Chapter 73: Chapter 73

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When I was a little child, I used to think beauty is what we see on television, and I used to believe that I can never be beautiful enough to match their standards but when I found myself getting a makeover, I realise everything is fake from hair to a nail and no one can do anything about it. perhaps, it's about our perception too, we stare at those things which we find brilliant, doesn't matter what it costs to develop them.

"What are you doing? Sit straight?" I heard Sam's thrashing voice bleeding my ears.

I was seated in a straight posture but he was not satisfied, he thinks I am a clown or at least he wants me to become a clown.

"Your shoulders are too wide, your lips are too plump, your eyebrows look like a forest, and your hair? From how many days you have not washed them?"

I opened my mouth to revert him but his deadly glare made me silent again.

"Don't you dare to open your mouth, I am working on you, "

I have not uttered a single word in the last four hours. A whole team of six members are working on me,

As I am a princess, oh, I am worse than a princess, I am soon to be a model.

"Now close your eyes,"

It was more of an order than anything, so I reluctantly did.

I closed my eyes and then I saw Mr Blake Jensen thriving in the dark road, he was mysterious to be found,  he clasped my arm and made me pin to the wall, his cold fingers were inked to my skin, and then he whispered my name, "Ashley,"

His long fingers were making their way to my upper thigh to my bare stomach and then he sucked my earlobe while whispering my name.

"Wake up!"

Shit!

Was I dreaming?

Yes of course you were dreaming!

Why the hell do I seductively dream about Mr Jensen? Have I lost all sense?

"Now look straight and close your eyes again,"

He came closer step by step and slowly nibbled my bottom lip, his eyes were profound, and then he captured my lips with his making me surrender until I inhaled smoke.

The world around me converted into smoking me his face disappeared again in the dust.

I could hear his voice calling my name, as he was asking for assistance from me.

"Open your eyes again," I opened my eyes and found myself staring at the mirror.

I looked strange, my hairstyle was different, I do not have modest straight hair, they were bouncy now, my lips were fuller, my eyebrows were perfectly shaped and there was no sign of weakness in my eyes.

"Brilliant," I heard Mr Steward's prominent voice reaching to my ears, his slammed shoulders were proudly looking broader and his tall attire was making me smaller again.

He ordered everyone to give us space for half an hour.

"Ashley Brooke, you look-"

"-ridiculous?"

"Brilliant,"

"What?"

In two long strides, he was near me. it only takes two steps for a man to cross the ideal distance between any figures, and he was the man with a mission?

He grabbed me by the shoulder and shook them to regain me in the real life.

"Yes- yes, I need a glass of water," our arms were almost touching, and the temperature of the room was not sinking with my blood. It was too cold for me to contemplate anything.

I moved and took a step while I lost my balance in shame and a second later, I was flying in the air,

"Got you," I heard him mumble, his dark burrows were confounded as always. was he confused about my proficiency?

His arm was holding my waist, his other arm was on my stomach, his minty breath was all over my face, his eyes were dark for a second and our lips were just an inch away from each other.  there was a time when I saw something brutal in his eyes regarding the power, but today, I found them having nothing, the hollowness of it makes me realise that he is having greed; greed of power? the greed of love? the acquisitiveness of revenge? the greed of destiny? I have no idea about it. before he could something, cross the distance between us, and lose his consciousness

I retrieved myself, controlled my balance and slightly pushed his chest.

Then I took a self-composure stand while walking to get a glass of water.

He looks hesitant and nervous for a second but I could see the mystery in them.

Is he hiding something?

Is he married?

Has he any girlfriend?

Or is he divorced?

I didn't find any ring on his finger, so he is not a married man.

"Mr Steward, can we start again?" Sam asked, and he nodded his head.

Oh no! Not again!

"why not?"

"This is a pure extravagant punishment to any living existence and you want me to suffer,''

"come on Ashley, this is your only chance to become a superModel, besides that didn't you always want to become one. and I think that you would do anything better than Sophia."

when I heard her name my mind went all the way to that night when I first saw her, linking her hands to Mr Jensen, it made my blood boil.

that night she crossed her all limits and insulted me, and now it's my stake to stand tall and defeat that woman in the world of modelling.

"yes. I will beat her,"

***

after having several rounds of walking in a ramp walk, I got surrendered by the fuming anger, my limbs were aching due to stretching my body, my mind was not working sane and I was ready to collapse on the floor when they finally asked me to return to home.

I closed the door behind me, seized my bag while wearing a face mask to hide my identity, but when I think about it too closely, I realise, it is as absurd as it sounds, my face looks completely brilliant; brilliant because I am not able to recognise my self, and if I am finding it strange to do so then who will?

I threw away that mask to the nearby dustbin and walked proudly on the streets of New York City while admiring the tall buildings, soon I am going to be on top the cold gaze of wind directly hits me on the face and then in a second the weather changed, the moist temperature converted into a bold one, the blue sky altered itself into a grey one, the world seemed abruptly more damaged, and my heart sank again in the horror when the rain silently started falling on the sleet street of the City.

the big hoarding of Sophia's picture was shining bright,  making my blood almost boil again, but then again I have to control my epitome and look straight at the tall buildings.

A black BMW was running speedily,  as it is involved in the race with the entire world, as it will do anything to win it, the aura around it was dangerous, it was rash driving and could kill me. however I was not in the middle of the road, I was at the corner where it could never reach me, so I didn't care about its presence and used headphones to direct my attention from the facade ravishing car to the soft blubbering music to hide.

I was too occupied in listening to the music that I didn't realise when that car came near to me and a man wearing a  face mask, shielding his face from the public view took me by my arm, clasping my figure on his shoulder.

"put me down, you bastard!"

"who the hell do you think you are?"

I struggled, and kicked him on his crotch but found no result. does the man is made up of wood? why the hell is he not reacting?

he threw me inside and closed the door, when I shouted again he only chuckled, however, the chuckle sounds familiar.

then he took out his mask and whispered my name in the most abducted manner, "Ashley Brooke, Nice to meet you again,"