The following day at Mystic's Headquarters,
Sophie was seated in the meeting room bright and early at 7:30 AM, beating Kathy and the rest by a good thirty minutes.
At the same time, Amber believed Sophie was still lost in dreams, snug under her covers. Little did she know, by the time they made their entrance into the meeting room, Sophie had already been there for a while, ready and waiting.
Kathy's face was a mask of utter confusion. She had orchestrated everything so Sophie would show up at 9 AM, far too late to be allowed into the meeting room. Her plan was cunning; by giving Sophie the wrong time, she ensured Sophie would be excluded without suspicion.
Yet here Sophie was, early and unflustered. It was obvious she saw through Kathy's ploy to sideline her. Despite this, Sophie remained unfazed. She was the mastermind behind this event, and no one could challenge her authority.
"Sophie, what are you doing here so early?" Amber asked, clearly frustrated. It was evident that Kathy's carefully laid plan had failed to catch Sophie unawares.
"Oh, a friend was passing by, so she dropped me off on her way to work," Sophie replied calmly.
Kathy cut in abruptly, "Enough chatter, the meeting is about to begin." Her tone left no room for further discussion.
Moments later, the person in charge swept into the room, a woman in her 40s. Behind her, two assistants carried a towering stack of documents.
"Kathy, I've reviewed the information on these two models," the woman said, her gaze sweeping over Sophie and Amber. "However, I only want one of them. I know everyone's time is precious, so I'll be direct. I want Amber." She paused, her eyes settling on Sophie. "As for you, Sophie, I don't believe you're the right fit for our photoshoot theme."
She tossed Sophie's portfolio onto the table with a dismissive gesture. "It's fine if you don't want Sophie," Kathy chimed in smoothly. "I have other models for you to consider."
Everything was unfolding just as Kathy had planned. She'd been sowing seeds of doubt about Sophie in this woman's mind for quite some time, ensuring the outcome would be in her favor.
Kathy swiftly pulled out portfolios of her other models, handing them to the woman with a satisfied smile. Not only had she found a way to sideline Sophie, but she'd also managed to promote Amber and showcase additional talent from her roster.
"Let me take a closer look before making a decision," the woman said, motioning for her assistant to gather the portfolios Kathy offered, as she prepared to rise from her seat.
Sophie quickly intervened, holding Linda's attention as she asked, "Could you please tell me what theme you're discussing, Miss Linda?"
The woman clearly didn't expect Sophie to speak up, and with a dismissive tone, she replied, "The Oriental trend. I'm guessing someone as dull as you wouldn't quite fit in."
Sophie, unfazed and smiling, retorted, "Has Miss Linda ever seen any of my work or watched me perform in any of my shows?"
"You're new around here, aren't you?" the woman inquired, her tone making it clear she'd never heard of Sophie before.
Keeping her cool, Sophie responded, "Did Miss Kathy mention that I was new here?"
"Sophie, don't push it," Kathy interjected urgently, her voice firm. "This is something we've decided among ourselves, and it's not up for you to challenge."
"You rode on my fame to bring Amber to Mexico, and then used my name to boost your newcomers. You've taken advantage of me so thoroughly. Can't I at least ask a few questions?" Sophie shot back at Kathy, a sharp smile playing on her lips.
Kathy retorted, "Sophie, you really need to learn some patience."
"My patience isn't meant for dealing with jerks, cheats, and other delightful acquaintances," Sophie replied with a pointed look at Kathy. Turning back to Miss Linda, she continued, "Since you haven't bothered to watch any of my shows or work, let's drop the charade. How about this: let's make a bet. By tomorrow morning, you'll already regret your decision."
As the words escaped her lips, Sophie strode out of the room with long, confident steps. She grabbed Lisa and Ashley, putting on her sunglasses with a flourish as they left.
Miss Linda, taken aback by Sophie's boldness, turned to Kathy in disbelief. "Who is this model?" she asked, clearly intrigued.
Kathy, her face flushed with anger, snapped back, "Just a newcomer model who won't get far. She's not that important."
Miss Linda shrugged off the encounter and exited the meeting room, ready to delegate the next meeting to her staff.
Meanwhile, Amber continued to stoke Kathy's fury toward Sophie. "Kathy, Sophie is really getting out of hand. She doesn't show you any respect at all," she whispered, her words like oil on a fire.
With Nathan absent, Kathy felt no need to restrain herself. "Regret? Does she even look at herself in the mirror?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Get ready, Amber. Once your star rises, Sophie will have no choice but to kneel and polish your shoes," Kathy declared with a wicked grin.
"Don't worry, Kathy, I won't let you down!" Amber replied confidently, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Amber vowed silently to herself that she would teach Sophie a lesson. Even if Sophie tried to fight back, she wouldn't stand a chance.
