My friends and sister were all with me in a different dressing room. We were at the location for the GTB Fashion Weekend and my models would soon be out parading my designs for everyone in attendance to see. I left the room I reserved for my guests after making sure they were okay and went back to join Dave. He was with the hair stylist and the makeup artists, and they were presently working on the models.

"Dave?" I called his attention when I got to the room.

Dave was wearing one of my designs also, a varsity jacket with prints and a plain black short.

"Yea." He joined me by the entrance.

"Is everything going on smoothly?"

My heart was running wild. It was easy being a spectator in someone else's fashion show, judging and criticizing but to be among the designers showcasing was nail biting. I was extremely nervous, everything depended on the success of the show. Like, everything.

"We have things under control. The models will soon file out, we're next in line after the designer currently showcasing." He checked his wrist watch and proclaimed, "Say in thirty minutes' time."

"Okay, I'll go back to the girls. Call me when you're almost done."

"Alright, boss."

I went back to see the girls and I kept biting my lips as they talked, I just wanted everything to go well. Zola must have noticed my nervous energy because she cleared her throat and got everyone's attention.

"Let's pray," she said and everyone linked their hands and bowed their heads. "Lord, make this show a success for my baby, Jade. She needs your support right now and I'm praying to you on her behalf, let this show exceed her expectations, let this line reach people she never dreamt of it reaching. We are counting on you, Lord. We bless your holy name, in Jesus name we pray."

Everyone said a loud 'Amen' and we hugged.

"Thanks, Zola. I think you guys should join the audience, I'll see you after the show," I told them.

Zola, Amaka and Trent walked out after hugging me again. Bym stood by my side. I had not seen her since the car incident. She took my hands as we stood face to face.

"I'm sorry for the other day, I didn't mean to embarrass you," Bym said, she'd apologized through text already.

"It's okay," I said. We women still needed to stick together so there was no point fighting.

"I'm proud of you." Bym took me in her arm and we shared a long hug.

When she left the room, Moyo came to my side. She smoothed my hair, fluffing it with her fingers in a maternal gesture. I knew she was nervous for me.

"Thanks," I said.

"You'll do great, don't sweat it," Moyo said.

"Alright."

"Your designs are amazing. I'll see you later." She hugged me and I hugged her tighter.

"I love you," I said when we ended the embrace.

"Love you too." She blew me a kiss and walked out.

I went back to Dave and paused when I saw Chike in one of the trousers for my male collections. I didn't call or see him after he said those things to me and all I wanted to do was go over and hug him. He turned his face away when he noticed me, we were obviously still fighting. Why was he then in my clothes? Dave needed to explain what was going on because I was lost.

"Dave, I need you," I said and Dave rushed to my side. I took him to the corner of the room, far from Chike. "What is he doing here?" I whispered to him, using my chin to point at Chike.

"A model pulled out last minute, health emergencies," he whispered back.

"So? We could have just left their space open."

"I know, but I went into the crowd to look for someone who could help last minute and he was there. He's your..you know, so it was easier to convince him."

"You should have told me."

"I didn't want you to worry plus I'm in charge of the models so I had to handle it."

"Okay. Are we almost ready?"

"Yea, everyone is ready. You need to change though."

"I will when the models go backstage."

Dave returned to the models and tried to straighten some of their clothing. We had about twenty-five models, all with different complexion and body structure. Some of the male models were wearing African print bottoms paired with plain jackets or tops, few had on patterned tops with black shorts, while others were bare chested and clad only in boldly patterned pants. Chike was one of the bare chested ones and I couldn't stop staring at him.

The ladies had different styling. There were in long and short gowns, skimpy skirts with crop tops, pants with plain shirts that had pattern sparingly incorporated into it, as well as tracksuits I had added last minute. Their makeup was toned down and consisted of only neutral colored eyeshadows as well as lipsticks.

We had two separate looks to showcase and I was sweating just thinking about the activity. I saw Chike go to one of the makeup artists and she spread glow oil on his chest and back. Her hands lingered on his abs and I felt myself growing angry. I didn't hire her to flirt with everyone, I was paying good money for her services and she couldn't be professional.

Chike laughed at something she said. She smiled back and rubbed more oil on his shoulder. How much oil did anyone really need? I stayed at my corner wondering. Chike must have felt my eyes on him because his gaze met mine for a second before he went back to chatting with the makeup artist.

He definitely had a type because she had almost the same body type as Bym. Both were largely endowed in the bust department and somewhat thick. I tried not to compare myself to her, I wasn't going to become insecure because he couldn't discourage their advances.

I should have known nothing great could come out of sleeping with someone younger. We were on different level of maturity. He was obviously trying to make me jealous. What did he expect me to do? Rip the girl's wig off? I left the corner and walked towards the vanity where the drama was unfolding. Chike saw me coming and left the makeup artist's side to join the models in a straight line, knowing fully well that I couldn't talk to him with the models around him.

It'd been two weeks already, wasn't he tired of fighting? I totally forgot that I'd told Dave to send him an invite before we had the fight. I had been too busy to think about him within those two weeks but when the show ended tonight, what was I going to do? He was here but he wasn't even trying to talk to me. I was glad he made himself useful though. But what was the whole point of coming if he didn't want to speak to me?

Dave called the models attention and they all cheered as he hyped them up before they walked out of the dressing room. I was left alone in the room so I got one of the sets from my collection in my carryon. It was an African print bralette and high-waisted mini skirt coord set. I changed into it and joined the models backstage.

Dave came to my side and took my right hand. I gave him a smile as we waited for the models to take the runway. When my collection was announced, they went on stage one after the other. Dave and I rushed back to the dressing room as the models came back in for a change of outfit. The dressing room was in chaos as we were all running around, hurriedly dressing the models so they could go back on stage before the last model returned.

I let out a loud breath when the female models were all in their second outfit for the night. They left the room and the males returned, we tried to get them dressed them just as quickly. Chike avoided coming to my side when I tried to get his attention so he could change out of his shorts, he went to Dave's instead. If I wasn't so busy, I could have broken down. He was so frustrating. I hated the pressure that came with the fashion show because it made me so stressed and hormonal. On a normal day, I would have probably ignored Chike's attitude but I was close to a snapping point. It felt like I was going to erupt.

We dressed the male models and they left the room. Dave rushed over to hug me, I wrapped my arms around his neck and tried not to cry.

"We're done," he said when the embrace ended.

"Yes, we are." I wiped the tears from my eyes and Dave smiled at me.

"We need to go backstage."

"Yes."

I went with Dave back stage and waited for the models to return. When they all did, they collectively went back on stage for a joint showcase, and that was the final showing. I heard the sound of people clapping and I beamed. The models returned and I collected myself because I was going on stage.

I walked nervously to the stage. I paused for few seconds then walked the length of the runway, waving at the audience. I saw my friends and sister all sitting together in the second row, they blew me kisses and I returned them. I saw the girl I helped in the bathroom at the Sapphire Ball, she must have somehow heard about my show. I couldn't remember her name but I smiled when our eyes met. I walked out of the stage and Dave was waiting for me.