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Chapter 59: CH 58: Debut to the Public

Eve left a message for Cale, informing him of her whereabouts. The staff had given her directions towards the main hall. Their eyes popped out of their sockets when they saw her. Thankfully, they quickly caught on that she was a guest—based on her appearance.

From there, things passed by without a hitch.

She found a hallway that led to the ballroom where she waited for Cale. From what she knew, Luna had a designated room for the rainbow models. She advised them to stay there before the presentation. Eve actually didn't understand the need for this. They wouldn't even carry any bag.

It would just be them, walking into the scene.

She stayed close to the wall and bent forward. Her head peeked out of the hall. She gaped at the grandeur. Did she travel back in time? Most of the interior resembled a castle's with its white and gold paint. The chandeliers reflected on the wooden floor. Bronze velvet curtains hung over tall windows, blocking most of the sunset.

Eve estimated the number of people. There were probably hundreds. It wouldn't surprise her if it turned out to be a thousand. Among them, one person cut through the crowd. Swift footsteps broke away from the party. 

They headed for where she stood.

"Eve!" Cale scolded as soon as he saw her. He put his hands on his hips and marched in her direction. "There you are! You almost gave us a heart attack when Ambryan came by himself. We thought he left you behind or you had a fight. Next time, inform us right away."

"I'm sorry, Cale. It was actually last minute," Eve apologized. His tone was scarier than the time they shopped for a dress. At this, she rethought about her plan. She really should have notified them/

"Okay, fine," her modelling manager huffed. He grabbed her wrist, keeping a tight hold. Who knew when she'd do another stunt? "Come on, let's do some touch ups."

Cale took her back down the hall and up a hidden staircase. It led to the upper floor for the indoor balcony which had a grand staircase. Behind the archway, several rooms occupied the corridor. Only one had its door open with bright lights inside. 

The rest of the models already came before Eve. They all sat in their designated chairs, talking and refilling their make-up looks. Each one sported the same style as her—matching dress, wig and lips—but in different colors until they completed a rainbow.

The diversity impressed her. No one in this room had been picked at random. All of them rocked and slayed the color they got. If it weren't for this campaign, she wouldn't have known how mermaid blue looked beautiful on a deep skin tone. Or how olive green complimented medium tan complexion. 

Each model represented a shade range.

"Alright, I heard about what you said from Avery," Cale spoke, gesturing Eve to a chair. She faced the vanity mirror and noticed the shine from her oily face. He grinned. "So let's light you up like a fire for your debut."

From outside, Athon commercials and logos played on LED screens on either side of the balcony. It displayed their awards, milestones and iconic moments. Some behind the scenes footage peeked out for a tease. 

Avery stood in the middle of the floor. She had looped her arms around her son's. They had been joined by the hip since they entered the ballroom. She figured he'd run off to talk about work with other businessmen—something she frowned upon during these events.

Her presence also helped ward off most women. If not, her mouth would do the job.

Ambryan simply accompanied her. He spoke whenever he was addressed. With red wine in hand, he had little to complain about. He'd be able to survive the night with it alone.

"Yan! Aunt Avery!" Richard Kingston called out from behind them. He wore a white jacket over a gray dress shirt. His trousers had the same cream fabric while his shoes had black leather. He chose this style since his curly bronze hair already matched the motif. 

"Richard!" Avery greeted him first. She let go of Ambryan to give him a brief hug. "It has been a while since I've seen you. I heard you had a hard time with the Board of Directors. Are you still okay?"

"It was nothing I couldn't handle," he replied with a snort. He drank a bit of champagne before turning to his best friend. A goofy grin stretched his lips. "So… where's the girlfriend? Did you sneak her in here so the media wouldn't see her? Come on, tell me I get to meet her tonight."

"No, you won't."

"Oh, you will!" 

Ambryan sipped his wine and ignored another glare from his mother. With the glass on his lips, she couldn't force him to look at her—unless she wanted to accidentally spill the wine. It was a trick and she knew it.

Unfortunately, it worked for the time being.

"Really, Ambryan," Avery huffed as she faced him fully. Her hands clenched into fists, calming down her urge to strike. "How could you not introduce her to your best friend?"

