บท 10: Blood of the Night
On one cold night, a supermodel in a certain part of City S was emerging from her bathtub when the sound 'You have a message, boss' reverberated inside the bathroom. Her eyes blinked before walking towards the sink. Her fingers glided against the screen of her tablet. Opening the attachment, the supermodel almost dropped her tablet on the tiles if not for her good reflex. Putting the tablet back on the sink, the supermodel changed into a shirt and jogging pants before going out of her apartment.
In another part of City S, a certain actress' body was being worshipped by her lover. The duo's moans floated in the air, which will definitely make anyone's blood rush to their face if they can hear them. All of a sudden, the actress' mobile phone vibrated. The actress, who was on all fours on the bed, extended her hand to reach for the phone. Beads of sweat marred her bare face as her lover do his job of satisfying her.
With one hand supporting her weight and the other holding the phone, the actress read the message. As she read it, the strength deserted her hand and half of her body fell on the bed, starting from her face. The bed muffled the sound that escaped from her mouth.
"Ugh," she groaned. "Stop," she separated her body from her lover.
"What the hell?" The man squinted in his naked glory at the foot of the bed.
"I need to do something important," the actress said as she scrambled for her clothes that were scattered on the floor. Wearing her sleeveless blouse and distressed jeans, she combed her hair with her hand.
"Something important than me?" The man glared at the actress who did not spare him even a glance. He pressed his lips together and continued. "I tell you, if you go out of the door, you'll never see me again. You'll regret this."
The actress shrugged her shoulders. "Well, if I didn't do this, I am sure I will regret this." Seizing her bag from the side table, she eyed the man from head to toe before raising the corner of her lips. "Don't forget to close the door when you leave," she headed to the door in large strides before vanishing into the night. The man was left hanging. Literally and figuratively.
Meanwhile, in one of the units at Octagon Hotel, a woman with calm countenance was seated facing the glass wall. Outside, the whole of City S provided a distraction from the darkness that shrouded the surroundings. Her lips formed a thin line as her hands clutched tightly on her tablet. The warm hand that covered her shoulders pulled her away from thoughts no one could fathom. She looked up and saw one of the most eligible bachelors in Country C.
The man's dark eyes glimmered with kindness as he observed his sister. "What's with the sad face, sis?"
Chang Lianna grabbed her brother's hand gently, bringing it to her cheek. She smiled as she closed her eyes. "I am not sad."
The man raised his eyebrow. "You need to lie better." Pulling his hand, he crouched in front of her, looking straight into her green eyes. "What is it?"
Pouting her lips, Chang Lianna handed her tablet to her brother. She really can't lie flawlessly in front of him. A line appeared on his brother's forehead as he accepted the tablet. The screen of the tablet displayed an electronic card, impressing anyone with the black and silver intricate lines that decorated the four sides.
Written in papyrus font, the card read 'You are invited to the pre-launching of NU Campaign in collaboration with the Li Textile. Proceed to the City S Town square before 11:11 to confirm your attendance.'
At the bottom part of the card, in smaller font read 'Representative is allowed. See you there.' He looked back at his sister. "Nu Campaign? As in NU C? The famous bikini line?"
Chang Lianna nodded. Her brother stared at her face before glancing at her legs which was covered in a thick blanket. She pressed her lips together as she wrung the hands in her lap. "What? I can't wear bikini now?"
The man shook his head as he stood up. "I didn't say that. Come, I'll bring you there."
"Really?" Chang Lianna's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Her hands reached for her brother's, squeezing it. Her brother didn't answer. Instead, he went behind his sister and pushed her wheelchair towards the door.
At the City S Square, Li Chanying was inside a black SUV with Li Nuxie. Her jaw went slack as she watched some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry and in City S arrived one by one. Gone were the glamorous and influential people. Standing in front of the SUV were people who wanted to get the first dibs on the latest NU C designs. After all, it was only every two years that NU C launched its collection.
Li Chanying glanced at her cousin. As usual, her eyes were closed but she was fully aware of the things around her. Among them, there was only one person who can order these people at her whim in ten minutes. And she was sitting beside Li Chanying.
"Close your mouth, Li Chanying. Flies might go in," a woman's voice said followed by a melodious laugh.
Li Chanying turned her head at the driver's seat and glared at the woman. "Shut up, Hong Chi. You're just a driver."
Hong Chi just threw her head back as she looked at the digital clock near the steering wheel.
