as if they were old friends.
But Liam's striking eyes never left Isla's, and she felt like she was drowning in their depths. She couldn't blink, couldn't look away, as he gazed at her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
“And this is your new friend?” Liam asked Taylor, his gaze fixed on Isla.
Taylor spoke up, saying, "Oh, she's a newbie. But don't scare her, Liam." Liam chuckled and lent his hand to Isla, saying, "I'm Liam. Nice to meet you." He acted as if he was meeting her for the first time as if he hadn't given her the gig she had dreamed of - as if he hadn't saved her life from fire. As if he hadn't saved her from her toxic ex-boss.
Isla shook his hand, feeling an electric shock as she touched his skin. She immediately withdrew her hand, feeling like she had been burned. The girls asked if she was okay, and Isla nodded, trying to play it cool. "I'm fine, I just need to use the ladies' room," she said, grabbing her handbag and making a hasty exit.
As she walked away, she could feel Liam's eyes on her, watching her every move. She felt like she was going to collapse, her heart racing with excitement and attraction. She couldn't believe she had reacted that way to him, like a schoolgirl with a crush.
She made her way to the ladies' room, locking herself in a stall and taking a few deep breaths. She couldn't believe she had touched his hand and felt that spark of electricity. She couldn't believe she had reacted that way to him like she was under his spell.
‘Moon Goddess, Selene, please help me…..’