"It's alright, Aunt Avery," Richard intervened. He laughed at the scenario and saved his best friend. He took Avery's hand and kissed the back of it. "Have I told you how stunning you look?"

Unlike most women, Avery opted for a white top and a black maxi skirt. The long-sleeved blouse had an off-shoulder cut on her right. A wide golden belt cinched her waist, connecting the two clothing items. Her black hair was tied up in a high ponytail and fell over her back like a waterfall. 

"Always a charmer," she smirked at Richard. Her hand went to her hip while her eyes stared from the corner of her eye. She narrowed her gaze. "Should I set you up too?"

"Yes."

"No."

Richard coughed at the suggestion. It didn't help that Ambryan agreed to it. He had heard of the website's name. If he wasn't careful, he would become Avery's new target. The sidelines already gave him enough entertainment.

Besides, if he had a girlfriend, he wouldn't be able to pick on his best friend. That happened to be his favorite pastime and he'd rather keep it than meet a new chick.

"With all due respect, Aunt Avery." Richard cleared his throat. He gulped a mouthful of champagne, needing its confidence boost. "I don't think I'm ready yet to go back to the dating game."

Avery opened her mouth to reply but someone else's voice cut in.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!"

Luna stood at the bottom of the grand staircase. A rectangular platform had been installed for the occasion. She stood taller than most guests and grinned around the room. Folds of a silver skirt cascaded over her legs. Lace wrapped around her shoulders in the same color. Glitters layered over her bodice, adding more glamor to her style.

A brown hair bun sat on top of her head.

Her black eyes smiled at the audience. She spoke to a microphone and her voice blasted out of the speakers. "On behalf of Athon Luxury, I'd like to thank everyone for joining us today. This is the mark of a new beginning for us. Billboards, tarpaulins, window displays and more will be up tomorrow for our brand new Rainbow Collection."

Cheers and applause reverberated around the ballroom. Luna paused, letting them take over the spotlight. She owed a lot of her success to these people. Words were never enough to showcase her appreciation. 

"Of course, none of this could have happened if it weren't for our models," Luna continued, stepping over to one side. She wouldn't want to miss this part of the event. Her eyes already snapped towards the top of the stairs. 

"So, please. Join me and welcome their presence for tonight… starting with my Ruby."

On the wall, the LED screens flickered into nothing. A lyre played softly. Its volume rose up as a new video came into light. The darkness faded away to unveil the Athon logo. The symbol grew smaller until it vanished completely.

A montage of the first set replaced it. Each photo lasted half a second before the next one popped up. The different bags filled up the screen until it coated everything in red, overlapping one another in fifty percent opacity. The result resembled an abstract painting.

Then, it became blank.

Blank as a canvas.

The camera zoomed out, revealing the background as a fabric. It fluttered against a silent breeze and flowed over the edge of a chaise. The shot crawled upwards in a diagonal slate. The fabric length soon ended on a pair of fair legs. Their ankles crossed as they rose up over the model's back.

The music kicked up its pace. The camera switched directions and followed the fabric once more. With the backrest of the white chaise, its color now looked more gray—almost like a statue. 

The long duration of the shot had cleansed out the red color from everyone's minds.

So when it came again, all attention focused on it.

Crimson hair took over the screen. Its waves led to the side profile of a heart-shaped face. Cherry lips puckered up towards a red clutch held by a hand. The pose remained still as if frozen in time. Not even the camera moved.

All became motionless, including the music.

Then, the young woman snapped her head towards the audience. 

She blinked and gasped as if she got caught. Her gaze immediately dropped from embarrassment. She bit on her bottom, suppressing a blush. Her head tilted slightly when she peeked back at them. To play it off, she lifted the clutch and hid half of her face. 

The lights flared on the bag's Athon logo. 

Her corner lip curled up...

And her eye winked at the camera. 


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
CailinMatthews CailinMatthews

Hehe. Hehehe. Hehehehe. I really do write too much. This chapter already hit 1.6k. Is this pacing alright? I imagine not many would want to linger on the party scene without Eve.