"Both of you, shut it. You're making my head hurts," Li Nuxie butt in. Both women closed their mouth immediately. "Hong Chi, go out of the car as soon as the clock strikes 11 pm."
"Okay, boss."
"Ying, you know what to do," Li Nuxie said, her eyes still closed.
"Anytime," Li Chanying reached for her laptop and opened it. As her fingers flew over the keyboard, the laptop screen revealed nine partitions which showed the different areas in City S.
Li Nuxie glanced at her wrist watch. Five to eleven. She checked the headset carefully hidden behind her hair. Putting on a black mask that only showed her eyes, she put the hood over her head and went down of the car.
As soon as the door of the black SUV opened, the chatter among the people who were lounging around the town square has died now. Some were wringing their hands while others were trying to lift their head to see the person behind the famed NU Campaign. They never expected the person who greeted them.
"Hong Chi?" The people gaped at the woman who went out of the car. Hong Chi was the person behind NU C?
Li Nuxie roamed her eyes. There were approximately twenty people. Out of five hundred thousand people who were given invitation, only twenty showed up. She curled her lips. This is interesting, she mused. From where she stood, she can see Song Ru the supermodel and Guan Min the actress. Both were influential in their own field. RuRu as she widely known has already walked the runway of Victoria's Secret while Mimi won the best actress in the recently concluded Shu Awards, movie category. The others were so-so but one can never know. They will still be crucial in her plan.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen. Surprise?" Hong Chi crossed her arms as she greeted the crowd. Wearing a black hoodie and loose pants, she looked so different from the Hong Chi people knew.
"You're the person behind NU C?" A woman from the crowd raised her hand, hoping to be noticed.
Hong Chi just smiled. "Whether I am or otherwise is not the point. The point is, are you ready to take on the challenge?"
The people murmured with each other. Some have their brows furrowed.
"What do you mean?" RuRu asked her.
"Do you really think you'll be invited to the pre-launch just because you showed up here?" Hong Chi raised an eyebrow. NU C was known for its unconventional ways of selling its designs. This pre-launch was not an exemption.
"Then let's stop wasting our time and go on with it," Mimi interjected. Others nodded. Under the streetlights that illuminated the town square, their eyes glinted with excitement.
Hong Chi glanced at her wrist watch before handing out black envelopes among the participants. "Those envelopes are track by chips. Lose everything tonight but not that envelope."
The crowd examined their envelopes curiously.
"The challenge will start at 11:11 pm. You have six hours to finish it. Don't worry, all of you will get whatever is due for you as long as you finish it."
"We want to know the first prize," a man from the crowd echoed the sentiments of each and every one.
Hong Chi tilted her head. A man wearing black suit came forward pushing a cart. On it was life-size box covered in a black cloth. The crowd held its breath in anticipation. Hong Chi walked towards the box and pulled the covering. Loud gasps escaped from the crowd, especially the women. RuRu even put her hand over mouth as she stared wide-eyed on the glass box.
The box was made of glass and inside was a mannequin wearing the latest NU C design. It was a two-piece bikini in maroon that glittered against the street lights. The mannequin was also wearing a cover up but the crowd didn't pay attention to it. The bikini was all they want.
The bikini was knitted. It has loops in the middle that covered the midriff area. The loops were interwoven with Swarovski crystals.
Hong Chi was expecting their reactions. It's just the bikini. They haven't seen the highlight yet, she thought.
"The truth is, that's not the main highlight," Hong Chi interrupted their daydreaming. "The main highlight is this," she signaled the man to turn the box around.
Mimi screamed when she saw the back of the mannequin. "Oh, my goodness, please tell me that's not the work of Xie?" She threw Hong Chi a glance as her hands closed and opened after a while.
"That's Xie's work?" RuRu's hands went to her face which was devoid by color. The cover up was black in color and was hand painted with a woman dancing under the stars. The stars were made of small diamonds that twinkled against the artificial light.
"Indeed, it is. The pre-launch will showcase the collaboration of NU C, Li Textile, and Xie. This is the Blood of the Night."
The crowd fell silent. There's only one thing inside their mind. They must get the prize no matter what.
As Hong Chi's wrist watch hit 11:11 she blew a whistle. "Let the challenge begin."
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Yuinavarro
Yuinavarro Hello, I'm really sorry for the late update. Super busy at our office right now. Anyway, here's an update.
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