Fighting our way through the hustle and bustle to keep up with Natasha is far harder than I thought. Whereas Becca is brimming with excitement, I feel like a flock of seagulls is on speed in my chest.

"Isn't this insane?!" Becca squeals. Her eyes are impossibly wide as we race through the banquet hall. Our hair and makeup are done but we still have to slip into our dresses and take care of our finishing touches.

I follow her gaze around the cavernous hall and have the opposite reaction. I don't know what I was expecting from a gala, but this almost looks Oscar scale.

Workers mill around the space, setting tables, fixing decor and arranging the final details to be ready for tonight. The Gala opens in less than two hours.

Before we even approach the backstage fitting area commotion reaches us. A security guard checks us in and lets us into the zoo contained behind the door.

Half naked and mostly naked models walk around between fully dressed ones as everyone scrambles to get ready. Seeing so many beautiful women strutting so confidently around leaves my confidence crashing through the floor.

"Don't you dare," Natasha growls, drawing my attention to her. "Both of you are every bit as beautiful as them. I guarantee they are checking out your ass and Becca's tits, wishing they had them."

We just gape at her, somehow shocked by her brazen comment. Natasha arches a brow in triumph and grabs Becca's free hand to drag us along.

She finds her station, a small clothes rack and a lit-up makeup table and sets to work. Seeing her so happy makes me relax slightly.

"Hmm, I guess they'll let anyone in now?" I turn to the speaker and see a tall thin middle-aged woman glaring down her nose at Nat.

Natasha looks like she's been slapped across her face but recovers and stands tall. "Veronica, how good to see you."

"I'm sure it is," she drawls, disgust lacing her tone. Veronica shifts her attention to us and the way she looks at Becca makes me want to claw her eyes out. "How....quaint."

"Veronica is it?" I cut in seeing Nat's eyes water. The viper turns her attention to me, her brow arched that I have the audacity to speak to her.

"And you are?" Her eyes travel across me like she's calculating my worth.

"Too busy for this I'm afraid." My tone leaves no room for argument, catching the hag off guard. "Once we're ready, I'm sure Natasha can spare a bit of time, but you'll have to wait with the others, sorry."

The woman's jaw drops and Becca draws the curtain divider in her face having recovered. Nat just stares at us, bug-eyed then breaks down laughing. We hear the woman sputter and storm off, only making us laugh harder.

"I can't believe you guys did that!" Nat finally chokes out. "Do you have any idea who that was?!"

"Queen bitch?" Becca answers. "Hagatha? Karen?"

"Whoever she was, she doesn't get to mess this up for you," I say, giving her arm a squeeze.

"We're allowed to drink right? Cause if there's much of that, sober Becca will punch a bitch," she warns.

"Somehow drunk Becca doesn't strike me as having more restraint," I drawl.

"Na, but she'll laugh in their face first," she snickers.

"Focus!" Natasha snaps. She guides me to the chair and sets to work enhancing my makeup and tweaking my hair. Skillfully she weaves sparkly sprays into my hair, giving me a sort of sparkling halo. With the fairy-like woven accents secured in place, I have a truly ethereal look that contrasts strikingly with my bold, blood-red lips and dark eye makeup that make my eyes shine like the most expensive sapphires.

She hands me a bundle of tape and has me switch places with Becca. Where my hair is in a complex weave of braids, Becca's curly waves are polished to cascade down her back with a bold black clip with red accents that tucks it up on one side.

"Umm, Nat," I call, examining the stuff she gave me. "What do I do with this?"

"They're for your boobs," Becca answers.

"Seriously?!"

"Can't have a nip slip-"

"Don't you dare curse us!" Natasha growls. "Here, strip."

I feel my cheeks heat and strip down to the white lacy thong she had instructed me to wear. Becca takes my dress out and helps me slip it on while Natasha fusses with the tape. My whole body heats over the next fifteen minutes as we basically tape my boobs in place and then tape the dress in place. Thankfully by the end, I don't even notice it.

My eyes are glued to the reflection and the magnificent gown I wear. The way it flares out over my hips and ass and hugs my feminine curves is perfection. Natasha thought of every detail, from how the material lays, to where the seams fall, even what direction the lace goes, to enhance every aspect.

Even with a plunging neckline and wide open back that inches dangerously close to my butt I'm fully covered. If sexy innocence is a look, Natasha nailed it for me.

We repeat the process with Becca, her dress is the opposite scheme though. It's a mix of fire red and coal-black making her look like she's smouldering.

If the saying is true that sex sells, Becca will be rich. Natasha used all the same techniques and Becca has far more assets to work with. Her dress also has very high side slits that not only offer a teasing view but also draws the eye to her ample hips.

"Just remember us when you're famous, I want the friends and family discount," Becca pleads. She can't stop staring at her ass in the mirror as Nat fusses over her like a mother hen.

"Don't you have a dress?" I ask, noting the time.

"Shit!"

The woman strip, tapes and preens in record time, going with a femme fatal classic black dress. It's lines are clean and it lacks embellishments to compete with her models yet its elegance is in its simplicity.

Jarbeled talk reaches us from the speaker out on stage, warning us that the gala is now in full swing. Nat doubles down, focusing on the final touches.

My heart starts to flutter faster as I see the pages grab designers and models and usher them out. Words fall on my unhearing ears as I focus on breathing and calming my erratic heartbeat.

At this moment, all I want is Jonathan. I can't even call him because I left my phone at home, knowing I had nowhere to put it.

"Nat, they're ready for you," the page calls snapping me out of my stupor.

Natasha turns to me and lifts my chin. "Izzy, you've got this. I know you will make me proud. Forget the glamour and glitz, look into the crowd and focus on someone."

I nod and smile as I force my uncertainty aside. The last thing I want to do is let her down.

Natasha freezes at the entrance to the stage, Veronica stands at the end with her six models each so beautiful. I force myself to look past my fear and realize that there's nothing special about them.

Whereas Natasha tailored our outfits to our bodies enhancing what we had to work with, Veronica lacks that skill. Her designs are high-fashion and the cuts neat, but beyond that, generic. The beautiful models are doing all the work.

Veronica isn't half the designer Nat is!

The crowd does its polite golf clap as they exit the stage, spilling into the crowd. Spectators wander through the models and over to Veronica as she works the crowd on the way to her table.

"Just don't fall right?" I mumble, forcing a smile as I try to hype myself up.

"I am so ready for this!" Becca announces, needing no help. "You're gonna be so proud!" She's practically quivering with anticipation.

"Rebecca Martinez and Izabella Turner modelling NVK designs." Booms over the loudspeaker, setting my heart racing.

Becca confidently strides out on the runway, sashaying her hips and swishing her dress. Rounds of applause greet her performance, growing as she nears the end and more people turn to pay attention.

My gaze follows her, committing her motions to memory. I have practiced for hours with their help, but never in front of so many people!

"You're not Becca, babe, don't try to be," Natasha murmurs, smiling at me. "She's fire and sin, you're elegance and grace... own it!"

With a slap to my ass, she pushes me out as Becca walks back, grinning ear to ear. I take a deep breath, ready to take my turn but my gaze catches someone in the crowd, making my heart do summersaults.