I do hope it managed to build enough suspense for when she comes out tho. |-^)v

.

This makes me wonder.. what color would you choose if you were part of the rainbow collection? :D

.

Status check: We're on Top 147 for FL Ranking (^-^)ゝ

Also, we have a feature under Potential Starlet?! What?! Thank you for this! To WN and to all of you, readers! Alabyu, guys!

.

Have a good day!

Other ongoing work: Trust and Believe in Love

Chapter 60: CH 59: The Ruby of the Rainbow

The video cut into another montage. 

Despite the blank background, the editors managed to insert photos that replicated Ancient Rome. The young woman strolled great halls, walked away from a river, and became a fountain decor. The lighting and shadowing changes emphasized her red color. 

It ignited under the darkness.

It shined under the sun. 

Being out of place, the bags still managed to steal most of the show. But, they couldn't easily ignore the young woman either. She breathed life into the photos—even as a statue. 

Even as a lazy person on a chaise.

Ambryan gripped the wine glass tighter. The bone white dress hung loosely on Evangeline's shoulders. The excess fabric draped over her body, hugging every curve but also lumping together.

Like a pile of bedsheets.

Like only a pile of bedsheets. 

Around Evangeline.

A dark look clouded over his eyes. Storms thundered above his head. The campaign may say it was Ancient Rome inspired but he saw the subtleties. There was an allure to the toga's style. 

It was intriguing and amorous.

Avery gave him the side-eye. Even without looking, she sensed the rumbling of a thunderstorm. Something her son projected whenever he faced a difficult problem or a frustrating situation. 

She found his gaze on the LED screens.

While the rest saw the products, he beheld the model. 

Her lips curled into a smirk. It seemed that their plan for Eve's attractiveness worked somehow—though Ambryan might not be aware of it.

The video faded on the photo of Eve with a luggage bag. Instead of using different photo locations, the editors chose the progression of civilization and took her into the 21st century with an airport background.

White cursive letters wrote one line,

``Add a little red for a bit of spice in your life``

On cue, Luna's voice echoed around the room, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my ruby model, Ms. Evangeline Reed!"

A round of applause came to support her. Their eyes travelled up the grand staircase and onto the indoor balcony. The gold curtains of an archway parted open. Darkness filled up the space behind it, contrasting against the bright ballroom.

Avery clapped the loudest among the onlookers. Although she witnessed the shoot, the video had blown her away. Eve had blown her away for the second time. 

She couldn't wait for a third.

For a moment, nothing happened. The balcony remained vacant. No one stepped out of the shadows. The music shifted to a pop song. Its beat brought the audience to the modern times. The song started out soft until the refrain.

Then, it increased in volume, bringing the suspense higher and higher. The singer paused just before the chorus. 

When the first note hit, it exploded in flares of upbeat and sassy music. The hype transcended the peak. The burst of instruments and energy served as the perfect point for an entrance.

And Eve knew it.

She emerged from the archway with a fierce expression on her face. Unlike her promo photos, flaming crimson red flowed from her shoulders and down to her feet. Her hair sat on top of her head. The style framed her face like a halo.

Cale had wrapped a scarf around her neck. Its ends swayed behind her as she walked, matching the movement of her hips. Her body angled to the left as she reached the grand staircase.

Eve hoisted up her skirt and strolled down the steps. She climbed down with her right shoulder pulled back, with her chin held high and with her feet not missing a beat of the music. 

Red hot heels glided across the staircase. They flew down as if each one had a pair of tiny wings. Except, everyone could see there weren't any.

But Eve almost made them believe it.

When she reached the platform, she let go of the skirt. Her legs continued to walk and followed the point marks on the podium. They reached the center and Eve pulled off the scarf from her neck.

She threw the long fabric flew towards her back.

Rose petals rained and danced in the air. They softened the fiery display into a sensual one. Delicate and lustrous, they covered her path and acted as a trail of her presence. 

Eve finished the half-moon direction of the markers. She spun on her heel at the last one. Her legs crossed at the ankles. Her body leaned back while her right hand held her waist from behind.The scarf had turned into a cape and created a train for her dress.

Like in her video, she winked at the audience.