Sophie, Ashley, and Lisa stepped out of Mystic's headquarters, the weight of their encounter still heavy on their shoulders. As they made their way back to the manor, tension crackled in the air.
Lisa, unable to contain her fury, shook with anger. "Can you believe the nerve of that person?" she spat, her voice trembling with indignation. "The Davies family just keeps sinking to new lows." Her words hung in the air, echoing the frustration they all felt.
"Sophie, what's your next move?" Ashley asked, her eyes filled with concern. "We've already drawn a line in the sand with those Davies siblings."
Sophie chuckled, a knowing glint in her eye. "Do you honestly think that if I hadn't set boundaries, they'd have let me walk away unscathed?" she replied with a wry smile. "Mark my words, Mystic will call me tomorrow. Or maybe they'll be too anxious to wait and reach out by morning."
"Alright, since you've got it all figured out, we'll just wait patiently for the outcome!" Ashley said, her curiosity piqued. She was eager to see how Sophie would turn the tables, but she also knew that Sophie was meticulous and wouldn't reveal her hand until she was absolutely sure. So, all they could do now was sit tight and be patient.
In truth, even before Noah had handed her that invitation at the Mexican photography exhibition earlier that morning, Sophie had already crafted several plans to tackle the situation.
Noah's intentions were quite clear. If Amber could enlist Kathy's help, why shouldn't Sophie lean on Noah just this once?
After all, Noah had promised not to directly intervene or assist her; he merely offered her a fair chance to stand her ground against Amber.
In the end, Sophie decided to accept the invitation.
The exhibition was set to draw a crowd of renowned photographers, magazine editors, and notable personalities, including key figures from Mystic.
Most importantly, Sophie's mentor, the esteemed editor of Royal Magazine, was the mastermind behind the event.
With the exhibition scheduled for the evening, Sophie hurried back to the manor to get ready.
The entertainment industry might have its own set of rules, but that didn't mean change wasn't possible.
Kathy believed she held all the cards, but tonight, Sophie intended to show her that she was, in reality, insignificant.
Kathy's arrogance would confine her to managing only B-Grade models like Amber to feed her ego.
Sophie didn't need to broadcast her identity as Kira; simply standing beside her mentor would speak volumes. Her status was anything but ordinary.
A newcomer? Who dared to say that?
Noah told his team to find a bunch of dresses for Sophie. From the collection, he picked out a breathtaking strapless gown with golden designs and white edges.
The dress looked like a beautiful piece of oriental art, and when Sophie put it on, she shone with the classic grace of an Eastern beauty. It seemed like the dress was made just for her, perfectly reflecting her true spirit.
Sophie's slim waist and long legs added to her enchanting presence, like a soft perfume wafting through the air.
Noah stood behind her, pulling her close with his chest against her back. His arms wrapped around her waist in a strong but gentle grip, as if he never wanted to let her go.
"You are like a masterpiece," Noah whispered, his voice full of admiration.
"It's all thanks to your impeccable taste," Sophie replied with a smile, acknowledging his compliment. She was taken aback by how well Noah understood her. He knew that Mystic was aiming for an oriental trend and had dismissed her for being new. By picking this stunning dress, Noah silently showed that Mystic's choice to ignore Sophie was a big mistake.
"Why do you have to be a model? I just want to keep you all to myself," Noah said, resting his chin on Sophie's shoulder, his words carrying a hint of playful complaint.
"Look who's talking! What about Kathy going wild just seeing you?" Sophie shot back, laughing. "Don't worry, we're only supposed to have eyes and hands for each other, right?"
"Absolutely!" Noah replied.
With that, he gently turned Sophie around and kissed her softly as they stood before the mirror. Their affection was palpable, and Sophie could see her own glowing expression reflected back at her.
Noah's kiss was a true delight, a sensation that filled her with joy. What mattered most was that whether it was a tender or fiery kiss, his lips were hers alone. The mere thought of another woman kissing him made her heart uneasy.
"That's enough, I'll be late!" Sophie blushed, gently pushing Noah away.
"When you get home, you'd better think of a way to make it up to me," Noah said, letting her go.
Sophie nodded and gave Noah a quick kiss on the ear, whispering, "You can have whatever compensation you want!"
The photography exhibition was set to begin at 7 PM in one of Mexico's abandoned parks.
Sophie arrived just on time—not too late, but not too early either. By the time she handed over her invitation, the venue was already buzzing with famous faces. Among them was her mentor, Miss Elissa.
In a sea of guests striving to stand out with their Western-style outfits, Sophie was the exception. Her oriental dress caught the eye of everyone around her, including Linda, the decision-maker at Mystic who had turned her down earlier that morning.
