Chapter 3 – Vivian
Oh, my God, this is really happening!
My mind was going crazy, and my heart was racing as I sat in the chair before the large mirror in the dressing room, staring at the beauty looking back at me. I could barely recognize my own reflection since there practically was no difference between me and the top Solenoir models in the room.
This is unbelievable.
The legendary Solenoir dressing room sure didn’t disappoint with its spacious yet intimate design, filled with racks of high-fashion garments lining the walls. The room, a bustling hub of activity, was overflowing with the electric energy of last-minute preparations as hairstylists, makeup artists, and the like were constantly in motion, moving about hastily. I could sense a mix of tension, anxiety, and confidence lingering in the air. Of course, I could sense that; I was giving off all energies simultaneously. Was that even possible? I hadn’t even been sure until now.
Hold on, scratch that. I was everything but confident; that was reserved for the professionals, and they had confidence oozing out of every pore.
There’s Helena!
I froze for a second as she walked in and took a seat somewhere behind me, which was cool because, that way, I could easily look at her through the mirror before me.
My God! She is gorgeous!
Helena was Solenoir’s most popular model, and I’d always admired her. I was tempted to go say hello, but I knew better.
I didn’t realize I was staring until she glanced in my direction.
Shit. I hope she didn’t catch me.
Quickly, I returned my gaze to the bright vanity lights surrounding the large mirrors in the room. These lights cast a warm, flattering glow on the stunning models, who were busy transforming into their runway personas.
Make-up artists and hairstylists moved around with practiced precision, applying finishing touches to the models’ looks: flawless complexions and intricate hairstyles.
I let out a soft sigh, listening to the soft hum of conversations that hovered in the air, blending with occasional outbursts of laughter. I needed to stay focused, but my head wouldn’t quiet, and my nostrils wouldn’t stop appreciating the faint aroma of perfume and hairspray.
“Calm down, Vivian. Take a deep breath,” I whispered to myself as I watched my reflection in the illuminated mirrors, my body buzzing with that familiar nervous yet excited energy.
I smiled, admiring the woman in the mirror.
My hair was elegantly piled on the top of my head—a testament to the hairstylist’s magic. The hair was done, but my face was still bare as I waited for my make-up artist.
It was like a dream from which I would wake soon, and I still hadn’t fully come to terms with what was happening.
Two days ago, this was impossible; I would never have imagined being in the same room with the top models of Solenoir.
My heart was beating really fast, just asking to burst from my ribcage, and I’d never been so nervous in my whole life.
I’d been nervous, waiting for the day to come, and training with Asher to improve my walk. My best friend, Tyler, was the only person I had to tell the news. He’d been overjoyed when I told him.
“You’re kidding, right?” He goggled, flashing his eyes at me in surprise.
“Nope! Fortunately, I’m not,” I replied with a laugh.
The moment he realized how serious I was, he yanked me up by the waist and spun around with me in his arms. I laughed.
He set me back down, a proud look evident in his gaze.
“This is good news, Viv,” he declared with a broad smile. “See? I told you, didn't I? You’d been wasting your talent behind that desk.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Ty. It’s just a one-time thing,” I corrected him, my laugh dying out.
“Still,” he pushed, “in my book, that's a win.” Tyler noticed my sudden shift in mood, and he walked closer. “Hey, what is it?” He raised my chin. “Why the long face?”
I exhaled sharply. “I’m just…I’m just nervous, you know.”
The slight pause came when I tossed myself on the couch, my face buried in my palms.
“You’re nervous?” He chuckled in disbelief. “You, Vivian Kennedy, the toughest girl that I know…are nervous . I never thought I’d live to see this day,” he teased, sitting beside me.
I laughed lightly.
“I’m serious, Ty.” I looked at him. “This is huge—I mean, like, really huge, and I have barely forty-eight hours to get ready.” I sighed. “What am I supposed to do when I get there on that day?” I gazed at him with furrowed brows, genuinely confused.
He pursed his lips and shrugged. “Well, you do what you do best…you slay. Pretend that you’re alone in your room. Pretend those faces in the crowd are nothing but fragments of your imagination.”
A smile crinkled at the corners of my lips as I thought of the memory, and just then, I heard Asher’s voice calling out to me.
“Kennedy!”
I glanced back in his direction, and there he was, searching for me.
“Where’s Kennedy?”
“I’m here!” I waved at him.
“There you are!” He walked over to meet me. “And you’re not ready yet. Are you kidding me?” he snapped, seeing that I had no make-up on, but I knew I wasn’t the one on the receiving end of his rage. “Where the fuck is Jennifer?!”
Jennifer was the make-up artist assigned to me, and by the look of things, she was in trouble.
The other make-up artists in the room exchanged glances, and some shrugged their shoulders nonchalantly.
“My God! She’ll be the death of me,” he mumbled to himself, slapping a palm against his forehead in frustration. “You!” He pointed at another makeup artist.
“Me?” She turned to him, taking a pause from the model’s face she was painting.
“Yes, you,” he replied. “It’s Bianca, right?”
