Chapter 37: The red carpet

Brielle's POV

The time for the runway competition was fast approaching. Invited guests had already begun flooding the red carpet and flashes of camera lights stung my eyes every now and then as I crossed from one end of the venue to another. I was not even going to lie; being a model was stressful, yet I was not the one passing through changing different combinations of looks.

According to what Hera had told me, the competition was a bit of who rocked the best overall freestyle look in all three categories. The first was an African style of dressing; the second was about a combination of modern wear with anything from the eighties; and lastly something futuristic.

"Brielle, I forgot my futuristic clothes in the car. Please help me go and get it!" Hera said, sending me on an errand for the third time this evening.

I groaned. "Hera! Can you just send me everything once?"

"Oh dear I'm sorry but please," she said, stressing the last word. Her eyes were shut as the make-up artist worked on her face transforming her into looking like the African part she was to portray.

"Fine, but this is the last errand I'm running for you!" I said, succinctly.

I was about to cross the red carpet for the umpteenth time this evening, but this time, I was heading towards the parking lot to get Hera's clothes.

The camera flashed once again, disrupting my vision, but as I opened up my eyes, I locked my gaze with that of Javier Sparacio. To be honest his appearance had changed and he looked a whole lot better looking than I remembered him.

"Hey Brielle! What a lovely surprise," Javier said with a smile. He was dressed in smart casual wear and a camera hung over his neck. The first three buttons of his short sleeves were undone.

"Hello Javier, it's been a while and you look wow, stunning!" I replied, but tried my best to make it sound like a regular comment. His hand ran the full course of his hair as he flashed me a grin. I noticed that the bulge in his biceps had become bigger and his chest expanded in full view of me.

"Yes, I had to take a while to refocus on myself," he said coolly. "You look stunning as well."

"Wow okay that's nice," I said, fidgeting with the hem of my dress. "So I'll see you after the event right?"

"Well of course Brielle, see you later then."

I walked away without another word and went to the parking lot where my car was and fetched Hera's clothes. Javier had talked to me and looked directly into my eyes. His tone was totally in control. We had only been incommunicado for just two months. I thought significant changes in people happened in a longer period than that!

Javier was amongst the photographers who captured the runway models as they walked stylishly in their fashionable clothes. I saw Hera coming walking down. She was indeed looking like an African princess.

She posed for the audience. Her hands cupped her waist, one of her legs stood in front of the other as she tilted her head upwards smiling. Javier bent down and captured her. Even during a crucial moment like this, Hera still managed to give him a scow and the reason was because she did not like him. lShe turned back and walked away.

"Wow, is it just me or did Hera just give that sexy photographer a scowl?" Ona asked and I laughed.

"That photographer's name is Javier and he is a friend of mine," I told her. "He's hotter now I guess. He was once head over heels for me!"

"Oh really? That's nice."

"Yeah but then he was a douchebag," I said, still feeling dazed by Javier's transformation. The way he had spoken to me earlier! those little gestures that exhumed confidence in a man; the look of someone in control of his feelings, looked very appealing to me.

"Hmm, hard to believe that he was one!" Ona said, eyeing him desperately. Gosh she was such a whore. I was starting to think both of my friends are.

"Are you falling for him?" I asked Ona, sounding surprised.

"Well he's hot god damnit! A one night stand with him wouldn't be such a bad idea," she said.

"But you love Enrique!" I said, stressing on the name.

"I love Enrique," she replied calmly, "but he's not here at the moment and my pussy is throbbing."

"Does that make it okay to cheat?" I asked, my tone was laced with incredulity.

She rolled her eyes and her tongue. "Well, yes, it is. Haven't you heard yet?"

"Heard what Ona?" I asked, narrowing down my eyes to her in complete focus.

"The five hundred miles rule!"

I looked lost. "What are the five hundred miles rule?"

"Whenever you are five hundred miles or more from your home or traveling alone without your other half then your actions are your own and you can not be held accountable for them."

"So it's okay to cheat if I and Jace are separated five hundred miles?" I said, getting some filthy ideas. I immediately banished the idea from my head.

Nope, it's no longer called cheating if you are covered under the "Five Hundred Mile Rule... so you're all good."

"I don't believe you, Ona, this just sounds like something you made up just now as an excuse to bring out the whore in you."

She laughed. "If you don't believe me, then maybe you'll feel the internet. I swear I didn't make up the rule. It's been around for ages. You can abide by it once you get to know it."

"I'll pass," I said vehemently, determined not to be whored along with this whore even if I was one myself.

"Hmm really? So you're determined to keep your pussy for one man. Do you think Jace is keeping his dick-"

I flashed her a warning glare and she burst out with laughter. "Don't talk about my man like that."

