♡ Chapter 20 ♡

It was exactly 10 minutes and not a second more when the door swung open with a thunderous bang and Chris stormed into the room, lips pressed in a hard and thin line, eyes narrowed.

Celia shot him an icy smile.

"You're here on time," She commented. "What a surprise."

Chris folded his arms over his chest. "I had to rush over to make sure you weren't being a bitch to my girlfriend," He snapped, his blue eyes flashing.

Something about his tone made me shiver. It was cold, harsh, deadly. Nothing like that husky, warm tone I was used to.

"What did you want to talk about?" Celia asked, "Other than coming here to disrespect your mother."

"I want to know exactly what you said to Sawyer."

Celia's eyes narrowed, "I'm your mother - don't speak to me in that tone."

"And I'm your son. I'm not leaving until you tell me what you did to her."

"Funny how you refuse to call yourself my son unless you want something from me," Celia's gaze slowly drifted to me. I silently pleaded with her to keep up her end of the bargain. Her lips twitched. After what seemed like an eternity, she let out a long sigh.

"I was just going through the details for the end of her contract," Her piercing gaze returned to Chris's face. "That's what you wanted, right?"

I pretended not to notice the slight disappointment on his face. He covered it up quickly, his glare returning as quickly as it had faltered.

"Yes," He nodded firmly. "That'd better all you talked about with her, Mother. I swear - if you did anything to her-"

"I don't particularly enjoy your empty threats," Celia turned away from us to gaze out of her full-length windows, dismissing us with the flick of her wrist, "Get out."

"Gladly."

With a dismissive glance at her, Chris placed his hand on my shoulder, ushering me towards the door of the office. He flung the door open, where we came face to face with a hoard of office ladies.

Their faces turned red as they attempted to look busy, as though they hadn't been eavesdropping on the juicy Prince family drama.

"I'm going to count to five," Chris held up his hand. "Anyone who isn't back at their job is going to be dismissed immediately."

Even before he reached two, everything had gone back to status quo. Assistants were back with their endless piles of paperwork, coffee runners were milling around with their bosses' orders. It was almost as if they hadn't been caught up in the drama just seconds ago.

Chris still hadn't looked at me once.

"Are you mad at me?" I reached out to touch his clenched jaw, brushing my fingers slowly against a ticking muscle. Gradually, his face began to relax, his eyes softening, his frown disappearing.

Letting out a soft sigh, he finally turned to look at me with a half-hearted smile.

"I'm not mad at you." He reached for my hand and laced his fingers with mine. "It's not your fault. I got myself into this mess. Don't worry, let's just go get breakfast, okay? I know you can't resist waffles-"

"I'm sorry for getting in the way of your dreams," I blurted out, interrupting him, "I know you really wanted to work with your father."

"I did really want to go... but then I met this really special girl," He squished my cheeks, "It's still something I want to pursue, but I don't mind putting it on the back-burner for a few more years."

Well - he wasn't going to be delaying this much longer. Not on my watch. If everything went according to plan, Chris was going to leave in the next two weeks.

"You really shouldn't give up everything for some girl you met a month ago," I pressed my lips against his left cheek, "What stupid boy does that?"

"Yeah I probably shouldn't," He agreed with a chuckle. "But I'm a stupid and love-struck boy."

"Stupid, nonetheless."

"In love, nonetheless."

* * *

We ended up at an all-day breakfast cafe with the cutest booth seats two blocks away from the Prince office. And at eight-thirty in the morning, it was already bustling - families sitting together and enjoying breakfast, elderly couples enjoying a good cup of coffee.

"Chris," I stuffed a huge chunk of the delicious salted caramel waffle into my mouth, "Was your mum always like this?"

He stopped mid-chew, his half-eaten toast in his mouth, "Like what?"

"You know," I gave him a knowing look. 

"Sawyer, I really don't know what you're talking about-"

"Like a cold-hearted bitch."

The angry look that I'd seen this morning made a reappearance, his blue eyes flashing and his lips narrowed. Shit, I messed up. Why did I ask him that?

