"God, you're really on the wrong side of the runway, Thea." Julie's voice broke through the ambient chatter of the studio as I shifted my position, my arms extended in a dramatic pose.

I giggled, switching to all fours on the plush velvet carpet, inching forward, my body fluidly responding to the upbeat song I couldn't quite place. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. This wasn't my world.

"You're a natural. Look at you!" Julie's words were half-joking, but there was a sincerity to her praise that made me feel both ridiculous and oddly flattered. The photographer, a lanky guy with an air of indifference, simply shrugged, a look on his face that seemed to say, 'She's right, though'.

"I think I'm fine where I am, Julie," I replied, leaning back against the shiny red disco ball. It was a gaudy centerpiece, just like the dress Julie had forced me into—deep red glitter, heavier than anything I'd ever worn, with the tiniest beads of sweat clinging to my collarbones like they were destined to stay there.

One hand shot into the air in a dramatic pose, the flash of the camera flickering again.

Julie huffed, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "I want to see you in the limelight, honey. Not stuck behind a bunch of boxes, blending into the shadows."

I shrugged. "But I like the behind-the-scenes stuff." I honestly did. The frantic world of fashion shows, models strutting down runways, and cameras snapping every five seconds never felt like it was for me. I was far more comfortable sketching designs, working with fabric, and perfecting a collection from the comfort of my design studio. I wasn't cut out to be in front of the camera.

Besides, I was only filling in for Mila, who had somehow managed to twist her ankle in the middle of this madness.

"Thank God for that," Julie muttered, half-laughing. "Mila's loss is your gain, Thea. Look at you." She waved at me, a dramatic gesture that took in my entire glitter-covered form. "This is mind-blowing. Can you imagine? You, on the runway, commanding the stage?"

I smiled at her enthusiasm, humoring her as best I could. "Maybe in another life."

Julie raised an eyebrow at me as though my words were a challenge, but before she could push me further, a gust of wind from the large industrial fans hit me square in the face, sending the glitter that clung to my skin spiraling through the air like confetti. That's when I saw her.

Elise.

She strode through the doors, a confident smirk on her lips as she walked toward me, with Conrad and Miles following closely behind her.

In an instant, the carefree atmosphere of the photoshoot melted away. My self-consciousness spiked like a needle to the heart. I stood frozen, eyes darting over my own appearance. Red glitter everywhere. My dress—so heavy and long it seemed like it would trip me at any moment—swished with each step I took. My hair, styled in a wet, tousled look, looked far too deliberate for my taste. And the makeup? Red glitter. Everywhere. It looked like a disco ball and a Christmas ornament had collided and left me as the aftermath.

"Damn girl!" Elise exclaimed as she hopped toward me, her bright, infectious laugh cutting through the air. "You look gorgeous." She winked, though my attention was drawn immediately to Conrad.

He stood behind her, those sharp, predatory eyes fixed on me, analyzing every inch of my glittering form. A shiver of discomfort ran up my spine. His gaze felt like it was peeling away the layers of me, stripping me down in a way that made me both uneasy and inexplicably... alive.

Conrad's expression remained neutral, though I caught the slightest twitch of his lips—a frown, perhaps, or something else I couldn't quite place. A hint of disapproval? Or maybe it was just his usual, unreadable mask. I couldn't tell.

I shifted uncomfortably, and a pang of self-doubt sliced through my thoughts. Was he disgusted by me? By this ridiculous glitter-covered mess I was wearing? The longer his gaze lingered on me, the more I started to feel like an imposter in my own skin.

Miles and Conrad moved closer to the photographer, who was busy positioning me for one last shot. Julie instructed me to hold one last pose, but I couldn't help but feel distracted. I couldn't shake the feeling that Conrad was still watching me, his eyes never leaving my body. Each second he studied me only heightened my unease.

In that moment, I miscalculated my footing. The back of my pencil heel caught on the edge of the gold-framed carpet. My breath hitched, and before I could catch myself, I was falling— and I was falling fast.

Everything slowed down. I heard Julie's voice, strained with horror, as if she were about to scream. Elise's arms shot forward instinctively, her handbag slipping from her grasp, hitting the floor with a loud thud. My eyes shut tightly, bracing for impact, praying to whatever gods existed that Julie's precious dress didn't get ruined in the process.

But just before I collided with the ground, I felt strong arms wrap around me, lifting me effortlessly. I recognized those hands the second they touched my skin. My hands instinctively snaked around Conrad's neck, pulling myself up like I was a vine wrapped around a branch. His body was solid, a wall of muscle, and I was too stunned to notice how close we were, how our bodies were pressed together.

The glitter from my skin rained down onto the carpet like crimson snow, and I could hear Julie's voice, now more amused than concerned. "Well, well, well... looks like we're getting some nice shots here."

