Capítulo 21: **Chapter 21: Kate and Bündchen**
"Chop, chop~"
After Ed left the hospital room, Kate frowned and paced back and forth, cursing that despicable John, the unethical newspapers, and the enemies hiding behind the scenes.
Luca shook his head and shouted, "Kate!"
"What's wrong?"
Kate turned around, confused.
"Kate, you need to calm down," Luca said slowly. "This isn't as bad as you think. At worst, I won't be able to model anymore, but acting is my main career. Modeling is just a side gig. Losing it isn't really a big deal."
"But..."
"No buts."
Luca cut her off firmly.
Kate was too emotional to think clearly now.
Luca didn't have major aspirations in the fashion world, and his expectations for his modeling career were low. Because of that, he could easily step back and see the bigger picture. From that perspective, it was just a minor setback, one he could handle.
He pulled Kate down to sit by the bed, speaking gently. "Kate, you've got your own work. You don't need to waste too much time and energy on my issues. I'm already twenty; I can handle things on my own. Now you and Lima should get back to your jobs."
Kate frowned, thinking about the car accident Luca had gone through, the one that ended his athletic career. Compared to that, this really wasn't much.
"Oh, my poor Luca. Why is your fate so tough?"
She hugged Luca tightly, trying to comfort him with her warmth.
"No, Kate, I feel lucky because I have an angelic sister," Luca said with a smile.
Kate laughed, glancing at Lima. "Luca, you don't just have an angelic sister; you've got an angelic girlfriend, too."
"True!" Luca held both of their hands and said, "Thank you, my two angels, for always being with me!"
Lima smiled gently. "Luca, with two angels by your side, why do you still have such bad luck?"
Luca shrugged. "I guess God's jealous of me and messing with me."
"Luca, don't joke about God."
The two devout women scolded him in unison.
"Alright, alright," Luca said, grabbing a thick book from the bedside table. "Go on, angels, get back to work before God, that cranky old man, gets more jealous of me."
"You faithless guy!" Kate tapped his forehead before grabbing her handbag and saying, "Come on, Lima, we're supermodels. We have important work to do. Let's not waste time with this little male model. He's not worth it."
"Haha, Luca, get better soon. I'm waiting for our date," Lima said, hugging him.
"Lima, I won't keep you waiting long," Luca replied, waving gently as he watched the two angels leave.
Sunlight streamed onto the bed. The sky-blue curtains swayed in the wind, and a white tulip on the windowsill filled the room with its delicate fragrance. With a rustle, the thick encyclopedia turned to the next page.
"Katie, Luca has changed a lot," Lima said as they walked down the hospital corridor, shoulder to shoulder. Both women were tall and fashionable, drawing many admiring gazes as they passed, but they were used to it and didn't pay any attention.
"Yes, he has. He's become so brave, strong, optimistic, and positive. Nothing seems to break him now. This version of Luca is really cool. He's definitely my little brother," Kate said, stepping lightly in her white shoes, her mood visibly lifting.
"Katie, praising your own brother like that—isn't that a bit immodest?" Lima teased.
Kate gave her a sideways glance. "Aren't I also praising your boyfriend?"
"Oh, my dear Kate, thank you for the compliment!" Lima replied, playfully winking.
"Hmph, you little charmer!" Kate smacked Lima's hip, surprised by the firm bounce. She suddenly thought Luca was right to be concerned. He definitely couldn't handle any intense physical activity.
With a chuckle, Lima got into her Maserati sports car and left the hospital.
Kate took out her phone and answered a call.
"Nina, you're at Studio 3 in the Paul Building? I'll be there soon!"
She quickly started her Ferrari and headed toward the ad studio in the heart of Manhattan.
Luca was right—she was a model, and she needed to focus on her work.
There were only so many opportunities in the fashion world, and the competition was fierce. Every season, new faces emerged—new top models and supermodels.
If a model couldn't keep up, they'd be discarded like a used toothpick. Supermodels were no exception.
The new year had arrived, and so had the winter fashion weeks in January and February. It was a busy time, and she had to stay busy too, or risk being forgotten.
Before long, her car arrived at Times Square.
The square was bustling with people. The noise was like the sizzling of oil in a pan, and walking through the crowd, the chances of bumping into someone were nearly 100%.
