On either side of the runway and at the end of it, she could see people standing and craning their heads to get a look at her. She could see the cameras and the people manning them. She took a calming breath.
Don't you dare lose it now! She mentally shouted at herself. Don't you fucking dare!
When the light came on, she stood proud. Like an empress. Nothing could shake her. No one could tell that her knees had wanted to quack a second ago. She had a job to do. She began walking.
Her legs firmly planted every time they hit the runway. Her hips swayed gently and the dress shifted around her ankles as she moved. Her face was a daring playful mask. It dared anyone who looked at it to come closer and sample what she had to offer. She could feel the music weaving around her as she moved. She let out a wolfish smile as she reached the end of the runway. She twirled and the skirt flew revealing the slits in the design and showing off her long slender legs.
She then turned and began walking back the way she had come. As she neared the end of the runway, she abruptly turned. The coper-coloured material of her dress flared, catching the light as it did so. Auri continued on her trajectory but in two long backwards steps before turning again and facing where she was going. She rounded the corner and she was off the runway.
Her heart raced. A big grin was on her face. She had done it. She had not faltered.
"I bet you did good," Brenda told her as she rushed to her.
"Thank you," Auri said with a grin.
She killed it and she knew it.
"We're not done yet!" Jean's voice cut through the room, "Final lineup!"
Brenda gave Auri a little wave as all the models formed a line. The hair and makeup crew were inspecting the models in the line and making touch-ups and adjustments where necessary. The music changed and Siena who was leading the line began to walk. The rest of the line followed her. Auri included. She caught Nicolas' eye and he nodded her way. She grinned at him before averting her gaze. Innocence was the image she wanted to give him. It was the first thread in the web she was weaving around him.
She took her spot at the back. She looked down at her copper dress. She was going out there soon. She was not going to falter again. She was stronger than that. It was a momentary thing that would never happen again. Not ever.
The line of models moved onto the catwalk with Aurie at the back. She swayed her hips and made sure to keep her strides long and her limbs forming elegant lines. She followed the line down the runway. She reached the end, posed briefly and then with a kick of her leg turned and followed the models to line up at the beginning of the runway. But as the headliner, she would not line up. She hung back on a pageant pose and turned to face the audience again. She waited and then she saw the lights change. That was a cue. She began to clap along with the rest of the models.
She looked over her shoulder and saw Nicolas come onto the stage. He looked so handsome in his black attire. Maybe it was the lights or the shadows they formed. Maybe she was just like every woman with a functional libido. He looked like a vampire prince. He walked towards her and for a moment she was caught in the dream. She forgot the reason she was here. She forgot who he was. She forgot about seduction. She forgot about revenge and heavens help her; she forgot about Mara.
When he stopped next to her and offered her his arm, she felt like she was a lady at a ball and he was her lord. They walked together to the end of the runway and then Auri let go of his arm and stood back clapping. Nicolas gave a bow to the audience and then straightened up and waved at a couple of people in the audience.
He then turned back to her, a smile on his face. He extended his hand to her and she took it without hesitation. hand in hand, they walked together to the beginning of the runway. They both slid past the other models and got off the stage.
Auri realised that a huge grin was forming on her face. She could not fight it off. She looked at Nicolas, he was grinning too.
They both heard as the other models began to go backstage. Auri realised that she still had his hand in hers. She blushed and dropped Nicolas' hand with a sheepish smile. He looked at her quizzically.
"You did good tonight," he told her with a small smile.
"Thank you," Auri responded.
She noticed that no one was making a move to remove their makeup or shoes. She could hear the people beyond the runway talking. She looked around for Brenda. She could not find her in the crush of people.
"We are not done yet," Nicolas told her with a gentle smile.
She had not realised that he had remained close to her. Why was he still here?
"There's a cocktail event after this and the models get to circulate," he told her, "This time the potential buyers get a closer look at the clothes."
