Eleanor's POV
Her name rang in my ear, and the thought of losing scourged my heart.
Maybe he said my name wrongly, maybe he was given the wrong paper.
It's Eleanor Philip, Eleanor, not Amber.
"Amber Davids.." he calls again and a woman wearing the same dress as me but in a different colour walks to the stage.
Amber... Why is she dressed like me? It can't be a coincidence if it's Amber.
What the fuck is going on.
The crowd's applause causes a ringing sound in my head. The hall becomes smaller, the walls coming closer.
"How can this happen to me?" I ask Ciara who already has tears in her eyes.
I stand up and stagger out of the hall through the crowd, ignoring Ciara's raging voice calling my name.
I feel tears rolling down my cheeks as I run, holding my dress.
I run fast into the cold night, agitated and I start to rip the dress off my body.
"Seems you don't lose very well." I hear a deep calm calm voice say behind me.
Startled, I turned hurriedly. Losing my balance, I fall hard on the cold floor.
"Eish.." I whisper in pain as I notice blood on my bruised palm.
I look up to a tall masculine structure, slightly bent with his hand stretched towards me.
I take hold of his strong but soft palm which helps me to my feet.
Standing up, I can see his face. His remarkable grey eyes hide under fluxes of eyelashes. His brown hair was styled to the side, giving his face a defined shape.
"Thank you.." I manage to mutter after finding my voice.
He puts his hand into his tuxedo's pants and brings out a tissue. "Here you go clean your palm, you are bleeding a lot from the bruise." There again, his voice. Deep, authoring but calm. It makes me weak in the knees.
I collect the tissue without taking my eyes off his face.
"You were running like a bride who was left waiting on the altar by a cheating fiance. You are an artist, artists always preach about turning failure and pain into beauty."
I frown at his words, belittled by his remark. " You have no idea why I was running, don't make petty assumptions." I say in my defence as I pat the blood off my palm.
"You lost, right? To a woman who wore the same dress as you. I'm pretty sure I'm not making petty assumptions." I look at him, anger creating a storm in my head.
"My boyfriend broke up with me a month ago, this is the only thing I had going right for me. I lost it too." I blurt out feeling utterly weak.
"What do you say, I buy one of your paintings.
Sure seems like you will need the money, a paltry artist like you always do. I will take it at a fair price." He smirked at me, this would have made me have butterflies, but instead, it made me roll my eyes in disgust.
"Mister whatever your name is, I won't let you speak to me like that," I warn as I swing my fingers at him.
"It's Mr Alexander Sterling to you." He widens his smirk and bends his tall body to my level.
"I have enough money to..." I get interrupted by the sound of security men running into the award hall.
I ran behind them with Alexander walking behind me.
I gasp in surprise as I enter the hall.
Surrounded by people, Ciara in her ripped dress is dragged by Sisi's hair.