"You don't have to answer that," I fumbled for a quick save, "I'm sorry, I can't keep my thoughts to myself-"

Chris interrupted me, "She wasn't like this last time. She was pretty normal before she built her fashion empire. We weren't poor by any means, but we weren't rich like this - we were just a normal family, having family dinners, playing board games at night, parents tucking us into bed and telling us bedtime stories."

Oh my god, he was opening up to me.

"What happened then?" I pushed, hoping that I wasn't crossing the line. I didn't want to lose this soft, open side of him so soon.

"Prince happened."

I was startled by the hatred in his voice. 

"Prince turned my mother into a monster, Prince stopped us from being a normal family, Prince drove away my dad. Did you know? When the brand started making a profit, my mother made us all promise to put family above business. No matter what, family came first."

With a scoff, he continued, "Look what we've become. Dad couldn't stand her any more, so he left. My mother is too caught up in her empire to care about her children. In fact, I don't think she sees us as her children any more - we're just two more dispensable employees."

"Do you really think I want to model? To live what so many consider a good life? To have to go for so many fittings, photoshoots, having to watch what I eat and care what strangers think of me?" He ranted, getting more agitated by the minute, "I wanted to do something meaningful, something that I actually am passionate about."

In that moment, he looked so vulnerable, so broken with a slump in his shoulders and shaky breath. It was hard to imagine that Christopher Prince, multi-millionaire and model extraordinaire, was so unhappy. But he was. All he wanted was to pursue his passion, yet, for me, he was willing to sacrifice that.

It reaffirmed my decision to take his place. And also, scared the shit out of me. I was going to be modeling for a long while and hearing his experience didn't exactly set the stage right for me.

"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to touch his free hand. Tracing the lines on his palm, I murmured, "I'm going to be there with you every step of the way. I'm going to help you through these two years, and when you finally can pursue your dreams, I'll be cheering you on."

"That's all I need," He smiled. "Thank you, Sawyer. I love you."

My face heated up as Chris leaned forward.

"I think I love you too," I mumbled, eyelids fluttering shut as he softly pressed his lips against mine.

"Let's finish our breakfast and get back to work, then," He pulled away, cheekily stealing the last bit of the waffle that I had attached to my fork. What a strange change in his mood. "Two days left to the show, and you're free."

* * *

When we reached the showroom (albeit half an hour late), we were confronted by a tired and very pissed-off Callista. Her blonde hair was tied up into a haphazard ponytail, and she was completely make-up-free.

"Where have the both of you been?" She snapped, grabbing each of our arms and dragging us to the changing room. "Did the both of you casually forget that the show is in two days, and this is the only full-dress rehearsal we have?"

"As if the other models would be on time," Chris rolled his eyes and ruffled his sister's hair. "Savanna is always late."

"Not as late as you," Callista retorted. She directed us to our respective changing areas, tossing a pile of clothes at us, "So hurry up. Everyone's waiting for the new it couple of Prince."

I think that was the fastest I'd changed in my entire life. Well - anyone would change quickly and get things done if they were helped by five other people. There were assistants simultaneously stripping me and putting articles of clothing on me. Within thirty seconds, I was out of the changing area and first in a line full of tall and gorgeous human beings. 

"Finally!" I heard a stage coordinator mutter to his assistant, "I swear - getting the models ready and in line is harder than rounding up a herd of animals."

"At least we don't bite," Savanna slipped into line next to me. "Well, some of us don't." 

She nudged me and gestured toward Amalia--speak of the devil--who was making her way over, sashaying her hips deliberately with every exaggerated step. 

"Sawyer," She said curtly.

For the sake of conversation, I spoke, "Hi Amalia, how-" 

"Can you move? You're in my spot. I'm opening the show." 

What a bitch. Why did I even bother being nice? Rolling my eyes, I stepped aside. Savanna sent me a grimace.

"I heard Sawyer got the Prince tiara this year," Sawyer announced to Amalia. "I guess you missed out again?" 

