C7 Show-stopper

"Lighten up already. Why are you in a sullen mood!?" When I met Sarah, she easily detected what I was keeping in me. Uncle Max was a pretty laid-back person and advised me to look forward to the future instead of dwelling on the past.

But a thought that still poked my heart and mind was:

My hard work was stolen, and things like this had never occurred to me. That damn Atkinson.

I will scratch his handsome face if I see him ever smirking at me again.

"You don't know what happened to me this weekend," I grumbled. It was a happy-sad situation I was in.

"It's my show, Vicky! I'll not be able to focus if you remain sad." Sarah exclaimed, her eyes large.

Sighing, I got up and grabbed her shoulders, standing right in front of her. She was cute when she tried to look taller than me. She was 5'4 and I was 5'6.

"Alright, Sarah, I'll try to be positive." I showed a small smile. Sarah was my best friend and she invited me here. I should support her instead of spoiling the great atmosphere.

"Wait! I have a perfect way to make a smile emerge on this gorgeous face."

"And what's that?" Amused, I raised an eyebrow at her mischievous expression.

"Clothes and jewellery, silly!" Sarah giggled. She had been obsessed with dresses and practically everything which counted as fashion since young.

Seeing those pretty models walking on the ramp, she would say, "One day, they would be walking on the ramp for me. I will tell them when to start and when to stop."

Laughing, the group would reply, "How would people listen to you when you don't even like to raise your hand to the teacher for the answer you know?"

"Hmph, just you all wait. I'll be the most famous fashion designer in the whole country. People would kill for me to design their clothes."

"Vicky!" Sarah's voice brought me back to reality.

"Make me happy first, though! Only then I will return the gesture."

"Alright, my best friend, Sarah Miller is the best fashion designer I know," I said, making Sarah laugh again.

Suddenly, she clasped her hands together, her eyes excited as she dragged me towards the glass closet, "Like it?"

"Yeah." I was fascinated. Such a pretty gown would only be in those barbie movies I used to watch when I was young.

"Since you like it... I have decided. You're gonna be my show-stopper!"

"No." I declined without flinching. I was not into fashion or either a professional model. I was a CEO for god's sake!

"B-But–"

"Come on, Vicky! The model I hired has not arrived yet. She was the one who had to be worked on the most. If she came now, she would not be able to exhibit the true purpose of this dress."

"Sarah–"

"Please, for me, Vicky... You are perfect for this dress and you would be able to balance out the aura I want. That, I'm sure about. Not everyone can do it." Sarah grabbed my hands, making me sigh. "When I made this dress, it was you who I visualized."

It was difficult to look at her when she kept making those eyes at me.

Sarah knew this would always work on me.

Victoria Ford, the 23-year-old CEO of the Empire Group of Industries. The woman who had come to like her work and the reputation she had built over all these years. Some said I was greedy. Some said I was cunning.

I was not perfect and neither did I ever try to be.

I was myself.

And here Sarah thought I was suitable for this perfect fairytale dress.

"Okay, Sarah... Where's the room I'm gonna have my make-up first?"

"Great! I have got the perfect beauty for me!"

Sighing, I followed her.

I better not regret it.

Quickly I was led to an enormous makeup room where the two make-up artists helped me.

They were more than happy to have me as their model than the previous model who had not appeared up till now. They said she was extremely arrogant.

They even praised me for having good skin that they did not need to work tirelessly on me like others.

The loud announcement of the show started and the staff became attentive and vigorous.

The models were pretty exhilarated. Lots of investors, directors, and big shots had come only to watch this show.

Sarah had finally done it.

I hope everything goes well.

"Please give us a sec, Ma'am. We have to see other models too."

"Sure," I nodded. One by one, models began to move out of the room, leaving me alone.

I watched myself in the mirror and grinned. My mood lightened. I would not say I was surprised to see myself appearing pretty.

But I would certainly say this was not the style I generally opted for, so I felt different today. I... felt young.

Jewellery and dresses are truly the best friends of women and know how to make them happy.

Wearing the gown I twirled like a princess when I heard a shutter sound.

I turned around to see a smiling Ben with his arms crossed after he had put the mobile back in his suit pocket.

"Ben?" I asked foolishly, even though I knew who he was.

"Not gonna hug me?"

"Of course, I will. Come here!" Chuckling, I went toward him grabbing my dress. "Wait, I'm coming there."

Ben laughed as well as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I missed you."

"I missed you, too. How have you been?"

"Functioning," Ben murmured as his grip on me tightened. "Those old geezers won't let youngsters like us breathe if we don't listen to what they say."

Ben had been busy with his company for a while. As soon as he finished studying business, he took over the company.

Benjamin Rodriguez was a gorgeous person from both his face and heart. We had always fought for the first spot in our classes together. Growing up, he realised he could not beat me and he would always be the second.

A lot of times, I say, our friends tried to set us up but both Ben nor I felt 'those emotions' for each other, so all their attempts went in vain. We were best friends who took advice from each other.

"You don't need to listen to those greedy old guys anymore. Just gain power by befriending the sincere ones and become the sole decision-maker in the panel. No one will dare mess with you."

We parted and I saw him smiling.