Then, her lips broke into a wide smile. 

'For real. Am I in a pageant?' Eve couldn't help but chuckle. Her heart raced inside her chest. She'd never done anything remotely close to what she did just now.

The following applause defeaned her more than the music. Their reaction made her feel flattered… and maybe a tiny bit shy.

Camera shutters flashed in her direction. She closed her mouth but kept the smile. Her head twisted in different directions, offering her brief attention to each reporter. 

Her short but trailblazing performance had enraptured the people's interest. Stakes for the rest of the models had ascended another level.

Luna joined her on the platform, greeting with an air-kiss. "Well done, dear. I knew you could do it."

Eve relaxed her posture and embraced the designer. They used it as a chance to talk. "I'm glad to hear that you approved. I think I almost tripped."

"No one noticed. Trust me," Luna assured her. But then, she added, "Well, maybe Mikael but he doesn't count."

The model's shoulders shook. She could already see the displeased face. "Honestly, if he says something, my only response is 'I know' because I do know."

Luna pulled away and held her hand. She lifted their joint fingers and faced the audience. Her voice spoke into the mic. "Once again, Ms. Evangeline Reed, everyone!" 

"If you haven't seen her before, that is understandable," she continued despite the loud noise, "The selected models for this day's event are the rookies of the bunch. I like to call them the diamonds in the rough."

Her black eyes softened as she stared them down. "I saw the same will and determination in these girls as I saw in myself when I started out as a designer. Like the shot of Evangeline travelling through time, this launch is about bridging the future and the past."

By now, the cheers had died down as ears hung on her every word. Voice recorders and video cameras registered her statements.

"That closed gap brings us to the present where this campaign only marks the beginning for them," Luna began to conclude. She released Eve's hand, only to place hers on the latter's upper back. 

"It is the first raindrop for their own rainbow."

When the guests clapped their hands, Eve clapped alongside them. Her hazel eyes stared wide at the designer. Rainbows held several meanings. They could be seen as hope, as blessings… but in this case,

Luna had used them as a symbol of forging their own path—blazing the sky with their personal colors. They would paint the modelling world with their own brushes.

Eve squeezed the designer's shoulders when they hugged. The collection contained such a heartwarming message. Not only for them but also to others that set out to create their own path.

"That was so beautiful, Luna. I am honored to be part of it," she whispered. Pride flowed into her veins. Maybe she hadn't intended to be a model but this experience, this event… she wouldn't exchange it for the world.

"It's nothing, dear. I already have my rainbow. I only wish for others to find theirs. No matter how many storms come their way." The designer chuckled, rubbing her back.

"So I expect you to find yours."

Eve blinked, releasing the woman from her hold. She stepped back and looked into her ebony eyes. Something told her that Luna meant more than just her modelling career. She didn't know how. She didn't know why.

Those words opened a locked part of her soul.

Eve moved aside to make way for the other models. Her body was at the party but her mind was elsewhere. A small flame kindled in her heart. The stagnant candle flickered again.

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as her first love warmed up her insides. 

It had been years since they parted ways. All of the pain, the joy and the struggles resonated back into her senses. They swirled in vivid images, igniting her passion. 

It had been so long.

Her chest felt like it would burst!

Eve wiped away the tears before anyone could notice. The last thing she wanted was to ruin a happy occasion. Her hands joined in the applause as the orange model came down the stairs.

She shut away the memories, putting the back where they belonged. Although they haven't seen each other since then, Eve knew that she'd never forget the times they spent together.

She snuffed out the flame and locked the chest. 

At the last second, a curious thought wondered in her head. It pondered about the other party from this relationship. The voice only had one question but it stabbed Eve in the heart.

Did… 

Maybe—

—perhaps… 

… did her ballet shoes miss her?


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
CailinMatthews CailinMatthews

This chapter didn't completely turn out like I initially planned. But... wow. I did not see that coming. I thought Eve had an old boyfriend! Like wha—

.

(ಠ_ಠ)>⌐■-■

Eve. You and I need to talk.

.

As for the rest of you,

Have a good day!

.

Other ongoing work: Trust and Believe in Love

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