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Cleopatra leaned back into her chair, composed like the earlier tension had never touched her at all.The clinking of glass and soft hum of voices filled the space, but her gaze stayed distant.Across the table, Guinevere shifted uncomfortably before speaking.“Cleo… I’m sorry about earlier,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t have believed the rumors so easily.”Helen exhaled, rubbing her arm as guilt flickered across her face.“Same here,” she added. “I’m sorry too, Cleo. I judged you without even knowing you.”For a moment, Cleopatra said nothing.Then her eyes lifted; calm, piercing, unreadable.She looked straight at Guinevere.“Even if you knew me,” she said softly, “I would still feel like a stranger to you.”The words landed heavier than any accusation.Silence brushed across the table.Anthony quickly cleared his throat, forcing a grin as he raised his glass.“Alright, alright, enough heavy talk. This is supposed to be a celebration, not a trial. Let’s drink and enjoy ourselves.”
Her eyes glinted.“Katie, would you like to hear something?”“Yeah,” Katie replied.“In the future, when I raise the alarm, he won’t be able to deny anything. People will remember.” She leaned forward slightly. “They’ll say: he’s done it before… so of course he could do it again.”Katie blinked then burst into a grin, tapping Cleopatra’s shoulder.“Damn, girl… you're wicked.”Cleopatra laughed, light and unrestrained.“This?” she said, tilting her head slightly. “This is just the beginning.”The words lingered playful on the surface, but dangerous underneath.A brief pause followed before Cleopatra spoke again, more casually this time.“Katie… why hasn’t Calvin shown up at all during the project?” she asked, her tone softer, almost thoughtful. “I wanted to ask him, but… I didn’t want to seem clingy, you know?”Katie’s expression didn’t falter. “He’s buried in work,” she replied smoothly. “A lot is going on. I don’t think he’ll be coming.”Cleopatra frowned slightly. “Is it because of
“Oh, it’s simple,” Helen pressed, leaning back smugly. “You’ve been seducing Mr. Calvin. That’s how you secured your spot. No rookie lands a major project like this without… extra effort.”“Stop spouting nonsense.”Xander’s voice cut through sharply.“Yeah, that’s ridiculous,” Sabrina added immediately.Helen shrugged, unbothered. “I’m just repeating what people are saying.”“Well, let me correct that,” Katie snapped, her voice firm, protective. “Cleopatra didn’t just impress the CEO. Major directors and photographers recognize her work. Rookie or not—she delivers.”“But the rumor says she’s selling her body,” Guinevere chimed in smoothly, her smile delicate and cruel.Cleopatra’s jaw tightened.So this was their game.Jealousy thinly veiled as concern.Her gaze shifted slowly to Guinevere, sharp and knowing.“Well, Guin… it seems you’re quite worried about me.”“Of course, Cleo,” Guinevere replied without missing a beat. “Why wouldn’t I worry about my… bestie?”Silence stretches for
“Colder…” her voice came through, low and tense. “Can you handle this? Are you sure this won’t backfire?”“Don’t overthink it,” he replied smoothly.“Anthony has escalated things. You’ve seen the posts… and the video, right?”“Yes.” Calvin’s gaze drifted back to the window, distant. “Let him play.”A pause.Then, quieter.“Cleo is the one holding the cards now. It’s her move.” Calvin added “…Cleo is coming. We’ll talk later,” Katie whispered before the line went dead.Calvin lowered the phone slowly.“Smith.” His tone shifted back to business, composed and precise. “Here’s your Ipad.”Smith stepped forward immediately retrieving it.“Sophia’s latest photoshoot ad—how is the promotion progressing?”“The team is pushing it aggressively,” Smith replied. “By the end of next week, we should see full market impact.”“Good.” Calvin nodded once. “We’ll review it in a meeting. And make sure Cleopatra’s last commercial is included.”“Yes, sir.”Smith turned and quietly exited, the door clickin
A sharp knock shattered the silence.Then another.Relentless. Demanding.Anthony’s jaw tightened, irritation flaring like a struck match. “Who the hell—” he muttered, already striding toward the door. He yanked it open with force.Guinevere stood there, breath slightly uneven, eyes blazing.“What the hell is wrong with you?” she snapped, pushing past him without waiting for permission. “Has your brain completely fried because you’re chasing after her?”“Guin—”“The internet is practically swearing at you right now,” she cut in, spinning to face him. “Do you have any idea what you’re risking? Your reputation? Your business? And for what—her?”“Shut up and listen.”The sharpness in his voice sliced through the room.Silence fell.Heavy. Suffocating.Anthony dragged a hand through his hair, frustration bleeding into every movement. “She was going to leave,” he said, his voice rough, unsteady. “She was going to leave me again.”Guinevere’s expression flickered.“I messed up,” he continue
Her gaze dropped slowly to his fingers wrapped around her wrist.“Let go.”In an instant, he did as if he had just realized what he’d done.“Cleo, please… just a few minutes.”A pause.The air between them tightened.“…Okay.”“Please. Come with me.”—The gym doors closed behind them.Each step down the corridor grew heavier for them both, the air tightening around them with every passing moment. Staff moved around them, offering polite greetings and practiced smiles, their voices brushing past in fragments but none of it registered. The silence clung to them, suffocating, as though the entire corridor had narrowed into the weight of their shared footsteps.Anthony’s office.The door clicked shut.Too loud.“Please, sit,” he said, gesturing toward the couch as he lowered himself onto it.The couch gave a faint, tired creak beneath her weight.“So,” she said flatly, her voice stripped of warmth, “why do you want to see me?”Anthony inhaled.Hold it.“I’ll be honest… I’m sorry for the w
Cleopatra stepped out of the taxi, slowly lifting her head as her breath caught at the sight of the towering INK Model skyscraper before her. Gleaming beneath the sky, its exotic design and flawless structure seemed to embody both elegance and ambition. For a moment, she simply stood there, mesmeri
A week later, Cleopatra jolted awake by a message from Katie, summoning her to the INK Model Company. She rose at once and freshened up. Midway through breakfast, her gaze drifted to the wardrobe she had already inspected; nothing inside would truly make her shine.Once she finished her meal, she r
‘Cal…’ he muttered under his breath, and memories he hadn’t dared touch in years surged forward, crashing over him like a river long buried, carrying the ache, the warmth, and the weight of a past he thought he had lost.”“What else can I serve you?” she asked again, a small smile curling at the co
“Now that’s the spirit, girl!” she exclaimed, her voice alive with excitement. “Getting into the spotlight won’t be easy. Start with backstage work for now, while I comb through potential brands. Securing even a few good ones will give your debut a real edge.”“Okay thanks Katie” Moments later, Cl