Auri nodded in understanding. Sharon had told her but she had forgotten. She smiled sheepishly.
"When is it?" she asked.
"Now," he told her, "But I have to have a word with Jean first then we can go."
We?! Auri wondered.
The confusion must have shown on her face.
"You are wearing the main dress," he told her, "You get to circulate with me."
Oh.
Nicolas saw Jean over Auri's shoulder.
"There she is," he said and then looked at Auri, "Wait for me here."
He did not wait for her response before walking off. Auri stood around. She noticed that the makeup artists were packing up. As she looked around, she saw Siena her sister and Pearl standing together looking her way. She gave the girls a little wave in acknowledgement. They rolled their eyes and looked away.
"Don't mind them," Brenda's voice came from behind her and she turned with a small smile.
"They are just jealous," Brenda waved her hand in the girls' direction dismissively.
"I haven't said as much as a word to them," Auri said through a sigh.
"I told you," Brenda's voice lowered, "You have connections and advantages they don't. They are going to resent you for that."
"I don't have connections or advantages," Auri defended herself.
She had worked her butt off to reach where she was. Sure, she was here for Nicolas Leroux but it was her hard work that had made him notice her. Every little detail about herself she had put thought into.
Brenda snorted, "Try telling them that. They won't care."
"Aurelie!" Nicolas called her name and she turned, "Let's go."
Auri nodded at him and turned back to Brenda, "See you out there."
Brenda grinned, "Have fun."
Auri did not miss the speculative look in the other woman's eyes. She could bet that every person working backstage had that look. Nicolas Leroux was taking a personal liking to her and if you compounded the fact that he had a playboy reputation… Well, it was obvious what everyone was thinking.
Auri joined Nicolas and he put his hand on the small of her back to guide her back out the runway. Only that when they rounded the corner, it was not a runway anymore. The space that the models had been walking in was now occupied by people in black-tie attire. The people who had been watching the fashion show were the party guests.
Auri put on a generic smile as people stepped forward to greet Nicolas.
"Mr Leroux," a tall slender man with slicked-back black hair said as he reached them, "Great collection you have for us tonight!"
"Thank you," Nicolas said with a smile.
He removed his hand from the small of Auri's back to accept the man's handshake.
"Is this the maid dress?" the man said looking at Auri.
She was not even there for him. She was just a mannequin. She smiled and put her hands on her hips in a pose.
"Yes," Nicolas said and turned to Auri with a proud smile.
But there was a hardness in his gaze.
"I don't think I've seen this model before," another man said.
Auri looked at him. His brown eyes were studying her as if trying to place her.
"No, you have not," Nicolas told the man as he put his arm possessively around Auri's hip.
She felt herself instantly tense up. She immediately forced her muscles to relax and she smiled at him.
"This," he said as he looked into her eyes, "Is Aurelie Engel."
He turned his head so that he was looking at his audience.
"She is an exclusive French Red model who just debuted with us."
The whispers started.
"Why I believe we are witnesses to history!" the first man said as he looked at Auri more closely. Nicolas's grip on Auri's hip tightened.
"Such a beauty too," the second man said, "Where did you find her Nick, you old dog? Is she even legal?"
"I am nineteen," Aurelie surprised herself by firmly speaking up.
The men around her laughed except for Nicolas. He had a stiff smile on his face. A cold look in his eyes. There was a tick in the muscles of his jaw. At the corner of her eye, she saw a lady unnoticeably point her phone's camera at them. She hid a smile. She would be making news the next day. Some people will not be happy with the care Nicolas was openly giving her. They will come out to try and run her off. She was not afraid.
She was now part of the fashion scene. She knew the people who would rear their heads. She looked around wondering if one of them was in attendance. She doubted it. If one of those vipers came to the show, they would have elbowed their way to Nicolas already. It did not matter. When they came for her, she would be ready for them. She would use their own tactics against them. They would have no place to hide once she was done with them.