"A subpar model - if she can even be considered one - who hasn't even walked her first show?" Amalia scoffed, "Don't try to fool me." 

Cocking my head, I asked dumbly, "What are you talking about?"

Before Savanna could reply (or Amalia could look at me dismissively), the piercing feedback from Callie's loudspeaker made us all wince. 

"Hi, if I could get your attention please!" 

We all turned to face the source of the voice - Callie standing on a stool. 

"As most of you may know, my mother usually gives a speech during the full dress rehearsal to mark the countdown to the actual show," She started, "This year, being my first year styling for the brand-"

She was interrupted by deafening applause and wolf-whistles from the models and the staff. A pink tinge spreading across her cheeks, she waved her hand dismissively, gesturing to everyone to quieten down. 

"I have been given the opportunity to give the speech this year and announce who gets to model the Prince crown," She waved at two of her assistants, who hastily rolled out a display platform. On the platform were the silhouettes of a crown, covered by the opaque sheet. With a grand gesture, the assistants carefully removed the sheet to reveal a beautiful crown.

Audible gasps resonated among the models. 

I couldn't help but let out a gasp myself as my vision focused on the rose-gold, sapphire and diamond encrusted crown. It was a real beauty - the metal was twisted so intricately to give the illusion of a flower headdress, while small specks of diamonds were added sporadically in between the twists, appearing to look like constellations in the night. Right in the front and centre of the crown was a brilliant-cut, sparkling sapphire that resembled the sky at dusk. 

"For all the new models -" Callie looked pointedly in my direction, "The Prince crown varies every year and my mother chooses which model gets to wear it for our winter fashion show - the biggest show of the year. It is carefully curated for the model and this crown in particular is worth almost two million dollars."

"This year, there is one model that my mother and I both felt was deserving of the crown," Callie paused dramatically. 

Savanna grabbed my arm so tight that circulation probably was cut off for a moment. "Please don't let it be Amalia," She whispered furiously. "Anyone but Amalia."

"Savanna!" 

"Oh my god was it that bitch? Tell me it wasn't," Savanna was still gripping my arm, her eyes closed tightly and her face scrunched up. It had completely gone over her head. 

"Savanna-" 

"I don't want to know!" 

"Savanna! Come up here!" Callie called out again.

It was hilarious to see Savanna's face go white (as if it could go any paler than her already-snow white skin). 

"What?" 

"Savanna, you've got the crown, go up there," I nudged her. 

As realization hit her, a wicked grin appeared on her face. "Please take a picture of Amalia's reaction for me," She laughed quietly, making her way to Callie. 

I turned and saw the ugliest look on the fiery redhead's face. It was a cross between utter embarrassment and anger. When she noticed me looking at her, she snapped, "Mind your own damn business." 

"I guess that's what the physical epitome of failure looks like," A voice rang out from somewhere in the line. With that strong Greek accent, I was sure it was Alexei. 

Amalia let out a frustrated screech. 

"Models," Callie's voice once again drew our attention back to the crown - which was now nestled comfortably on Savanna's head. "How beautiful is Savanna in our Midnight Dreams crown?" 

I let out a loud whoop, cheering with all of the models. 

"I'd like to thank all of you for your hard work and your cooperation during the past few hectic weeks," Callie said, "You will all get a break in two days, so let's enjoy ourselves and put on a great show, alright!"

With one last cheer from all of us, the loud and blaring music started playing and I got ready to step out on the runway for the first time - and into my new life. 

~~~~~~~~

hi everyone, i've been away for 4 years and so much has changed but wow! here's a chapter - you all have probably forgotten what this whole book is about already. 

so much in my life has changed - the last time i updated this book, i was 16 and preparing for my O levels. but now, i'm 20, studying law in university, and life is actually going really well! i've experienced so much more in life and i hope that my experiences will be able to make my stories more realistic (because tbh when i first started writing this book i had no clue about relationships, kisses, etc.).

i will definitely try to update this as soon as possible but uni is so so busy! 

thank you all for sticking with me the past 8 years :~)