"Oh I'm so sorry," I said. "My man, then marry him and prove it."

"What?"

"Jace is nobody's man until you're both wed."

There came Hera again for the second time tonight. Her outfit looked super cute. The combination of the old and modern wear dazed me though. I thought inwardly that nobody in their right minds would go out in such a manner looking like Lady Gaga from the eighties.

Hera also does this with her hips, and the crowd goes wild. Again, Javier is there to capture every moment of her performance. Right there on stage she flashed him a back off stare but he looked calm.

"Did you see that? Oh my goodness what's up with Hera!" Ona asked in annoyance. "Why is she being mean to the photographer on stage?"

"Yeah I guess I omitted one fact about Javier and Hera," I said, wishing Hera had not done what she did. It was going to ruin her competition if she kept being distracted by her hatred for Javier.

"What fact are you talking about?"

"Hera has always felt a strong dislike for Javier," I said.

"Well, I don't care how strong her dislike for him is! She is spoiling everything at the moment. We should totally go and speak to her about it."

"Is that allowed?" I said, watching Hera disappear.

"Yes, there's a twenty five minutes break before they make their last appearance for tonight."

I grabbed my things and followed Ona. Owning to her words, the audience began to go rise up and walk about. It was not just us that we were seeing moving anymore.

Light refreshments were passed around by servers, but this was just a basic appetizer. The real food would be served later during the dinner party and would be served along with cocktails. Hera had explained it all to us. 

They were dressing up Hera in futuristic wear and I felt pity for her. She was like a walking mannequin. The way they prodded her with eye pencils, lipsticks and every makeup made me thank God that I lived a very ordinary natural looking life. Hera opened up her eyes to see us staring at her.

Hera smiled and said, "Thanks for being here guys, just one more to go! How is my performance?"

"And that's why we are here!" Ona snapped.

Hera gasped. "Am I not getting it right?"

"You are, but you fuck things up with the way you look at photographer... come on, Brielle... What's the guy's name again?" Ona said, snapping her fingers at my face.

"Javier, his name is Javier!" I said.

"Ah yes, that's it!" Ona said emphatically. "Brielle tells me that you don't like him but can you please do us a favor? Don't let him get into your head!"

"Ah! I don't think I can help it!" Hera said irritatedly.

"Why? Is it because he's hot and you're not?" Ona questioned, looking for trouble.

Hera asked the woman who was making her up to pause with a wave of her hand.

"You must be stupid if you think Javier is hot! He's disgusting to be very honest and don't be unfortunate or fooled by his new looks Ona. Brielle and I have known him for long and he is a mess."

"Thanks for the unpopular opinion, Hera but I have the brain to think for myself and I'll be the judge of character when I engage him," Ona said, clucking her tongue at the end of her sentence.

"Suit yourself! He's all yours, but you'll regret it if Enrique finds out," Hera said. The woman indicated to her that time was running out and she let her continue her job.

"Hera please just don't let your strong feelings for Javier get in the way of things in this last round," I said, in a soft tone. "Chances are that the judges would note whatever it is we are noting."

"Okay Brielle, I'll try not to look in his general direction!" Hera said.

After the competition, Javier walked down to our table where we were seated. I knew that he was coming to get me. The way he walked with dominance excited and marveled me. He held a glass of cocktail in one hand as he took gracious strides towards us. Hera was already glaring at him.

"Ladies, good evening!" he said in a deep voice. I could see the stretchy flaps of skin in his throat that vibrated to make the sound.

"Hi handsome," Ona said, and he flashed her a one sided smile. Hera gave a grunt of disapproval.

"Well hello gorgeous," he replied, turning his attention back to me. "Brielle, can I have a moment of your time please?"

"Alright, excuse me guys!" I said, jumping up.

"Javier, can I have yours too?" Ona asked.

He tilted his glass towards her as if to do a cheers with her and winked. "Well, I'll be back in a minute, and you can have all my time."

The fact that he was catching Ona's signal and not airing her but rather giving her equal vibes made me rather jealous. For a guy who would not so much as look at another woman in my presence before he was all of a sudden bold enough to flirt with one. As we strolled together, Javier earned stares from even some of the models.

"You've changed a lot Javier," I remarked, finally unable to hide what I was feeling.

"Really? Hope it's a good one?" he said, chuckling lightly.

"Yeah, I like you better this way."

"Hmm, I guess I like me too. So are you still working with Jace Leon?"

"Yeah I am and-" I hesitated.

"And what Brielle? I know that you two are dating," he said calmly. I looked at him but his face did not register the usual hurt it used to have at moments like this. It was like he had killed his feelings for me.

"Oh okay then," I said.