From the corner of my eye, I caught Elise's approving nod. The photographer's camera flashed again, capturing the moment as Conrad held me just above the ground, my arms still wrapped shamelessly around his neck.

Startled by the camera flash, Conrad immediately set me back on my feet. As we pulled apart, I couldn't help but cringe. His crisp white shirt was now speckled with red glitter, tiny flecks clinging to the fabric like tiny rebellious stars.

"I—" I began, but the words got caught in my throat. "I'm so sorry about your shirt."

Conrad looked down at his ruined attire, his face unreadable. "It's fine," he muttered, his voice devoid of warmth.

The tension between us thickened, and I couldn't help but feel like I'd somehow disappointed him, though I couldn't explain why. I had ruined yet another of his shirts, this time with red glitter, and all I could think was, why do I keep getting into these situations with him?

"Well, that's a wrap," Julie announced, clapping her hands together. "And I'm pretty sure we got some great shots in the end. Right, Teddy?"

Teddy, the photographer, gave a small nod, and Julie beamed at me as though everything had gone according to her plan. "You did great, Thea," she added, her voice dripping with approval.

"I'm going to go change," I mumbled, biting the inside of my cheek as I grabbed Elise's arm, eager to escape the lingering tension. She led me into the dressing room without another word, and we slipped away from the chaotic buzz of the studio.

Inside, I took a moment to collect myself. Elise introduced me to Tyler, a rising star in the wedding design world who had recently exploded onto the scene. I adored Tyler. He was a gem in a world full of egos and shallow aspirations. The moment I saw the two of them chatting, all smiles and laughter I realized I had been so wrapped up in my own confusion that I had forgotten why I was here in the first place.

Jaqueline, the model who'd been shooting before me, helped me pull the last pins from my hair as I slowly began to undo the damage of my glittered fall. I wiped the remnants of sparkles off my skin, feeling each layer of glitter come away like a piece of armor, revealing the tired, unsure woman underneath.

My thoughts drifted back to Conrad. His gaze, so cold and intense, still lingered in my mind. What had changed? Why had he seemed so distant?

I couldn't shake the feeling that I had missed something—something important.

"Do you love him?" She asked, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. I wasn't surprised she asked me that question because even I couldn't recognize the lovesick puppy reflection I saw in the mirror.

"I don't know." I said, unsure. Id never given it much thought. Were we even dating? We'd never come close to giving our relationship a name. But did I love him?

As Jaqueline helped me remove the last of the glitter, she began speaking softly, her voice rich with thought. "Love," she said, her tone pensive, "it's beautiful, but it's a heavy thing."

I glanced up at her, curious. "What do you mean?"

She smiled softly, her eyes distant as she leaned against the dressing table. "I was in love once. But love, real love—it takes more than you expect. You give so much of yourself to it that when it's gone, you're left with pieces. All the parts of you that used to belong to someone else."

I listened intently, my heart suddenly heavy with her words. "What happened?"

Jaqueline's smile faded slightly, a shadow passing over her expression. "I dated this... guy... for a year. A beautiful year, full of everything I thought I wanted. But his mother... she never accepted me. She saw me as a threat, as someone who was never good enough for her son. I lost my job because of it. She had so much control, and she used it to destroy everything we had."

My heart sank, sympathy flooding me. "I'm so sorry," I whispered.

Jaqueline's smile returned, bittersweet this time. "It's been three years. I've rebuilt. Julie was kind enough to give me another chance when everyone else turned me away. But love... love taught me that it can break you, Thea. And sometimes, it's not the love you expect that heals you."

Her words lingered in the air, and I found myself lost in thought. Jaqueline had been through something deep, something I couldn't fully understand but could feel in my bones. There was a quiet strength to her, one that I admired more than I realized.

Once I was cleaned up, we rejoined the others. Elise and Tyler had already left, deep in conversation. As I stepped back into the studio, I saw Conrad, Miles, and Elise gathered in a corner, talking quietly. Jaqueline walked beside me, and as we neared the group, she stopped, her gaze locking with Conrad's.

"Conrad?" she called softly.

His head turned at the sound of her voice, and his face softened just slightly. "Jackie?" he replied, the nickname tumbling from his lips with such ease it felt like a wound reopening in my chest.

Jackie?

What the fuck is Jackie?!

The nickname hit me like a fist, a sharp pang of jealousy, and anger, rising within me that I couldn't suppress. Watching them catch up, the familiarity between them made something dark stir within me—something possessive and uncomfortable. I wanted to disappear, to escape before I was consumed by the tension thickening the air.

Unable to bear it any longer, I turned to Elise, the words tumbling from my mouth before I could stop them. "I need to go to the boutique," I said, urgency in my voice. "Now."

Without waiting for a response, I bolted.

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: RED FLAMES
2000 words

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