Jeslyne slammed her phone down on the desk, her heart racing as the words from her assistant echoed in her head.
"Ankle injury? How bad is it?" she had asked, already knowing that the answer wouldn't be good.
"She's out," her assistant had replied with a grim voice. "She won't be able to walk, let alone model."
Jeslyne stared at the wall in front of her, her mind spinning. The model she had sent to the advertisement shoot—one of their top talents—was injured. And not just any ad shoot, but the launch of the new car model, where fashion and luxury had to merge seamlessly. Without a replacement, everything would fall apart.
She grabbed her phone and called for an emergency meeting with her team. There was no time to waste. Within minutes, they were gathered in the small conference room, tension hanging in the air.
"We need a replacement, and fast," Jeslyne said, her voice firm as she stood at the head of the table. "Who do we have available?"
Silence filled the room as her team exchanged anxious glances. Finally, her assistant spoke up. "All the top models are either booked or out of town. We're in the middle of fashion week."
Jeslyne's jaw clenched. "I'm aware of that. But we need someone, anyone, who can step in. This shoot is too important to delay."
One of the junior managers, Lila, nervously raised her hand. "What about the newer models? Maybe someone who's still in training?"
"They don't have the experience for something this high profile!" another team member argued. "We can't just send anyone."
The room erupted into a heated debate, voices overlapping as suggestions were thrown back and forth. Jeslyne stood still, her mind racing to find a solution. She knew they were on the clock—the shoot was already underway, and without a model, the whole project could crumble.
"What about Cassie?" someone suggested. "She's not booked for another three days."
Jeslyne shook her head. "Cassie's look doesn't match the aesthetic we need. The car ad is sleek, modern. Cassie's style is more editorial and avant-garde."
The argument continued, tension rising as the minutes ticked by. Jeslyne rubbed her temples, feeling the weight of the situation press down on her. Her team was running out of ideas, and with every second that passed, the stakes grew higher.
"We're not leaving this room until we figure this out," she said firmly, trying to keep the panic from her voice. "We need a model, and we need her now."
""''''''''"""""
Meanwhile, Rolland had stayed longer than usual at the advertisement shoot. His meetings for the day had wrapped up early, giving him time to observe the progress. He sat back in his chair, watching the set with mild interest as the team prepared for the next shot. His bodyguards flanked him, ever watchful, while his assistant James stood nearby, ready to attend to any requests.
Rolland was in the middle of a conversation with a client on the phone when he noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The normally efficient team was hesitating, the energy on set noticeably tense.
"What's going on?" the client asked, clearly picking up on the disturbance.
Rolland glanced at James, his expression questioning. His assistant, quick to read the situation, rushed over to investigate. A few moments later, James returned, leaning down to whisper into Rolland's ear.
"There's been an issue with the model. She's injured, and they don't have a replacement yet."
Rolland frowned, his grip tightening on his phone. "Is it being handled?"
"Miss Timer, the fashion department manager is working on it," James replied. "They're trying to find someone to send over."
Before Rolland could respond, the doors to the set opened, and two models rushed in, followed closely by Jeslyne's assistant. The tension in the room seemed to ease slightly as the team moved to prepare the new arrivals, but Rolland's mind was elsewhere. He hadn't expected such a setback, especially not today. But he trusted the fashion department to resolve the issue.
He watched for a few more moments, satisfied that the situation was under control, before finishing his conversation with the client and preparing to leave. As the day wound down, Rolland found himself back in the elevator with his bodyguards, ready to return to his office on the top floor.
He glanced down at his phone, scrolling through emails, when a familiar scent hit him—soft, floral, intoxicating. Jasmine.
His head snapped up, and his eyes immediately landed on a figure standing just a few feet away from him, her back turned. The back of her head, her posture—it was all too familiar. His gut instinct told him it was her, the woman from the elevator.
Jeslyne.
She had slipped into the elevator, not realizing who else was there. She had thought it was empty, hoping for a quiet ride down to the ground floor. But the moment she stepped in, she knew she had made a mistake. Her stomach twisted as she realized it could be the CEO of the company, Rolland Williams, was standing right behind her, flanked by his bodyguards.
Panic shot through her as she tried to keep her composure. She had never meant to be in this situation. Her mind raced, wondering if there was any way she could get off before anyone said anything.
But it was too late.
James, Rolland's assistant, turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice sharp.
Jeslyne froze. She couldn't give her real name—her position wasn't high enough to justify being in this elevator, reserved for the CEO, important clients, and family members. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "Sarah," she lied, hoping her voice sounded steady. "I work in, uh, marketing."
James raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious. "Marketing? I don't think I've seen you around before. Are you new?"
Jeslyne nodded quickly. "Yes, I just started last week."
James's expression grew cold, and he looked her up and down. "Do you know the rules about the elevators? This one is reserved for the boss, VIPs, and family. You're not supposed to be here."
Jeslyne's throat tightened as she tried to think of a way out. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize… I won't use it again."
"See that you don't," James said curtly, before turning his attention back to Rolland. But as the elevator doors opened and she quickly stepped out, Jeslyne couldn't shake the feeling that James had been watching her closely, though she hadn't dared to turn around she could feel he was trying so hard to remember if he had seen her before.
As she hurried away, her heart still racing, one thought echoed in her mind: How had she managed to mess this up so badly?
'"i am definitely playing with my luck!" She signed