Around the square, the billboards flashed with brilliant lights.
This was the most cutthroat battlefield in the fashion world.
Whoever could land more billboards was the number one in fashion.
Right now, those billboards were playing fashion ads featuring various celebrities and supermodels.
Julia Roberts' Cartier jewelry ad.
Jennifer Aniston's Tiffany bag ad.
Lima's Victoria's Secret lingerie ad.
Kate's Chanel No. 5 perfume ad.
But the most prominent model was Gisele Bündchen. She had taken over three billboards.
Kate threw a sharp middle finger at one of them, a Dior lipstick ad.
That Dior campaign had been hers. But after she broke up with Leonardo, Dior had handed the contract to Bündchen.
Bündchen's status had risen again, making her one of the highest-paid models in the industry. Not only had she become the top model in the Brazilian modeling group, but she had also taken the number one spot at Kate's modeling agency, IMG Models.
Kate raised her eyebrows, tossed her golden hair, and strode into the Paul Building with determination.
"Hi, Kate!"
As soon as she entered the studio area, she ran into the last person she wanted to see—Gisele Bündchen.
Wrapped in a fur coat, Gisele habitually raised her chin, swaying her hips as she exited the studio. She was followed by a large entourage: her agent, three assistants, brand representatives, a photographer, a makeup artist, and more.
By comparison, Kate felt a bit outnumbered.
"Hi, Gisele!" Kate waved her fingers in greeting, adding an extra flick of her middle finger for good measure. She greeted her coolly.
Though the two were rivals, they still kept up appearances as friendly colleagues from the same hometown.
"Kate, I heard you landed the new Lanvin Oxygen perfume campaign. Congrats!" Gisele said, walking up with a friendly tone.
Kate cursed inwardly.
Oxygen perfume was the worst of the campaigns she had recently booked, a tier below brands like Dior and Chanel, the elite "blue-blood" contracts.
In the supermodel world, top models only accepted high-end endorsements, exclusive runway shows, and invitations to VIP parties. The higher the profile of the job, the higher their value.
Accepting a mid-tier contract was like a Hollywood star wearing a cheap, off-the-rack dress to a red-carpet event—totally embarrassing.
Gisele's words might have sounded like praise, but they were really a dig at Kate for being desperate enough to take whatever job came her way.
Sure enough, the smirks on the faces of Gisele's agent and assistants showed their disdain.
Kate bit her lip, wanting to lash out, but Gisele's position was just too strong, with top-tier contracts across the board—nothing she could criticize.
"Gisele, I heard you're dating Leo now. Congrats!" Kate shot back.
"Thanks!" Gisele replied with a slightly stiff smile.
She and Leo had agreed to start dating publicly after he and Kate had broken up amicably. But Luca's unexpected interference had turned everything upside down.
Now, because of Luca's public outburst, she was seen as the third party, the one who had stolen her friend's boyfriend. Leo, in turn, was criticized for being unfaithful.
All thanks to that wretched Luca.
Gisele smirked, her lips curling up, "Kate, I heard Luca's career is taking off. He's on his way to becoming a top model, right? Congrats again!"
Kate raised an eyebrow. Why was this witch bringing up Luca? Had she seen today's news? Or worse, was she behind it?
This witch!
Kate pressed down on her heel, resisting the urge to stomp a three-inch-deep hole into Gisele's face.
"Kate, your photographer's ready," Nina said, arriving with two new assistants. The group was starting to clog up the hallway outside the studio.
"Gisele, thanks for asking about Luca. I'm sure he won't disappoint you," Kate said, flashing a brilliant smile before following Nina into the studio.
"Nina, did you see today's New York Post? Do you think Gisele was behind those stories?" Kate asked as she got her makeup done.
Nina shook her head. Kate was great in so many ways, but when it came to Luca, she always lost her cool. Anytime it involved him, she'd get flustered.
"Kate, Luca's situation is what it is. No matter what you do, you can't undo
the damage from the negative press. Right now, you should focus on your work," Nina advised, waving a hand for the assistants to help Kate change her clothes and shoes.
Kate frowned at her reflection in the mirror.
Was it really hopeless?
No!
There was still a way.
As long as Ed got hold of the security footage that showed Luca saving that person, there was still a chance to turn things around. What was happening with Ed right now?
(End of chapter)
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