Linda approached Sophie with a glass of champagne in hand and an amused smirk. "I never imagined you'd follow me all the way here just for a shot at our magazine's front cover," she said mockingly.
Sophie responded with a graceful laugh, "I believe there's been a misunderstanding, Miss Linda."
Linda shook her head, confident in her assumption. "I don't think so. You knew our theme was going to be the oriental trend, so you dressed like this on purpose to make an impression. But unfortunately for you, my decisions are final."
Linda mulled over Sophie's earlier words, convinced that when Sophie mentioned regret, she was talking about showing up here at this particular moment. Even though Sophie was undeniably stunning, the folks at Mystic wouldn't change their minds just because of one model's beauty.
"And by the way," Linda continued, "Mr. Nathan from Global Pictures said you have a terrible personality. From what I see, he's not wrong. You're clearly using this opportunity to boost your own profile."
"I've already said it," Sophie retorted with a raised voice, drawing the gaze of Miss Elissa, who was busy guiding some guests through the exhibition. "My being here tonight has nothing to do with Mystic!"
"You've certainly gone to great lengths," Linda remarked, her tone sharp. "No wonder Kathy warned me to watch out for you."
"Miss Linda, you must have quite the opinion of yourself!" Sophie shot back, her eyes suddenly shifting to the figure standing behind Linda. It was Elissa.
A warm smile spread across Sophie's face. "Mentor!" she exclaimed.
Elissa's eyes widened in surprise before she enveloped Sophie in a heartfelt embrace. "Oh, my dear, it's been so long! How have you been?"
"I've been good, but I have a problem, Mentor," Sophie confessed.
Hearing this, Elissa recalled why she had approached them initially—she had overheard a heated argument. Releasing Sophie from her embrace, she turned to Linda with a stern look. "What is going on here?"
Linda was taken aback, her mind racing. 'How could this be?' she thought, shocked. 'Wasn't Sophie here to reclaim her front cover shoot? How does she know the editor of Royal Magazine? And why are they so close?'
Without hesitation, Sophie laid out the entire incident to Elissa, holding nothing back.
Upon hearing everything, Elissa felt that the folks at Mystic were utterly out of their minds. She didn't hold back her frustration as she addressed Linda, "This is exactly why your magazine is struggling. How could you reject my star and choose a B-Grade model instead? And yet, you have the audacity to be so smug about it! This is outrageous. Do you have any idea how many awards she's won on the runways in France?"
"She… isn't a newcomer?" Linda stammered, stunned.
"She graced Master Bron's show," Elissa continued, her voice filled with pride. "In fact, she was in the finale, and she was only seventeen then, while you were still trying to make a name for yourself!"
After speaking, Elissa warmly embraced Sophie. "My dear, don't worry. Just tell me which front cover you want, and it's yours!"
Linda stood there in disbelief as she watched them walk away together. Her frustration bubbled over; she couldn't believe she had listened to Kathy and let Sophie slip through her fingers. It felt foolish to have dismissed Sophie so easily, and it stung even more now.
Determined not to let this opportunity slip away again, Linda made a new resolve. She had to win Sophie over. Her earlier conviction about not changing her mind for one model was now completely forgotten. Sophie was the key, and Linda was set on getting her back.
Sophie didn't glance back at Linda; she could already imagine the turmoil going through her mind. Instead, she gently declined Elissa's offer as she began to share what had transpired in her life over the past few years.
"Mentor, I'm firmly on my path now," Sophie said with quiet determination. "I'll reclaim what's mine, step by step, and I'm grateful for your support."
"My dear," Elissa replied with a knowing nod, "the most important thing is to know what you want. It's never too late to begin anew."
"Thank you, Mentor!" Sophie responded, her heart full of gratitude.
"You really stand out in the crowd, just like always," someone remarked.
Sophie beamed modestly at the compliment. She never let praise go to her head, always aware that there were countless talented people in the world. She felt she was just a small part of it all.
As the photography exhibit wrapped up, Elissa arranged for someone to take Sophie safely back home.
Just then, Linda appeared out of nowhere, rushing to stop Sophie's car. "Can we chat for just five minutes?" she pleaded.
"What more do we need to discuss?" Sophie asked bluntly.
"If you agree to shoot our front cover, you can ask for anything, and I'll make it happen!" Linda replied, her voice tinged with desperation.
Sophie glanced out of the car window, her tone calm yet laced with a hint of danger. "Even if it means crossing Kathy?"
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: whatever it takes, I'll do it," Linda insisted firmly.
"Then I'll wait for you to show your sincerity!" Sophie laughed as she closed the car window and asked the driver to leave.
- Kathy, tomorrow you will realize everything has changed -