She opened her mouth to answer, but he didn’t wait for her to respond.
“Leave whatever you’re doing and attend to Kennedy right this second,” he commanded.
The model whose face was being made up looked on, her jaw dropping in shock and disbelief.
“Be quick about it; she’s up in twenty minutes!” he barked.
She left instantly and hurried over to me.
Asher turned to me. “Are you ready?”
My heart skipped a beat at his question. I wasn’t ready at all. Maybe what I needed was a pep talk.
I was about to respond when he added, “Good. That’s perfect.”
He patted my shoulder and walked away. “Make sure she looks beautiful. And somebody should tell Jennifer that she’s fired!” He raised his voice on the last statement and exited the room.
“You don’t look like you’re ready,” Bianca told me as she began to perform her magic on my face.
“Honestly, I don’t think I am,” I sighed.
“Want my advice?” she asked, her hands moving with professional speed and accuracy.
She was now brushing beneath my lips, so I couldn't answer, but my silence told her I was listening.
She continued, “You’re beautiful, and if you weren’t good enough, Asher never would have hired you. So, when you get out there, remember how gorgeous you are, bask in your beauty, and move elegantly. You’ll be golden.”
Her words were the exact pills I needed for this anxiety that was threatening to drown me.
I inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly.
“Thank you.” I smiled at her.
“Anytime,” she replied, returning the grin.
She was right, and even the lady who had trained me rigorously for hours—almost throughout the entire day yesterday—had said I impressed her, given I had no training prior to that day.
I knew that I was good at this; I just had to overcome this anxiety and stage fright.
Sighing softly, I watched in the mirror, the sight of my own reflection gradually transforming under Bianca’s skillful hands.
“And…done,” Bianca declared when she was finished with my makeup. “Now, that’s true beauty right there.” She beamed.
In the mirror, I caught a glimpse of Asher poking his head through the door.
“She’s up in five!” he announced.
“She’s ready!” Bianca replied. Then, she leaned to whisper to my ear, “Get dressed.”
Quickly, I rushed out of my chair and stepped into my outfit—a stunning creation that hugged me in all the right places. The dress made me feel both powerful and elegant.
I peered at Bianca, and she smiled encouragingly, giving me a subtle nod. As I exited the dressing room, the murmur of the crowd beyond the curtains grew louder, and so did the sound of my beating heart.
“You look pretty,” Asher said as he approached from behind.
I turned to him, struggling to hide my anxiety. I knew he could sense my nervousness, but somehow, he believed I would do just fine, even though he’d never actually said those words.
“It’s time,” he said after the announcer’s voice boomed through the building. “Now, get out there.”
He patted my shoulder.
I inhaled deeply as the curtains parted and the bright lights shone on my face. This was my cue.
Here goes nothing.
I stepped out on the runway, struggling with the fright and anxiety that turned my stomach and made my limbs wobble, and in a split second, I was convinced I was going to flop. Beams of lights and flashing cameras created a dazzling sea before me, and I was almost overwhelmed with tension.
Tyler’s words and Bianca's encouragement replayed in my head, and immediately, I got a hold of myself, triumphing over my fears as I slipped back into what I knew best.
Like a pageant queen, I graced the runway, sashaying my way with my most charming look. A few seconds into the walk, I was already feeling confident; my body was moving exactly as I wanted it to. The experience was exhilarating— thrilling —and I was lost in my performance.
Not bad. Not bad at all, Viv.
As I continued down the runway, my focus was ahead, and I tried as much as possible to avoid eye contact with anyone. In my mind, this was my room, and I was the only one present.
However, while walking, I noticed a pair of dashing brown eyes in the crowd, forcing me to look in that direction.
Fuck!
Focus, Vivian. He’s just a man.
A really hot one!
Focus!
The wild girl inside me and my voice of reasoning argued, but I couldn’t deny the fact that he was gorgeous.
His dark hair was neatly combed back, framing a face with intimidating light brown eyes. He looked like he was thirty or within that age range—older but handsome, maybe even dangerous, judging by the serious look on his face. Looking closer, I realized that his shoulders were broad, and his meticulously dry-cleaned suit exuded wealth.
Girl, I think he’s looking at you.
No way. Fuck! He is.
All of this happened in seconds, and truly, the man was staring at me. It was distracting, but I had to stay focused. I couldn’t understand his attention, but he had his eyes fixed on me. Of course, everyone else did, but there was something different about the way he watched me.
The aura coming from him was rather dangerous, and I figured that he might be a bad boy of some sort, even though he was most definitely not a boy. He was a man. A full-grown man. I’d always been attracted to his type. But at this point in my life, men like him were the least of my problems.
Our eyes met again for a split second, and I watched him smirk, a hand gently stroking his chiseled jaw. He was the only one that I could see in the crowd.
The man’s gaze was mesmerizing, but this wasn’t the time to dwell on such thoughts. I was on a job, and I had to focus.
Maybe I would see him again some other time.
I stole one last glance at him and found that he still had his eyes fixed on me.
I continued my walk, oblivious to everyone else.