Free Web NovelChapter 40: The Pearl Revealed
Caspian had arranged a selection of dresses for me, and he’d personally picked one himself. Gold patterned and strapless, white lining underneath, the design sweeping across the fabric like strokes from an ink painting. The second I put it on, something in the room shifted. It carried a strong eastern energy, and against my figure, my waist, the length of my legs, it pulled out a kind of classic femininity I’d nearly forgotten I still had.
Caspian came up behind me, pressing his chest to my back and wrapping his arms around my waist like he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.
"You look like a piece of art," he said quietly.
"That’s because you have good taste." I meant it more than it probably sounded. He’d known about Secret’s Oriental Trend theme. He’d known they’d written me off as a newcomer. So he’d chosen this dress on purpose, a quiet, elegant statement that said passing on her was your mistake.
"Why do you have to be a model at all?" He rested his chin on my shoulder. "I’d rather just keep you to myself."
"Look who’s talking." I laughed. "Don’t think I forgot Iris nearly lost her mind at the sight of you at the airport." I tipped my head back to look at him. "Relax. We’re the only two people allowed to put our hands on each other."
"Obviously." He turned me around gently and kissed me in front of the mirror, slow and unhurried. Over his shoulder I could see my own reflection, watched my expression shift under his mouth. His kiss always did that to me, and knowing it belonged to nobody else was something I felt every single time, deep enough that even the thought of it being otherwise made my chest go tight.
"That’s enough, I’m going to be late," I said, warmth spreading across my face as I gently pushed him back.
"When you get home, find a way to make it up to me," he said, letting me go with visible reluctance.
I leaned up and kissed his ear. "You can have whatever you want."
The photography exhibition started at seven inside one of the city’s converted outdoor parks. I timed my arrival carefully, not too early, not too late. By the time I handed over my invitation and stepped inside, the space was already full of familiar faces, and among them, exactly where I’d hoped, was my mentor, Ms. Bertha.
The crowd leaned elegant and largely western, and I was the only one in an oriental mini dress, so the contrast landed immediately. Heads turned. Eyes followed, including, I noticed, the eyes of the one person I hadn’t expected to run into so soon. Mina, the editor from Secret who’d rejected me that very morning.
She approached with a champagne glass and an expression somewhere between amused and condescending. "I didn’t think you’d follow me all the way here just for a shot at our cover."
"I think you’ve misunderstood, Miss Mina," I said pleasantly.
"I don’t think so. You knew our theme was Oriental Trend, dressed accordingly, and showed up here on purpose." She looked me over. "Unfortunately, once I make a decision, I don’t reverse it." She added, almost as an afterthought, "President Liam also mentioned you have a difficult personality. Based on what I’m seeing right now, he wasn’t wrong."
"I’ve already told you, my being here has nothing to do with Secret," I said, letting my voice carry just far enough to reach the woman standing a few steps behind her.
"You really put in the effort tonight. No wonder Iris warned me to watch out for you."
"Miss Mina, you really do think highly of yourself." I let that land, then let my gaze drift past her entirely. Standing just behind her was Bertha, mid conversation with a small group, now staring at me with wide, suddenly emotional eyes.
I smiled. "Mentor."
Bertha crossed the distance and pulled me into a warm embrace without a second’s hesitation. "Oh, my precious dear. It’s been far too long. How have you been?"
"I’ve been good. But mentor, I have a problem," I said, keeping my voice calm.
She pulled back and looked between me and Mina, clearly having overheard something on her way over. "What is all this?"
Mina went rigid. I hadn’t come chasing after her magazine cover at all. I actually knew the editor of Royal Magazine, and not just knew her, we were close, the kind of close that didn’t get faked, and I could see the realization landing on her face in real time.
I didn’t hold back. I walked Bertha through the whole thing plainly, from the wrong meeting time to the dismissal that morning. By the time I finished, her expression had shifted from confusion to something a lot sharper. She turned on Mina without softening a word of it.
"This is exactly why your magazine’s been struggling. How dare you reject my precious girl and choose a B grade model instead, and feel proud of yourself while you did it. Do you have any idea how many awards Kira picked up walking runways in France?"
"She... isn’t she a newcomer?" Mina barely got the words out.
"She walked Master Bonne’s finale. She was seventeen years old. You were still nobody back then." Bertha pulled me close again, an arm around my shoulders. "My precious, don’t let this get to you. Whatever cover you want, name it, and it’s yours."
Mina watched us walk away without a word. I could feel her eyes on my back the whole time, and I could already picture what was probably running through her head, the slow realization that she’d let herself get talked into throwing away something rare. She’d tossed the pearl and kept the box, and something in her stillness told me she knew it.
I turned Bertha’s offer down gently. As we walked further into the exhibition I told her everything that had happened over the past few years, piece by piece. She listened without interrupting.
"Mentor, I know exactly where I stand right now. I want to earn it back one step at a time, the way it’s supposed to be done. Thank you for the offer, truly."
"My precious, the most important thing in life is knowing what you actually want." She nodded slowly. "It’s never too late to start over."
"Thank you, mentor."
She looked me over, warmth in her eyes. "Look at you. You stand out in this whole crowd without even trying. You haven’t changed one bit."
I smiled, genuinely humbled by it. I’d always believed there were people out there with far more talent than me, and that belief kept me grounded. Praise never sat easily on me.
When the exhibition wound down, Bertha arranged for someone to walk me out. I’d barely reached the car when I heard quick footsteps behind me. Mina came rushing out and planted herself in front of the vehicle to stop it.
"Can I have five minutes?"
"What’s left to talk about?" I asked, even.
"If you agree to shoot our cover, name whatever you want. I’ll make sure it happens."
I looked at her through the window, my voice casual with an edge running underneath it. "Even if it means going against Iris? I’m a vengeful person, Miss Mina."
"I already said it. Whatever you ask, no matter the cost, I’ll deliver it."
"Then I’ll wait to see some sincerity from you first." I rolled the window up and told the driver to go.
Iris, I thought quietly as the car pulled away, tomorrow you’re going to find out that everything just changed.
